Tag: software

  • ZTE reports 14.5% YoY revenue growth in H1 2025

    ZTE reports 14.5% YoY revenue growth in H1 2025

    An abstract image depicting a data report theme, featuring a glowing sphere connected by hands and surrounded by a cloudscape, with data servers in the background.

    ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, today announced its financial results for the first half of 2025. The company reported revenue of RMB 71.55 billion for the period, representing a year-on-year growth of 14.5%.

    According to ZTE’s results announcement today, in H1 2025, the net profit attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company reached RMB 5.06 billion. The net profit after extraordinary items attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company for the same period was RMB 4.10 billion.

    All in AI: accelerating AI-ICT integrated innovation

    In the first half of 2025, amid the trillion-scale market opportunities from AI technology transformation, ZTE advanced its “All in AI, AI for All” strategy to accelerate innovation through AI-ICT integration. The company capitalized on AI-driven opportunities across network infrastructure, computing infrastructure, industry applications and terminals.

    While consolidating its core network business with domestic operators and gaining international market share, ZTE further broadened deployments to meet rising demand for computing power and accelerated upgrades of its AI-powered terminals, contributing to faster revenue growth.

    In Q2, both revenue and net profit attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company showed growth from Q1. Revenue from the company’s second-curve business, represented by computing power and terminal devices, increased nearly 100% year-on-year, accounting for over 35% of total revenue. The company’s solid execution of its “Connectivity + Computing” strategy continues to deliver tangible results.

    During the reporting period, ZTE’s R&D expenses totaled RMB 12.66 billion, accounting for approximately 18% of operating revenue. The company filed approximately 94,000 global patent applications, with over 50,000 patents granted worldwide. In the field of AI, it has filed nearly 5,500 patent applications, with almost half already granted. In the semiconductor sector, the company has filed approximately 5,700 patent applications, with more than 3,700 patents granted to date.

    Government & enterprise, and consumer businesses continue to grow, with their revenue share exceeding 50%

    In the first half, ZTE recorded revenue of RMB 50.62 billion from the domestic market and RMB 20.93 billion from international markets, representing 70.7% and 29.3% of total, up 17.5% and 7.8% year-on-year, respectively. By segment, operator networks, government & enterprise, and consumer businesses reported revenues of RMB 35.06 billion, RMB 19.25 billion, and RMB 17.24 billion. The combined revenue contribution of the government & enterprise, and consumer businesses rose to over 50% of total revenue. As AI infrastructure deployment accelerates, the company’s revenue mix has shifted, while growth in the government & enterprise, and consumer businesses has also placed phased pressure on the gross margin.

    In operator networks segment, ZTE mitigated the impact of domestic 5G capex slowdown, continued to consolidate its core operator business base, and achieved steady gains in market share for key products. The company also expanded intelligent computing initiatives and deepened its focus on future-oriented technologies, including 5G-Advanced and 10-Gigabit access. As a result, the year-on-year revenue decline in the operator networks segment narrowed in the first half.

    In the government & enterprise business, ZTE capitalized on rising intelligent computing investment to deliver 109.9% year-on-year revenue growth, establishing this segment as the company’s primary growth engine.

    Domestically, the company leveraged increased intelligent computing capex by leading internet and industry players to scale partnerships.

    Internationally, it captured opportunities from the accelerated built-out of computing infrastructure, including data centers, servers and related systems, in major overseas markets, deepening collaboration with Chinese enterprises going global, and with local clients.

    In the consumer segment, ZTE has accelerated the deployment of a full-scenario smart ecosystem through a forward-looking, full-range portfolio of AI-enabled devices. During the first half, synergized growth across home terminals, smartphones, cloud PCs, and mobile internet products drove year-on-year revenue growth of 7.6% for the segment.

    The company adopted a “ZTE + nubia” dual-brand strategy, focusing on expanding open-channel markets in key regions including Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Alongside these efforts, its gaming terminal brand “Red Magic” has not only strengthened its presence domestically but also intensified efforts in overseas e-commerce platforms. As a result, the international revenue of its smartphone business grew by over 30% year-on-year, while its cloud PCs continued to demonstrate strong growth momentum.

    “Connectivity + Computing” strategy upgrade to advance AI for All

    On the connectivity front, ZTE continued to strengthen its core competitiveness across wireless and wired products. According to the latest research reports, the company’s shipments of 5G base stations and 5G core networks ranked No. 2 globally, and its RAN, 5G core network, optical access and optical transport products were rated industry leaders by major research institutions.

    In wireless networks, the company leveraged 5G-Advanced to unlock new business models such as the low-altitude economy, 10-Gigabit experiences and deterministic services, while continuing to drive the evolution toward 6G.

    In wired networks, the company provided key network capabilities through all-optical networks—ultra-high bandwidth, low latency and high reliability—thereby reinforcing the connectivity foundation that underpins intelligent upgrades across industries.

    In computing infrastructure, ZTE captured opportunities arising from large AI models by enhancing R&D and ecosystem collaboration in intelligent computing solutions. The company provided full-stack intelligent computing products spanning chips, intelligent computing servers, hyperscale clusters and AiCube all-in-one machine, complemented by software solutions, including resource management systems, training and inference platform, Nebula foundation model, and AI agent factory.

    This integrated hardware-software approach has established an open and accessible intelligent computing infrastructure, which is capable of addressing diverse AI application scenarios by providing end-to-end, full-stack and full-scenario intelligent computing solutions. To date, ZTE’s solutions have been implemented in over 18 vertical industries with more than 100 deployments serving as industry benchmarks.

    In the terminal field, ZTE advanced on-device AI applications and strengthening deployment across personal and home scenarios.

    For individual consumers, it broadened and deepened AI applications across its entire terminal ecosystems including smartphones, PCs, tablets, mobile internet products and wearables to accelerate AI democratization. In the first half, it launched multiple innovative AI-powered devices, including nubia Z70S Ultra Photographer Edition flagship, the compact and affordable nubia Flip 2, its first consumer-grade tablet—nubia Pad Pro, and new Neo-series gaming smartphones, to serve diverse youth demand.

    It also introduced a lineup of AI-powered cloud PCs, delivering premium smart display experiences for users.

    For home scenarios, ZTE focused on four key AI-powered solutions—AI home network, AI home computing, AI smart screen, and AI home robot, to build a full-scenario AI ecosystem that drives smart home upgrades.

    Amid a new wave of technological and industrial transformation, ZTE is committed to its vision “To lead in connectivity and intelligent computing”, continuing to advance the integration of AI with ICT. Adhering to the principles of extensive collaboration and open cooperation for mutual benefit, ZTE, together with its partners, aims to empower the real economy, and promote computing and AI for all, contributing to global digital and intelligent transformation.

  • Mastering Jira: How Teams Are Using Software to Supercharge Productivity

    Mastering Jira: How Teams Are Using Software to Supercharge Productivity

    Logo of Jira, a project management software, displayed on a torn background with 'TBC NEWS' text.

    In today’s fast-paced work environment, keeping projects on track can be a challenge. That’s where Jira comes in—a software platform designed to help teams plan, track, and manage work with precision. Originally built for software development, Jira has evolved into a versatile tool used across industries to improve efficiency and collaboration.

    Beyond Bug Tracking

    Many people think of Jira as just a bug-tracking system. While it started in software development to manage issues and defects, its capabilities have grown significantly.

    Teams now use Jira for project planning, workflow automation, and even strategic initiatives. Customizable dashboards and boards let users visualize progress, set priorities, and monitor deadlines in real time.

    “Jira isn’t just about tracking tasks; it’s about providing visibility and control,” said Liza Fernandez, a project manager at a multinational tech firm. “It allows us to see bottlenecks before they become problems.”

    Agile at Scale

    Jira is synonymous with Agile methodologies. Scrum and Kanban boards help teams break down work into manageable sprints or continuous flows. Reports like burndown charts and velocity tracking provide metrics that inform planning and improve delivery.

    According to Atlassian, teams using Jira for Agile projects report a 20–30% improvement in on-time delivery within the first six months of adoption.

    Automation and Workflow Customization

    One of Jira’s most powerful features is automation. Users can set rules to move tasks, assign issues, or send notifications automatically. This reduces manual work, minimizes errors, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

    Complex workflows can be designed to match the unique processes of any team, whether it’s IT operations, marketing campaigns, or product launches.

    Cross-Functional Collaboration

    Modern projects often involve multiple departments. Jira allows cross-functional teams to collaborate seamlessly by centralizing updates, comments, and documentation.

    Integrations with tools like Confluence, Slack, and Microsoft Teams further streamline communication and keep everyone on the same page.

    Metrics That Matter

    Data-driven decision-making is another advantage. Jira provides insights on task completion rates, team performance, and project timelines. Managers can identify trends, anticipate risks, and make adjustments before delays escalate into major issues.

    Jira has grown from a developer tool into a full-featured project management platform that empowers teams to work smarter, not harder. By providing transparency, enabling Agile practices, and automating repetitive tasks, it helps organizations deliver projects faster and with higher quality.

    For teams seeking to supercharge productivity, mastering Jira is no longer optional—it’s essential.

  • Hardcoded Horror: Cisco Leaves Enterprise Doors Wide Open (Again)

    Hardcoded Horror: Cisco Leaves Enterprise Doors Wide Open (Again)

    Cisco has patched a critical vulnerability in its Unified CM and Unified CM SME software caused by hardcoded SSH credentials that let attackers log in as root.

    Tracked as CVE-2025-20309 with a flawless 10/10 CVSS score, the flaw stems from static credentials embedded for development that were never meant to stay—but did.

    The bug impacts Engineering Special versions 15.0.1.13010-1 through 15.0.1.13017-1, regardless of system configuration, and could allow full command execution with root privileges.

    Cisco released a patch and plans to include the fix in the Unified CM 15SU3 update expected later this July.

    Organizations are urged to check system logs for root access attempts in /var/log/active/syslog/secure to detect potential breaches.

    The company claims no known exploitation in the wild, so for now, it’s only a ticking time bomb.

    Three additional medium-severity flaws were also patched in Cisco Spaces Connector, ECE, and BroadWorks, covering privilege escalation and XSS vulnerabilities.

    Cisco says none of these issues have been exploited—yet—but encourages users to update before attackers get any bright ideas.

  • Figma Plans $1.5B IPO – Because Why Not Monetize a Rollercoaster of Losses, Stock Splurges, and AI Anxiety?

    Figma Plans $1.5B IPO – Because Why Not Monetize a Rollercoaster of Losses, Stock Splurges, and AI Anxiety?

    Figma has filed its S-1 with the SEC, officially kicking off the countdown to one of the year’s most hyped tech IPOs.

    The design software darling revealed 2024 revenue of $749 million, up 48% from 2023, with a gross margin of 91%.

    First-quarter 2025 revenue rose another 46% year-over-year, with rolling 12-month revenue hitting $821 million.

    Despite reporting profits in 2023 and again in late 2024 and early 2025, Figma also disclosed a staggering $732 million loss last year due to a massive stock compensation spree.

    That windfall included 10.5 million stock options issued at $8.50 per share, generously rewarding employees as the company hemorrhaged cash.

    Co-founder and CEO Dylan Field conveniently cashed out $20 million worth of shares in 2024, thanks to a tender offer.

    Meanwhile, co-founder Evan Wallace—who exited in 2021—retains one-third of the super-voting Class B shares through a family trust but has handed full control to Field.

    Altogether, Field controls around 75% of Figma’s voting rights heading into the IPO, which is expected to raise up to $1.5 billion.

    This would put Figma neck-and-neck with CoreWeave for the title of 2025’s biggest IPO, because apparently the market loves a good financial seesaw.

    Despite reporting zero debt, Figma admits the real number could change depending on how it tweaks its revolving credit.

    The S-1, of course, leaves out critical IPO details like share count or pricing—because suspense is the new transparency.

    Venture backers include Index, Greylock, Kleiner Perkins, and Sequoia, though it remains unclear who among them plans to cash out.

    Figma acknowledged the growing threat of AI-powered design upstarts like Lovable, even as it insists it’s making “significant investments” in AI.

    Whether Wall Street buys into the hype or the hallucination, one thing’s for sure—Figma’s design for success is bold, bloated, and built to IPO.

  • Software firm jumps on the AI train

    Software firm jumps on the AI train

    Rocket Software, Inc., a global technology leader in modernization software, is advancing its mission of supporting enterprises at every stage of their modernization journey by expanding its Hybrid Cloud solutions to include cutting-edge generative AI (GenAI) functionality.

    These enhancements harness GenAI and automation to streamline the modernization of the business applications and data upon which businesses run. The goal of the new capabilities is to improve organizational agility and decision-making by unlocking the value of these applications and data, bridging them into hybrid cloud strategies.

    Global enterprises recognize AI’s role in enhancing efficiency and performance both in application modernization and in the broader scheme of enhancing organizational value.

    According to a 2024 Forrester survey commissioned by Rocket Software, 66% of respondents report that AI has significantly boosted efficiency in their IT modernization efforts, while 59% note improved technological capabilities for both employees and customers.

    “A number of industries are facing increasing pressure to prioritize decision-making for operational performance and risk management,” said Michael Curry, President of Data Modernization at Rocket Software.

    “The new and enhanced products in our Hybrid Cloud solution suite accelerate application understanding, streamline data integration, and enhance productivity. With over 34 years of experience, we have a unique vantage point from which we can help organizations unlock value from core business applications, while future-proofing operations.”

    Rocket Software continues to enhance its Hybrid Cloud solutions, enabling customers to take advantage of scalable, cost-efficient GenAI and automation in a safe way, that prioritizes robust security and regulatory compliance.

    This reflects the company’s commitment to delivering customer value through innovation, evidenced by the introduction of new and upgraded products, including:

    🔴 Rocket® Content Smart Chat: Provides a secure conversational AI interface for sensitive document access and querying, streamlining unstructured data classification, while ensuring regulatory compliance by keeping critical data in protected governance environments.

    Rocket Software was recognized as a Major Player in the 2024 IDC MarketScape for Intelligent Content Services, in part for its SmartChat Feature, underscoring its innovation in delivering intelligent, scalable, and AI-driven content services.

    🔴 Rocket® Enterprise Suite: Provides an AI natural language assistant to facilitate code analysis and accelerate mainframe application modernization and cloud transitions, enhancing developer productivity by simplifying complex code and the migration to cloud-native environments.

    Enterprise Suite is a key capability in modernization solutions from major Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) like Amazon Web Services® (AWS®), Google® Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft ®Azure®.

    🔴 Rocket® Visual COBOL®: Employs an AI natural language assistant to simplify COBOL code understanding, modernize applications, and ensure seamless integration with hybrid cloud environments.

    This reduces the learning curve for developers, accelerating the modernization of distributed COBOL applications and integrating seamlessly with hybrid cloud infrastructures while preserving core business logic.
    “Following the acquisition of AMC, Rocket Software is releasing new functionality in less than six months—an uncommon move in the industry where many mature software companies tend to slow down evolution after an acquisition,” said Peter Rutten, Research Vice-President, Performance Intensive Computing, IDC.

    “This rapid progression highlights Rocket’s commitment to enhancing support for mainframe and distributed COBOL application modernization and re-platforming in alignment with hybrid cloud and migration strategies.”

    These new additions will join the company’s existing Hybrid Cloud solutions including Rocket® Data Intelligence, Rocket® Data Replicate and Sync, Rocket® Mobius®, Rocket® Cloud Connector, and Rocket® Data Virtualization, to round out the suite and further enhance end-to-end modernization and real-time data management.