Ciena's Personalities Multiply

Desperately seeking sales, Ciena (CIEN Quote) goes knocking on even more new markets.

Not long ago, the upstart networking gearmaker was announcing big new customers every quarter, but lately it seems that practice has been replaced by scores of smaller-rival acquisitions. And with telco buying trends still unfavorable to Ciena's core optical products, that pattern will likely continue.

The Linthicum, Md., tech shop met lowered first quarter financial targets Thursday and predicted 20% sequential top-line growth for the current period, which was in line with the Street's expectations. ...