From Barron's 6-25-07: "The watchword of the Chicago CONFAB was "convergence." The so-called triple-play packages offered by cable companies and traditional phone carriers are likely to become quadruple plays with the inclusion of wireless services...The addition of wireless coupled with the anticipated explosion in mobile video, games and Web surfing is going to hasten demand for broadband bandwidth. Cisco Systems' Chief Executive John Chambers couldn't be happier that Internet network capacity will probably need to grow 300% to 500% a year to keep pace. Cisco (CSCO) supplies the plumbing fixtures of the pipeline, such as routers and switches.

From Barron's 6-25-07: State Street (STT) recently bought Investors Financial's (IFIN) for $4.5B and investors didn't like it as it is diluitive in the short term. However, the CEO along with analysts think it will add to the bottom line in 2009 and enhanced their superb international position..."The recent weakness in State Street stock offers a chance to buy cheap shares in a major beneficiary of expanded global securities markets. The upside is more than 20%."

From Barron's 6-25-07: "When Oracle reports earnings early this week, it's expected to disclose a head-to-head contract win or two over Salesforce (CRM) for large corporate customers. In effect, Oracle will be giving notice to its feisty rival -- which has less than 5% of Oracle's $14 billion in annual sales -- that it's ready to compete in selling robust on-demand customer-relations management software to top enterprise customers, says Cowen analyst Peter Goldmacher.

From Barron's 6-25-07: "... the Street is obsessed with any scrap about AMD's much-anticipated new server processor, Barcelona. Whether or not Barcelona is the chip that saves AMD, that kind of short-term focus misses Intel's long-term strengths... Intel has the right instincts to complete its turnaround and blow past AMD.. the company is smartly planning beyond the next processor cycle and looking for long-term ways to build the business."