VMware (NYSE: VMW) is a sexy tech company that made investors a lot of money on the way up. It had a huge IPO in 2007 and climbed to lofty heights.

So while this may be bad news for those individuals and the companies they work for, it presents an opportunity for computer security experts like Vancouver-based Absolute Software Corp. (ALSWF.PK).

DemandTec, Inc. (DMAN)

IGM held more than half its assets in its top ten holdings during those three months—standard operating procedure for this fund—so strong performance by the largest U.S. tech stocks gave the fund's momentum a strong boost. IGM ranked 14th on the ETF Momentum Tracker Sector Table last week, up from 33rd on April 8. Whether IGM's momentum continues to build will depend largely on a few factors: how much tech spending slows in response to the turmoil in the U.S. economy, the success of the latest products released by major U.S. tech firms, and the ability of those firms to tap into overseas markets.

Employment figures are the really important news and this will be published on Thursday, with an expected 50,000 more jobs lost in June, taking unemployment to 5.4%. Tuesday saw the publication of the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index for June, and due to be published Tuesday is the Institute of Supply Management Survey, which tracks the manufacturing sector in the US.

Microsoft clearly wants to play to its incumbent strengths in the data center as a way to put increasing pressure on VMware (VMW).  By releasing a low cost product that bundles, Microsoft has positioned themselves as an incumbent disruptor:

The stocks recording a YTD gain include: The TriZetto Group, Inc. (TZIX), Ultimate Software Group Inc. (ULTI), Salesforce.com (CRM) and Kenexa Corporation (KNXA). Although these four companies vary widely in what they sell, they do have several key business attributes in common:  profitable (earnings now), applications that businesses need in growth and recessionary climates, the ability to beat out competitors (even much larger companies with deep pockets) and, a reasoned business growth plan.

Our sources tell us that Mentor has tapped Jon Woodruff, co-head of global technology M&A at Goldman, and Steve Baronoff, who runs M&A at Merrill. Recently, Goldman has gotten a workout helping defend targets from hostile bidders.

Targeted storage products aim to provide small and medium size businesses a way to save on space and power (the PowerVault MD 1120 storage device uses compact disk drives with high capacities).  Recent services offerings include disaster recovery as well as storage management solutions.  This move, I assume, has been in large part due to the high growth and niche nature of the external disk storage market. 

With Microsoft's blog on Hyper-V posted June 25, it appears that they're now ready to start putting the squeeze on VMware by announcing their intentions to go into areas under-served by VMware, including eventually entering the data center. The impact of their announced intentions is a signal to VMware's customers and prospects that Microsoft is on the way.

This is not to criticize Software AG; when someone serves you up a pitch right down the middle, hit it out of the park. But Mr. Gartner, are those two categories supposed to be mutually exclusive?

F4Q08 Earnings Call

Egbert raised her rating on the stock to Hold from Underperform, asserting that “investor expectations for a buyout have created a floor on TIBX stock that we believe is unlikely to come undone anytime soon.” She says the stock should “remain steady, even as the fundamentals deteriorate.”

The elephant in the room on why it isn’t getting recognition is the market has been in the dumps for the entire month of June, but I believe the primary reason it isn’t getting noticed is the first quarter was not nearly as strong as many hoped. I would have to agree on the last point, as I had expected a much stronger quarter due to the tremendous backlog they had generated in the 4th quarter. Now, lets not get to upset here as the quarter was still 100% stronger than last year! I have inquired about the quarter being weak and why more of the backlog was not done during the first quarter. I have been informed from the IR department that the reason for more of the backlog not being done in the first quarter was due to the lunar new year and the tremendous snow storm whipping out more than half of the quarter.

What's the future vision for Microsoft? The company has yet to provide convincing evidence that it "gets" the internet; trying to buy Yahoo (YHOO) has resulted in little more than a media circus.