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Consumer demand may remain sluggish, but the federal government is still pouring stimulus dollars into the economy, to the tune of more than $500 billion annually. And though most government contracts go to big corporations—the GEs and Boeings of the world—23 percent of all government spending (some $115 billion) is set aside specifically for small businesses.
The process of winning a federal contract can be painstaking, long, overwhelming, and certainly competitive, but the potential payoff can be huge. If you are interested in government work, how can you get started?
American Express OPEN’s Victory in Procurement program for small business recently conducted a survey of 1,500 entrepreneurs who were government contractors or actively pursuing a contract. A panel of three small business owners and two government officers gathered as part of an all day event organized by OPEN at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York on March 31 to discuss the survey’s findings with more than 400 small business owners and to offer their tips to make government contracting easier for your business. Here’s what they had to say:
Start small. This was the No. 1 tip from successful small business contractors. Government agencies view past performance as a key indicator of potential success, and to get your foot in the door, you should bid on projects worth as little as $3,000. A good strategy is to start by subcontracting. More than half of all the surveyed federal contractors said they got their start by pursuing these opportunities. “Find out who the larger prime contractors are, and offer to provide your services to them,” says Julie Weeks, president and CEO of Womenable, a business consulting firm based in Empire, Michigan, that focuses on enabling women’s entrepreneurship.
Do your research. “Many small business owners think that the government’s not going to buy what they have,” says Susan Sobbott, president of American Express OPEN. “[But] they buy almost everything.” Much of your research can be done online. The first place to start is registering yourself on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database, where you can create a profile making it easier for government procurement officers to find your product. Then, get on the pre-approved bidder list on the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, where you can also look up what your competitors are doing. For a complete list of all Federal Business Opportunities, visit fbo.gov. Knowing your specific target market will help, says Randall Lebolo, president of Lebolo Construction Management, a construction company in Boynton Beach, Florida, whose business is now 90 percent government contracts.
Stay persistent. In the survey, contractors reported that it took almost two years on average to win their first federal contract. “Preparing for a government contract is like training for a marathon,” Sobbott says. The most successful contractors unsurprisingly invested the most time and money in the bidding process—an average of $86,000 in cash and resources during 2009, according to the survey.
Cultivate relationships. “You think of the federal government as this cold entity, and that it’s all about putting together a big proposal, but it’s still all about relationships,” says Maureen Borzacchiello, president and CEO of Creative Display Solutions, a trade-display company in Garden City, New York, that has bid on five contracts. Relationships with government procurement officers are crucial. Agencies also have liaisons from the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) who will lobby on your behalf. Partnerships with other small contractors are also important; bidding for contracts as part of a team is another good strategy for getting started.
by Peter Vanden Bos – INC Magazine – Mar 31, 2010


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Updated: Sep 21, 2022
There’s a high demand for delivery companies, especially in big cities. So, the fastest ones get the greatest success. Here’s the story of how Getir succeeded by offering the fastest delivery of products: It only takes ten minutes to get what you need without leaving home.
Getir was founded in 2015 by a Turkish entrepreneur, Nazim Salur. Salur was well-known for founding the first local online taxi ordering app—BiTaksi. While he was running the taxi company, he was also offering a delivery service via the app when he noticed an increasing demand for delivery in Istanbul. It made him think about launching a new delivery app, and that’s how Getir, which means “bring”, was born.
Getir started with a team of 200 members, which was separate from the BiTaksi team. Besides big stores, Getir decided to include bakkals- small stores located üithin neighbourhood as well to complete the delivery in 10 minutes. “10 minutes almost means right now,” says Nazim Salur. “We wanted to make the delivery faster than people going to the nearest store.”
Through the Getir app, users could track their orders on the map, and pay through multiple payment systems options. As the idea began to flourish within the European side of Istanbul, it soon spread into the Asian part as well as, including other big cities in Turkey. Currently, Getir operates in 81 cities in different countries across the world, including Turkey, UK, Germany, Italy, France, and Portugal. Early in 2022, Getir entered the U.S market.
Nazim Salur stated that his goal is to expand into the megacities such as Rio, San Paolo, etc. as he believes that this is an important problem to solve in big cities, and Getir offers a solution. But what reasons lie under the success of Getir? Let’s dive deep into them.
Background: The founder of Getir Nazim Salur majored in Business and worked in the business and technology area. He also gained experience as an entrepreneur before founding Getir.
Marketing strategy: Most of Getir users came from BiTaksi as the company was focusing on market showcases. They promoted the idea amongst BiTaksi users—an already-made target audience interested in using such an application.
Covid- 19 Pandemic: Remember the times when leaving home was nearly impossible? One of the main things people needed during lockdown was fast delivery with a huge variation. So, this was one of the ideas that accelerated because of the pandemic effect.
Big city effect: Salur believes that one of the key points which led Getir to success is traffic in the big cities. “I am the one who focuses on solving an existing problem, rather than gaining money,” says Nazim Salur. He acknowledges that fast delivery is much more demanding in big cities with big traffic because Getir “brings” a solution to them.
How did Getir expand to the global market?
The company attracted the attention of Sir Michael, a Welsh-born tech investor, who is also a partner of Sequoia Capital. After flying to Istanbul and spending time in the company’s head office, he agreed to invest 25 million USD. A further $13m was contributed by undisclosed investors in Brazil and Turkey, bringing the total amount raised in a “Series A” round to $38m. A year later, Michael Moritz, a venture capitalist of the Silicon Valley, backed Getir with a 40 million USD funding.
Getir’s approach to the complexities presented by grocery and food delivery is a Turkish delight prepared with a fresh recipe and unexpected ingredients,” Sir Michael said in a written statement. Also, Alex Ham, chief executive of Numis Securities, which advised on the Series A funding round, said he hoped the interest in Getir would “shine a bit of a light” on the Turkish market.
According to Mert Salur, Getir hit huge success in 2021, extending the number of countries to 9, cities to 118, and employees to more than 4000 all over the world. He also stated that the team was very enthusiastic, diligent, and open to giving and receiving feedback, which helps them develop as a team and big family.
Recently, Nazim Salur tweeted that Getir had the most downloads across Europe.
Recently, Techcrunch announced that Getir has reached a value of nearly 12 billion USD and gained a decacorn status.

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INTERNATIONAL_ The Korean Game Regulatory Commission together with the Korean Ministry of Culture conducted an in-depth inspection of 995 game suppliers.
The purpose of this action is to prevent violations and circumvention in the mobile game industry. Specifically, the Kimchi game industry management unit visited game suppliers such as studios, net rooms, game event areas, operating systems, etc. to strengthen control and fine-tune operations. misconduct in the field of game distribution.
In addition, the Korean Game Regulatory Commission has requested administrative action against 255 game businesses, even leading game brands such as Netmarble, Nexon, Pearl Abyss if there are found violations of the rules and regulations as well as violations in the COVID-19 quarantine for game providers.
Kim Gyu-cheol, chairman of the Korea Gaming Authority, said, “Next year, we will continue to conduct in-depth inspections with relevant agencies to prevent violations and circumvention in the industry. game as well as limit the spread of Corona. The ultimate goal is to create a healthy gaming environment for game providers.”
Previously, the Korea Game Regulation Commission held the 2021 Game Policy Conference in an online form. This conference aims to solve the major problems of the Korean game industry, which has been facing limitations since the pandemic, and at the same time explore the direction of game policy setting. together with experts and game production and distribution units in this Asian country as well as in the world.
The Executive Board conducted a baseline survey on rating management and monitoring of game companies to form the basis for game policy research in its first session. Professor In-Won Lee (Seoul University) chaired the discussion. Lawyer Ji-Young Oh and Professor Cho Kyung-Hoon (Korea University of Communication and Broadcasting) chaired the discussion and made recommendations on game trends and game policy in this country in 2022. .


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Shares Of Samsung And TSMC Rallies On As Intel Announce Its Outsourcing Plans
On Tuesday, Shares of Samsung Electronics rallied to join its bigger rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd (TSMC). It has been driven by growing with the expectations that the chipmakers will benefit from Intel Corp’s plan to outsource chip manufacturing. Samsung’s shares rose to around 5.8% which is the highest point in five months. They were also on track to finish higher for a third consecutive session.
On Thursday, Intel has announced that its new 7-nanometer chip technology is six months behind schedule. The company further added that they are considering farming out more work to the outside semiconductor. On Monday, the U.S. chipmaker also added that its chief engineering officer had justified the company.
Nomura analyst C.W. Chung said, “Samsung could benefit as Intel will outsource more chip manufacturing.” Also “The foundry business accounts for a small portion of Samsung’s total revenue, but this does not mean that the foundry industry is small.”
On Tuesday, shares of TSMC also reported extended gains by jumping nearly 5% after hitting a record-high after Intel’s woes. However, TSMC now has higher market capitalization than Samsung Electronics with a market value of $398 billion1 dollars or 1.66 trillion new Taiwan dollars. Moreover, as of Tuesday, the tech giant was valued at 369.18 trillion won.
Announcing last year a plan, Samsung is taking TSMC on the chip contract manufacturing business to invest $111.43 billion or133 trillion won in non-memory chips through 2030. The world’s top memory chipmaker, Samsung, also makes smartphones, displays, TVs, and others.


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What 2020 Has in Store for Micromobility
The transportation industry may be in for an exciting 2020, but it may have very little to do with cars, trains and buses.
Micromobility has made its presence known in the last two years, and there is still plenty of room to grow. Dockless scooters are among the most prominent developments in transportation recently, and they are already being used in ways outside of their original intent.
“The business model is also evolving,” Segway Ninebot Group VP of Global Development Tony Ho said. “Even though the majority of them (dockless scooters) have some kind of app that come with it, they could be monthly rental or could be lease to own.”
Ho discussed with Daniel Litwin what the next year might look like for dockless scooters and other last-mile transportation services.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!


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7-Eleven is offering shoppers free delivery on more than 3,000 items through its 7NOW app through April 30, the retailer announced on Wednesday. To prompt free delivery customers need to apply the promo code "FREE4U" at checkout.
The retailer will also offer a contactless option for consumers who prefer that the delivery driver drop off their items at their front door, the company noted in a statement.
The 7NOW delivery app is available in almost 400 cities, per the company statement. Deliveries generally take 30 minutes, but the retailer noted times could be longer based on demand.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the retail sector, 7-Eleven was improving its in-store and mobile tech offerings. Last August, 7-Eleven debuted mobile checkout in its New York City stores. Back in September, the retailer began using Microsoft tech to analyze point-of-sale trends and other in-store insights. Just this February, the convenience store chain was testing out a cashierless-store concept.
As government officials order many people to stay home, retailers' investments in technology could prove fruitful. Grocery apps have seen a surge in downloads, with Instacart, Walmart Grocery and Shipt increasing daily downloads over the past month by 218%, 160% and 124% respectively. Target's app also jumped 98% in average downloads, though downloads of takeout delivery apps have seen some declines, according to a report from Apptopia.
"7-Eleven is a neighborhood store known for convenience, and we believe it's our responsibility to help shoppers get what they need, where and when they need it, especially during this unprecedented pandemic," 7-Eleven president and CEO Joe DePinto said in a statement. "As citizens do the right thing by social distancing, quarantining, or sheltering in place, we want to make it easy for them to access essential food and household items."


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It’s the best show in town, and it’s here right now. The NRA Great American Outdoor Show — the largest show of its kind — runs at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg from Saturday Feb. 1 through Sunday Feb. 9.
Visiting the Great American Outdoor Show is a great opportunity to speak with outfitters, meet well-known industry personalities and learn from more than 250 seminars and demonstrations from outdoor experts. You can renew your Pennsylvania Outdoor News subscription, purchase this year’s fishing license, and potentially win some pretty cool prizes.
There’s plenty to see by way of entertainment too, with Dock Dogs, Kids Casting Contests, Archery Competitions, family activities — and even a Chris Janson country concert.
Food vendors, retailers and all the top gun manufacturers will be showcasing their wares as well, so attendees can keep up with the latest and greatest in gear. You’re nearly certain to spend some money, but there’s literally something for everyone.
But the big highlight, for me, is that the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association — an amazing organization I currently serve as president — is hosting its 38th annual Sportsman’s Auction.
Held each year on the last Sunday of the show, this year’s popular event is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9 from 1-3 p.m. in the Erie Room, located upstairs above the Small Arena. I feel absolutely no shame in plugging this auction, because it serves such a wonderful cause, as it has for decades.
All funds raised through the auction benefit the association’s Youth Education Grant program, which for years has supported student programs designed to get youth outdoors and to teach them about the valuable natural resources available throughout the state.
Youth fishing days, nature photography programs and camps introducing urban middle and high school students to various outdoor activities are just a few of the programs supported by the association.
To date, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association has raised and distributed over $400,000 to fund youth educational opportunities. POWA’s supporting and active members, as well as many of the show’s vendors, donate items and services. Auction items in the past have included guided fishing trips, firearms, hunting and fishing accessories and artwork, and there are plenty of those items on tap for this year as well.
What’s even better is that anyone who visits the show earlier in the week for the regular $12 ticket price, can “Bounce Back” on the final Sunday (the day of the auction) for FREE, as long as they bring their previously used tickets with them. Now that’s an incentive.
In addition to serving as the state’s only professional organization for writers, photographers, artists, broadcasters and bloggers dedicated to informing Pennsylvanians about the wise use and management of natural resources and outdoor recreation, the association’s mission includes promotion of outdoor education and increasing awareness and appreciation of our natural resources and outdoor heritage.
Please stop by our Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association booth to say hello, check out the auction items, and share some good hunting or fishing stories. The week will go by quickly, but it’ll surely be a fun one. I’ll see you at the Great American Outdoor Show!


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LoopPay, the technology that can wirelessly transfer payment information, may be making its way into third-party smartphone cases soon. Today, the startup announced XPAL Power, a subsidiary of Mophie and Belkin supplier TennRich International, and Trident Case, manufacturer of ruggedized smartphone covers, as its first OEM partners.
The ostensible benefit of LoopPay is its compatibility with legacy point-of-sale terminals. Unlike NFC, which requires merchants to install new systems, LoopPay works for all intents and purposes like the plastic in your wallet; it uses proprietary Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) to generate an electromagnetic wave that emulates a card swipe.
XPAL Power plans to release products this year with the tech, including a back cover for the Galaxy S5. Trident, for its part, will produce LoopPay-ready protective covers for the Samsung Note 4 and other smartphones in late 2015.
The cases may prove redundant if rumors of a partnership with Samsung pan out. Recode reported last month that LoopPay was in talks with Samsung to embed its circuitry within future smartphones.
Still, LoopPay isn’t hedging its bets. The startup states it is working with chipmakers to embed MST in silicon, which would make the technology easier for future accessory makers to integrate.


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DE KWAKEL/HONSELERSDIJK, Netherlands: Following the announcement of their new joint leadership team in February, Bloom, Greenex and Green Partners, all three part of Dutch Flower Group (DFG) and specialised in supplying mass market floral departments across Europe, announce further optimisation of their key business processes.
Bloom, Greenex (both located in De Kwakel) and Green Partners (located in Naaldwijk) currently serve a host of multiple retailers in Europe. The companies believe that bringing skills, back office operations and sourcing services together will allow them operate more efficiently and grow more rapidly.
With this in mind the three businesses have decided to bring all processing and shipping activities of bouquets and potted plants under one roof at Betula 11 in De Kwakel, the current location of Bloom and Greenex. Bouquet makers and logistics staff who currently work at the Green Partners branch in Naaldwijk may move with the company to Aalsmeer.
Green Partners’ head office, the beating heart of planning, sourcing, supply chain management, sales and other backoffice operations, will continue to operate from Trade Parc Westland in Naaldwijk.


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A news has emerged that will upset Star Wars: Battlefront fans. EA and DICE don’t think much of continuing the series.
A claim has been made that will annoy the fans of the EA-made Star Wars: Battlefront series. The production, which was developed and released with DICE, managed to win the admiration of the fans of the universe. It turned out that one should not be too hopeful for the continuation of the series, which sometimes causes negative comments.
According to a recent report, EA isn’t trying too hard for Star Wars: Battlefront 3. According to some information, the company even shelved the series wholesale.
Has Star Wars: Battlefront 3 been cancelled?
In fact, Star Wars: Battlefront 3, which is said to have entered the development phase, has been canceled with the final decision. Developer studio DICE and EA agreed due to the high licensing costs of the game. Especially the fact that the Disney front started to give the game rights to different companies seems to have been quite influential in the decision taken. According to the information received, it is said that the final costs can be met by selling the game 20 percent more than the estimate. As such, neither side seems willing.
DICE, which received a lot of reaction from the fans with the first Star Wars: Battlefront, had a bad launch. In the ensuing process, the studio, which developed the game and offered some additional packages, managed to win the admiration of its fans. Likewise, the company, which released its second game to the game world in 2017, became the focus of criticism due to the reactions of the players about in-game purchases.
DICE, which made Star Wars: Battlefront 2 playable by stepping back from many of its decisions, is not very eager for the third game, while it has not had a good experience already. However, the doors are not fully closed yet. Because as of now, EA, which has 2 Star Wars brands, may reassign DICE according to the opportunities that will occur in the future.
The development, which is likely to be announced in official mouths in the coming days, received mixed reactions from the players. While fans of the series were upset, people who were disappointed about the series before seemed happier.
What do you think about this development? Do not forget to share your views with us.


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Brewmaster Heinz Krause opens the old door. Already with the entrance one feels almost as into another world transferred. The eye does not know what to grasp first. There is historical equipment from the brewing and brewing trade on display: interesting pieces side by side, lovingly assembled and carefully arranged.
"This is our showpiece", says the brewmaster proudly, pointing to what at first glance appears to be an inconspicuous installation. He explains: "This is the smallest functioning brewery in the world, which of course can really be used to brew beer. It creates a beer output of just 500 milliliters."
Brewing rights since 1491
The Forderverein Brauer- und Buttnermuseum opened the museum in 1995. "We want to keep up the tradition of brewing beer, after all, barley juice has been brewed here in the village since 1491. At the same time we want to inform about the beer production and represent the centuries-old brewing tradition from brewing-historical view", says the brewmaster, who would like to see more interest in the museum – as a valuable piece of local and cultural history.
One is particularly proud of a splendidly dressed up beer wagon with old wooden barrels. "This will be exhibited at the Kirchweih this year. But the visitors can look forward to much more, namely to a virtual brewery tour and to the tasting with self-brewed hobby brewer beer".
In addition, the Kirchweihgesellschaft Weibenbrunn – with its chairman Bernd Redwitz – has once again put together a varied and attractive program.
Festival service in the morning
An all-day festival program awaits the guests on Sunday. The Kirchweih festival service begins at 9 a.m.30 o’clock in the Trinity Church. From noon on there is a colorful market hustle and bustle in Paradies. Again this year it is called "Bierdorf Classics – the oldtimers come!" Also an open Schleppertreppen takes place. As always, the best test of the Oldtimerclub Kronach can look forward to a cup. New this year is that the best of the entire field of participants will be awarded with two valuable Hundertwasser place settings with cup, saucer and cake plate donated by the Quarzsandwerke. At 13.15 o’clock the big Kerwaumzug with historical vehicles takes place. This year eight local associations, the Kirchweihgesellschaft and the Weibenbrunn music society will be taking part. Also some oldtimers drive along. For the first time there will be a Weissenbrunn malt beer champion (seven to 15 years) as well as a Weissenbrunn beer champion (from 16 years), which will be determined from 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively in fun competitions.
On all days there will be a symphony of light in paradise. According to the statutes of the Kirchweihgesellschaft, the proceeds of the Kerwa are used for the promotion of culture and customs as well as youth work. So far, around 10,000 euros have been donated by the Kirchweihgesellschaft for this purpose. This year the soccer juniors of the TSV Weibenbrunn and the youth fire department of Weibenbrunn will be honored.


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Travel Website Cruisebound Sets Sail With $10M on Board
Online travel agencies have spent years helping customers find the cheapest flight, hotel room or rental car for their vacation. One of those companies, Rocket Travel, was acquired in 2015 by a major player in the space, Bookings Holdings — which owns Booking.com, Priceline and KAYAK.
After working through the integration with Booking Holdings, several alumni from Rocket Travel decided in 2021 to form Cruisebound, a travel website specifically designed to help millennial and Gen Z travelers book their first cruise.
Cruisebound announced Wednesday that it launched its mobile- and desktop-friendly platform. The company also announced that it raised $10 million in Series A financing in September, which brought its total funds raised to $12.7 million.
The Series A round was co-led by former Booking Holdings CEO Jeff Boyd and PAR Capital Ventures. The round was joined by Tripadvisor co-founder Steve Kaufer, Concur founder Steve Singh and other investors.
Cruisebound co-founder and CEO Pierre-Olivier Lepage said in a statement that other travel sites are not designed to handle cruise bookings, which he said is a complicated process.
“We designed Cruisebound to sell cruises and only cruises,” Lepage said in a statement. “We offer an easy-to-use site that is optimized for mobile, which is where younger travelers prefer to research and book vacations. Then we combine the instant booking of an online travel agency with the live customer service of an offline agent.”
Cruisebound compares prices, itineraries, ships and cabin types across all major cruise lines. It also highlights personalized discounts based on a user’s age, past cruise reservations and other factors. Cruisebound does not charge a booking fee, and it claims its deals can save users between 15 percent and 30 percent on their cruise.
Cruisebound is a remote-first company headquartered in NYC. The company has more than 30 employees and is currently hiring for engineers.


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Sept. 6, 2017—Bolt On Technology has launched its Review Manager, which aims to help shop owners get instant, honest reviews from their customers.
Bolt On said Review Manager allows automotive repair shops to build their online presence at the click of a button. Shop owners can choose which customers to text links to, and have them review their most recent experience at the shop. That review will post directly to Google or Facebook.
“It’s the evolution of solutions,” said Mike Risich, founder and CEO of Bolt On. “We are assisting shop owners with optimization when it comes to local search. The greatest way to do that is with genuine customer reviews.”


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Sam’s Club, a renowned membership-only retail warehouse club, has recently launched an exclusive membership offer for teachers and educators. This initiative is seen as a significant move from Sam’s Club to extend its support to the education community. For comprehensive information and advice on memberships, deals, and educational resources, you can always visit article “Sam Club membership For Teachers” on bonbebe.vn, a trusted platform for educators and parents alike. Now, let’s delve into the specifics of this exciting new offer from Sam’s Club and how it aims to lighten the financial burden for teachers across the nation.
I. Sam Club membership For Teachers
1. Overview of Sam’s Club announcement
Sam’s Club, a renowned membership-only retail warehouse club, has recently made an exciting announcement. Aiming to support educators across the country, they have introduced a new membership deal for the upcoming school year. The announcement was made public just in time, as the summer ends and a new academic year is about to commence.
2. Brief mention of the special deal for teachers and educators
The special offer unveiled by Sam’s Club is exclusively for teachers and educators. They are offering a significant discount of 60% off the standard membership fee. This new offer is aimed at lightening the financial burden that teachers often bear when preparing for the new school year. As a result of this generous discount, teachers and educators will only have to pay $20 for the Sam’s Club membership, substantially less than the regular cost. This initiative demonstrates Sam’s Club’s commitment to supporting the education sector and their understanding of the challenges faced by educators.
II. Sam’s Club is offering $20 membership for teachers
III. Details of the Membership Deal
1. Reduction of standard membership fees by 60% for teachers and educators
One of the key highlights of this new deal is the significant reduction in membership fees for teachers and educators. Sam’s Club has committed to providing a 60% discount on the standard membership fee. This reduction is a part of the company’s efforts to ease the financial burden on educators, acknowledging the out-of-pocket expenses they often incur for their classrooms.
2. New cost of membership: $20
With the substantial discount in place, the cost of the Sam’s Club membership for educators is now only $20. This revised fee, significantly lower than the usual rate, is expected to provide a more affordable and accessible option for teachers and educators, allowing them to take advantage of the benefits offered by the Sam’s Club membership.
3. Availability of the deal from Monday, July 17 to Tuesday, August 15
This special membership deal is available for a limited period only. The offer starts on Monday, July 17 and continues until Tuesday, August 15. Teachers and educators are encouraged to act quickly to avail of this exclusive discount within this timeframe.
4. Redemption method: online or in-store at Sam’s Club locations
To make this deal more accessible and convenient, Sam’s Club has provided two options for redemption. Educators can either sign up for the membership online or choose to do so in person at any Sam’s Club store. This flexibility in the redemption process is aimed at ensuring a seamless and effortless sign-up experience for all eligible participants.
IV. Criteria to become a member of Sam’s Club
1. Only available for new Sam’s Club members
This special membership offer is reserved exclusively for new members of Sam’s Club. This limitation was established as a way to attract new educators to become a part of the Sam’s Club community and avail themselves of the benefits and discounts the club offers. Existing members, while unable to avail this specific discount, continue to enjoy a wide range of other benefits and discounts under their current membership.
2. Must be state-licensed/certified PreK teachers, principals, assistant principals, PreK-12 school employees, and college/university professors
The eligibility criteria for this special offer are quite specific. The deal is open to a broad group of educators – not only state-licensed or certified PreK teachers, but also principals, assistant principals, and school employees from PreK through 12th grade. Moreover, faculty members at the college and university level, including professors, are also eligible for this discounted membership. This broad eligibility scope is a clear indication of Sam’s Club’s commitment to supporting educators at all levels of the education system.
V. Objective and Expected Outcome
1. Statement from Scott Ludwig, Vice President of Membership at Sam’s Club
In the light of this new initiative, Scott Ludwig, Vice President of Membership at Sam’s Club, released a statement underscoring the organization’s dedication towards supporting educators. He expressed optimism that this new membership deal will contribute significantly towards reducing the financial pressures teachers face while preparing for the new academic year.
2. The goal of the initiative: helping teachers save money while preparing for the upcoming school year
The primary goal of this initiative, according to Ludwig, is to help teachers save money as they gear up for the coming school year. By offering a substantial discount on the membership fee, Sam’s Club hopes to enable educators to access a wide range of products and services at reduced prices, ultimately helping them in their preparations for the new academic session.
3. Acknowledgement of the financial burden teachers often face in terms of classroom supplies
Ludwig also acknowledged the financial burden that teachers often shoulder when it comes to classroom supplies. He highlighted the unfortunate reality of educators having to pay out-of-pocket for classroom essentials. By offering this discounted membership, Sam’s Club aims to mitigate this burden, ensuring that teachers can access the resources they need at a much lower cost. This move further emphasizes Sam’s Club’s understanding of and empathy for the challenges faced by educators in their noble profession.
VI. Conclusion about Sam Club membership for Teachers
1. Recap of the Sam’s Club offer
In recapitulation, Sam’s Club has announced an exceptional membership deal for educators. This limited-time offer slashes the standard membership fee by 60%, bringing it down to just $20. This remarkable discount is available for new members who are state-licensed/certified PreK teachers, principals, assistant principals, PreK-12 school employees, and college/university professors. The offer is valid from Monday, July 17 to Tuesday, August 15 and can be redeemed either online or in-store at Sam’s Club locations.
2. Encouragement for eligible individuals to take advantage of the limited-time offer
Eligible educators are strongly encouraged to seize this unique opportunity. This membership deal is a testament to Sam’s Club’s commitment to supporting education and those who make it possible. It provides a chance for educators to access a wide range of goods and services at Sam’s Club at significantly reduced prices. However, this offer is available only for a limited time, and eligible individuals should act promptly to take advantage of it.
3. Final words on the initiative’s aim to alleviate the financial burden on educators.
In conclusion, Sam’s Club aims to ease the financial strain that teachers often experience when preparing for a new school year. By introducing this discounted membership deal, they hope to provide educators better access to necessary resources without breaking the bank. Through initiatives like these, Sam’s Club continues to show its understanding of the challenges faced by educators and its commitment to helping them overcome these obstacles. This membership deal is more than just a discount; it’s an affirmation of Sam’s Club’s support for the educational community.
Please note that all information presented in this article has been obtained from a variety of sources, including wikipedia.org and several other newspapers. Although we have tried our best to verify all information, we cannot guarantee that everything mentioned is correct and has not been 100% verified. Therefore, we recommend caution when referencing this article or using it as a source in your own research or report.


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On this week’s show of Rated G, from a recently released video by the Last Gamer on YouTube, we got introspective. We discuss what will happen to our collections when we meet our untimely death. Also, it’s National CIB day as we record this episode. We celebrate the pickups that mean something to us. In the News, we learn that Namco/Bandai is developing Metroid 4, new Crash Bandicoot rumored for 2019, Mario Kart is coming to mobile phones, a new horror roguelike game Persistence lands on PSVR this summer and Billy Mitchell breaks his silence over the Donkey Kong controversy.
Episode 102 – Sweet Caroline
We’re back after the plague hit us both hard. A ton of news happened during our recoveries. Nintendo drops a mini direct as well as a new S.T.E.M. style product line, Labo launching in a few months, Microsoft is bringing back the “Duke” controller to Xbox One and Fable is coming back with a new developer since Lionhead Studios has closed and Sony plans on 130 new VR titles for 2018, all in our news segment. All of that and our massive pickups from the last two weeks.


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Plant-based protein company v2food has raised $72 million in its latest funding round, bringing in Europe’s largest investment fund, Astanor Ventures and China’s leading e-commerce platform.
The Series B Plus funding round brings the company’s total raise to $185 million, and its value to more than $500 million – up from its launch value of $2 million two and a half years ago.
V2food CEO and founder Nick Hazell said the focus was now on scale, global competitiveness, and business development. “Adding to our existing Sydney HQ, we have officially opened operations in China and appointed our new China general manager Cyrus Pan to build the brand locally across Asia,” Hazell said.
The company recently announced its launch into the Chinese market, with its first batch of products including a new iteration of v2mince, resembling pork. It has already got a foothold in New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, and Korea.
The company said it plans to use the new funds to scale its advanced manufacturing and broaden its global reach across Asia and into Europe.
Investment fund Astanor Ventures partner Hendrik Van Asbroek said v2food was well-positioned to have an impact globally.
“Alternative meat has a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change. The v1 versions of alternative meat have created awareness and demand, now we have to step up and supply the customers with healthy, delicious, and price-competitive products.
“V2food, with its world-class team and scientific expertise, is the right company to deliver this new generation of alternative meat across the globe,” said Van Asbroek.
V2food declined to name the Chinese e-commerce platform that has come onboard, while existing investors Huaxing Growth Capital Fund, Main Sequence, and ABC World Asia have committed more money to the kitty.
New and existing investors of v2food also include Altitude Partners, China Renaissance, Esenagro, Horizons Ventures, Marinya Capital, Novel Investments, Sequoia Capital China and Temasek.
V2food was the result of a partnership between Jack Cowin’s Competitive Foods Australia (CFAL) and CSIRO deep tech venture fund Main Sequence. CFAL is one of the largest restaurant franchisers in Australia. Cowin’s group of companies includes meat processing company Comgroup, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and PMFresh.
When v2food launched, Cowin said group of businesses were working with CSIRO’s food science and manufacturing expertise to achieve “sustainability of our food supply”.
“I think the exciting part of v2food here is that it’s an opportunity to grow this into, not just an Australian business, but as a big picture, this could become an international business
“We’ve got the raw materials, we can produce a product that is very competitive… if we can use the grains for our farmers to grow and turn it into protein and make that a competitive product – as beef gets more expensive – we’ve got a lower cost product that will be able to supply the nutrients and protein people need,” Cowin said.
As it launched its retail offering, it also went onto the Hungry Jack’s menu as a plant-based Whopper burger called the Rebel Whopper.
Listen to Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry interview Phil Morle, Main Sequence, and Nick Hazell, v2food, about foodtech, investment and the future of food here.


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A growing number of companies are disclosing data breaches that involve large amounts of stolen user credentials data such as emails and passwords. The companies involved are quick to reassure customers that the stolen data does not include account or financial details and that passwords are obscured. However, consumers who use weak passwords and reuse the same ones across multiple websites are more vulnerable to hacker attacks and could end up the victim of identity theft. With two out of every three data breaches involving some use of stolen or misused user credentials the risks really shouldn’t be ignored.
How safe is your data?
Whilst it’s true that most passwords on websites are typically obscured this does not mean they are impenetrable. Most passwords are obscured using a method called Hashing or Salting; Hashing converts passwords into a fixed number of random characters while Salting adds a secret value to the end. Whilst both methods make it difficult for hackers to decipher the password, given enough time it may be possible, especially if the password uses a simple format and structure.
User names, emails, and passwords also provide hackers with the data they need to carry out credentials stuffing attacks where data is integrated into software that automatically attempts email/password combinations and hacks into different websites. Where people use the same usernames and passwords across multiple sites it becomes easy for the software to crack the combination. Hackers can then steal additional personal information including financial details or change a user’s login and take control of their account.
Several UK businesses have recently become victims of credentials stuffing attacks including Camelot, where data from previous breaches was used to access UK National Lottery accounts and online takeaway firm Deliveroo, where the attack resulted in customers being charged for food they didn’t order.
How your data can be used to commit identity theft
Once an account has been hacked stolen personal data is often sold on the Dark Web. Both personally identifiable information, the most stolen data type, and financial data can be purchased by criminals and used to commit identity theft, the fastest growing crime in the UK. According to Fraudscape’s 2016 report, Identity theft accounts for 53% of all frauds in the UK and 86% are committed online. This type of fraud uses real consumer data rather than fictitious names and addresses and is therefore very difficult to detect. Criminals also hack and sell on deceased individual’s data which is particularly valuable as identity theft committed using a deceased person’s information usually goes undetected for longer. Organizations can help combat deceased identity theft by using a detection service such as The Ark’s National Deceased Register Monitor which blocks fraudulent applications and helps prevent these crimes.
What can consumers do to help protect their personal data?
- Always use strong/complex passwords with symbols, numbers, and capitals
- Never share passwords across multiple websites
- Change passwords regularly; anyone using a password that is several years old should change it as soon as possible
- Use a password manager
Remembering a strong password is difficult, and doing this for every website just about impossible, so we advise using one of the many password management tools available. The tool should be installed and all passwords changed so that every single one is different, long, and hard to crack. They provide a simple and safe way to keep track of multiple passwords and help consumers avoid becoming an easy target for hackers.
Whilst it’s true that stolen credentials are lower risk than financial information, they can result in serious consequences, especially for consumers who reuse their passwords.
For more information on the prevention of identity theft visit the cifas website https://www.cifas.org.uk/identity_fraud
View the CIFAS Fraudscape report here https://www.cifas.org.uk/secure/contentPORT/uploads/documents/160706_cifas_fraudscape_ONLINE.pdf


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With many lockdown restrictions to be removed over the coming weeks, the Irish cinema industry is gearing up to throw open its doors from June 7th onwards with pent-up demand likely to exceed expectations.
“It’s excellent news for the cinema industry that venues can reopen from 7th June. Between the superb film slate and the number of people talking about how quickly they wish to get back to cinema going, we’re set for a dramatic return period,” says Eoin Wrixon, CEO of Wide Eye Media.
“With key American markets such as LA and New York already open, the slate has firmed up and offers a double dose of powerful key releases attracting people back to the unique environment that is watching a film in a cinema,” he adds.
Globally, cinema audiences are tracking back to pre-Covid levels in markets where restrictions have been lifted. In Australia, 897,000 people visited the cinema over the final weekend of March (25-28 Mar 2021) recording the best admissions since Australia’s pre-Covid lockdown restrictions.
With figures back at January 2020 levels, this sets a new benchmark for audiences there, and confirms the return of consumer confidence in the cinema environment.
Likewise with 90% of cinemas open in China and Japan, admissions in these countries are already back to pre-Covid levels.
Based on two quarters alone, WARC envisages that cinema advertising spend in the UK to be up 248% for the year. As 2021 progresses, WARC is forecasting a 315% growth in Q1 of 2022.
In terms of the safety of cinema-goers, Wrixon says that all cinema operators will have safety protocols in place when they re-open and he urges people to check the industry’s CinemaTogether.ie website for updates.
“Be sure to check CinemaTogether.ie for the latest information about opening dates per location and safeguarding protocols. Exhibitors have worked hard to ensure people are seated within the bubble of their booking, intensive cleaning is in place between shows, and social distancing is strictly adhered to throughout. Cinema is a safe entertainment outlet and globally no Covid-19 cases have been traced to cinema attendance, even in countries that stayed open like Sweden, Taiwan and Japan. This is despite well over 100 million visits to cinemas since the pandemic began,” he says.


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Sentinel Retro – PRX+12215 was announced as the winner of the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Solutions at the flagship annual award program at ISC West.
The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named HSI Sensing as an award winner at the 2019 SIA New Product Showcase Awards, the flagship awards program at ISC West recognizing innovative security products, services and solutions.
HSI Sensing was selected as the 2019 winner of the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Solutions for its Sentinel Retro – PRX+12215 and recognized on the main stage at ISC West, the nation’s largest converged security trade show, on April 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Sentinel Retro is designed as a drop-in replacement to simplify upgrading outdated technology and seeks to eliminate some of the most common issues that plague the industry, such as false alarms from shock and vibration, and alignment and mounting limitations,” says Travis Posey, Vice President of Business Development, HSI Sensing.
Sentinel technology utilizes Hall sensors and intelligent algorithms making them resistant to physical, electrical and magnetic tampering. Advanced engineering has also eliminated alignment issues at install and can accommodate long term door sagging.
“It is an honor for our Sentinel Retro to be recognized by the SIA,” says Posey. “We are grateful for this award and look forward to the continued development of this powerful line of products.”
“SIA’s New Product Showcase calls security companies to develop extraordinary, innovative products and solutions, and this year’s winners represent the best new offerings in the market,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “SIA congratulates HSI Sensing for standing out among the entries in this highly competitive program to earn the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Solutions distinction.”
Since its inception in 1979, the SIA New Product Showcase has been the security industry’s premier awards-based marketing program. The 30 judges reviewed more than 95 entries from more than 80 companies in 2019, presenting awards for technologies covering more than 30 product and service categories and the prestigious Judges’ Choice Award. View the full list of winners here.
Learn more about the New Product Showcase here.
SIA (securityindustry.org) is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with nearly 1,000 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members’ interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through education and training, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA GovSummit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industry’s top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking.
About HSI Sensing
Headquartered in Chickasha, Oklahoma, HSI Sensing (Hermetic Switch, Inc.) is the innovative leader in the engineering and precision manufacturing of custom reed switch and sensor technology. The industry experts in solving problems for customers in challenging design applications, they also precision manufacture those solutions to ensure consistent, unmatched quality. All HSI products are made in the U.S.A. HSI Sensing is a privately-held company wholly owned by the employees. For more information about HSI Sensing, please call (405) 224-4046 or visit www.hsisensing-stage.com.
*Photo: (left to right) Zack Mcgill, SIA Chairman, Travis Posey, Blake McArter.


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The Times Coronavirus Charity Appeal has raised the largest sum given by readers in the paper’s history, it has been announced as the appeal closes this week.
Of the £1.1million raised, Family Action which supports people experiencing poverty and social isolation has received £661,471 and The Big Issue Foundation received £504,025 to assist homeless vendors of the weekly magazine hit during the pandemic.
Funds have helped Family Action to expand its network of food clubs for families affected by the pandemic in 30-plus locations, the paper has reported. Over 400 grants of up to £200 have been made available to help struggling families to buy essentials such as groceries and to pay bills.
Big Issue magazine vendors benefitted from the donations during the lockdown after sellers were unable to work on their street pitches during the peak of pandemic for their own safety.
The Big Issue Foundation made fortnightly payments of £50 to more than 1,600 vendors, many of whom were isolating or housed in temporary accommodation over lockdown. Donations have since assisted those who have gone back to selling the magazine on their pitches with a Covid-19 protection kit of masks, hand sanitiser, gloves and face masks as well as ten free magazines to get vendors re-started.
Lord Bird, founder of The Big Issue, told the paper: “We appealed for support in our darkest days . . . and The Times’s readers showed overwhelming support . . . Thank you.”
The Times’s previous donation record had raised £772,638 for its 2018 Christmas appeal.
Donations can be made until July 25 at thetimes.co.uk/timesappeal


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Apparently Cubot are jumping on the 18:9 display ratio bandwagon as well, following other Chinese phone makers. The upcoming device — namely called Cubot X18 — has been teased in a short Youtube video which we can check out down below.
What we see in the video is a prototype render, so of course the device won’t look exactly like that, but what we can get from watching it is that Cubot will be covering the device entirely in glass (2.5D to be precise), just like the popular Samsung S8 and S8 Plus. The company also let us know the display will be fully laminated so it should look better than those other entry-level / mid-range devices.
Cubot also revealed some of the specs of the upcoming Cubot X18. On the device we’ll find a big 5.7-inch 18:9 display, powered by a MediaTek MT6737T CPU clocked at 1.5GHz, 3GB of RAM and 32G of internal storage. The smartphone will be running the latest Android 7.0 Nougat OS out of the box.
Gizchina News of the week
Cubot say we will know when the X18 will be released by the end of the month, all we can do now is wait to see how good it’ll actually look and how much it’ll cost; stay tuned! More info will be available on Cubot’s official website.


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Three-quarters of American companies operating in China told a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) that a multitude of issues – from the increasingly fickle policy environment to Beijing’s stalled progress on market access – have forced them to put new investments on hold.
AmCham China President Alan Beebe told a webinar on Tuesday that just 25% of the 353 US-invested businesses surveyed between October and November, for the 24th edition of the China Business Climate Report, had plans for fresh significant investments in the world’s second-largest economy this year.
The harsher and unpredictable regulatory and policy environment was often cited by respondents, and 40% attributed the cloudy outlook for their China business to the country’s complicated and capricious policies and regulation – up from 24% of firms that voiced similar views in AmCham’s survey in 2021.
Clearly, more US firms in China are hedging their bets as they believe Beijing’s policies, from countering geopolitical threats to Covid-19-related travel and entry restrictions, have compounded the uncertainties they already face.
Beijing has also signalled an intention for increased Communist Party supervision of the day-to-day running of private and foreign companies.
“What’s more, Beijing’s emphasis on tech self-sufficiency and self-reliance has put some American businesses at a certain disadvantage and the recent policy drive towards ‘Common prosperity’ also has a lot of ambiguities,” Beebe said.
More American firms also said they felt unwelcome in China.
Profits Still Under Pre-Covid Levels
Underlying the widespread investment hesitancy was the finding that less than 60% of American firms were profitable in the immediate quarter proceeding the AmCham survey co-organised by PriceWaterhouseCooper, down from the 73% peak seen in 2017.
Overall profitability had rebounded from the level seen in the previous questionnaire, and the worst of China’s Covid-19 crisis, but firms are not back to pre-Covid levels.
Confidence that Beijing will make good on its pledges and open up more sectors is also wearing thin, with less than half of the AmCham members saying they expected positive outcomes. Last year, 61% of respondents were hopeful.
“American firms hope they can one day have the same untrammeled market access enjoyed by Chinese companies in the US… [China’s] central government has made promises and issued directives to reform and open up but the access issue really boils down to local implementation and we see complaints about uneven enforcement and interpretation,” Beebe said.
In regard to bilateral ties, about a quarter of members saw no imminent uptick in relations, feeling that there would continue to be risks from longstanding issues. Some 58% reported that their business had been impacted by US-China tensions, up from 50% last year.
“In the last survey we had the so-called ‘Biden Bump’, as members hoped that ties may improve under the new president but the fact is that most of Donald Trump’s trade and business policies toward China are still in place,” Beebe said.
It was also notable that, while 66% of companies said they had faced political pressure from Chinese authorities or state media in the past year, such asa not making politically sensitive statements, 32% of respondents also indicated pressure from Washington, AmCham chairman Colm Rafferty said.
One instance cited was the completion of a review of US supply chains by the Biden administration, as any action adopted could potentially leave some American manufacturers in China in jeopardy.
Onerous Covid Restrictions
The latest survey also found 76% of new overseas talent and qualified candidates recruited by US firms in China could not move to the country last year, largely due to China’s prolonged border closure preventing international arrivals and the onerous quarantine protocols imposed by Beijing.
The AmCham president noted that Washington’s new ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns, had been put in quarantine after arriving in Beijing last weekend.
AmCham said there were also fewer flights between China and the US after the Winter Games, so the processing of members’ applications for a fast-track travel channel for businesspeople had been slowed as a result, while the appeal of working for a US company had also been eroded.
“Many Chinese talents would rather not work for an American firm. The ‘Brand America’ has started losing value because of the tensions in the [bilateral] relationship,” one unnamed respondent to the survey wrote.
But, gripes aside, an overwhelming majority of AmCham members – 83% – said they had no plans to leave China, although some may be contemplating plans to relocate or duplicate some of their production and activities elsewhere.
Asked about the collateral impact from US and Western sanctions against Russia, Beebe said the survey was done before the crisis in Ukraine but AmCham had hosted three webinars last week on sanction compliance to help US companies in China navigate the issue.
He said not many US companies operating in China would export goods or services to Russia, while Chinese partners who import technology from the US and have business dealings with Russia must review their operations.
- Frank Chen
Note: This report was updated with original content on March 8, 2022.


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Senior Controls Technician Tyler Wallace recently earned a certificate from Rockwell Automation. Rockwell Automation is an American provider of industrial automation, including programmable logic controllers and other automation products in use at Millwood. They also provide product-specific educational courses as a way to support their customers.
Millwood, Inc. has announced that Tom Paskert has joined the Company in the role of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President.
In a recent blog post , we explored how automation, AI and robotics are helping to fortify the supply chain against future disruptions. As a critical link i n the supply chain, pallet manufacturing also benefits from automated processes, and Millwood is no exception.
Millwood opened its 33rd facility in May with our second Florence, SC facility, Florence 2, which is on the same street as our original Florence facility. Florence 2 assemble s boxes while the original facility continue s to build pallets and crates.
Independence Day is around the corner, and Americans are getting ready to celebrate with friends and family. Many of us will host or attend backyard barbecues, picnics and fireworks shows to celebrate as well as show gratitude for our country’s independence .


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According to foreign press, such as the Greek Reporter, Greece announced on the 3rd (local time) that it would replace the existing accommodation tax with a “climate resilience levy.” Starting in March this year, Greece will impose a new climate resilience levy on tourists using accommodation facilities. This decision appears to have been made in […]
The Disneyland Hotel Paris has reopened after being closed due to COVID-19. Travel and Leisure and other travel publications reported that the Paris Disneyland Hotel reopened on March 25 after being renovated...
Discover Ushuaia, a "Animal Paradise" at the southernmost tip of the world, where you can encounter penguins, sea lions, and more.
Explore Prague's architectural landmarks, from the Powder Tower to the modernist Villa Müller and Zizkov TV Tower.
Exploradores Glacier in Patagonia closes due to global warming, affecting local tourism businesses and raising safety concerns.
Winter marathons in Saipan and Rota offer runners a warm escape with mild weather, scenic courses, and cash prizes.
Two United Airlines flight attendants file a lawsuit alleging discrimination after being replaced with slim, white women on a charter flight.
Shanghai Disneyland to open 'Zootopia' themed area on December 20, featuring rides, ice cream, and character souvenirs.
In Michigan, Airbnb guests file lawsuit after encountering a swarm of bats in their rented accommodation during a high school reunion trip.
Swedish Tourism Board combats Sweden-Switzerland confusion with a humorous campaign video highlighting unique Swedish attractions.


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The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam, set up the first reverse vending machine (RVM) of its kind to recycle plastics at Jinnah Supermarket, Islamabad.
Mr. Malik Amin Aslam commented: “We will all have to work together to address the issue of plastic. The RVM machine is a way to contact the public and encourage them to recycle”.
As the use of plastic has increased, it is the main reason for air and water pollution. Therefore, it is a basic need to recycle plastic in the right way.
Packaging waste is an urgent global problem. Although plastic is a lightweight and very useful for packing material that helps keep food safe, affordable, and affordable, only 14% of what is used is effectively recycled. This will require fundamental changes in how packaging is made and disposed of and rethinking its forms and functions.
The machine is convenient for people to recycle plastic. Any kind of plastic bottle can be used on the machine.
The consumer only needs to press the start button on a touch screen and the RVM will open a slot to receive the plastic bottle. Once deposited, RVM compresses the bottle so that it is ready for the next recycling steps.
RVM is part of the government’s policy and intention to take significant steps to address the issue of plastic waste and repaired it by a PepsiCo company.
Earlier this year, PepsiCo announced the country’s largest plastics collection and recycling project is going to start.
PepsiCo Pakistan will increase its 4,750-ton plastics collection program by adding another 5,500 tonnes, totaling 10,250 tonnes of plastics to be collected and recycled in 2021.
PepsiCo partner Green Earth Recycling implemented this program and its progress is being monitored by WWF -Pakistan.
Mr. Furqan Ahmed Syed, CEO of PepsiCo Pakistan and Afghanistan commented that “RVM is part of our multifaceted strategy to invest to increase recycling rates in major markets through campaigns that encourage consumers to recycle and partnerships to increase and improve the entire recycling infrastructure”.
We already launched a 4,750-tons plastic collection program earlier this year. Today we are more than doubling that goal and increasing the total collection to 10,250 tons.


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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wasted little time touting the updated Windows mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7 Series, as a new way for end users to connect to their mobile devices. Along with revealing a long list of hardware and carrier partners and a launch date for the OS-Christmas 2010-Ballmer book-ended the official announcement of the operating system at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, while Joe Belfiore, vice president of Windows Phones, demonstrated the features and functionality of the operating system. Perhaps surprisingly, for a company best known for business, the emphasis this time was overwhelmingly on the personal.
Belfiore repeatedly used words like “intimate,” “unique” and “individual” when describing the ideal interaction consumers should have with their mobile devices. He often reiterated the notion that a phone is not a PC and should therefore not be treated like one. “We wanted to go back and revisit the design and come up with a user experience that’s new and different,” he said. “How can we build a phone that focuses on the end user and the things that make the phone reflect your unique personality and needs?”
The goal, Belfiore explained, was to make an operating system that was more organized and task-centric and that helped organize information and applications. He spoke of building a modern phone that “takes advantage of users’ complex lives to make something unique and individual.”
In the live demonstration that followed, the focus remained on the personal and the social, demonstrating the integrated experiences with music, pictures and video users would access to stay connected to friends and family. “We want a smart design that puts the user at the center of their experiences and moves beyond separate applications,” he said, scrolling through photos of friends. “Using your phone should be a delightful, fun experience, an expression of your personality that makes people smile when they use it.”
While Belfiore slipped into tech-speak every so often (sub-pixel positioning technology) and highlighted, if briefly, the productivity features of Windows Phone 7, social connection features and location-based services took clear precedence. “Office is good at things like taking notes,” he summarized when speaking about the Office Hub. “It’s terrific for people who want to be productive.” Then it was back to the school of snowflake philosophy.
“I hope the main things you’ll take aware are a smart design that makes the phone a unique reflection of who you are. We think this altogether is a different kind of phone,” he said in conclusion. “We want it to be easy-to-use and delightful and something new.”


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Avaya Holdings Corp Breaks Through Resistance Level, Soars on Strong Q3 Results
Avaya Stock Up 168% Since March Lows
Some investors may see a big disconnect between the state of the U.S. economy and the soaring stock market, but some of the stock valuations are more justified than others. Avaya Holdings Corp (NYSE:AVYA) has seen its share price rise approximately 35% since the start of 2020 and nearly 170% since its March lows.
Some of that initial growth came from investor optimism and a fear of missing out. But those Hail Mary investments took legitimate flight in May and August when the company reported record back-to-back results that exceeded expectations. The company also reported a strong outlook for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2020.
This helped propel AVYA stock significantly higher. On August 10, Avaya stock hit a new 52-week high of $16.46, blowing through previous resistance near $15.50 and trading at its highest level since May 2019.
Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com
AVYA Stock Overview
Through its subsidiaries, Avaya Holdings provides business collaboration and communication software. This includes contract centers and real-time video. (Source: “Investor Presentation, February 2020,” Avaya Holdings Corp, last accessed August 11, 2020.)
Demand for these products and services have soared in the coronavirus pandemic environment, and they are expected to remain robust in the post-pandemic economy.
The Santa Clara, California-based company’s “Products & Solutions” segment develops communications and contact center solutions that are provided on premise, in the cloud, or a combination of both.
The “Services” segment develops services that help its customers evaluate, plan, design, implement, monitor, manage, and optimize enterprise communications networks.
The company’s “Unified Communications” solutions include voice, e-mail, chat, video, social media, and performance management.
Back in October, Avaya Holdings announced a strategic collaboration with RingCentral Inc (NYSE:RNG) to accelerate the company’s transition to the cloud. (Source: “Avaya Announces Strategic Partnership with RingCentral to Accelerate Transformation to the Cloud,” Avaya Holdings Corp, October 3, 2019.)
This includes expanding the company’s portfolio of products and services to a larger customer base (not that Avaya didn’t already have one of the most enviable list of clients).
The company’s customer base includes more than 120,000 customers in more than 180 countries. That includes:
- More than 90% of the United States’ largest companies
- 93 of the top 100 Brands on Forbes 2018 World’s Most Valuable Brands list
- The top 10 banks
- The top 10 insurance companies
- The top 10 passenger airlines
- Nine out of the world’s top 10 largest automobile manufacturers
- Nine of the world’s top 10 healthcare institutions
- Nine of the world’s top 10 hotel chains
- Eight of the top 10 investment services firms
- Eight of the top 10 colleges in the U.S.
(Source: “Welcome to Avaya,” Avaya Holdings Corp, last accessed August 10, 2020.)
Avaya Tops Q3 Revenue Estimates, Provides Strong Guidance
On August 10, Avaya announced that its revenue for the third quarter ended June 30 increased by less than one percent year-over-year and 5.7% sequentially to $721.0 million. (Source: “Avaya Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2020 Financial Results,” Avaya Holdings Corp, August 10, 2020.)
Wall Street was only expecting the company to report revenue of $686.7 million.
Avaya said its software and services products accounted for 89% of revenue, beating the record set in March. Recurring revenue accounted for 64% of revenue, up five points year-over-year. Meanwhile, “Cloud, Alliance Partner, and Subscription” revenue increased from 23% to 30% of revenue.
The company reported third-quarter net income of $9.0 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to a third-quarter 2019 net loss of $633.0 million and a second-quarter 2020 net loss of $672.0 million.
During the third quarter, Avaya Holdings Corp added 900 new logos, with a total contract value (TCV) of $2.2 billion. Of those new deals, 104 had TCV of over $1.0 million, 14 had TCV of over $5.0 million, and seven had TCV of over $10.0 million.
Jim Chirico, president and CEO, commented, “We delivered strong quarterly results exceeding our guidance across all metrics. The company grew sequentially and year over year, which marks a major milestone for Avaya.” (Source: Ibid.)
For the fourth quarter, Avaya expects to report revenue of $719.0 to $739.0 million, operating income of $51.0 to $71.0 million, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $170.0 to $190.0 million
For fiscal 2020, the company expects to report revenue of $2.84 billion to $2.86 billion, an operating loss of $478.0 to $458.0 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $680.0 to $700.0 million.
As the world’s leading pure-play unified communications and contact center company, Avaya Holdings Corp has the largest installed base in the industry. It is also a highly profitable company.
Furthermore, Avaya is in the midst of transitioning to a subscription-based revenue model, and that strategy has been paying off.


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Can QVC Succeed with Instant TV Ordering Where Everyone Else has Failed?
There’s news out this week the QVC is going to seek one of the tech world’s holy grails of TV advertising: easy ordering directly through your TV. Isn’t it tremendous that the technology is finally ready for this great step forward?
Not really. Since the early 1990′s, system after system has been tried with the grand promise that easy ordering from TV will deliver outstanding results. And, it’s failed every time.
Instant TV ordering hasn’t failed due to technology problems. It’s failed because consumers really don’t care. Let’s look at the consumer equation…
Many consumers like to pick up the phone to talk to a live operator and place an order. It’s a pretty simple low cost operation. Even better, the consumer gets a value from the phone call. Their order is taken in a low risk situation by a live operator. They can ask one or two questions to be certain they know the price, control shipping options, seek guarantee details, etc…
Other consumers prefer to go online to seek the same information, review what other people say about the product, possibly chat with an operator via the computer, and then order when they’re comfortable.
In other words: Today’s system is low pain and low risk while delivering important consumer value.
That hasn’t been true of instant ordering. Instant ordering eliminates the important information possible through other mediums and increases the potential of making an error that can’t be corrected except by refusing the order when UPS arrives.
And that’s why past tests have failed: there was no consumer problem to be solved AND instant ordering increased perceived risk.
Note carefully: these are consumer problems, not technology problems!!!!
There is a chance QVC’s effort might work. And that opportunity comes from two advantages.
1. The cost of implementing this is relatively low given digital cable progress. So, there’s no added cost to the consumer and QVC doesn’t need stellar results for it to work and pay-per-view has habituated consumers to ordering content instantly on the TV.
2. QVC has a dedicated repeat purchasing audience of around 3% to 5% of the population. Like Amazon’s one click ordering, they have higher trust meaning that consumers might perceive less risk than they have in past tests.
Who knows what will happen. Based on past experience, I would have put the chances for success below 20% (that’s more than double what I’d give other instant TV ordering efforts).
Then, I read QVC’s announcement. The announcement focuses how great it will be to reduce telemarketing costs. That’s a bad start for delivering value to consumers and now I’m tempted to lower my estimate of success. (And I’m definitely not naive enough to believe QVC’s going to use those reduced costs to drop prices.)
QVC needs to learn quick: this must be a consumer effort. It will only work by delivering value to their consumers. QVC and Ensequence need only take a brief tour around the junkyard of failed TV technology to see that just because a company wants a technology to work doesn’t mean it will.
Copyright 2010 – Doug Garnett
Categories: Big Data and Technology, Brand Advertising, Communication, convergence, Direct Response, DR Television, Human Tech, internet convergence, Marketing Research, Retail marketing, Technology Advertising, technology marketing, tv convergence
Posted: July 30, 2010 02:48
Posted: July 30, 2010 06:29
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Posted: August 29, 2010 01:39
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Posted: September 6, 2010 11:39
Posted: September 14, 2010 20:28
international merchant account
Posted: September 15, 2010 02:12
Posted: September 27, 2010 14:55
Posted: October 15, 2010 12:31


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U.K. challenger bank Monzo has closed a funding round with another 60 million pounds ($80.3 million), the same amount as its last funding round from June, TechCrunch reported.
Monzo has now raised 125 million pounds ($167.3 million) during the pandemic. The company also now has over 4.8 million customers, including over 60,000 business users, and over 100,000 in its paid-for current accounts Monzo Plus and Monzo Premium, according to the report.
The company’s valuation after this funding round is now 1.2 billion pounds ($1.6 billion).
The new valuation is lower than the previous one, so industry observers see this as a down round, TechCrunch reported, and the previous valuation may have been overheated since the pandemic skewed things for businesses globally.
A down round, according to PYMNTS, is when a private company taps the market for fundraising, usually selling equity and coming back with lower valuations than before. Monzo’s previous round was for 40 percent less than its 2019 valuation, and the pandemic’s effects hobbled the bank’s efforts to expand more overseas.
Due to the pandemic, Monzo suffered reduced card spend both at home and abroad, meaning less revenue for interchange fees coming in, according to TechCrunch. That manifested through furloughs and layoffs because of the economic strife, alongside U.S. layoffs and the closing of the bank’s Las Vegas office.
But others, TechCrunch reported, could see this as a “legitimate FinTech market correction.”
PYMNTS reported that down rounds can sometimes be a sign of caution, with investors only looking to spend if they can get more for their money.
Deliveroo and Stripe investor Novator, Kaiser and TED Global were among the new investors for this round. Existing investor Goodwater also contributed. Other existing investors Y Combinator, General Catalyst, Accel, Passion, Thrive and Stripe reinvested earlier in the year, TechCrunch reported.
Monzo CEO TS Anil said in July that he hoped to weather the pandemic through new products like the business and premium accounts.


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Verizon Lights Up First Commercial 5G Network With 1Gbps Speeds And Loads Of Freebies
And we should also mention that it is only available in four U.S. cities at the moment: Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento. If you live in one of these cities, you'll be able to access "typical" network speeds ranging from 300Mbps to 1Gbps. We doubt that it'll rival Google Fiber's sustained symmetrical 1Gbps transfers, but the 1Gbps top-end is still higher than what many Americans are able to achieve with their cable connections.
Verizon 5G Home is priced at a [relatively] reasonable $70 per month and there are no data caps attached, which is somewhat surprising (and appreciated). If you already have a qualifying Verizon Wireless smartphone plan, your monthly price is just $50 per month.
In addition, Verizon will give those who sign up a free router and you'll get free installation. And if that wasn't enough to entice folks to ditch their current ISP, Verizon gives you a choice of a free Google Chromecast Ultra or an Apple TV 4K. Want more freebies? You'll also get three months of YouTube TV for free.
The nation's largest wireless carrier says that Verizon 5G Home is based on the open 5G TF network standard. According to the Verizon, relying on 5G TF allowed it to quickly bring 5G speeds to residential customers while it works on its end goal of blanketing the county with a wireless network based on the 3GPP 5G NR standard.
“We’ve formed incredible partnerships with many of the world’s leading technology companies, the international technical standards bodies, public officials, developers and our own customers to drive the 5G ecosystem forward, faster than most had predicted," said Verizon Wireless President Ronan Dunne. "And now, actual customers. It’s been an incredible journey...and we’re just at the starting line.”


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Never Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.
Paul McDougall, Editor At Large, InformationWeek
February 8, 2008
1 Min Read
The chief executive of 3-D modeling software maker Caligari said in a blog post that his company has been acquired by Microsoft.
"I am pleased to announce that Caligari Corp. has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation," wrote Roman Ormandy, in an entry dated Thursday.
Ormandy said Caligari's imaging technology would be used to bolster Microsoft's Virtual Earth project, a platform on which businesses can create interactive, geographic maps overlaid with additional data.
"I am deeply convinced that the union of Caligari Technologies and the scope of Virtual Earth project and vision behind it creates the perfect home for us," Ormandy wrote.
A Microsoft representative was not immediately able to confirm the information. Caligari officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Caligari is best known for its TrueSpace 3-D modeling software, which has been on the market for more than 20 years. The software lets animators, game designers, and other graphics professionals create three-dimensional renderings and special effects for a range of applications.
The most recent version, TrueSpace 7.5, includes a human character editor that allows users to create lifelike anatomical models with realistic joint and skeletal movements.
Caligari also operates TruePlace -- a Second Life type of online world that features a navigable, 3-D environment.
Microsoft in recent months has shown an uncharacteristic acquisitiveness. In addition to its headline-making $44.6 billion offer to buy Yahoo last week, the company last year picked up digital advertising agency aQuantive for $6 billion.
Also last year, Microsoft bought out automated voice services provider Tellme Networks for an undisclosed sum.
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Jewelry merchants leaving a hotel were the targets of a robbery in Naperville, IL.
Three suspects, who were wearing masks and gloves, took jewelry cases containing merchandise, ABC7 Chicago reports. They left in a van with two other suspects.
A merchant struggled with the assailants and the suspects took the merchandise forcibly, but no injuries were reported, according to the news report.
The crime happened Saturday about 11 p.m. in a parking lot outside a Marriott Hotel. The merchants had been at a private showing.
It’s unknown which direction the van went.
Read more at ABC7 Chicago.


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Rupee vs Dollar: Imports will be expensive due to fall in the value of rupee.
Rupee has once again come down to its lowest level on Monday, 26 September. It weakened even during the third consecutive session. Fears of a slowdown globally and the continuous increase in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve are strengthening the dollar index and the rupee is slipping.
Understand how a falling rupee can affect your life.
According to Bloomberg, the rupee, which was earlier at 81.5675, fell to a new record low of 81.5225 during trading on Monday to 81.6612. This is also the lowest level of Rs.
At the same time, according to PTI, the rupee fell 54 paise to close at a record low of 81.63 against the US dollar. Last week Thursday and Friday the rupee had closed at its all-time low and today it has reached a record low for the third consecutive session.
Talking to Economic Times, Mohit Nigam of Hem Securities said that “Rupee will see further decline, US Fed has made it clear to bring inflation under control that interest rates will be hiked. In such a situation, the rupee will rise to 83″. Can even touch the figures.”
What is the position of Rs.
Rupee has crossed the level of 81.5. Till April 2022, the rupee was trading around 76, which crossed the figure of 77 in May, 78 in June, 79 in July and 80 in September.
Why is rupee falling?
The story of the fall of the rupee had started in Corona. When the business-industry all over the world had come to a standstill, after which the supply chain was disrupted. After the lifting of the lockdown, when the supply could not meet the demand, there was a big jump in the prices.
Even a developed country like America could not control this inflation, so the US Fed raised interest rates. Just since then, foreign investors are withdrawing money from the Indian market and investing in America.
Investors pulling money from the Indian market and markets around the world increased the demand for dollars, due to which the world’s currency started weakening. Many investors started investing in dollars, after which the dollar has reached its 20-year high. The strengthening dollar weakened the rupee. Because when the demand for the dollar increased, the demand for the rupee decreased and so did its value against the dollar.
How will the falling rupee affect everyday life?
- Imports will be expensive – Imports will be expensive due to the fall in the value of the rupee. If any goods are imported, then the duty on it will increase. Suppose you were buying a pen from abroad for 1 dollar earlier for 75 rupees. Now because the rupee has come to 81.5 against the dollar, then the same pen of 1 dollar will cost you 81.5 rupees.
- Foreign travel will be expensive – Those who dream of traveling abroad may have to increase their budget further because when they go to convert rupees into dollars, they will have to pay more rupees.
- Studying abroad will be expensive – fees and living expenses of those studying abroad will increase. Those going abroad for treatment will also have to spend more.
What can investors do if the rupee is falling?
Rupee has crossed the figure of 81.5. In such a situation, what is the advice for investors, before knowing that the common man can be saved. The biggest impact of falling rupee is on inflation. India imports more than it exports and in case of rupee slipping, the imported goods become expensive.
Economist Sharad Kohli says that although it is not easy for the common man to avoid this inflation, but if they use indigenous goods, then to some extent buying expensive goods can be avoided, although he says that in many indigenous goods The raw material used also comes from abroad.
Will have to return to investments that give fixed returns
In a conversation with The Quint Hindi, Sharad Kohli says that at this time there is neither an opportunity to earn money from the stock market nor to invest in gold, but at such a time, investors can once again move towards investments that give fixed returns.
Fixed return products such as government or corporate bonds or bank deposits. Banks are currently giving 7 to 8 percent returns on FDs to senior citizens. In the coming days, the Reserve Bank will once again increase the interest rates, in such a situation investing in the schemes of the bank is not a bad option either.


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nk497 writes "The European Commission is investigating Apple and five publishers regarding ebook pricing, after raiding ebook firms earlier this year. "The Commission will in particular investigate whether these publishing groups and Apple have engaged in illegal agreements or practices that would have the object or the effect of restricting competition," the watchdog said." Link to Original Source
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Greats is reprising its partnership with Nick Wooster.
The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based sneaker brand has worked with the influencer over the years, but this is the largest capsule they’ve created together and the first time Wooster is addressing women’s, a category Greats introduced last year that has been growing quickly.
“We feel Nick’s point of view is always unique and fun, but squarely grounded with classicism in mind, which is how Greats approaches design, so it just works for us,” said Greats founder Ryan Babenzien.
The collection includes 11 styles for men and nine styles for women. Three silhouettes are being introduced with this launch including the Royale Court, Royale Velcro and the Genoa, which is an update on the classic clog. The line is made from pony hair, suede and Italian leather. It retails from $259 to $299 and will be available on Greats’ e-commerce site, at its stores and at select Nordstrom locations and nordstrom.com starting July 19.
Babenzien is hunting for a location to open a second New York store. Greats operates a store in SoHo; Venice, Calif., and a showroom lounge in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
Last year Greats raised $10 million in a Series B round of financing. JH Partners, which has invested in companies including Bare Escentuals, Alex and Ani and J.McLaughlin, led the round with additional investment from Eric Zinterhofer of Searchlight Capital Partners, Resolute Ventures and retired NFL star Adrian Wilson, among others. Greats raised a $4 million Series A in 2015 and a seed round of $1.5 million in 2014.


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17 hours. That's all the time it took for Taylor Swift to give Apple a sound thrashing and get the company to agree to pay artists royalties for their songs during Apple Music's free three month trial period. As if that wasn't big enough news, Apple senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue announced the change to the world via Twitter.
Taylor Swift calls out Apple over Apple Music royalty terms
Taylor Swift posted an entry on her Tumblr blog Sunday morning announcing she wouldn't let her 1989 album onto Apple Music because the deals Apple and record labels struck didn't have any royalties being paid during the free trial period. She said,
I'm sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I'm not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.
Ms. Swift already has several successful albums and, as she says, can support herself and her band and crew playing live shows. For her, this is about helping artists who don't have enough pull to be heard by Apple.
Apple's deals with U.S. record labels have it paying out about 71.5 percent of the money Apple Music brings in. Outside of the country, that number jumps to about 73 percent. Both are higher than the industry average, which should translate into more money making it to the artists.
The other side of that deal left Apple without any obligation to pay royalties for the songs subscribers listen to during the free three month trial period. The idea, apparently, was that artists and labels would make up the difference when the above average royalty payments kick in.
Independent music labels in the U.K. banded together to say they wouldn't sign on for Apple Music because losing three months of payments would "literally put people out of business."
And then Sunday morning's blog post happened.
"I say to Apple with all due respect, it's not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this," Ms. Swift said. "We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation."
While her words spread like wild fire around the Web Apple was clearly taking notice, too, because Sunday evening Mr. Cue dropped some surprise comments on Twitter announcing the company would pay artists for their content even during the Apple Music trial period.
Apple's new plan for royalty payments is something the company was no doubt at least mulling over, but it's pretty clear Ms. Swift's blog post was the impetus for actually making the change. Mr. Cue's response on Twitter was a big surprise—and a sign that we're dealing with a changing Apple.
Announcements outside of the PR stream wasn't Apple's modus operandi, although recently we've seen executives making public announcements and talking openly with media. Ahead of this years Worldwide Developer Conference, for example, Jeff Williams revealed Apple would be giving developers access to the Apple Watch sensors. CEO Tim Cook agreed to an impromptu interview with Christina Warren, and the Phil Schiller sat down for an interview with John Gruber.
Now we have Eddy Cue responding to Tumblr posts with big streaming music service changes via Twitter. This is a new Apple we're dealing with: one that responds to criticism, makes swift changes, and responds openly.
The change in royalty payments won't likely make that much of a difference for the mega stars in the music industry, but for unknowns hoping to get their chance and small labels that are just getting by, this is a big deal. For them, every revenue stream counts, and losing three months worth for every Apple Music subscriber was something many weren't willing to do—and now they won't have to.
Praising Apple for deciding to pay artists during the Apple Music free trial period is perfectly fine. The company made a decision that will hopefully help artists who already don't make much money. It's also OK to criticize Apple for swinging a deal that got it out of paying royalties for three months, and it's OK to criticize the record labels who didn't see any problem with not paying their clients.
Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift did something pretty remarkable yesterday. She managed to get one of the most powerful companies in the world to make a change to benefit artists, and spurred one of the company's senior executives to personally respond on Twitter. That adds up to an amazing 17 hours.


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HANOI – FPT Software on July 28 joined hands with Japanese-based technology firm SCSK to roll out Monozukuri AUTOSAR (MaaZ), a comprehensive solution stack for automotive manufacturers and suppliers.
The two businesses signed a business agreement to enhance cooperation on automotive technology services globally, focusing on several major markets, including the United States, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
MaaZ provides a platform that easily integrates into the standards of tools and technology services in AUTOSAR, a global partnership of software architecture standards for automotive control.
Powered by FPT Software and SCSK, MaaZ helps manufacturers bolster their technological capabilities, reducing completion time and enhancing product accessibility with competitive costs.
The MaaZ solution stack offers comprehensive, flexible and highly efficient technology of Japanese standards. The BSW software, an SCSK product in collaboration with FPT Software, was launched in the Japanese market in 2015.
“FPT Software aims to become the world’s largest automotive technology service provider by 2025,” said Nguyen Duc Kinh, FPT Software Senior Vice President, Executive Director of Global Automotive and Manufacturing Industries.
According to Kinh, the partnership between FPT Software and SCSK and the launch of the MaaZ solution stack is the first step in the process, allowing FPT Software to tap the opportunities in major markets.
SCSK is a 40-year-old firm providing comprehensive technology solutions and services. It boasts many achievements in wide-ranging aspects of automotive technology – consulting, integrating system and verification services, developing infrastructure and information technology and providing hardware, software and business processing services.
FPT Software has become a reliable partner of many of the world’s leading manufacturers, auto service providers and semiconductor companies. On July 30, the FPT Software Automotive Tech Show will be held to introduce the latest technologies for the first time in Hanoi.
In 2021, the FPT Software revenue exceeded US$632 million. It has 25,000 employees working across 26 countries. The Vietnamese firm has provided services to more than 700 customers worldwide in fields such as the automotive industry, banking and finance, logistics, transportation, energy and retail.