The Battle Road Tech Index™ fell 0.7 percent for the week ended April 1, 2010, closing at 1739. For the week, 15 of the 25 Index components fell in value. Year-to-date, the index is up 3.5 percent, having started at a value of 1680.

SAP (SAP), Verizon (VZ), and Research in Motion (RIMM), were notable movers for the week:

Shares of SAP (NYSE: SAP, $48.64) climbed 3.3 percent this week as the company issued debt and manufacturing prospects rose. The business software leader, which typically operates with no debt on its balance sheet, elected to follow the trend of other technology giants and issue debt, taking advantage of the current rate environment. Much of SAP’s business comes from manufacturing companies, and with production picking up after the recession, its customers should be more willing to invest in technology.

Verizon (NYSE: VZ, $31.28) gained 3.0 percent following reports that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL, $235.97) may be developing a next-generation iPhone that would target CDMA carriers like Verizon. The current version of the iPhone is not compatible with CDMA networks, and the new version seems to indicate the end of Apple’s exclusive deal with AT&T (NYSE: T, $26.11). Though many analysts do not expect the phone to be available from Verizon before the end of the year, its arrival could result in market expansion and a share shift away from AT&T.

Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM, $68.48) fell 8.8 percent this week following disappointing Q4 earning results. The company earned $1.27 per share on $4.08 billion in revenues for its fiscal Q4 ended on February 28. The results fell short of consensus estimates of $1.28 per share in EPS on $4.31 billion in revenues. The company shipped fewer units than expected, due to a single customer tightening its inventory policies. ASPs and gross margin trends show that RIMM is more dependent on selling lower-priced, higher margin, entry level Curves instead of its higher priced premium products, Bold, Tour and Storm.