IN BRIEF

Manugistics loss widens, shares rise
Software company Manugistics Group posted a wider fourth-quarter net loss but the company’s shares jumped in after hours trading after it said software sales rose 70 percent from the prior quarter. The company, which makes so- called supply chain management software that enables manufacturers to share their purchasing and inventory data with suppliers over the Web, also said its fiscal first-quarter revenues would exceed analysts’ estimates while its earnings per share guidance would be in line with current Wall Street expectations.

Riverstone net loss widens on US telecom woes
Network equipment maker, Riverstone Networks, reported a wider fourth-quarter net loss, but said its loss excluding charges narrowed and revenues rose despite a brutal telecommunications downturn that has slashed demand for gear for high-speed online networks. The company also said it expects revenues for its current fiscal first quarter to be flat to slightly down from its fourth quarter ended March 2 amid cautious capital spending by telecom carriers worldwide, but especially in the United States and Europe, while spending in Asia remains stable.

Riverstone’s fourth-quarter net loss was $28.2 million, or 23 cents a share, versus a net loss of $6.6 million, or 7 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest result includes a $1.1 million charge related to stock-based compensation and goodwill associated with acquisitions, a $3.3 million restructuring charge, and a non-cash $22.1 million charge to write down the value of investments in privately held companies.

Ciena cutting 22 percent of workforce
Ciena is cutting about 650 jobs, or 22 percent of its work force, because of the slowdown in the telecommunications industry, the optical networking company said. The trims follow a reduction of about 400 jobs announced in February, which also were blamed on the telecom downturn. Employees will be paid through May 24 and will be eligible for additional severance packages. They will also receive placement assistance and training.

The company said the latest job cuts would save about $150 million a year but would result in a second-quarter charge of between $125 million and $135 million. It also said it would take a second-quarter charge of between $200 million and $225 million for excess inventory of long-haul transport products and purchase commitments from suppliers.

AT&T tests streaming water
AT&T has announced that it is testing ways to help media and entertainment companies deliver streaming video over the Web. The telecommunications company said the trials will focus on providing pay-per-view and subscription-based services using AT&T Broadband’s Digital Media Centre. The company said the centre manages hundreds of pay-per-view events and more than 50,000 live sports events for cable TV and satellite distribution. With this move, AT&T is pushing into the streaming-media market already crowded by leaders such as Microsoft and RealNetworks.

Openwave signs deal with Brazil’s Telmar
Wireless software supplier Openwave Systems said Telemar, Brazil’s largest telecommunications company, has agreed to use its mobile Internet software. Openwave said the launch of Telemar’s mobile Internet service called Oi marks the introduction of one of the first GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks in Brazil.

GSM is the dominant global standard used in wireless networks but another standard TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) is more commonly used in Latin America.