Intermec Inc. of Everett said the Royal Mail, the United Kingdom’s primary postal service, has signed a contract for more than 25,000 of Intermec’s handheld mobile computers. Financial terms of the deal were not released. The Royal Mail’s chief information officer said they hope the Intermec computers will help the postal service improve efficiency and customer service while cutting operational costs.
Verizon wins more FiOS TV franchises
Bothell and Edmonds approved franchise agreements Tuesday night with Verizon to offer its new FiOS TV service. Verizon has now received approval from six local cities to offer video services starting later this year. Verizon’s fiber-optic Internet, video and phone network has been installed in several areas of south Snohomish and King counties.
International sales boost Avon profits
Strong sales internationally, especially in Latin America and Eastern Europe, helped Avon Products Inc. more than double its second-quarter profit, the cosmetics company said Wednesday. Its shares surged more than 17 percent. Chairman and Chief Executive Andrea Jung said raising product prices was helping offset the higher input costs that have hurt many cosmetic companies. As the price of oil rises, it costs more for companies to manufacture, package and distribute their products. The New York-based seller of beauty products said quarterly profit soared to $235.6 million, or 55 cents per share, from $112.7 million, or 26 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 17 percent to $2.74 billion.
United seeks pilot injunction
United Airlines on Wednesday asked a federal judge to stop four pilots and their union from abusing sick time and refusing to fly extra hours, saying illegal job actions have caused hundreds of cancellations. The injunction request accuses the Air Line Pilots Association of encouraging a sick-out, which is not allowed under the Railway Labor Act, the labor law governing airlines. It also said pilots were refusing to pick up extra flying. “ALPA’s communications are essentially a guide describing how to use sick leave inappropriately,” United’s injunction request said.
Visa Inc.’s profits exceed estimates
Visa Inc.’s profit rose a better-than-expected 41 percent in the most recent quarter, as more money changed hands using its credit and debit cards — particularly outside the United States. Visa stock rose in after-hours trading, after the San Francisco-based company said it earned $422 million, or 51 cents a share, for the April-to-June period. That is up from $299 million in the same period a year ago, before the company went public. The results, reported Wednesday after the market closed, included litigation and restructuring costs. Excluding those costs and other items, earnings per share amounted to 59 cents. Analysts had anticipated 48 cents per share, according to Thomson Financial. Operating revenue rose to $1.61 billion, above the average analyst forecast, from $1.37 billion a year ago.
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