Local Tech Wire

MORRISVILLE, N.C. – Tekelec (NASDAQ: TKLC) carved out a level profit margin and managed to beat analysts’ expectations for the second quarter in 2010, the Morrisville telecom-gear maker announced Thursday.

The company announced earnings before morning trading began and said sales continue to suffer in emerging markets and some sales were being delayed by new security regulations being imposed in the Indian government.

reported second-quarter revenue of $109.5 million, down 4 percent for the same three-month period last year. Product orders fell 31 percent to $72.1 million. However, net income was $17.4 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, equal to second-quarter earnings per share a year ago.

For the first six months of 2010, revenue was $225.5 million, down 2 percent compared to $230.8 million for the first six months of 2009. The company’s orders for the first half of this year were $128.8 million, down 25 percent compared to $172.7 million for the first six months of last year.

Tekelec’s core business is making equipment that sets up and breaks down phone calls. The company also makes number portability (NP) technology that lets cell phone owners keep their phone numbers when they buy new phones or switch providers.

Tekelec’s NP footprint now spans 34 countries and includes service providers such as Verizon, T-Mobile Germany, Reliance Communications, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., and multiple Orange subsidiaries. The company recently won its 100th NP customer in India.

Tekelec announced acquisitions of Camiant and Blueslice in May to branch out into new services, such as managing information about the usage habits of phone company subscribers and helping phone companies and Internet providers manage bandwidth. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents during the second quarter of 2010 reflects the acquisitions.

The company’s stock closed at $13.77 a share Wednesday, down 52 cents. The shares are down 25 percent in the past year.

Tekelec has 1,250 employs in more than 25 offices around the world serving customers in more than 100 countries. The Morrisville headquarters employs 675.

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