Genetic products company
Affymetrix Inc.
(
AFFX
) recently announced that
iPass Inc.
(
IPAS
), the leading global provider of Wi-Fi and enterprise mobility
services, will provide global Wi-Fi connectivity for its workforce
via its iPass Open Mobile service.
Enterprise mobility service as a discipline has gained attention
in recent years. It caters to the business needs of technology
focused firms. The efficient management of streamlined business
processes via enterprise mobility is the trademark of pioneering
organizations such as Affymetrix.
iPass Open Mobile provides secure and cost-effective services
for enterprise mobility which allows Affymetrix employees to be
globally mobile, based on an array of devices. It also administers
access to the largest Wi-Fi network in the world encompassing over
one million hotspots.
With the global Wi-Fi connectivity, Affymetrix intends to
improve timely access of corporate data for its employees. Per
management, the enterprise mobility services provided by iPass Open
Mobile will improve data management on mobile devices. This will
curtail communication costs while increasing the productivity of
business travelers.
Affymetrix holds a leading position in the gene expression
products and services market. Along with
Illumina Inc.
(
ILMN
), it is one of the two major providers of microarray technologies,
primarily used in the field of genetic research.
Affymetrix is shifting its research and development (R&D)
focus from the discovery and exploration markets to the
faster-growing validation and routine testing markets. The company
considers cytogenetics and cancer research to be promising areas
for expansion, representing market opportunities of roughly $200
million and $500 million, respectively.
However, Affymetrix operates in an intensely competitive
industry and faces risks associated with lower microarray demand
and R&D spending by its customers. Such danger could arise due
to a weak economy and government actions including budget cuts.
We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Affymetrix. The
stock carries a short-term Zacks #2 Rank (Buy).
AFFYMETRIX INC (AFFX): Free Stock Analysis
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ILLUMINA INC (ILMN): Free Stock Analysis Report
IPASS INC (IPAS): Free Stock Analysis Report
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