Info Tech
Microsoft investors call for Bill Gates’ departure
WASHINGTON – Sources within the company have reported that three to shareholders are worried that Gates’ influence is disproportionate with his role in the company
Bill Gates is reportedly under pressure to step down as chairman of Microsoft, the company he founded 38 years ago.
Sources familiar with the matter informed Reuters that three of the software giant’s top 20 investors were concerned that Gates wields power that is disproportionate to his declining shareholding.
Although Gates remains the company’s largest single shareholder, owning approximately 4.5 per cent of the $277 billion company, he sells around 80 million shares annually under a pre-set plan. With this arrangement Gates would be left with no financial stake in the software giant by 2018.
The three investors have requested that their identity be kept secret but sources report that collectively they hold more than 5 per cent of the company’s stock.
They are worried that Gates’ position as chairman might limit the power of a new chief executive to make sweeping changes to the company.
Microsoft has begun looking for a new CEO after Steve Ballmer announced in August that he would retire from the position in 12 months’ time. Ballmer made his last company speech to over 13,000 staff last month, tearfully describing Microsoft as “the greatest company in the world.”
Ballmer has long faced pressure from investors to improve the company’s performance and share price but this is the first time that Gates has been targeted in a similar way.
Gates acted as CEO until he passed on the role to Ballmer in 2000, and relinquished his day-to-day duties at the company in 2008 to focus on his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a philanthropic organisation with a $38 billion endowment.
However, the investors involved in the campaign are reportedly still keen to carry on with Ballmer’s plans to restructure the company, announced in July. Ballmer called for “one strategy, one Microsoft” with a new focus placed on services and devices.
This strategy is most clearly outlined in the recent redesigns of Microsoft’s livery, with each of the coloured panes in the company’s logo now corresponding to a key product. Blue represents the Windows operating system; green for Xbox and Xbox Live; red has been assigned to Office, and yellow for Bing.
Microsoft remains one of the world’s most valuable technology companies, reporting a net profit of $22 billion in the last fiscal year. Despite this, many analysts believe that the company failed to anticipate the swing towards mobile devices in the consumer market.
Tablets and smartphones are expected to outsell traditional PCs for the first time ever in the final quarter of 2013, though this is will be due primarily to holiday sales, with PC sales still expected to beat those of mobile devices over next year as a whole.
Microsoft’s attempts to move in to the market have so far been underwhelming. The Surface range of tablets launched last year suffered a $900m writedown for unsold inventory though the devices have been refreshed for 2013.
Microsoft’s mobile platform Windows Phone is still massively outperformed by both Android and iOS in terms of global market share, though recent figures suggest that the OS’s fortunes are on the rise.
Reaction from shareholders to the possible ousting of Gates have been mixed. Todd Lowenstein, a portfolio manager at HighMark Capital Management, which owns Microsoft shares, described it as “long overdue”, whilst Kim Caughey Forrest, a senior analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group suggested that Gates should in fact be returned to a large role.
“I’ve thought that the company has been missing a technology visionary,” Forrest said. “Bill (Gates) would fit the bill.” This sentiment has been echoed by others including tech writer Farhad Manjoo.
Manjoo argues that Gates should be re-appointed as CEO, saying: “Only he has the institutional authority to liberate Microsoft from the Windows/Office golden noose. Only he could outline some new plan for the firm and command the troops to get in line
– REUTERS
In efforts at spicing up the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, the management of ITREALMS Media has partnered with E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) membership organisations for a day-long collection scheme of small electronic waste on Friday, December 15, 2023.
The EPRON members aligning their partnership with 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue are EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited and WEEE Eco-Friendly.
ITREALMS’ day-long collection scheme is part of the commemoration of 2023 international E-Waste Day (IEWD) within the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue with the theme “You Can Recycle Anything with a plug, battery or cable” at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.
Revealing this collaboration, the Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, the organisers of the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, Sir. Remmy Nweke, urged mobile device enthusiasts to come along with their devices that have reached their end-of-life to the venue for proper disposition by professionals who would also be on grounds to address some topical issues.
The collection of small electronic wastes especially mobile phones and like-devices, would be carried out by EPRON member organisation, EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited as facilitated by ITREALMS Media group as part of this year’s ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue on Friday, December 15, he added.
He disclosed that the exercise would commence at Welcome Centre Hotel by 9am till close of work hours the same day.
Nweke pointed out that the collection of small e-waste items would include mobile phones, pointers mouse, earpieces, rechargeable torches, phone chargers, to name a few.
Further, he said, that this initiative has become time-serving because some people may have missed any other opportunity before now for the year-long campaign, hence this awareness on e-Waste has to be continuous, “ITREALMS came up with this scheme.”
Nweke beckoned on Nigerians, especially mobile phone users, to leverage the opportunity in disposing of their mobile devices they no longer use, of course in exchange for a voucher or gift item.
In her reaction to this year’s day-long small waste collection, EPRON Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi, described the initiative as commendable, expressing confidence it would intensify the collection of end-of-life devices for proper disposition.
Mrs. Faluyi, also urged Nigerians to take advantage of this day-long collection of small wastes courtesy of ITREALMS Media.
Recalling for instance that in October 2022, EPRON had partnered SLOT alongside some UN agencies for collection of small e-waste items in Lagos, including the United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
This is even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida and Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, would both lead speakers at the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue slated for this Friday, December 15, in Lagos.
Today, September 12, the tech corporation Apple will introduce the iPhone 15, their newest iPhone model.
According to a Forbes story, this model, which will be introduced at the company’s “Wanderlust” event in Cupertino, California, will be available in four variations: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Here are five things you should know about the new iPhone 15 model.
1. The new model is made of titaniu, not stainless steel as some other Apple smartphone models, Senior research analyst at DIGITIMES, Luke Lin reports.
2. The Pro Max model will feature double the optical zoom on the iPhone 14 as it comes with a newly-introduced ‘periscope lens upgrade, performing 5-6x optical zoom.’
3. The Pro models will carry an A17 bionic chip expected to make it perform faster.
4. The iPhone 15 model will feature a USB-C charging port, the same port featured on some Android phone models.
5. Due to its titanium shell, the new model is anticipated to be more expensive to purchase. The following is the speculated price list, as reported by Forbes:
The iPhone 15 starts at $799, the iPhone 15 Plus at $899, the iPhone 15 Pro at $1,099 ($100 increase), and the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,299 ($200 increase).
In an effort to reduce the exorbitant cost of Premium Motor Spirit, better known as petrol, the Infrastructure Bank Plc announced its collaboration with FEMADEC Group on Monday to offer 500 buses powered by autogas (Compressed Natural Gas).
Partners in the agreement claimed that the project was created to provide citizens with dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly travel options, taking into account the negative effects of the nationwide increase in PMS costs.
Under Decree No. 51 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1992 Constitution, the Infrastructure Bank, originally known as the Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, was founded in 1992 to promote the quick development of infrastructure throughout the nation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on its partnership with FEMADEC, the bank said, “The preliminary offer extended by TIB lays a solid foundation for the expansion of FEMADEC Group’s CNG bus fleet.
“With plans to introduce 500 CNG buses within the next five years, commencing with an initial batch of 50 buses in the forthcoming year, this proposal stands poised to instigate significant change.
“The acceptance of this proposition by FEMADEC Group, notably championed by Fola Akinnola, the Group Chief Executive Officer, is a testament to their zeal and dedication to this alliance.”
The bank described the partnership as a “pivotal endeavour that is primed to redefine Nigeria’s public transportation landscape, offering dependable, cost-effective, and ecologically conscious travel alternatives for citizens, while harmonising with the nation’s broader sustainability ambitions.”
“This partnership represents a remarkable stride towards a more ecologically aware future for Nigeria’s transportation sector, highlighting the shared commitment of both TIB and FEMADEC Group to sustainable advancement and progress.”
It said FEMADEC Group’s strides in operating Compressed Natural Gas buses, including the existing fleet of 20 CNG buses under LAMATA, underscored their unwavering dedication to ecologically sound solutions, a commitment predating the fuel subsidy removal.
“Their leadership within the CNG value chain is undeniable, and the new alliance with TIB underscores their foresight.
“This partnership seamlessly aligns with TIB’s sustainability objectives, echoing their resolute endorsement of the government’s net-zero and climate change agenda.
“The bank’s aspiration to champion Nigeria’s infrastructure progress is evident in its endorsement of pivotal initiatives like this, yielding expansive positive impacts on both the environment and society,” the bank stated.
The bank added that it would continue to make a significant contribution to the country’s growth as a leading financial institution committed to advancing effective and long-lasting infrastructure projects.
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