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NEC Considers Bid for Software Provider CSG Systems, Sources Reveal

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Japanese technology giant NEC Corp is exploring the possibility of acquiring CSG Systems, a U.S.-based software provider specializing in customer care and billing solutions for telecommunications companies. NEC has been in discussions with its advisers, including investment bankers at Morgan Stanley, about a potential offer for CSG, according to sources familiar with the matter. These sources, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the talks, noted that the discussions are still in the early stages and there is no certainty a deal will proceed. Additionally, another bidder could emerge, or NEC might ultimately decide not to pursue the acquisition.

CSG, which is based in Englewood, Colorado, offers software and business services to telecom providers globally, focusing on areas like revenue management, customer experience, and payments. Its clientele includes major companies such as Comcast, Charter Communications, and Dish TV. News of the potential acquisition discussions led to a 14% jump in CSG’s stock price, bringing it to a 52-week high before some of those gains were pared back.

NEC and CSG both declined to comment on the reports, and Morgan Stanley did not respond to requests for comment. Despite facing challenges in maintaining market share, CSG reported a 3% increase in revenue for its most recent quarter, which reached $295.1 million, largely driven by strong performance in its customer experience and payments segments. CSG’s largest customer, Comcast, which accounts for 20% of its revenue, extended its contract with the company recently.

CSG has been under pressure as telecom giants aim to cut costs while focusing heavily on infrastructure investments for 5G deployment. Additionally, CSG’s chairman, Ron Cooper, announced that he will step down in May, with Marwan Fawaz, a seasoned technology executive, set to succeed him.

Founded in 1899, NEC has transitioned its focus from being the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer to concentrating on IT services, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications equipment. The company currently has a market value of 3.67 trillion yen ($23.62 billion).

 

Apple Loses Smartphone Sales Crown in China, Drops to Third in 2024

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Apple has lost its position as China’s top smartphone seller in 2024, with local competitors Vivo and Huawei surpassing the tech giant. According to data from research firm Canalys, Apple’s annual smartphone shipments in China declined by 17%, marking its largest drop since 2016.

Vivo, the budget smartphone maker, secured 17% of the market share, while Huawei, with its premium offerings, held 16%, and Apple dropped to third with 15%. This marks a significant shift in market dynamics, as domestic manufacturers gain strength in one of Apple’s largest global markets.

Apple’s decline is attributed to various factors, including the lack of artificial intelligence capabilities in its latest iPhones, which has hurt its competitiveness in China, where services like ChatGPT are unavailable. Canalys analyst Toby Zhu commented that Apple’s premium market position faces multiple challenges, such as Huawei’s resurgence in the flagship segment, the rise of domestic foldable phones in high-price segments, and Android brands like Xiaomi and Vivo building consumer loyalty through technological innovations.

Despite previously experiencing four years of growth following U.S. sanctions on Huawei in 2019, which restricted the company’s access to American technology, Apple now faces a strong challenge from Huawei. The Chinese company has seen a resurgence, with a 24% rise in shipments during the fourth quarter of 2024 after launching new phones with locally-made chipsets.

To combat the decline, Apple resorted to offering discounts. In early January, Apple launched a four-day promotion in China, offering price cuts of up to 500 yuan ($68.50) on iPhone 16 models through official channels. Major Chinese e-commerce platforms followed suit, with Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace offering discounts up to 1,000 yuan ($137) on the latest iPhone 16 series devices.

Among the top five smartphone vendors, Xiaomi posted the strongest growth, with a 29% increase in shipments in the fourth quarter, while Oppo and Vivo saw increases of 18% and 14%, respectively. Overall, smartphone shipments in China rose by 4% year-on-year to 285 million units in 2024.

 

Amazon Opens Walk-In Centre in Cape Town to Expand Market Share in South Africa

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Amazon has launched a walk-in centre in Cape Town, South Africa, aimed at supporting independent sellers and helping them grow their businesses. This move is part of Amazon’s strategy to capture more market share in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it competes with local e-commerce leader Takealot, owned by Naspers.

Robert Koen, Managing Director of Amazon Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the importance of expanding Amazon’s product range to attract more customers. The company’s global marketplace relies heavily on independent sellers, with over 60% of Amazon’s sales worldwide coming from small- and medium-sized businesses. The new centre in Cape Town is designed to help these sellers reach a wider customer base by offering various services, including on-the-spot registration for selling on Amazon.co.za, training, product imaging, cataloguing assistance, and shipping and logistics support.

Since Amazon launched in South Africa in May of the previous year, the Cape Town centre represents the company’s first significant infrastructure in the region. Koen reported positive results from the recent holiday season, with the company exceeding its goals and seeing strong feedback from first-time shoppers, particularly appreciating the speed of delivery.