IT News: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO)’s Cloud Solutions, Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) & International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)’s Ability

Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ), International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)

Cisco Versus Microsoft: Family Feud Style (NoJitter)
Close your eyes and queue up the Family Feud music and picture Richard Dawson (or Steve Harvey for you youngsters) coming out to another episode of the Family Feud game show: “A total of 329 people surveyed, top four answers on the board–Which vendor do you feel is the leader in voice?” Player 1 responds, “Microsoft”. “Survey Says!”–Ding! Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) scores Number 4 with 9.7% of the respondent base. Player 2 answers “Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)“–Ding! Number one answer with 62.3% of the market. The other two answers are revealed, with Avaya holding the Number 2 spot with 17.3% and “Others” being number 3 at 10.6%

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)

Hewlett Packard spreads rise on lack of revenue growth (CreditFlux)
Spreads relating to Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) continue to move out as the company announced that revenue growth in 2014 is unlikely. The comments were made on the evening of 21 August by Meg Whitman, co-chief executive officer during a conference call to discuss quarterly results which were in line with estimates. Since then, spreads have moved out 32 basis points from 149bp to 181bp, according to data from markit.

How IBM Is Schooling Tomorrow’s Data Scientists (AdAge)
International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is one of many corporations in constant need of smart data scientists. But unlike most firms, IBM has the ability to nurture their development before they enter the workforce. IBM partners with academic programs across the globe, and often designs initiatives in conjunction with clients, such as General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), who also in need of analytics and data staff. Rich Rodts, IBM’s manager-solution specialists and global academic programs at IBM, guides that process.

CISCO’S CLOUD EVANGELIST: OPPORTUNITIES ABUNDANT IN THE CLOUD (ChannelPartnersOnline)
Networking giant Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) has long been focused on enabling the cloud, but decided to step up its efforts to help its partners to deliver public cloud solutions. To that end, it tapped Ellen Berlan for a new role as Cloud Director — Americas. Along with her counterparts in Asia-Pacific and EMEA, Berlan is focused on accelerating public cloud opportunities for Cisco and its partners in the commercial market. That means looking beyond its growing base of services providers to also enabling an ecosystem of distribution, resale, integrator and ISV partners.

Hewlett-Packard Development Assigned Patent for Methods and Systems for Forming Slots in a Semiconductor Substrate (HispanicBusiness)
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) Development, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,510,948) developed by six co-inventors for “methods and systems for forming slots in a semiconductor substrate.” The co-inventors are Shen Buswell, Monmouth, Ore., Rio T. Rivas, Corvallis, Ore., Mahrgan Khavarl, Corvallis, Ore., Paul Templin, Encinitas, Calif., Mark H. MacKenzle, Corvallis, Ore., and Conrad Jenssen, Corvallis, Ore. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states:

Cisco announces Sourcefire acquisition (CNBC)

IBM breaks silence over STG channel overhaul (ChannelWeb)
International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) has vowed that no partner will be left out in the cold as it shifts the majority of its hardware business to a co-sell channel model. As exclusively revealed by CRN in July, Big Blue announced to top Systems & Technology (STG) partners last month that it will stop paying STG sales staff on all but its largest accounts globally, unless the deal is transacted by a partner. Today, International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is confirming the move to its wider partner base. The process is already under way in the UK, where just 23 to 27 of its largest accounts have been designated as “industry” accounts that will be immune from the changes.

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Fall Before Consumer-Confidence Report (SDDT)
U.S. stock-index futures slid, signaling the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index will drop for a second day, as investors awaited data that may show consumer confidence fell and tension grew over possible military action in Syria. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) declined at least 0.8 percent in early trading, pacing losses in the biggest U.S. companies. J.C. Penney Co. retreated 2.1 percent after Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management LP sold its stake in the retailer for $504 million. Tiffany & Co. rose before reporting quarterly results.

Hewlett-Packard Given Buy Rating at Brean Capital (HPQ) (DailyPolitical)
Brean Capital reissued their buy rating on shares of Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, Analyst Ratings Network reports. The firm currently has a $32.00 price target on the stock. Shares of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) traded up 0.69% on Thursday, hitting $22.555. 7,155,831 shares of the company’s stock traded hands. Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) has a 1-year low of $11.35 and a 1-year high of $27.78. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $25.9 and its 200-day moving average is $22.76. The company’s market cap is $43.509 billion.