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Image source: Getty Images
On Monday, American Banker – a niche publication for top banking executives – released its banking forecast for 2022 based on the results of a survey of 175 senior executives, including senior, regional and divisional executives from global financial companies and community. American Banker focuses on a range of financial and banking topics relating to innovation, technology and regulation in this industry.
Main cryptographic findings from banking research
According to the report, cryptocurrencies will play a bigger role in the traditional banking industry next year, although only 2 in 10 financial advisers are currently advising their clients on crypto holdings. Other crypto highlights from the 22-page report include:
- Almost 40% of those surveyed said they were likely / somewhat likely to offer crypto services to retail customers next year.
- About 10% currently manage Bitcoin or other digital currencies within their accounts receivable.
- On average, respondents said that 4% of their consumer customers currently own some type of crypto.
- Sixty percent of survey participants said they expect their consumer customers’ cryptocurrency ownership to increase in 2022.
- Only 2% of industry executives who responded to the survey said their institutions already offer cryptocurrency transactions, but others are preparing to take the plunge.
As U.S. lawmakers and regulators tackle crypto, the investigation report further found that about 66% of executives surveyed said more political work could boost competition in products such as coins. stable. “We expect agencies to provide more clarity on how to manage the risks associated with digital assets, including crypto assets, in 2022, noting that in-flight legislative efforts can dramatically change the regulatory landscape,” the researchers said. in the report.
Survey sample and methodology
Data for the American Banker report was collected from 175 executives and qualified employees of banks and fintechs of various sizes who responded to an online survey. Just under half of those surveyed are senior managers and senior managers of business units. Some 42% are division and service heads, directors and senior managers, senior executives and managers. About 1 in 5 people, or 21%, work in a global or national bank. The same percentage works in community banks. Almost as many, or 19%, work in regional banks. Some 16% work in credit unions and almost one in four work in a fintech company.
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We strongly believe in the Golden Rule, which is why the editorial opinions are our own and have not been previously reviewed, endorsed or endorsed by the included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all the offers on the market. Editorial content for The Ascent is separate from editorial content for The Motley Fool and is created by a different team of analysts. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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I suspect we’ll be hearing a lot about sidelined Huawei projects in the coming weeks and months. Add this one to the list: The Chinese hardware giant was reportedly teaming with Google on a smart speaker before all hell broke loose with the Trump administration ban.
In fact, the device was supposed to make its debut at IFA in September, but, well, you know the rest of that story. The report comes courtesy of The Information, which, in turn, comes from a Huawei employee who understandably spoke under the condition of anonymity.
The story certainly checks out from a partnership perspective. The two have worked together in the past, and Google’s made a point of partnering with third-party hardware makers to get its smart assistant into more homes. Back in May, China overtook the U.S. in smart speaker market share. Fellow Chinese hardware maker Lenovo, meanwhile, has been a frequent partner, including the recently released Smart Clock display.
After years of accusations and hand-wringing, Huawei was added to the U.S. trade blacklist, putting the brakes on the company’s ability to do business with the likes of Google. That includes Android (though a temporary reprieve was put in place), along with likely a number of other unreleased/unannounced projects.
Huawei has reportedly been working on its own alternative to Android and the Google Play store, though at present, the ban could have a potentially devastating impact on its bottom line.
Neither Huawei nor Google have commented on the report.

domain: news


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Amid the spread of the coronavirus, Ulta Beauty Inc. said it plans to put many of its retail staffers on leave.
If you ask anyone right now, what is going on, their general response is, “we are still trying to figure it out.”
The coronavirus outbreak will accelerate commercial real estate trends that had been forming and cause dramatic changes in the industry faster than had been anticipated.
The Kroger Co. is doing its part to promote physical distancing in its stores.
Neiman Marcus Group’s struggle to ease its massive debt load has reached a critical stage, compounded by the slowdown in business amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Pier I Imports is temporarily laying off a large number of its employees and reducing pay for those that remain to help mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19.
Adding facial tissue in the restrooms. Using proven disinfectants rather than just environmentally sensitive products. Repeatedly cleaning elevator buttons, door handles and other frequently touched building fixtures.
While the names on the back of the jerseys have changed over the decades, from Strawberry to Syndergaard, the retail chain that sold them has been a fixture for more than a century: Modell's Sporting Goods.


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Car sales in India fight with downturn. In the month of January, the fourth month of depreciation, 7.6 percent of fall was noted in car sales. SIAM (Society of Indian Auto Mobile) declares statistics and scrutinize for government support in bevorstehend budget.
Car sales in the month of January ran down to 1,60,289 units while in the same month of year 2013, car sales stood at 1,73,449 units. These statistics was released for domestic vehicles. Statistics of Passenger Vehicles which include utility vehicle and cars fell 9.3 percent.
Utility vehicle is splendent locale in "Auto Market" but hikes in diesel price destroy sells. Deputy Director General of Auto Industry Sugato Sen said to reporters that we have a giant expectation from the government to support. He also said that we are also expecting that excise duty will get reduced.
Vehicle demands in rural areas prompted randomly because of heavy monsoon. But in Urban areas, car demands have gone down because "economy proceeded at its slowest rate. "Reducing Factory gate duties on some products will be also getting regulated, as per Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. Hyundai Motor India Ltd, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors sales downfall in domestic car category. For exciting the market, 70 new cars have been launched in Auto Expo which may help to increase the overall sales.


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Apple shares extended their gains today amid a generally positive response to the launch of the new iPhone 5, aimed at keeping the California firm ahead of its peers in the hot smartphone market.
Apple shares added 1.97 percent to close at $682.98, building on modest gains on Wednesday.
Brian White at Topeka Capital Markets said he maintains a strong buy rating for Apple.
"We felt Apple executed to perfection and we believe the iPhone 5 was even more aesthetically pleasing than many had expected with a completely redesigned architecture," he said.
"As such, we remain aggressive buyers of Apple as the iPhone 5 rolls out around the world and potential new products are unveiled."
Trip Chowdhry at Global Equities Research said that with the new iPhone, Apple appears to be assuring its place as one of the leaders in the sector, along with handsets powered by Google's Android system.
In a note to clients, Chowdhry said "98 percent of (the) mobile market will be shared by Google Android and Apple iOS. There will not be any third spot left. Nokia, Microsoft and (BlackBerry maker) Research in Motion will struggle in the remaining two percent of the market."
He added, "Innovation velocity of both Apple and Google far exceeds that of its peers."
Analyst Shaw Wu at Sterne Agee said the iPhone 5 "is a significant upgrade and will drive a powerful product cycle."
He added that the quick deliveries, set to start September 21, will mean strong sales but that fourth quarter deliveries "could be limited by supply constraints."
The new iPhone has a rich four-inch (10-centimeter) display prime for the red-hot smartphone market, in which screen size is a key factor for buyers, according to Nielsen senior vice president Jeff Wender.
Apple will start taking orders for the phone Friday and begin shipments on September 21 in the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, and the phone will be available in 100 countries by the end of the year.
Pricing for US customers will start at $199 with a two-year telecom service contract.
Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said Apple may ship between 48 million and 53 million iPhones in the fourth quarter and "up to 266 million" in 2013.
An iPhone change with the potential to irk fans is a new "Lightning" connector to replace 30-pin connections, the piece that connects devices to computers, power outlets or docking stations.
Apple will sell adaptors for plugging new generation iPhone and iPod touch devices into accessories already owned, such as stereo speakers or car sound systems.
From left:Jane Prentice MP (Member for Ryan),Senator Ian MacDonald (Senator for Queensland,Delegation Leader), Speaker to Parliament, Dr Jiko Luveni, ...
Business grants will be issued annually: PMThe Fijian Government’s business grant initiative to small and micro enterprise owners around the country introduced this year will become an annual event, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Aca wants an end to racial abuseFormer Fiji 7s and national age-group player Sakenasa Aca does not want any other rugby player subjected to the racist vitriol he had to endure at a club match over the weekend.
Pope prays for peace in Syria, KoreaPope Francis prayed for a "political solution" in Syria and for "reconciliation" on the Korean peninsula in his first Easter Sunday message in front of a crowd in St Peter's Square.


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Brian Peterson Spotlights Greater Appreciation for Shopify Inc (US) (SHOP) Long-Term Growth Prospects After Management Meetings
The total addressable market opportunity for SHOP shines brightly ahead as Raymond James' Brian Peterson makes a bullish case for the Canadian e-commerce platform.
Raymond James analyst Brian Peterson is adding more fuel to his bullish fire on Shopify Inc (US) (NYSE:SHOP) on back of a meeting with the Canadian e-commerce platform’s management team at headquarters in Ottawa just last week. Not only does Peterson remain confident, he likewise has emerged with even more “appreciation” for SHOP’s long-term opportunity for growth ahead.
Believing that the total addressable market (TAM) opportunity is “understated,” the analyst maintains an Outperform rating on SHOP stock without suggesting a price target. (To watch Peterson’s track record, click here)
SHOP management forecasts a whopping $58 billion TAM, which indicates to Peterson “plenty of headroom” against the Street’s present revenue expectations for the year of $660 million. However, the analyst adds that “the TAM mostly reflects an SMB-oriented customer opportunity (merchants with <500 employees).”
Peterson asserts, “We view the recent success in Shopify Plus (including triple digit growth in MRR in 3Q17) as evidence that Shopify can scale well beyond SMB digital commerce solutions and thus makes this TAM projection look conservative. We also note that this reflects little monetization of SHOP’s wealth of business and digital commerce data, which can help facilitate additional revenue generating activities (we’ve already seen this with Shopify Capital). While the long-term picture remains bright, our partner conversations also remain quite positive, and we’d expect SHOP to report solid upside to 4Q17 results in late January or early February. Shares are definitely not inexpensive at 10x our 2018 revenue projection, although we believe solid upside to estimates will allow SHOP to sustain its valuation premium to the 30%+ growth group (which trades at ~7.5x sales).”
With over $1 billion sold through Shopify’s platform between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Peterson sees strong strides forward in sustaining a gross merchandise volume (GMV) ramp in the fourth quarter, betting on high probability for short-term upside.
That being said, Wall Street traders should “brace” themselves for a rising seasonal dip in the first quarter turnout moving forward, as even this bullish anticipates a “reverse course” of seasonal tailwinds in the first quarter of 2018.
TipRanks illustrates a bullish Wall Street backdrop for Shopify, with 8 out of 11 analysts polled in the last 3 months rating a Buy on the tech player and 3 maintaining a Hold. The 12-month average price target stands at $113.75, marking 12% upside from where the stock is currently trading.


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Imagine yourself standing next to Susie Fogelson, senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy for Food Network as you’ve just been introduced as the next Food Network Star. You’re on your way to the big time.
This week’s guest, Dr. Paul Brennen, runs the Culinary department at Nashville State Community College which is where many of the city’s food service workers begin their careers talks about what it takes to succeed in kitchens, the best path to success and how much money you might hope to make. Dr. Brennen has seen it all from his experience in the industry, including the highly-respected title of WCMC Master Chef.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to work on a line, you’ll learn all about it here.


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South Korean company LG Electronics has developed a battery-powered face mask to ensure fresh supply of air and address breathing complications.
The mask called PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier, comes with two air filters – similar to those used in home air purifiers – and a special case that disinfects the mask with ultra-violet light.
“At a time when consumers are seeking ways to make life safer and more convenient, it’s important that we are able to offer solutions that add measureable value,” Dan Song, president of LG Electronics, said.
“The PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier is an exciting addition to our growing line-up of products designed to deliver meaningful health and hygiene benefits,” he added.
The mask will be available in the fourth quarter of the year in select markets, according to the company. It did not disclose the price.
LG’s new mask comes with dual fans that allow users to take in clean and filtered air. They are fitted with patented respiratory sensors that detect the cycle and volume of the wearer’s breath and adjust fan speed accordingly.
The fans automatically speed up to assist air intake and slow down to reduce resistance when exhaling to make breathing effortless, LG said.
The one-of-a-kind case can charge the mask and send notifications to Android and iOS mobile apps, when filters need to be replaced.
They come with lightweight 820 milliampere hours battery that offers up to eight hours of operation in low mode and two hours on high.


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Majority Of Delta-8 THC Products In The U.S. Are Mislabeled
Says a review of more than 50 different products.
It’s no secret the U.S. CBD industry and its customers have been clamoring for more stringent regulations on product testing and labeling. Since the federal government passed the Farm Bill in 2018 to legalize the growing and sale of hemp, activists and business owners have prioritized tightening up regulations in hopes of forcing out black market dealers and “bad actors.”
But nearly three years after the Farm Bill passed, a recent study suggests authorities have yet to make any meaningful progress. In fact, lagging regulations seem to have opened the door for companies to be sloppy and — in some cases — dishonest.
A long pattern of mislabeling
An investigation of 51 popular Delta-8 products from over four dozen different manufacturers concluded that companies regularly mislabel their gummies, vaporizer cartridges, and other items that suggest incompetency at best and intentional chicanery at worst.
The study, from CBD Oracle, commissioned California-based FESA Labs to determine whether Delta-8 THC products contained under the legal limit of 0.3 percent delta-9 THC or less, also found labs appeared to fake their label claims’ Certificates of Authenticity in hopes that customers wouldn’t investigate the results themselves.
Similar CBD product tests in the past have detailed a long pattern of mislabeling. But the CBD Oracle report claims to be the first to specifically test Delta-8 THC products, which feature similar properties to the Delta-9 THC found in marijuana but instead are derived from hemp.
39 of the 51 products tested had less Delta-8 THC than the product label claimed. One concentrate from Los Angeles-based CBD producer Binoid, contained only a third of the advertised Delta-8.
More than three-quarters of the tested products had more than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC—above the legal limit permitted by the Farm Bill. FESA found a product from Oregon-based Delta Alternatives that claimed 0.28 percent Delta-9 THC actually showed a whopping 22.34 percent Delta-9 in the lab test.
“The problem for many of the Delta-8 companies based on our testing is that the customers probably shouldn’t trust what’s on the labels,” said Jayneil Kamdar, FESA chemist who conducted the tests.
An estimated 160 companies across the United States sell Delta-8 products, including flower, concentrates, vape products, edibles, and oils among other products.


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We’ve seen Chinese-branded smartphones making waves in market regions like India, Russia, and even Africa. Unfortunately, only a handful of Chinese handsets have been able to break into the US market.
Even phones produced by Chinese giants like Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Lenovo are not even close to making it into the US market.
However, the latest survey by analysts has shown that new Chinese devices will take the US market by storm. Well, haven’t we all heard that line before?
In fact, according to one new report, so-called analyst have been making that same prediction for over 10 years now, and nothing to show for it.
According to Jeff Fieldhack, a Research Director, he claims that there has been limited change on this front considering the fact that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) own more than 43 percent of handset market share compared to the US that is just 18 percent.
Going by one report, ZTE and Alcatel have managed to claim a seat in the top five, as they have been observed cracking through with solid masses within prepaid avenues.
Another reason why these smartphone companies can’t break into the US market is simply that Carriers continue to hold the power in the US dominating over 70 percent of sales. US carriers are not interested in developing smartphone brands.
The US handset mainly commanded by Verizon Wireless with 147.2 million subscribers (as of second half 2017), whilst AT&T Mobility has about 138.8 million subscribers (as of third half 2017), leaving T-Mobile with 70.7 million subscribers (as of third quarter of 2017).
According to Jeff, “Carriers expect brands to either bring in users on their own recognizance or for brands to spend big money to do so. Further, it is expensive to carry many brands, many stock keeping units (SKUs) – especially when many do not sell well.”


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- Three electric vehicle (EV) vehicles have been added to the DHL Express fleet in the Philippines.
- The effort is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s global vision to deploy 60% of electric vehicles by 2030.
Adding electric vehicles to promote sustainable logistics services
Three electric vehicle (EV) vehicles have been added to the DHL Express fleet in the Philippines. This is a testament to “a solid step towards the company’s goal of reducing its environmental impact and promoting green logistics“.
The EVs put into operation by the world’s leading international courier service provider are products of BYD (Build Your Dreams) and can travel up to 250 km when fully charged with a battery pack, payload up to 3.5 cubic meters. DHL says it will roll out this model for delivery in the Makati, Ortigas and Pasay areas of Metro Manila.
BYD is a renowned manufacturer of zero-emissions heavy and medium-duty vehicles. It is also a developer of core components for electric vehicles such as batteries, motors and power electronics. The automaker establishes a complete, zero-emissions ecosystem powered by clean energy, thereby reducing the world’s dependence on oil.
Using electric vehicles for the purpose of reducing emissions
“With our goal of reducing logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050, we are attempting to reach a larger milestone. The purchase of these electric vehicles is our first step towards greener logistics, which will benefit the environment, our customers, and our people,” said Mr. Nigel Lockett, DHL Express Philippines Country Manager.
The effort is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s global vision to deploy 60% of electric vehicles by 2030. And the group is expected to strengthen its investment portfolio, specifically for EV logistics as well as the accelerated rate of decarbonisation.
“We are proud to bring this important and sustainable solution to our operations here in the Philippines. These new additions contribute two significant advantages to our fleet: reduced carbon emissions and lower operating costs,” said Mr. Promod George, DHL Express Philippines Senior Director of Operations.
The company reports that transportation accounts for 15% of global CO2 emissions. With 95% of vehicles using petrol or diesel engines, the most significant change that can be made is to switch to a greener mode of transport. In addition, Deutsche Post DHL Group will invest a total of €7 billion over the next 10 years in measures to reduce CO2, including further expanding its fleet of zero-emission e-vehicles.
DHL opens two-way rail service on China-Laos high-speed railway


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The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) has launched its wholesale customer website for licensed, private retailers of non-medical cannabis in BC.
The advanced online order system will enable private retailers to easily access the LDB’s wholesale product assortment and place orders.
Once private retailers have received their licences from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch and have been issued a provincial sales tax number from the Ministry of Finance, they will be required to complete the LDB’s private retailer registration process. This process is expected to take between two to three business days to complete.
The LDB has been working to develop a quality wholesale assortment of dried cannabis, cannabis oils, capsules and seeds. Private retailers will be responsible for procuring their own range of cannabis accessories.
The LDB will apply a 15% markup on the landed cost of cannabis.
The LDB announced in August 2018 that it would apply a 15% markup on the landed cost of cannabis distributed throughout the province to retail stores and the LDB’s online store. The 15% wholesale markup highlights the LDB’s commitment to being as competitive as possible with the illicit market.
The LDB has released average wholesale pricing to assist private retailers with business forecasts. Specific wholesale pricing will be available to private retailers once they have completed the wholesale customer registration process.


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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (CBS.MW) -- A Pennsylvania State University researcher says the popularity of sex on the Internet may be over-rated.
Dr. Amanda Spink reviewed search requests of Excite.com and found 8.5 percent of queries last May were for sex-related or pornographic Web sites, down from 16.8 percent in May 1997. By comparison, searches involving commerce, travel and jobs rose from 13.3 percent for 24.7 during the same period, she said.
"The content of the Web has shifted toward commerce sites," she explained. "Also, the nature of people who search the Web has changed. In '97, you probably had a higher proportion of university people, of young guys who knew about computers. Now you have more the average person, and the average person may not be as interested in sex and pornography." She added that almost 10 percent of Web searches were in languages other than English.
Easter boosts spiritual Web sites
Traffic to Web sites focused on religion and spirituality rose sharply, ahead of Easter and Passover. Nearly 1.2 million visitors logged into such sites during the week ending March 24, according to Nielsen/NetRatings NTRT, an Internet audience measurement firm. DaySpring Greeting Cards and Christian Book Distributors were the fastest growing sites in the category.
Google gets new competitor
A new Internet search engine will launch later today. Developer Apostolos Gerasoluis said Teoma.com would go live at 5 p.m. Pacific time. "We are the next generation in search," the Rutgers University mathematics professor told the Associated Press. Gerasoluis sold his previous company to Ask Jeeves ASKJ last year, and since that time has been developing new search technology. Teoma is different from Google in that it also returns links to related subcategories of a searched subject, as well as a section of "expert" sources, he said.
MusicNet hires analyst to expand distribution
A veteran analyst of the growth of the Internet business has signed on as director of strategic planning and business development for MusicNet, a music subscription service backed by RealNetworks and several major music labels. Mark Mooradian, a seven-year veteran of Jupiter Media Metrix
will pursue additional distribution for the service, beyond its current outlets, America Online
Segway Transporter auction ends
An Internet millionaire successfully bid for one of the three Segway Human Transporters sold through Amazon.com
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Elon Musk succeeds to be on the top of the news every day. Now, he brings the rumors about the Tesla phone. Since his being Twitter’s new owner, he has made a lot of changes and upgrades on the social media platform. Today, CEO of Tesla shared a tweet like threating Apple and other phone manufacturers. Musk claimed that he would produce “an alternative phone” if Twitter is removed from the App Store and Google Play Store. Here are the details.
Tesla Phone may launch if Twitter is removed
Elon Musk is changing a lot of things on the social media platform from the verification checkmarks to banned accounts. However, these changes and Musk’s management may get Twitter into trouble. Musk’s changes in terms of advertising caused some advertisers to see the platform as a high-risk place to promote. Due to these steps, Apple and Google may mark the application as non-reliable and want to remove it.
There have already been rumors about a “Tesla Pi Phone,” but there was no evidence for this device until now. Elon Musk has finally pointed out the Tesla Phone. According to Tesla CEO, the company will launch a new phone if Twitter is removed from Play Store and App Store.
A tweet from Liz Wheeler said, “If Apple & Google boot Twitter from their app stores, @elonmusk should produce his own smartphone. Half the country would happily ditch the biased, snooping iPhone & Android. The man builds rockets to Mars, a silly smartphone should be easy, right?” Elon Musk answered and corrected her by saying, “I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone.”
While it is not easy to launch a phone with an app store even if it is easy to produce a phone for Tesla. Google and Apple will not probably support his phone if he produced it, and the phone will be available without any apps.
What do you think about Tesla Phone? Do you think Musk will produce it? Share your thoughts 🙂


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Telltale’s excellent take on The Walking Dead may have been a surprise critical success, but it’s also been a huge commercial smash hit too. Chatting with the Wall Street Journal, co-founder Dan Connors has revealed that the series has sold a whopping 8.5 million episodes across multiple platforms. “At about $5 per episode, that’s roughly more than $40 million in sales, not including any promotions,” he said.
To be fair, The Walking Dead has seen its fair share of promotions – including a giveaway on PlayStation Plus – but these numbers are still wildly impressive. No wonder the company has already started work on the hotly anticipated second season.
[source blogs.wsj.com, via joystiq.com]
Those are some truly incredible figures. That equates to a whole lot groceries! --- or ammunition to kill more zombies, I suppose, being America and all.
My copy arrived (from the US) yesterday. Enjoying it so far.
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Even Brazilian Steakhouse Fogo de Chão Wants in on the Delivery Game
In recent years, delivery has become an increasingly important part of the restaurant industry thanks to the rise of online and mobile ordering (as well as younger generations’ affinity for chilling at home). But some restaurants aren’t as fitting for delivery, right? Like Chuck E. Cheese, for instance. Don’t people go to see an animatronic mouse, not for the pizza? Maybe — but that mouse offers delivery. And in a less extreme example, what about Brazilian steakhouses? Isn’t half the fun watching the servers walk around with giant skewers of meat? Apparently not. The popular chain Fogo de Chão recently revealed it hopes that delivery could become a major part of its business as soon as next year.
In a recent discussion with Nation’s Restaurant News, Fogo de Chão CEO Barry McGowan said that the chain plans to begin testing in-house delivery of customizable selections of both churrascaria (almost certainly not hand-delivered on giant skewers) and market table options by the end of the year in three cities: probably Chicago and Dallas, as well as one unnamed market. From there, he said a nationwide rollout is likely by 2020. Fogo de Chão has over 40 locations across the U.S., and for the record, already offers catering services for groups.
In explaining the brand’s reasoning, McGowan essentially implied that the chain had little choice if they wanted to keep growing sales. “All of our positive comps this year are due to price and off-premise while traffic in restaurants is declining,” the CEO told NRN. “We know that’s an issue. If you’re convenient, you do well. If you’re experiential, you do well and that’s what we are right now. Pretty soon if you want us in your office or home, we can do that, or if you want us to bring a grill [and start cooking] at your event, we will be able to do that too.”
Meanwhile, delivery isn’t the only trend Fogo de Chão is trying to keep up with. “We’ve been working on plant-based proteins for about two years,” McGowan was also quoted as saying. “Our price includes everything, so why wouldn’t we offer that? There’s no risk.”
Yes, in the near future, a rodizio Brazilian steakhouse might be able to deliver preselected fake meat directly to your door. It’s probably not the most authentic churrascaria experience, but apparently it’s the one more people want to see.
Update May 31: A previous version of this article included Los Angeles as a potential test market per a quote from CEO Barry McGowan, which the brand clarified was a misstatement. The article has been corrected to reflect the newly provided information.


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Queen Beyonce Is the New Face of H&M
And just like that, no other celebrity-fashion collaboration news matters. Beyoncé, unarguably the sexiest woman of the century, has teamed up with H&M for its latest summer campaign. The project is called "Beyoncé as Mrs Carter in H&M" and coincides with the launch of her sold-out Mrs. Carter Show World Tour on April 15th. "H&M’s summer campaign starring Beyoncé is an epic fantasy, with glamour, drama and also a sense of paradise," says Donald Schneider, creative director at H&M. "It was amazing to watch her on the shoot make it all look effortless – a quality that makes her such an icon for women around the world." Epic fantasy, indeed.
In addition to print and outdoor billboards lensed by famed photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in the Bahamas, an H&M-clad Bey will appear in television ads directed by Jonas Åkerlund and—wait for it—will feature a new jame by the global superstar called "Standing on the Sun." “I really loved the concept we collaborated on to explore the different emotions of women represented by the four elements – fire, water, earth and wind. It was a beautiful shoot on a tropical island. It felt more like making a video than a commercial," says Beyoncé in a release from the brand.


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US sports streaming company DAZN may reach a deal by the end of this month to purchase Britain's BT Sport for an estimated $800m that would give the company access to sought-after rights to stream English Premier League (EPL) matches, according to Reuters.
The deal, if completed, could be a sign of things to come where streaming services out-bid traditional broadcasting companies for the rights to televise major sports leagues.
These deals would have been unheard of two or three years ago but the growth of streaming could mean that the BT Sport purchase could be the beginning of many such deals, according to Emblematica principal Tom Mayeknect in an interview Thursday with Capital.com.
Vancouver, Canada-based Emblematica helps clients build their brands. Mayeknect also hosts two sports business shows aired through stations on BNN Bloomberg business radio network and Canada's TSN sports radio network.
Line getting blurred
“It just shows the line between streaming and conventional TV is going to get more blurred over time,” Mayeknect said.
Even sports broadcasting giant ESPN will face more pressure to keep their broadcasting rights.
"You’re going to see a lot more (streaming) players rise in prominence in terms of hype and substantial rights acquisitions,” Mayeknect said.
News of DAZN’s anticipated purchase of BT Sports came after CNBC and The New York Post reported on Wednesday that Apple had begun negotiations with Major League Baseball on purchasing rights to stream midweek games nationally in the US.
Tech companies jump in
On Wednesday, New York-based sports media analyst Lee Berke, told Capital.com that the potential agreement could be one of many such partnerships between big tech companies and sports organisations.
In addition, Mayeknect said sports apparel company Fanatics, which operated bricks-and-mortar stores 10 years ago but is now one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies, could seek to acquire streaming rights. He noted that Fanatics recently acquired sports trading card company Topps for a reported $500m from former Disney chairman Michael Eisner’s private investment firm Tornante.
“Who’s to say that (Fanatics) won’t take on sports streaming and who’s to say they won’t take on sports betting?” Mayeknect said.
DAZN Loses Canadian EPL rights
Despite DAZN’s rising influence, however, the company lost the right to stream English Premier League games in Canada. US-based FuboTV announced Thursday that it has acquired the exclusive rights to carry all 380 EPL matches each season for the next three years.
All content will stream live on fuboTV and its linear channel Fubo Sports Network, the company announced in a news release.
“It’s a big deal for FuboTV in my view,” said Mayeknect. noting that EPL broadcast rights were prime assets for Canadian sports networks TSN and Sportsnet less than four years ago.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Mayeknect pointed out that rights fees have skyrocketed in recent years.
Coming out party
He called the acquisition “a coming out party” for FuboTV in Canada, noting that the company has operated for a few years but has flown under the radar with sports fans.
“What’s more important, they’ve got this exclusivity now and they can build their assets around it,” Mayeknect said. “I think it’s going to make a lot more fans interested here.”
He said the short-term deal shows that sports leagues “don’t want to leave a lot of revenue on the table” in a long-term deal when rights fees could rise considerably in the next few years.
Soccer rights targeted
The analyst predicted that FuboTV will go after more European soccer sports streaming rights, but he expects DAZN to try to acquire more European soccer assets.
According to reports Thursday, Spain’s Telefonica is in talks to with DAZN to acquire its 50% share of Spanish La Liga streaming rights. The two companies now share the rights.
But Mayeknect questioned whether DAZN will give up its share, while acknowledging that the company might want to use the money from a sale for something else.
“I would be surprised if they retreated too much, because global soccer is their No. 1 calling card,” he said.
The main difference between CFD trading and trading assets, such as commodities and stocks, is that you don’t own the underlying asset when you trade on a CFD.
You can still benefit if the market moves in your favour, or make a loss if it moves against you. However, with traditional trading you enter a contract to exchange the legal ownership of the individual shares or the commodities for money, and you own this until you sell it again.
CFDs are leveraged products, which means that you only need to deposit a percentage of the full value of the CFD trade in order to open a position. But with traditional trading, you buy the assets for the full amount. In the UK, there is no stamp duty on CFD trading, but there is when you buy stocks, for example.
CFDs attract overnight costs to hold the trades (unless you use 1-1 leverage), which makes them more suited to short-term trading opportunities. Stocks and commodities are more normally bought and held for longer. You might also pay a broker commission or fees when buying and selling assets direct and you’d need somewhere to store them safely.


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The NWS failed to staff an elite team of emergency forecasters and it cost NYC an estimated $200 million, NBC New reports.» Read More
U.S. single-family home prices fell in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, falling short of expectations of a slight gain.
McDonald's says it has been notified by a labor regulator that it can be named as a "joint employer" for workers in its franchise-owned restaurants.
Retirees offered 365 tips to the SEC, the most of any occupation, since the agency started its whistleblower program in 2011.
Lower costs, less competition and diverse ingredients are prompting chefs like Daniel Kayser of Cafe Boulud to leave NYC. The NYT reports.
Moody's said it is "increasing likely" RadioShack will run out of cash by the fiscal third quarter of 2015.
A JPMorgan Chase unit will pay $650,000 to resolve charges that it submitted inaccurate reports about positions held by some of its large clients.
Robert Cohen has lived in both the Hamptons and Malibu, and he's dishing on the best and worst of both rich playgrounds.
CNBC's Fed Survey shows market pros aren't very confident the Fed can end its easy money polices without a market crash, a recession or bad inflation.
Merck reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with sales of newer drugs mostly offsetting declining sales of drugs facing generic competition.
Pfizer reported higher-than-expected second-quarter earnings, helped by growing sales of its cancer medicines.
An agency that enforces antimonopoly laws visited company offices in four cities, as the country more closely scrutinizes multinational companies.
Scammers know students struggle with debt, so they've created phony loan "debt relief" companies that promise to help for a price.
UPS slashed its earnings forecast for the year as it spends to boost capacity ahead of the holiday shopping season.
In another sign of deteriorating relations, the U.S. government said Moscow had violated the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty.
Among the difficult questions posed by the ongoing border crisis is whether illegal immigrants are a boon or bust to the US economy.
"It's not just don't put money in bonds. You need to rethink how you put your money in bonds," BlackRock's chief investment strategist for fixed income says.
Ridesharing app Uber announces a service aimed at making the company more valuable for business travelers.
Hewlett-Packard analyzed the 10 most popular consumer Internet things and found many security vulnerabilities. Re/code reports.
Citing compatibility issues, China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce said Microsoft is suspected of a monopoly.
Stronger earnings for the second quarter and beyond will be the key driver that keeps gas in the bull market gas tank, leading quantitative strategists tell CNBC.
Get the best of CNBC in your inbox
CNBC's Phil Han reports on some of this year's best commercials played during the Super Bowl.
DNA evidence suggests significant chunks of humanity may carry genes from a handful of powerful men like Genghis Khan.
The NWS failed to staff an elite team of emergency forecasters and it cost NYC an estimated $200 million, NBC New reports.
"Mad Money" host Jim Cramer reveals a stock that could gallop higher.
From Kimberly-Clark to Core Labs, CEOs tell "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer what can power their companies higher.
A group of Seattle Seahawks super fans have created the ultimate tailgating experience. NBC Sports' Dave Briggs reports.


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The widespread use of e-learning, or online learning, gives flexible education options to millions of people worldwide.
Technology allows students to access multimedia courses from any device, giving them control over when and how they learn, breaking away from traditional classroom schedules.
But, four years after the pandemic-driven virtual boom, is e-learning efficient? Explore the latest online learning statistics for 2024 to understand user and market behavior.
How did online learning change in 2023?
Online learning took a big turn in 2023 with hybrid models becoming more common. This shift brought virtual methods that personalized learning and made education accessible globally.
Virtual approaches adapted and used AI tools to reach more students. But what lies ahead for the industry in 2024? Stay tuned for the latest stats shaping online learning.
The size global online learning market reached $316 billion in 2023
The global e-learning market hit a significant milestone, reaching $316.2 billion in 2023.
Its growth drivers include increased smartphone use, a preference for flexible education, and gamification techniques.
Analysts project a steady 8% annual growth, with the industry expected to reach a $661.6 billion market size by 2032.
North America claims 41% of the online learning market
North America accounts for a 41% revenue share of the nearly $316 billion global e-learning market as of 2022.
The region benefits from extensive learning infrastructure, surging use of 5G technology, and the development of innovative online education methodologies.
The U.S. and Canada drive this trend.
40% of Fortune 500 companies regularly use online learning
Over 40% of Fortune 500 companies use e-learning regularly. IBM, for example, saved around $200 million by switching to e-learning.
Big companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM have adopted this training method, as reported by Fortune.
U.S. schools spend over $30 million on online instructors
As teacher shortages increased in U.S. school districts in 2023, administrators increasingly filled vacancies by contracting virtual instructors from private companies.
The Guardian revealed that over 100 districts have spent a combined $31 million on online teachers from Proximity Learning since fall 2021.
Individual deals highlight the shift to remote staffing. Memphis-Shelby County Schools in Tennessee spent $6.63 million on Proximity teachers since January 2022 - one of the company's largest customers.
Other districts like Little Rock reserved over half a million dollars for specialized science and math e-teachers.
What do students prefer about online learning?
Accessibility and convenience certainly enable e-learning's growth. But rather than flashy multimedia, learners globally rank fundamental best practices like course organization and progress tracking as top priorities for online satisfaction.
Read on to discover additional stats revealing preferences and learn why over half of adult undergraduates still prefer blending virtual lessons with some campus interactions in a hybrid model.
The organization of the course is the most valuable element for students in virtuality
In a recent survey of 7,000 students, McKinsey found that fundamental aspects still play a crucial role in the online learning experience.
In 16 out of 17 countries surveyed, students emphasized the importance of a well-organized online course with a clear path and a step-by-step guide to achieving their goals as one of their top priorities.
57% of digital content consumers prefer mobile learning
Recent surveys confirm the mobile devices' role in online learning today, validating a growing mobile e-learning market.
Among 2000 digital content consumers surveyed by Thinkfic, 68% said they generally access material on phones rather than PCs.
When specifically asked about educational content, 57% still preferred mobile consumption to desktop.
55% of adult undergraduates prefer the hybrid learning model
According to recent reports, 55% of adult undergraduates still prefer the hybrid learning model, which combines online and in-person classes.
Despite an overall decrease in interest in hybrid learning across higher education, surveys show that most non-traditional adult undergraduates in the US favor this flexible approach.
Even so, hybrid model preference dipped by 2% for traditional undergrads between 2019 and 2022 and decreased by 10% among post-graduate students during the same period.
65% of students want to keep some elements of virtuality
Surveys in 17 countries show that 65% of college students want to keep certain online elements as higher education shifts away from pandemic-induced virtual classes.
Even in France, where interest is lowest, over 50% of students want ongoing flexibility.
Top preferences for virtual elements include recorded lectures, easy access to materials online, and flexible work-study balance.
However, concerns about distraction, boredom, and discipline persist, leading to hesitation about fully online degrees.
Challenges for online learning: cyber security is a priority
EdTech leaders are venturing into new areas like online degrees, cyber security, student loans, and career shifts through reskilling and upskilling.
With India's internet usage peaking in the next decade, there's a growing demand for innovative learning options.
That extends beyond cities; users from semi-urban and rural areas are driving substantial growth as they seek opportunities for personal advancement.
The goal is clear – offer integrated solutions.
74% of cyberattacks on universities succeed
Cybersecurity remains a big challenge for colleges and universities. An estimated 74% of cyberattacks on those institutions succeed.
It is a scenario to pay attention to if we consider that 40% of them require over one month to recover from ransomware attacks fully- the slowest of any sector.
No EdTech funding rounds hit $100M by 2023’s Q3
The venture capital funding climate for online education technology cooled noticeably since 2022.
According to Crunchbase's August 2023 report, not a single EdTech investment crossed the $100 million mark globally, a stark contrast to the 60+ mega-deals in the prior two years.
More broadly, total capital invested in the sector year-to-date through August 2023 fell roughly 66% versus 2022.
The shifting environment also dragged down edtech unicorn valuations, with 12 companies falling off the $1 billion-plus list since January.
Summary: Online Learning Statistics: Market Size and Facts for 2024
What role does Artificial Intelligence (AI) play in online learning?
AI in eLearning acts as a personal learning assistant, understanding individual learning preferences.
Companies like Obrizum use AI to create personalized learning experiences, analyze user learning patterns, and address specific needs.
AI also facilitates course creation and content translation for increased accessibility, although concerns about security and privacy persist.
Why prioritize upskilling and reskilling through e-learning?
Companies focus on upskilling (improving existing skills) and reskilling (learning new skills) to tackle employee turnover due to limited career advancement. These initiatives retain top talent and boost morale.
Online and hybrid learning experiences offer an ongoing process for skill development, benefiting individuals and companies.
Does e-learning impact global education?
UNESCO researchers found that the heavy reliance on technology during the pandemic led to increased disparities and learning loss for many students globally.
That issue was observed in countries like Kenya and Brazil but also in more developed nations like Britain and the United States.
These findings spark discussions on the effectiveness of remote learning and the importance of in-person instruction.
In 2024, crucial investments will refine hybrid infrastructure and teaching methods.
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises more personalized content catered to individuals, and Virtual reality will look to transform abstract concepts into immersive experiences to raise engagement.
With innovations making classrooms smarter, student-teacher connections stronger across distance, and skills building more adaptive on-demand, the future remains bright for optimized and equitable online education.
- eLearning Trends 2024: Key Statistics and Emerging Technologies Reshaping Online Education - Skillademia
- Growth Despite A Downturn: Predictions For The Hybrid Learning Industry
- E-Learning Market Size, Share, Trends and Growth 2024-32
- Global E-learning Market Outlook Report 2023: North America Dominated the Market in 2022 with Over 41% Revenue Share - Forecasts to 2028 - ResearchAndMarkets.com
- How the power of e-learning is taking over the world
- The rise of the virtual teacher
- What do higher education students want from online learning?
- 10 Online Education Statistics that will Set the Tone in 2024 - Skillademia
- Hybrid Learning: Where Students and Institutions Currently Stand
- How Should Higher Education Institutions Prioritize Security Spending? | EdTech Magazine
- EdTech investment cooling in 2023 but growth outlook remains strong
- An Ed-Tech Tragedy? | UNESCO


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Texas is home to one of the top manufacturers of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment in the United States. However, this fact does not mean that they have been swimming in N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment.
This article aims to look at the possible sources of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment in Texas as well as some of the problems that the State of Texas had to face to find the right source of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment.
If you have read a headline or two, you have probably heard of some people taking advantage of the problem in the State of Texas.
The Double Priced N95 Masks
One of the biggest let downs faced by the state of Texas is when a corporation tried to cash in more than the market price.
The industrial supplier Hatfield and Co. tried to sell as much as 2 million N95 masks to a major United States oil company. It should have been a straightforward deal but the bad thing is that the Texas based supplier wanted more than six million dollars for a million N95 masks and an option of buying 2 million masks at $13 million masks.
This was a big problem because at a time when the coronavirus was spreading, every person and company wanted to have their own stockpile of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment at any given price.
An industry specialist in Texas said the following: “You’re not just marking it up like 50 cents. This is highway robbery. It’s just disgusting to me”. The Texas Tribune also said that there are terms and conditions for the sale that are not at par with industry requirements. The company declined to comment on this part especially on what it stands to profit citing its contractual agreements.
Scams and Problems
There are also some scams that have been proliferated in Texas. For example, one of the biggest headline grabbing issues was when two Houston-area men were charged for trying to scam a foreign government of more than $317 million for the masks. They sold the products at about five times the public list price.
Paschal Ngozi Eleanya, 46, and Arael Doolittle, 55, are the two men. They were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. These charges were backed up by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. If the two men were convicted on all counts, each of them could face up to 45 years in prison.
The two men denied the scam and said that they are not guilty of what is being charged of them. It is one of the most important convictions in case the two eventually become convicted. According to the indictment that was released to the media, the two men were attempting to sell 50 million N95 masks and were claiming that the N95 masks that they manufactured were manufactured by the company 3M.
The men were caught when the prices they were selling at were at five times their public list price. The two men also expected to pocket $275 million in the deal. The good thing is that the two men were caught before the transaction was completed.
Moving Forward With Purchases
With the problems that were faced by the State of Texas when it came to the N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment. It is important to know which companies are considered as the legitimate sources of the N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment and how to access them.
Of course, you can trust Lowes, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens. There are a lot of things that individuals can buy when they visit the physical stores of those listed above. The good thing is that if you do go to these stores, you can always buy other things and your other needs.
If you are not the type who wants to go out during this pandemic, you can always go for the N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment sold online. You can try Clinical Supplies USA.
Clinical Supplies USA is one of the top sources of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment this 2020. This two year old company have proven themselves worthy of their name and really provides all of the information and clinical supplies that are necessary for individuals and for every person who needs to have their own individual supplies of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment.
Amazon is also another one stop shop of the N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment that individuals should know more about. They provide a variety of products and if they have Prime subscription, you can always have free shipping and some sellers in the Amazon marketplace offer same day shipping.
At this point, you should buy your needs online and make sure that you have everything that you need for your home stockpile of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment. Buy online from legitimate sources because the logistics are now better and more controlled. You can definitely trust the process with what the online sources of N95 masks, N95 respirators, and other personal protective equipment can offer.


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In early 2017, organizers of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games announced ambitious plans to make all of the Olympic medals out of materials reclaimed from recycled e-waste.
In total, the committee said that it would require two metric tonnes (each) of gold, silver, and the materials to make bronze in order to create the 5,000 medals for the Olympians who make the podium in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games.
It was a novel idea that would harvest gold and silver from consumer electronic devices like old tablets and smartphones, and materials such as copper from scrap cars and home appliances.
Organizers still have about 2.5 years until the games kick off on July 24, 2020, but participation for the project has so far been very low.
According to a recent report, project organizers asked local governments to install recycling boxes to collect the old electronics. While 70 percent of Japan's municipalities said that they would contribute, participation has waned. It turns out that the Olympic committee's good intentions didn't anticipate an individual's apprehension in donating a device that might still store personal information — or existing contracts that cities had with sanitation companies.
To try and boost collection efforts, officials have sent out recycling boxes to all cities, villages, and towns across the country.
Officials did not comment on whether or not they would still be able to hit e-waste goals in time to create the medals for the games.


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iGaming Tax – Germany Introduces New Regime
As you should already be aware, the Federal Council presented the controversial Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag – GlüStV 2021 just now. Despite their vast criticism from the industry experts, state legislators were confident that they would get the necessary number of votes to pass the bill, which includes introducing a new iGaming tax in Germany.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), also the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and the Green Party supported the bill. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) opposes the bill, while Die Linke abstained.
The iGaming tax rate approved by the Bundestag turned out to be controversial. Back in January, the 8% turnover tax proposed by the 16 German states was not supported by academic groups. Research has shown that income tax and “turnover tax” will make the German system uncompetitive in the gaming market. Consequently, the regulatory structure will be in jeopardy.
Some online casino players consider the new tax order passed today to be unfair. The difference of opinion is due to the 5.3 percent rate tax, which is equally mandatory for licensed and unlicensed online operators.
According to Antje Tillmann, CDU / CSU spokesman for financial policy, a unified taxation regulation for the German online gaming sector has been adopted. The tax will impose on race bets, sports betting, public lotteries, and sweepstakes, along with online poker and slot machines. Germany has increased taxes on online games, and even if an online operator operates illegally, without a license, the taxation remains in effect.
How does the new iGaming tax regime work?
The new tax regime provides for several rules, which apply to online slots and poker, some of which focus on the technical aspects of slots such as spin speed, while others focus on wagering and deposit margins of up to € 1,000 per month.
iGaming Tax on Online Poker & Virtual Slots
Online poker and virtual slot machine fees will be calculated based on the difference between the cash and virtual slot machine tax (valuation basis). Cash bets include all costs incurred by the player when using online poker or slot machines. For online poker, this also includes the participation fee and all bets made while playing. The commission is 5.3% of the estimated base. The tax on sports betting will increase from 5% of the corresponding estimate to 5.3%. Otherwise, no changes are planned.
In particular, the iGaming tax rate (effective) will be 5.3% according to the following formula: (gross value * tax rate) / (gross value + tax). For example: (100 euros * 5.3) / 100 euros + 5.30 euros) = 530 / 105.30 = 5.03%.
In the future, all licensed online operators will have to deal with an effective tax rate that is much higher than the 15-30% GGR tax (not sales tax).
What should we learn from the European experience?
This tax rate is accepted in many other European jurisdictions. France was one of the first to install “France only” and regulate a scheme that required companies to deploy servers in France and allow players to use a dedicated website. This scheme was followed by countries such as Spain, Italy, and Greece.
The ring-fences didn’t work. France realized that due to the limit on the number of players, their audience was not enough (population 65 million), allowing their citizens to return to the international gaming community (Italy is still outside the country).
Why did the new rules & iGaming Tax cause controversy?
The legality of the tax regulations adopted by the Bundestag remains unclear. DSWV and EGBA have filed a complaint with the European Union about these rules. The new tax vision has been heavily criticized by industry authorities, who have pointed out that the moves exacerbate the commercial problems of games and run counter to the main goal of moving players from the unregulated online gaming market to licensed operators.
There is a danger that the approved tax regime will render licensed online operators uncompetitive and encourage players to use black-market services. According to a recent study, new tax rules force 40% of players to use offshore services, so efforts to protect them are vain.
What do player reviews dictate?
A poll by Entain, Flutter Entertainment, and Novomatic, a subsidiary of Novomatic, in April shows that if the payout ratio for online slot machines is lowered due to sales tax, the number of fully regulated sites and offers will drop to 51%.
Of the 619 players surveyed, 49% admitted that they had chosen the services of unregulated alternative operators. 54% of respondents said that the percentage of payment is the most important factor when choosing a website, 31% – the fact that the operator is licensed and 6% – focus on the range of products and measures to protect players.
According to a Goldmedia Consulting & Research for Digital Innovation group survey, 31% of players surveyed use black market sites every month, and 27% choose offers that contradict current regulations. SEO analysis showed that unregulated quotes include more matches than relevant ones.
Overall, 73-75% of the regular use of online games comes from offers contrary to regulations
A study published by the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI) in Düsseldorf says the new restrictions force players to relocate to other countries as the revised taxes raise the game’s price. According to HRI President Dr. Bert Rurup, players are extremely sensitive to changes in playing conditions. The proposed tax of 5.3% is very high compared to other European countries, making legal proposals unattractive.
Reasons for the protest of online casinos
Leading German gambling operators such as LeoVegas blamed the new rules for significantly damaging their home network. One of the new rules limits the number of spins to € 1, which is a big blow for online casinos. In Germany, more than 50% of the total revenue of online operators comes from the online gambling market, so online casinos lose a lot of money to cover the cost limit for each spin.
A 5.3% tax on online betting means the operator cannot offer an RTP of more than 94.7%. With an RTP of 94.7%, the operator will violate the rate level but will lose money, as it needs funding for employees, marketing support, and various types of operations. Considering the financial overhead, this means that online casinos can offer the maximum RTP for any transaction, while the probability of bankruptcy is about 93%, or more likely – 92%.
After introducing new tax legislation, large online operators such as BetFair Exchange left the German market. What will happen next? The next big thing estimated to be enrolled on the 2nd of August is Germany’s self-exclusion System OASIS. Follow the link to discover more.


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Troubling news is coming out of Japan via CNET Japan and being reported by NeoGAF. According to the post, Atlus is at risk for restructuring after its parent company, Index, filed for civil rehabilitation proceedings in the face of bankruptcy. According to the CNET report, Index owes around ¥24.5 billion, which equates to roughly $244 million. Ochiai Yoshimi, the company’s president, is said to be hinting at resignation.
Atlus has not responded to these claims so far, but if this turns out to be true then the Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem crossover that is said to be in development for the Wii U could be at risk. Atlus is well known for its 3DS published titles, such as Harvest Moon.
- Nintendo engineer mentions next-gen, unannoun
- New Wii U horror game Bizerta: Silent Evil re
- Wii U GameCube adapter is now back in stock
- Nintendo Store has Mario Kart 8 with Wiimote


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Kenya’s central bank interest rate hikes may have controlled inflation, but there is still a growing appetite for private sector credit. The latest figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that inflation peaked last October at 9.59 percent and relented to 8.98 percent in January 2023.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has raised its rate three times – from seven percent in May to 8.75 percent in November.
Projections from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicate that tighter monetary policy in the country and globally will enable a sustained slowdown in inflation rates despite the ongoing turbulence in eastern Europe.
But IMF’s Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas warns that there are still risks and “easing too early risks undoing all the gains achieved so far.” He is calling on central banks to keep their rates high.
Heeded IMF’s call
Kenya heeded IMF’s call, maintaining the rate at 8.75 percent in the latest review two weeks ago. The CBK argued that “the impact of the further tightening of monetary policy in November 2022 to anchor inflationary pressures was still transmitting in the economy.”
However, an expected growth in demand for credit by private sector could reverse the effect of the policy tightening that is meant to curtail appetite for loans.
Surveys by the CBK show that commercial banks expect loans to the private sector to grow by 11.1 percent by end of first quarter and by at least 12.8 percent by end of year.
“The majority (59 percent) of the banks expected private sector credit growth to be supported by increased credit demand following improved economic activity as businesses resume operations after the festive period, and as schools reopen for the new academic year,” CBK said in its Market Perceptions Survey report released last week.
CBK’s Credit Officer Survey also shows that despite the monetary tightening last year, the perceived demand for credit remained unchanged for the majority of economic sectors, and increased for personal and household, trade and manufacturing. Banks reported that all the factors affecting demand for credit – including the cost of credit and monetary policy measures – had no significant impact on Kenyans’ appetite for loans in the last two quarters of 2022.
Ken Gichinga, chief economist at Nairobi-based advisory firm Mentoria Economics, told The EastAfrican this week that Kenya has particularly been experiencing cost-push inflation “driven by supply shocks in food and fuel supply.”
Gichinga said that the growing appetite for loans among Kenyans will not necessarily reverse the slowdown in inflation rates, because the shocks have started to ease.


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Under the partnership, YNAP and Alibaba will establish a joint venture (JV) to launch two mobile apps for YNAP’s NetA-Porter and Mr Porter multi-brand, in-season online stores for consumers in China. Alibaba will provide technology infrastructure, marketing, payments, logistics and other technology support to the JV.
YNAP and Alibaba will also explore future offerings that enable the JV’s customers to enjoy unique and seamless online and offline shopping experiences through digitising and fully integrating the retail value chain from merchandising and marketing to payments and last-mile delivery. The JV will focus on serving consumers in China and will extend to Chinese consumers travelling abroad.
"Chinese customers at home and abroad are an increasingly important customer base for Richemont and for the broader luxury industry. Our digital offering in China is in its infancy and we believe that partnering with Alibaba will enable us to become a significant and sustainable online player in this market. Alibaba has become the preferred online destination in China, with world-class teams in technology, logistics and marketing. Through this joint venture, we look forward to opening the important Chinese market to NetA-Porter and Mr Porter and the luxury brands they offer their clientele. To this end, we will work with Alibaba to ensure NetA-Porter and Mr Porter’s continuing expansion as neutral, open and sophisticated platforms.” Johann Rupert, chairman of Richemont, said.
"Yoox Net-A-Porter Group has always built long-term relationships with its brand partners, protecting and nurturing the finest luxury names online. Together with Alibaba, we will offer our brand partners the same quality and reliability for the Chinese online market. Leveraging NetA-Porter and Mr Porter, luxury brands can access a neutral and powerful platform to maximize China’s immense potential.” Federico Marchetti, CEO of Yoox Net-A-Porter Group, said
"This multi-faceted partnership will bring Chinese consumers unprecedented access to the world’s leading luxury brands. Chinese consumers are expected to account for nearly half of the global luxury market by 2025, and through this partnership, Alibaba and YNAP will be even better positioned to capture this compelling market opportunity. As Chinese consumers continue to upgrade their lifestyles, we want to meet the desires of Alibaba’s more than 600 million users. By integrating online and offline commerce through our New Retail technologies, we will be able to deliver a seamless experience to consumers as well as better enable these leading brands to engage their customers in new and innovative ways. We believe this announcement is just the beginning of a long-term partnership, and together we are committed to exploring many more opportunities to collaborate in the future," Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group, said. (RR)
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Don’t miss Commerceweek, February 28–29 in NYC, to explore the technology and trends fueling commerce. Get strategic insights from leaders at The New York Times Advertising, Turo, TikTok and more. Register.
More shoppers will buy from direct-to-consumer brands. Purchases are expected to grow in the next few years as Americans cut down on traditional retail in favor of DTC companies—especially in health, wellness and beauty (35%). Diffusion’s annual Direct-to-Consumer Purchase Intent Index revealed consumers are still committed to buying from DTC brands, but maintaining their attention is more competitive than ever.
“As we enter 2020, the initial fascination with DTC brands has worn off, and they can’t rest on their laurels,” said Kate Ryan, U.S.


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Shoppers who buy best-selling health remedies could be paying up to eight times more than for lesser-known products which do the same job, according to a report today.
Many of the top brands sold through high street chemists have the same active ingredient, meaning they work just as well as "generic" alternatives, consumer magazine Which? found.
It warned that many people were paying extra for what amounts to "smart packaging".
Researchers looked at the difference in price between the best-known brands and the cheaper makes within the same category.
Panadol costs £1.85 for 16 tablets, yet an own-brand paracetamol from Sainsbury's is just 26p for the same size pack and a make called Galpharm 23p. All contain 500mg of paracetamol per tablet.
Nurofen, the UK's best-selling painkiller, sells for £3.29 for a box of 24 tablets yet researchers from Which? bought a generic version of the same size for £1.25.
The magazine compared the prices on five different types of over-the-counter medicines and found consumers could save a total of £20.18 by choosing the less well-known brand.
Which? said one reason manufacturers of the best-selling brands charged more was to recoup high development costs, even though they may have held the exclusive patent for the drug for 20 years.
One hundred people were asked by the magazine about their attitudes to buying over-the-counter medicines.
Those who said they bought the top-selling brands said they trusted them more, assumed they were stronger and would work better, and thought the generic alternatives could "look cheap and out of date".
But, according to Which?, any benefit from using the more expensive make was probably in the mind.
"If you find that remedies with a well-known name work better for you, this could be due to a placebo effect," says the magazine. "All you get for your extra money is smart packaging and a well-known brand."
Viagra caught in the act
Scientists have caught Viagra in the act by generating a three-dimensional snapshot of the drug at work, it was disclosed yesterday.
They hope the structure will assist in the design of safer, more effective treatments for impotence, as well as other drugs.
Viagra operates by binding on to and blocking an enzyme called PDE5, which naturally occurs in erectile tissue.
The enzyme breaks down a body chemical known as cyclic GMP, produced during arousal, which causes changes in the muscle and blood vessels leading to an erection.
By blocking PDE5, Viagra ensures that more cyclic GMP remains available to stimulate a sexual response.
The 3D illustrations of Viagra and PDE5 locked together were published in the journal Nature. The two molecules resemble ribbon-like lengths of coiled pasta.
By understanding such structures, scientists hope to design new drugs to inhibit PDE enzymes.
These may help treat a wide range of conditions, including heart failure, depression, asthma and inflammation.
Writing in Nature the scientists said: "We believe that these structural studies will assist the discovery of potent and selective PDE inhibitors with improved pharmacological profiles."


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Railway to distribute 1.8 million litres of petrol products nationwide
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has indicated readiness to deploy its 40 tank wagons for distribution of 1.8 million litres of petrol nationwide if contacted by marketers.
Its Director of Operations, Niyi Alli, spoke yesterday in Lagos while dismissing reports that the facilities, acquired four years ago to ease the burden on the roads, were lying fallow. He stated that the agency had capacity to carry load 900,000 litres of petroleum products at once.
If rail is considered by marketers, he noted that 28 heavy duty tankers would be taken away off in one fell swoop, while cost of transportation would drop by 30 per cent with an accompanying dip in truck breakdown and crashes.
The NRC, which is facilitating the revamp of the railway system with $41 billion investment, had ordered the 40 wagons, 20 (each with 45,0000 litre capacity) which were delivered in 2012 with the remainders were taken delivery of in 2013 to create an alternative to road infrastructure.
Alli said: “We have been lifting AGO for our operations. The trust is that we put the tank wagons to use to generate customer confidence in our performance. Before we acquired the facilities, customers were complaining about shortages. Since we took delivery of these new ones, no complaints had been received regarding their effectiveness.”
We are also looking at modification that will address safety issues. We have also discussed with independent marketers and we are very optimistic. The NRC is open to anybody who wants to lift petroleum products.”
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“Following clarification that what was initially reported as an Intel chip bug also affects AMD processors and ARM-based chips, Intel’s CEO has said that ‘phones and everything’ will be impacted,” Ben Lovejoy reports for 9to5Mac. “A security update by ARM suggests that a number of iPhones, iPads, iPods and Apple TVs may be affected.””
“An ARM Processor Security Update lists processors known to be susceptible. These include the Cortex-A8, Cortex-A9 and Cortex-A15,” Lovejoy reports. “While Apple designs its own A-series chips for iOS devices, these are based on ARM architecture. A number of A-series chips include at least some elements of the Cortex-A8, -A9 and -A15 processors, and so may also be susceptible.”
Lovejoy reports, “ARM says that the risk of exploitation is low. ‘It is important to note that this [attack] method is dependent on malware running locally which means it’s imperative for users to practice good security hygiene by keeping their software up-to-date and avoid suspicious links or downloads.'”
Read more and see the list of potentially-affected devices in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Of course, we’ll have to wait to see what Apple says about these issues and what they do, if anything, to mitigate them.
Intel et al. are going to try to sell us on a software bandaid instead of really fixing the problem properly. – MacDailyNews, January 4, 2018
Intel’s CEO Brian Krzanich sold off the majority of his shares after finding out about the irreparable chip flaws – January 4, 2018
CERT: Only way to fix Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities is to replace CPU – January 4, 2018
Security flaws put nearly every modern computing device containing chips from Intel, AMD and ARM at risk – January 4, 2018
Apple has already partially implemented fix in macOS for ‘KPTI’ Intel CPU security flaw – January 3, 2018
Intel’s massive chip flaw could hit Mac where it hurts – January 3, 2018


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Deposit grower Mantl raises $19m in extended Series A
Mantl, a New York-based fintech which helps banks and credit union grow deposits and streamline back-office tasks, has landed $19 million, Tearsheet reports.
The fresh capital adds to an extended $11 million Series A raise. Investors included Acorns backer Point72 Ventures and Chime backer Clocktower Technology Ventures.
The fintech says it saw a 705% rise in deposit volumes across its customer base in April. Year over year, funding through Mantl grew 30% in March and a whopping 629% in April.
Hence, the new investment will go towards the start-up’s product development – specifically growing its team across engineering, product and sales.
Bank customers’ deposits soar
Mantl’s customer Happy State Bank, a $3.8 billion Texan bank, says it saw a 166.7% rise in new checking accounts in April.
Fellow customer Quontic Bank, a $400 million New York-based bank serving underserved communities, saw its online deposit account applications increase by 134% in April.
Co-founder Nathaniel Harley tells Tearsheet that the start-up’s boom in volume is down to its business model.
“We’re at a point where, on average, Mantl customers see a 3.8x improvement on their conversion rates and a 60% reduction in fraud,” says Harley.
“As a result, banks’ overall cost of funding drops significantly compared to other software options.”
How Mantl works
The fintech helps banks and credit unions ween themselves off more expensive forms of funding, such as the wholesale market.
Banks can go live with Mantl in 90 days with a real-time core banking system integration. It takes a data-driven, consultative approach which teaches banks the value of digital banking over in-branch experiences.
“At this point, we pay less attention to competitors and look instead at the experiences being built by neobanks and money-center banks,” says Harley.
The initial version of Mantl’s account opening platform – which helps streamline back-office tasks – was built in partnership with Radius Bank.
Midwest BankCentre currently uses this platform. The bank raised $130 million in its first year through it. To hit the same target without Mantl, the bank estimated it would have needed to build ten new branches.
Mantl is in the process of developing a new account opening product. The idea came from the recent surge in access to finance during the pandemic.
“Banks are approaching us for assistance with attracting the deposits of the new small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers they’ve gained through the Paycheck Protection Program,” says Harley.
“We’re close to rolling out an account opening product that will help commercial banks onboard businesses of all sizes digitally.”


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NEW YORK Duane Reade’s new private-label offering, dubbed DR Delish, is one more indicator that the Manhattan-based retailer is forging ahead with its turnaround plans and taking steps to further meet the shopping needs of New Yorkers.
DR Delish debuted with an array of new products including all-natural and gluten-free trail mixes, vitamin-enhanced teas without artificial colors or flavors, 100% juices, all-natural baked potato crisps with zero cholesterol, and soy snacks made without trans fats. In all, 25 new products debuted and are now available at all 252 Duane Reade stores in metropolitan New York.
The retailer will launch additional products in time for the 2009 holiday season, and by the end of 2009 more than 100 products will be available under the DR Delish brand. Upcoming products will include Organic Lemonade, Belgian Chunk & Chip Cookies, Soy Crisp Caramel Chips and a variety of 100% Arabica coffee blends.
This announcement is one component of Duane Reade’s transformation under the watch of chairman and CEO John Lederer, who took the helm in April 2008. As part of the ongoing makeover, management is revamping the in-store shopping experience and recently launched new branding and advertising campaigns, as previously reported by Drug Store News.
In light of the wobbly economy and a desire to attract shoppers with exclusive offerings, retailers have been increasingly pushing their private label initiatives and Duane Reade is no exception. In the most recent quarterly conference call in July, Lederer said the company had introduced a number of exclusive front-end products that are driving category performance and, over the next few months, it would introduce 1,200 to 1,400 new private label products, including an apt. 5 reconfiguration in beauty.


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Zmix is one of “Knoxville’s New Entrepreneurs.” See our other stories on Anchors Hair Company, DigiTrax Entertainment, and SpareTime Entertainment. Plus: Project BrandAid winner Frussies Deli & Bakery.
As president of Zmix, a Knoxville-based company that sells low-calorie cocktail mixer concentrates, Augustine Gattuso is succeeding with a just-for-fun product for those who like to party.
And yet he views himself as more of a business guy, a grinder, a serious salesman—an outlook he developed as an econ major at University of Tennessee graduating in 2005, followed by years as a financial advisor with Hilliard Lyons and Capital Financial Group.
“Starting Zmix was a sheer business decision,” he says. “We looked at the popularity of water enhancers and asked, ‘Why isn’t anyone doing this for alcohol?’”
When he and three friends began a business, originally named Seismix, to fill the gap about two years ago, Gattuso didn’t have any grocery store or alcohol experience. “But other members of the team did,” he says. “And we’ve been able to work with some amazing consultants who help us with all of the flavor designs.”
The zero-calorie mix, sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium, comes in three flavors: Cosmo is cranberry, orange, and lime-flavored; Purple Hooter black raspberry and lime; and Lemon Drop has lemon and citron. Each is designed to flavor 1 or 2 ounces of alcohol. “This is where we’re different,” says Gattuso. “Most water enhancers are formulated to be mixed with 8 ounces of water, and aren’t recommended for use with alcohol.”
Gattuso grew up in a small family in East Tennessee, his mom working in Oak Ridge. “My dad owned restaurants,” he says. “So I got to be around small business a little coming up.”
If his father hadn’t died when Gattuso was 10, he says, he would doubtlessly be in the restaurant business himself. “There wouldn’t have been a choice,” he says with a laugh.
But he’s perfectly happy with this choice. “It is very, very fun, partly because I am working with friends for the first time,” he says. “I do think that is the only reason anyone would do this—the hours, the selling, the details you never imagine you would need to work out. I can’t imagine anyone doing this if they weren’t having a good time.”
With his typical light tone and mild manner, Gattuso admits he’s had the entrepreneurial bug a long time. “I always knew I’d grab that opportunity at some point,” he says.
His first foray was a company that received funding for an Internet application in 2011. Now, Zmix. He says the years of commission-based work have really helped him in his current role. “In both cases, the only money coming in is what you sell, so for me it wasn’t as much of a shock.”
As an entrepreneur, selling “feels like it’s kind of all the time,” he says with a laugh. “This is different from working at someone else’s company, because you feel like you are always ‘on.’ You don’t really get to turn off at 5 o’clock.”
The first solid indicator that Zmix was going to succeed came when a marketing company ended up taking an equity stake in the company. “We all thought, ‘I guess this idea does have legs! This is pretty cool,’” Gattuso says.
Their progress has been steady. They sold to their first liquor distributor right here in Knoxville, B and T, and are now up to four distributors and around 130 liquor and convenience stores, along with online sales. They recently earned status as a Prime product, meaning Amazon Prime members can order Zmix online without paying for additional shipping. They appeared in Cheers! magazine in June and were voted Readers’ Choice New Product of the Year for 2014 by readers of Beverage Industry, garnering 40 percent of votes.
All of the recognition and strides have been wonderful, says Gattuso, but he would never want to leave anyone with the idea that an entrepreneur succeeds with one fell stroke of genius—or luck.
“It’s a lot of ride-alongs,” he says. “We get out in the stores and sell right alongside the distributors. There was never a magic bullet, no ‘yesterday we had five stores and now we have 100.’ It’s a grind. Even having five distributors doesn’t guarantee that those distributors will show Zmix to their stores. We have to be there, have to be a squeaky wheel.”
A lot of creativity goes into the mixes, and keeping up the party-crowd public interest on social media with recipes like the one for a French margarita with tequila, pomegranate juice, and squirts of both the Purple Hooter and Lemon Drop Z-mixes.
Gattuso laughs at the idea of inadvertently releasing proprietary information to competitors.
“I don’t really worry about our ideas being stolen, because I know how difficult it is to bring this idea to reality. It someone else wants to try, I’m fine with that!”
As for plans to go public?
Gattuso answers that in his trademark low-key style. “Oh gosh, that’s so premature. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
Five year plan? “I can’t begin to think in terms of a five-year plan. But our five-day plan is business as usual. The five-month plan is to be in a better place then we are today, to continue growing the company. If we could add Knoxville employees some day, that would be amazing.”
His plan for tomorrow?
“We will wake up and we’ll be making our phone calls and sending our emails—the same thing we do day in and day out.”
He’s just as self-deprecating about paying forward the mentoring Zmix partners have received from the Knoxville Entrepreneurial Center and other supporters and coaches. “I wouldn’t say I’m qualified yet,” he says. “But I’ve certainly had meetings with others who have questions about starting a business, and I’m always available to anyone who wants to sit down or any local cause that could use our support.
“Just shoot me an e-mail,” he says. “I’m here.”
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Gregg County Health Authority discusses ‘exciting’ new cap on insulin price
LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) - Today Eli Lilly announced they would drop the price of their most commonly used insulin from $82 to $35 a vial for those who have private insurance. And that is very good news for diabetics.
Shakemia Roberts lives in Longview and is a diabetic. She takes insulin and wears an insulin transmitter.
“Every day. Twice a day. It’s outrageous the stuff we have to pay for it to maintain,” Roberts said.
Gregg County Health Authority Dr. Lewis Brown has noticed the price of insulin has steadily increased.
“(It) has continued to go up over the last twenty something years, and even more than that. You know it’s been around a hundred years,” Brown said.
He said Eli Lilly was first to manufacture insulin.
“The President said he was going to try to get the price down. This is the first signs that we heard of insulin actually being decreased,” Brown said.
Brown said he hopes other insulin manufacturers will follow suit.
“The short side of this is I think it’s going to be very beneficial for patients and very affordable,” Brown said. “Diabetes is increasing, increasing.”
And the American Diabetes Association said the price of insulin nearly tripled between 2002 and 2013, but this announcement will reign that price in.
“Thank you for the good news,” Roberts said.
It won’t make the stick less painful, but it will ease that pain in the wallet.
Eli Lilly said it will cut the price of its mealtime nonbranded insulin as of May 1, and cut back the price of its most commonly prescribed insulin, Humalog, by about 75 percent in the fourth quarter of this year.
Copyright 2023 KLTV. All rights reserved.


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EMC has quietly been building up a consulting group, the Internet Solutions business unit, that designs storage solutions. The company is also serving as a data storage center for select corporate clients, said John Montgomery, who handles EMC's Internet programs.
Today, EMC announced the promotion of David Donatelli to the position of vice president of new business development, where he'll oversee the Internet Solutions group. Donatelli also will watch for merger and acquisition deals and add new technology and services into EMC's business, the company said.
Already, EMC boasts such well-known clients as Excite, Amazon.com, legal publishers Matthew Bender, and Lexis-Nexis (interestingly, the latter duo have agreed to merge). EMC also has several other data housing customers, including Fortune 500 corporations as well as smaller Internet startups, a spokesman said.
The increased emphasis, fueled by the Internet's requirement for more and better storage, is an expansion of the company's bread-and-butter sales of arrays of hard disks that can plug into everything from mainframes to Windows NT-based servers.
People buying desktop computers with built-in hard disks tend to think storage is simple, said David Hill, an analyst at Aberdeen Group. "But when you're getting into the high level, storage is a very complex marketplace with choices you have to weigh very carefully: performance, reliability, price," he said.
Technology executives have focused mostly on networks and servers instead of storage, Hill said. "While they've become more sophisticated [about storage] over the last half dozen years, it's always helpful to bring in a consultant.
The Internet lies behind the phenomenal growth of storage. Simply put, Internet access creates data, which creates a need for storage. The fact that companies are promoting the Web as a transaction medium for commerce is compounding the need for storage as records of all these transactions have to be kept.
On top of that, the existence of these "higher-level" functions such as commerce or Web email forces Web site owners to protect their sites against contingencies. Sites have to now operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day, around the world, and be ready for sudden surges of business.
In this milieu, data storage has emerged as a business in its own right. In a certain light, some of these businesses can be looked at as real estate management companies, said Montgomery: They exist because other people do not have the space or equipment to store their own data.
EMC's efforts in services are essentially targeted at capitalizing on the need to control this mass of data. Software is another area of growth. Software revenue grew from $75 million in 1996 to $445 million last year.
"From a pure storage perspective, it would be exciting for us regardless," said Montgomery.
Taking a load off
Sun Microsystems, with its "the network is the computer" motto, was a pioneer in the concept of outsourcing computing tasks to other companies across a network, but the philosophy has been adopted by others as well, including Hewlett-Packard with its e-services campaign and Seagate, which is focusing just on outsourced storage.
Tom Porter, Seagate chief technology officer, said last week that HP's e-speak technology, which links services over the Internet, "will help companies like Seagate to provide storage services to the Internet."
Although it is providing hosting, EMC will likely focus more on consulting services, said Doug Chandler, senior analyst at International Data Corporation.
Outsourcing storage is a tricky issue, Hill said, mostly because businesses are reluctant to let go of control of so-called mission-critical data.
In addition, outsourcing data raises the issue of outsourcing other computing services as well, such as the servers that interact lie between users and the storage systems. "When you outsource your data, why don't you outsource your servers as well? Where do you draw the line?"
But EMC isn't the only player in storage consulting, said Hill and Chandler. "All of the storage companies have been rapidly building their consulting groups," Chandler said.
Hill pointed to HP--long an EMC ally but now a foe--as one company that's beefing up its appeal as a high-end storage services company. IBM, too, has thrived on the complexity, with its Global Services division turning in bigger and bigger profits compared to the revenue from its business of selling hardware.
Whether EMC can gain a competitive advantage over HP and others in the consulting area will depend on how well it executes, Hill said. But the company is starting from a position of strength. "Their technical people are very strong. People are confident in their ability to execute," he said.
EMC arguably is already heavily in the service business because of its warranty policies. All EMC systems come with a mandatory two-year warranty contract, with an option for extension, according to an EMC spokesman. Wherever a company is located, an EMC representative will come check out the unit if there's a problem. Most of the company's field engineers are located in Cork, Ireland, or Hopkinton, Massachusetts, while others are scattered geographically.
The warranty work, the spokesman added, is not a profit center for the company, but run mostly to improve customer satisfaction.
EMC's strong adherence to providing customer service itself, in fact, constituted one of the reasons that the HP relationship splintered, said a spokesman. Under the existing HP-EMC deals, EMC sells the storage equipment under its own brand name and services these systems with technicians of its own under the EMC name.
Under a new plan, HP will resell high-end storage products from Hitachi Data Systems under the HP label.