04-09-2008

by Lester Young

Ah, 2007, t'was a very good year. It was, at least, for QuoteMedia, Inc. (OTCBB: QMCI), an industry-leading software developer and syndicated provider of financial market information and data. In its fiscal-year-ending (December 31st) financial results, the company announced a year-over-year revenue increase from $3,742,534 in 2006 to $5,569,107 for 2007, or a robust 49%. Further, QuoteMedia's deferred revenue balance (advance payments from customers that will be fully counted as revenue in future quarters as services are actually rendered) grew 19% from December 31, 2006 to the same date ... Continue

0 comments

04-08-2008

by Dan Blacharski

I’ve arrived here in Bangkok after a 22 hour trip. I didn’t get nearly as many Thai baht for my American dollars as I did a few years ago, but I was still able to buy dinner for four for about $15—so Thailand is still a bargain-hunter’s paradise for Americans. Europe, on the other hand, is another story, and I’m not looking forward to the experience at the exchange window I’ll have when I take my wife to London later this year. Overall though, the weak American dollar is affecting travelers, importers and ... Continue

0 comments

04-08-2008

by Dan Blacharski

Security experts have long taken the position that in order to stay secure, one must apply a set of best practices to setting passwords; to the point, a password must be changed on a regular basis, it must contain both letters and numbers, must not be a real word, and should not be anything that could be guessed. In other words, the more forgettable the password is, the better—setting your computer password as your dog’s name, or your spouse’s birthday is a big no-no. But, as the experts also point out, no matter how complex you ... Continue

0 comments

04-07-2008

by Brine Kline

Taking a look at OTCBB stocks with impressive gains the week ending April 4, finds three regional or community banks running counter intuitive to the banking melt down that is occurring with the large national banks. These banks avoided the high-risk sub prime market and tend not to make adjustable mortgage rate loans that many borrowers find they cannot afford when the teaser rate ends. Each of these community banks expects to weather the financial market crisis without being materially impacted. The biggest risk they face is possible lower revenue and earnings because of declining interest rates. Not surprisingly, ... Continue

0 comments

04-07-2008

by Lester Young

Pool & Spa News, an industry-leading business-to-business magazine for more than 45 years, has included the ecoONE Spa Treatment System on its list of the top 50 pool and spa products. The semimonthly publication has a solid and respected reputation throughout the field for keeping pool and spa businesses informed and up-to-date on the latest industry news and products. The ecoONE product line, which is developed and produced by Pacific Sands, Inc. (OTCBB: PFSD.OB), is comprised of a number of nontoxic environmental- and health-friendly products, including the Spa Treatment System, designed to reduce the ... Continue

0 comments

04-04-2008

by Brian Kline

Most OTCBB companies use a December 31 to December 31 fiscal calendar, which means SEC 10K annual reports for 2007 are now being filed. While it is always great when a young company reports profits, penny stock investing is not always about finding profitable companies. Strong revenue growth often highlights companies demonstrating financial performance that will soon pay off for investors. Typically, the payoff to investors will either be an increase in the stock price as other investors recognize the growth potential of these companies. Or a larger company will pay a premium price to acquire a promising young company. ... Continue

0 comments

04-03-2008

by Lester Young

WorldGate Communications, Inc. (OTCBB: WGAT), an industry leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of videophones and related technologies, has announced the signing of a long-term agreement with Aequus Technologies Corporation. Maker of the Ojo line of videophones for business and home applications, WorldGate markets its products to individuals through standard consumer electronics distribution outlets as well as to high-speed data (HSD) network operators. Aequus is the parent company of Snap! Telecommunications, which provides Video Relay Services (VRS) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services for the deaf and hearing-impaired. In addition to resolving recent disputes between the ... Continue

0 comments

04-03-2008

by Dennis Fitter

Not only are solar energy systems developers working on a line-up of innovative products, they are finding interesting ways to get their innovations into the marketplace. Municipal Mortgage and Equity, LLC (OTCBB: MMAB, pink sheets), through its subsidiary MMA Renewable Ventures has signed Power Purchase Agreements or PPAs for 14 new solar electric systems to be installed at Macy’s stores in California. In a uniquely new arrangement, MMA Renewable Ventures will own the solar energy systems to be supplied and installed by Sun Power Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), and sell the power at market competitive, predictably-priced rates to ... Continue

0 comments

04-02-2008

by Priya Nigam

America's thirst for alternative beverages just keeps on growing. We are not only dealing with overweight adults, but an alarmingly high rate of child obesity. With rising awareness of this trend, there has been a conscious shift from soft drinks to dairy-based and energy-boosting alternative beverages. This consumption pattern is so profound that even companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have taken huge strides to target health conscious consumers. The buzz word these days seems to be “organic” and the global organic foods industry has grown manifold over the past decade. In America, organic foods are fast ... Continue

0 comments

04-02-2008

by Dan Blacharski

There are people who sit around trying to come up with great domain names, register them, and wait for someone to buy it. It’s a little like playing the lottery. Here’s one all of us wish we would have come up with first—Fund.com. This domain recently sold for a record ten million dollars in an all-cash transaction, the highest price ever paid for an Internet domain. Who pays ten million dollars for a name? It’s worth taking a look behind the scenes and finding out. Such a high price tag means two things: The ... Continue

0 comments

04-01-2008

by Lester Young

Crystal Meth is a dangerous illegal drug. Not only can direct use of the substance have potentially deadly consequences, the long-term health impact of passive (or second-hand) exposure to methamphetamine is not fully understood. The risks of continued exposure for an unsuspecting public in areas where the drug was previously used – such as a home, apartment or automobile – could be significant and perhaps even life-threatening. The CDEX ID2 "Meth Scanner" has been designed to be a quick and low-cost tool to identify such hazardous locations before they're entered in order to minimize the overall public ... Continue

0 comments

04-01-2008

by Brian Kline

Yesterday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson proposed regulatory changes that will give the Federal Reserve control of virtually the entire financial industry. Key elements of the proposal are: • Transform the Federal Reserve from regulator of the banking industry to regulator of the entire financial industry • The Federal Reserve will have the ability to review the financial condition of any institution capable of affecting market stability • Merge the Securities and Exchange Commission with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission • Increased self regulation by stock exchanges Most of the details will not be worked out for several months and will require congressional ... Continue

0 comments

03-31-2008

by Dan Blacharski

The weak dollar is hitting home here at the Blacharski household, as we prepare for our two-month trip to Asia next week. On my first trip to Thailand some years ago, I got 40 Thai baht to the dollar. And going into the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos, my handful of greenbacks bought me so many Lao gip that I couldn’t fit it in my wallet. Today, an American bill will get me only 31 baht, and I’ll have to pay a little more for my khao pad goong as a result. And we wonder why ... Continue

0 comments

03-31-2008

by Priya Nigam

As the US slowdown gives way to recessionary trends, it has become more and more important to identify companies that are taking significant initiatives to stay ahead. While the global swimwear market is around $13 billion, women's and children’s swimwear accounts for more than four-fifths of the overall swimwear market. Inca Designs Inc (IDGI: OTCPK) is engaged in the designing, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing and sale of high-end swimwear and resort wear for the wholesale and retail markets. The company sells its products under the brand names INCA, INCA Girl, INCA Bag, and INCA Junior via around ... Continue

0 comments

03-28-2008

by Brine Kline

Solar Power Inc. (SOPW) is completely vertically integrated within the solar power industry. Manufacturing of all components, from solar cells to cables and support racks, occurs at a dedicated factory in China. The company designs solar systems to meet individual project requirements and then assembles, installs, and maintains the system. Solar Power Inc. delivers all sizes of systems including residential, business, large commercial, and government projects. Its vertical integration model includes operating from energy outlet stores, of which the first one opened in California in October 2007. The model is also based on selling territorial franchises. This week, the company ... Continue

0 comments