Key Tronic net income off slightly

Key Tronic Corporation, the Spokane-based contract manufacturer, announced Tuesday its net income for third quarter 2006 came to $917,000 or 9 cents per share, compared with $852,000 or 9 cents per share in the third quarter of 2005.

Total revenue reported for the third quarter came to $45.6 million, compared to $49.7 million for the same period in 2005 and $45.4 million for the previous quarter of 2006.

“We had another solid quarter with strong operating efficiencies and continued year-over-year earnings growth, despite the challenge of helping our customers meet the new European directive on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment,” said Jack Oehlke, Key Tronic’s president and CEO.

The company also said it expects revenue in the range of $46 million to $50 million in the fourth quarter, with earnings between 7 and 12 cents per share.

•Crown West Realty recently purchased a multi-building office complex in Morrisville, N.C., for $17.3 million, a company news release said.

The Spokane Valley-based company — which owns Spokane Business and Industrial Park — also has more than a dozen properties Washington, North Carolina, Arizona and Colorado, its website said.

Crown West Realty owns and manages nearly seven million square feet of leased office and industrial properties along with a significant amount of undeveloped industrial land.

•Skype, eBay Inc.’s Internet telephone subsidiary, is extending its reach with “Skypecasts” — free audio conferences for up to 100 participants.

Skype is used mainly for person-to-person calling but also has a conferencing feature for up to 10 people, who can all speak at the same time. A Skypecast, however, will be moderated by a host who controls when someone can speak.

The service launches Wednesday in an “early preview” form, said Skype’s vice president of global marketing, Saul Klein.

Users will be able to find Skypecasts on the Skype Web site, where all the conferences will be listed publicly.

Skype envisions Skypecasts as a way for people to discuss shared interests and hobbies. Six Apart Ltd., the parent of blogging and networking services TypePad, Movable Type and LiveJournal, plans to promote Skypecasts as a way of expanding online communities, Klein said.