The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Apple, Adobe Systems, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications

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Sep 11, 2014, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL-Free Report), Adobe Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:ADBE-Free Report), Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq:CMCSA-Free Report), Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE:TWC-Free Report) and Charter Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR-Free Report).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

Will Apple Pay Brighten Outlook for Credit Card Processors?

September began on a busy note for Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL-Free Report) which launched four new products to gain steam even as its peers, Samsung and Motorola, came up new smartphones and smartwatches last week.

Apple unveiled two new smartphones, iPhone 6 and 6+, along with two new products – Apple iWatch and Apple Pay. Notably, the company has forayed into the new-age digital payments through the Apple Pay mobile wallet, available from next month.

This next generation mobile payment technology will now help Apple users make payments through Apple's Touch ID application at any wireless pay terminal. The Touch ID functions on finger print sensors or a one-time password for each transaction along with device-only account number and the near-field communication (NFC) chip. These features encase superior security and privacy for customers as it does not involve sharing of credit card details for any mode of payment. A similar highly secured version is also available for web-based transactions.

Apple intends to give a complete user-experience through this viable payment solution, thus increasing reliance on its mobile devices and making them a more integral part of its already large, loyal customer base.

Widespread Launch

In its initial phase, Apple has launched its mobile wallet extensively to cater to over 220,000 merchants only in the U.S. alone by partnering with global card processing giants.

WiFi Hotspots Boom May Hurt Wireless Operators

Thriving WiFi networks throughout the U.S. has become a major concern for large wireless operators. A recent study conducted by Adobe Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:ADBE-Free Report) revealed that currently more than 50% data transmission by smartphone users is taking place over WiFi networks.

If this trend continues, it may spell doom for national wireless service providers, who have invested significantly for the installation of high-speed 4G LTE networks.

Large business enterprises generally have point of presence throughout the world. A strong and robust wireless network is mandatory for these companies to always remain connected with its remote sites.

Cloud-managed WiFi network has become the most efficient technology for these large business houses. This technology offers several advantages including central manageability, smaller physical footprint and linear scalability.

In Apr 2014, large cable MSOs (multi service operators) together with several major IT firms and telecom organizations have formed an alliance to free up spectrums in order to expand the WiFi support network.

The major participants in this alliance called "WifiForward" include cable MSO Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq:CMCSA-Free Report), Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE:TWC-Free Report) and Charter Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR-Free Report), IT firms Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp., as well as telecom organization Consumer Electronics Association, among others.

"WifiForward" aims to strengthen existing unlicensed spectrums, free up new spectrums to use at several different frequency bands and establish rules to encourage growth and deployment of WiFi networks.

Earlier, research firm WeFi Inc. had reported that the number of commercial WiFi hotspots is expected to reach 10.55 million in the U.S. by 2018. WeFi further stated that the amount of mobile data offloaded in WiFi networks had surged an astounding 875% in the U.S. in 2013.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

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