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Moutai Shutters E-Commerce Unit
Chinese liquor giant Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd. has announced it is shutting down its e-commerce unit, which had failed to solve the problem of distributors hoarding stock to drive up prices.
Moutai’s board voted unanimously to close the unit, the company said in a statement (link in Chinese) to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday. No reason was given for the closure.
The statement said the closure won’t have a significant impact on the company’s business or finances.
The company’s stock edged down 0.17% in Friday trading.
The liquor company has suspended it self-run online sales channels since September, Caixin has learned, though its products were still available from third-party platforms as of the time of publishing.
Known for producing the traditional and popular grain alcohol “baijiu,” Moutai was the world’s most valuable liquor company in 2017. The company set up its e-commerce unit in 2014 and its own online platform the following year, which allowed licensed distributors to sell its products directly to consumers.
The company’s online sales have since grown rapidly. Including third-party platforms such as JD.com, Moutai racked up 4.6 billion yuan ($657 million) in online sales in 2016, nearly one-tenth of its total sales that year.
In 2017, Moutai told all of its distributors that they’d have to sell at least 30% of the products they received through the company’s own e-commerce platform, ensuring Moutai could track their sales. That was increased to 40% last year.
Distributors were also told that deposits they paid to Moutai to secure deliveries could be confiscated should they not reach these targets, according to one distributer based in East China’s Shandong province.
Hoarding had long been a problem for the company, with distributors creating scarcity in the market to increase prices.
But this aggressive move faced pushback from distributors. One based in Beijing told Caixin that many simply ignored the company’s demands.
Moutai has been facing internal challenges that may have made enforcing these rules harder. In March, former e-commerce unit head Nie Yong was detained on suspicion of having accepted bribes from government officials looking to get their hands on lucrative distribution licenses. Nie’s downfall led to a planned expansion of the unit being shelved, the Beijing-based distributor said.
Nie Yong is just one of nine former high-level Moutai executives that have been brought down since May in a corruption crackdown connected with the company. The latest case involved Du Guangyi, a former deputy general manager, who was put under official investigation earlier this month.
Contact reporter Mo Yelin (email@example.com)
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Mastercard Pledges $250M In Help For Small Businesses
Recognizing that Main Street is being hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Mastercard committed $250 million over the next five years to support small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), according to a press release. The announcement came during the virtual America CARES Small Business Relief event hosted at the White House on Tuesday afternoon (April 7). The New York-based credit issuer pledged to help defend businesses and their employees through free cyber vulnerability assessments and identity theft protection for the 28 million SMBs eligible to participate in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). When our small businesses suffer, our nation suffers, so it is incumbent upon all to ensure that we’re supporting the businesses who are the lifeblood of our economy and pillars of our communities,” said Mastercard President Michael Miebach in the release.

domain: news


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Ever since Hewlett-Packard delivered its bombshell allegations against Autonomy, the search engine maker that HP acquired for $11.1 billion last year, the dispute between the sides has fallen into a holding pattern: Autonomy founder Mike Lynch speaks, and HP doesn’t.
The nuts and bolts of HP’s $11.1 billion acquisition of Autonomy are pretty wonky. But we know a good scandal when we see one, and this $8.8 billion loss and the whole “fraud” debacle are shaking up to be one for the record books.
After losing all that money, HP pointed the finger at its subsidiary, alleging that cooked books had made Autonomy appear more valuable than it really was. If the HP thought the former Autonomy team would go quietly into that good night, the Silicon Valley giant was sadley mistaken. Former Autonomy CEO Mike Lynch has loudly maintained his innocence, and now Business Insider reports that he’s started a blog to defend against the allegations.
In the hours since Hewlett-Packard stunned investors by announcing an $8.8 billion loss on its acquisition of Autonomy, competing narratives have emerged to describe just what went wrong.
H-P spoke first, explaining that “accounting improprieties” and “outright misrepresentations” committed before it acquired the British search engine maker for $11.1 billion last year led to Read More


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Taylor Swift has broken another record — figuratively — for selling records.
“Midnights” has apparently sold almost 500,000 LP copies since its release on Friday. This makes sense– if 100,000 people each purchased all four collectible colored pieces of vinyl, that would make at least 400,000.
So it’s not actually a half million people. It’s more like 125,000 people buying the same record four times. Even so, that’s $100 per person, give or take. Not bad.
When you put the record covers together, you get a picture of a clock. There’s a separate clock mechanism that can be purchased that makes the whole thing into a souvenir. That costs $49.
Adding in CDs and streaming, hitsdailydouble.com is predicting sales between 1 million and 1.5 million by Thursday night. Got that? Swift has at least a mansion in Rhode Island and homes in New York and London. Just sayin’… She knows how to make money, that’s for sure!
Is this album any good: Well, it’s a lot like other Taylor Swift albums. I kind of like the song, “Anti-Hero,” and there are about a half dozen new tunes like “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve” that will give it “legs” for a few months.


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Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, the leading provider of raw pet food available by subscription, today announced Jan. 8 that it will pay the adoption fees for rescued pets nationwide with free pet food. Adopters receive free pet food in the amount of the adoption fees.
“Our mission at Darwin’s is to help dogs and cats live longer healthier lives, and we want to partner with pet owners to help improve the lives of the many dogs and cats that are currently in shelters,” said Gary Tashjian, Darwin’s Natural Pet Products president. “With shelters overcrowded, we need to make it easier for people to adopt dogs and cats. By paying our customers’ adoption fees, we hope to ease adoptions, work with them to help reduce the strain on shelters, and help pets start new lives in loving homes.”
The offer is in response to shelter overcrowding, which has been made worse by recent natural disasters. Shelters take in 6.5 million companion animals per year, according to the ASPCA. Overcrowding is so severe that more than 250 U.S. cities require that pet stores only sell rescue pets. A similar law went into effect across the entire state of California last week. Darwin’s free adoption offer applies to any rescue or shelter dog or cat adopted in the U.S.
Adopters can receive free raw pet food in the amount of the adoption fees, up to $150, by submitting images of their adoption certificate and adoption fee receipt. New customers will need to enroll as Darwin’s subscribers. For more information, please go to www.darwinspet.com. The offer ends February 28, 2019 and is available to both new and existing customers.
By Lindsay Beaton
Those in the supplements space are answering consumer calls for functionality, traceability, and simple education on what’s right for their pets.
By Lindsay Beaton
Healthy M&A activity as well as expanded production capacity investments helped pet food companies continue to grow in 2021.


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Every year on May 22nd, cryptocurrency enthusiasts gather in different cities around the world to mark World Bitcoin Pizza Day to celebrate the day the digital currency was first used in a real-world transaction.
< p>On this day 12 years ago, Laszlo Hanyecz, an American, made history when he paid for two pizzas with 10,000 bitcoins, an amount that would be worth over $300 million today, and the first ever digital currency used to pay for a real-world item.
This year, for the first time, Africans joined the celebration of this global event that brings together thousands of cryptocurrency users to share their love for the more unconventional digital assets to share .
The events took place simultaneously in 11 African cities including Nairobi, Kampala, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Ibadan, Lagos, Calabar, Kano, Abuja and Ile last Sunday -Ife in Nigeria and Cape Town in southern Africa.
They were organized by Bundle Africa, a digital currency asset management platform and other country-specific sponsors, and by independent bitcoin zealots and entrepreneurs.
In Nairobi, the event was convened by Yvonne Kagondu, a blockchain, business and community consultant and bitcoin entrepreneur, at iHub.
Attendees were treated to complimentary pizza and drinks after listening to expert traders, market analysts, technology commentators, developers and other experts. They interacted, asked questions and connected at the end of the sessions.
Ms. Kagondu says cryptocurrencies have become so popular in Kenya and Africa at large that it is no longer possible to ignore such events, as many yearn keen to learn more and venture into the business.
Eric Michubu, a bitcoin entrepreneur and Bundle Africa Regional Director for East Africa, said: “There is a greater awareness of cryptocurrencies in Africa and a larger blockchain community enthusiasts and people interested in learning more about the technology.”
“This event educates people about cryptocurrencies, separating fact from myth for informed and credible crypto trading ‘ said Rufa’s Kamau.


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Do not forget to watch Chronicle on Wednesday December 6, 2017 at 7:30 channel 5
From the Salem News
512 Essex Ave.
Gloucester, MA 01930
Shops are also featured on upcoming Chronicle television show, December 6.
Good going Gloucester girl !!!!
SALEM — Instead of heading to the malls or shopping online this holiday season, you could head onto the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway to find that special something, and support some women-owned specialty shops along the way.
Last spring, a group of 10 women business owners banded together to create a brochure pointing out the locations of their shops along the scenic byway.
This grassroots effort came as a surprise to folks at the Essex National Heritage Commission, the Salem-based nonprofit that spearheaded the effort to designate the route from Lynn to Salisbury as a scenic byway. The designation is an economic development tool to guide to visitors and sightseers around the region.
The effort by the shops along a 10-mile stretch of the byway was the first time Essex Heritage had seen the roadway used as a marketing device since signs were installed for it in May 2016. For their efforts, the women received the Pioneer in Partnership award from Essex Heritage at its annual meeting this fall.
Kate Day, scenic project manager at Essex Heritage, said she was inspired by the women’s efforts to promote their businesses using the roadway as a guidepost.
The shopping brochure is a tool the shop owners use to urge customers to take a drive down the byway to visit all the women-owned shops on it. It markets shops that sell antiques, gifts, folk art, home decor, furniture, jewelry, flags, windsocks and pet supplies, among other things. It also establishes a connection among shops in neighboring communities that share the byway of routes 133/1A as a common thread.
“The women who own these specialty shops along the byway are driven by a personal passion that is evident in the success of their businesses,” said Johanne Cassia, owner of Olde Ipswich Shop and Gallery in Ipswich. “They provide unique products and services that benefit the economy and the vitality of their community.”
Katrina Haskell, owner of Essex Exchange in Essex, approached Cassia with the idea of putting together a brochure for some shops.
“We realized right away that the byway would be our connection,” Cassia said.
They spoke with other business owners and invited them to join.
“All the business owners jumped on board,” Cassia said, “and we are now collaborating special events together.”
About the byway
The state Legislature established the byway in the mid-2000s, and a corridor management plan in 2011 identified directional signs as a priority. The signs, all 175 of them, were installed in May 2016, paid for with state and federal grants.
The 90-mile byway starts in Lynn and heads north through Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport and Salisbury.
The brochure features nine businesses and 10 women entrepreneurs along a 10-mile stretch of the byway, from Gloucester to Rowley.
They include Pauline’s Gifts, which Pauline Bresnahan opened in Gloucester in 1999. She and her husband, Glen, live in her childhood home next to the shop. As a little girl, she said, she always wanted to own the shop, so she purchased the property about 18 years ago.
At first, it was an outlet for her own decorative arts; she paints more than 100 mailboxes a year.
“The rest of the gifts grew from there,” she said. Flags are one of her biggest sellers.
“We want to support each other,” said Bresnahan when asked why it was important for women business owners to promote one another. “I know that working with the other women, even if they are younger women, we can teach a little bit or try to mentor some young women business people.”
Essex Bird Shop and Pet Supply in Essex is another of the shops on the byway. Susan Lufkin has owned the store with her sister, Shelly Nicastro, for nine years. They both knew the former owner of the business, Jane Perkins, and purchased the store from her.
Lufkin said she is a bookkeeper and has a degree in business, and her sister has a degree in sociology.
Lufkin said it is important for women business owners to support one another, “so that we are helping each other out with our thoughts and ideas.”
“It’s a wonderful project,” said Ann Orcutt, who owns two AnnTiques shops along the byway, one in Ipswich and one in Essex.
The women had already been referring each other to one another’s shops, but the initiative broadened their base of referrals, she said. The byway gave businesses along a 10-mile stretch a connection to one another.
“That was the key,” Orcutt said. “We are all on the byway.”–


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People are disenchanted by the diverse array of appealing iPhone 15 colors. A Barbie pink version has won the attention of people on Twitter.
The iPhone 15 is expected to ditch the Lightning port in favor of USB-C iphone 15 as the standard. The change is a result of new EU standards for charging.
In a report from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to unveil the iPhone 15 on either September 13 or 12 and launch it one week later. It’s consistent with the previous iPhone updates and follows the normal schedule for when the new iPhones arrive.
Some significant changes are planned, including a different colors and better camera systems for Pro models. Some rumors have suggested that the ‘Pro Max’ model may get a periscopic camera for six times zoom.
The models that are ‘Pro’ are likely to also keep their 120 Hz refresh rate that was introduced with the iPhone 13 Pro. Moreover, the ‘Pro Max’ model could have one physical button equipped with haptic feedback, which can perform multiple functions like the ability to mute, accessibility such as flashlight activation, focus mode, as well as opening apps. Additionally, it can function as a power button, which will enable fast charging. Note that the iPhone 15 will no longer have support for its Lightning connector, which will be replaced with an USB-C connectivity.
Certain notable technological updates will be coming to the iPhone 15. As per rumors, Pro or Max/Ultra model will shift to Lightning on USB-C to the standard ports. It is said to be required in order to conform with EU regulations, however Apple could also be seeking at ways to lower the cost of components.
Additionally, the speculation suggests that all iPhone 15 models will retain their 120 Hz refresh rate. Apple may tweak its display driver chip to make it more efficient and energy-efficient, which will mean better battery performance.
As for other modifications an unreleased CAD model suggests that the mute button may be replaced with an all-purpose Action button similar to that of the Apple Watch Ultra. The button is programmable and will be able to perform different tasks, such as activating accessibility features, changing the sound setting, activating the camera app and activating the flashlight as well as activating the concentration mode and operating shortcuts. It’s possible that the phone will also come with a lens that offers an up to 6 times the optical zoom.
If you’re looking to cut costs and put off buying until after that the iPhone 15 series is launched in September, then you could have the opportunity to purchase an used model from a carrier or retailer. Apple is known to pull the plug on older versions after it launches new models which is why you may be able to find one for a decent price.
But the likelihood is that you’ll pay more for a Pro or Max model this year. According to reports these phones will come with a new chip, improved cameras (including an improved telephoto camera on the Pro Max), and the titanium model will have Frosted glass.
What’s more, a Barclays analyst says that the smartphones could cost up to $100 or $200 more expensive than the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max respectively. The data comes from information he’s obtained from companies that supply chain in Asia. If this turns out to be accurate the result could be a major blow to the sales of Apple.


text: April 2023 Laws and regulations E-bikes changing legal landscape CONTENTS Cargo bike 2 Cargo bike standard a step closer to finalisation The Dutch standardisation committee and European stakeholders are developing the draft of a new standard for cargo bikes. Battery regulations overhaul 4 Europe awaits finalisation of battery regulations overhaul Developing a competitive and sustainable batteries industry in Europe is regarded as urgent and the wait is almost over. CONEBI concerned about e-bike battery repairs 6 CONEBI flags concern for e-bike battery repairs In a position paper CONEBI states that is a strong supporter of only using original OEM certified batteries on e-bikes. Giant Case 8 EU Commission lowers anti-dumping duties for Giant Kunshan EC imposes anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on e-bikes from China made by Giant Electric Vehicle (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. FTA to push Thailand as bicycle supplier 10 FTA to push Thailand as bicycle supplier An FTA between the EU and Thailand could result in another push for the already growing bicycle production in South-East Asia. Reform of EU Competition law completed 12 Reform of EU Competition Law completed What is important for the bicycle sector to know about this law which will be in force for the next 12 years?


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Psion warns that downturn in modem sales will hit profits
Thursday 11 February 1999
The warning wiped 12 per cent off Psion's shares, puncturing the euphoria surrounding Symbian, its software joint venture with Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola, that has propelled its shares to new highs in recent months.
Psion said manufacturers of portable notebook computers had started installing "embedded" modems - communications devices that are built into the computer's circuitry - earlier than expected.
The move would "severely affect" sales of Dacom's plug-in card modems, which have enjoyed strong growth in demand in recent years. Psion shares closed at 832.5p, down 115p.
"We saw it coming, but it happened faster than we predicted," a Psion spokesman said. In the six months to last June, Psion sold over 300,000 card modems, more than double the amount it sold in the same period of 1997.
The company said it had been developing new products to offset the predicted fall in demand for card modems, but that these would not contribute to profits until the second half of the year.
Dacom is concentrating on producing PC cards which are capable of connecting portable computers to mobile phone networks or of delivering data over high-speed telephone lines.
City analysts slashed their 1999 profit forecasts for the company from pounds 12m to pounds 10m. They added that the warning did not affect the company's 1998 results, due to be released in March, which are likely to show pre-tax profits of about pounds 11.4m.
- 1 Liam Gallagher brands Kanye West 'utter s**t' during BRIT Awards performance
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- 3 People who sleep more than eight hours are more likely to have a stroke, research shows
- 5 New theory could prove how life began and disprove God
Ukraine crisis: Putin will cut gas to Europe unless Russia is paid by the end of the week
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Oscars 2015: Birdman beats Boyhood as Eddie Redmayne and Patricia Arquette win big - as it happened
New theory could prove how life began and disprove God
Half of Ukip voters say they are prejudiced against people of other races
'Cash for access' scandal: Sir Malcolm Rifkind says 'unrealistic' for MPs to live on £67,000 salary
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Apple's self-repair program has finally arrived. Revealed back in November of last year, the program is a major step forward for Apple, who is notorious for pushing customers to have their devices repaired by Apple representatives. The new storefront offers, according to a news release, "more than 200 individual parts and tools, enabling customers who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices to complete repairs on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups and iPhone SE (3rd generation)." Using the same parts and tools as those in Apple's official repair network, this is a great option for tech-savvy Apple fans to handle small repairs without needing to visit an Apple store (and wait for a technician to actually get around to fixing up your machine). While our Tech Desk has rightly pointed out that this new initiative still will cost some time and money (which may be more or less valuable depending on the individual), the ability to ship back broken parts for Apple store credit is definitely a perk. For today, we're looking at updates on the return of Stone Brewing's RuinTen Triple IPA, a Nike sneaker designed to be disassembled and a smart new Timex dive watch. This is Today in Gear.
Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and news. Send your most pressing product questions to firstname.lastname@example.org.
A fan-favorite reissue ("the #1 voted choice in Stone’s 2022 Fan Favorites Series," according to the brand), Stone Brewing's RuinTen Triple IPA is back. Originally brewed back in 2012 as a celebration for the 10th anniversary of Stone's iconic hoppy Ruination IPA, the RuinTen IPA turned up the volume even more, launching as a 10.8% ABV triple IPA. With the beer resurfacing thanks to fan support, IPA fans can now enjoy this "stage dive into a mosh pit of hops" 10 years later from its anniversary, here in 2022.
Nike's ISPA line is all about cutting-edge innovation (which means something for a brand that's serious about innovation across the board). The ISPA team is behind the ISPA Link sneaker, a shoe designed to be assembled and disassembled without the need for glue or other bonding elements. Effectively the shoe's sole can be completely inserted into the upper, with nodule pegs in the outsole designed in to make finished assembly (or breaking down) the sneaker possible in roughly eight minutes. The shoe drops this June.
The long story short on our review of Specialized's S-Works Power with Mirror Saddle is that it, "is like sitting on your favorite, broken-in couch while you workout." That said, you're paying a premium to have that kind of comfort. For a slightly easier to stomach price, you could make a move for Specialized's Power Pro with Mirror bike saddle, which has most of the same tech — especially Specialized's patent-pending Mirror matrix design. If you want in on the revolutionary comfort of the Specialized Mirror tech but want something a bit easier on the wallet, this is it.
While we can certainly recommend a high quality dive watch or two, we know that most options (including those with steel bracelets) are more likely than not to break the bank. Timex's Waterbury Collection has recently added this 40mm stainless steel automatic to its dive watch lineup. Powered by a 21-jewel automatic movement, the watch features a day-date window, automatic (or manual) winding, 100 meters of water resistance and a rotating top ring bezel. Everything you need and nothing you don't.
Our Tech Desk did a deeper dive on Klipsch's Heritage line, which represents a decades-old, handcrafted approach that blends hi-fi audio and beautiful aesthetics. The ProMedia Heritage 2.1 is designed to look like shrunken (we'd say "desk-sized") versions of Klipsch's 1957 Heresy loudspeakers. While the speakers can be connected by cable, it also has Bluetooth connectivity for streaming as well.


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Microsoft said that consumer subscriptions to Office 365 topped 23 million, signaling that the segment's once rapid growth had slowed significantly.
IT asset managers must identify risks and opportunities and adjust vendor management styles.
Symantec global vice president of channel sales, John Thompson, has doused speculation of a major channel shakeup following the acquisition of Blue Coat.
Tech giant appears to have shed most of the lingering effects of declining Windows licensing revenue.
Intel's profit dropped sharply last quarter due to heavy costs from a restructuring announced in April, though sales were up thanks to the company's powerful data center group.
- As the magic fades, can the iPhone 7 recover Apple’s mojo?
- Microsoft wants to help small businesses book appointments online
- Veeam grows core Cloud service provider partner base
- Microsoft's Azure cloud revenue doubles, but phone sales plummet
- All systems go as EMC shareholders back Dell deal
- Fusion5 creates largest trans-Tasman NetSuite practice with new acquisition
- D-Link drives Emirates Team NZ with Americas Cup networking deal
- IBM grows in cloud and data analytics but overall revenue slides
- Updated: Pat Devlin joins SimpliVity
- Greg Wyman returns to industry with new virtualisation vendor
- EMC targets strategic markets as Dell acquisition looms
- Vodafone - Internet of Things goes mainstream in NZ
- Expanding Kiwi software firm jumps feet first in Vietnam venture
- NEC showcases Wellington’s smart city potential to visiting Aussie Minister
Melbourne-based systems integrator explains why Big Four merger made strategic sense.
Microsoft New Zealand Managing Director, Barrie Sheers, outlines the vendor's cloud channel play.
IT Centre, the new identity of Wanaka Computers, officially launches today, heralding a new era of growth for the home-grown company.
New Zealand value-added distributor Exeed has officially launched in Australia, opening up a new office in Melbourne.
Microsoft is urging consumers and businesses alike to upgrade to its new operating system, but why are some CIOs standing pat for now?
VMware this week updated investors on the progress of emerging technologies playing an increasingly significant role in the company’s earnings.
Brave enough to test the iOS 10 public beta for yourself? Here are the features your should check out first.
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A roadmap detailing Research in Motion’s software plans for 2011 has leaked out, and BlackBerry OS 7, the next version of this company’s operating system makes an appearance.
BlackBerry OS 7 is set for core integration in late September or early October, with plenty of blank space in the months before then to suggest that during that time, RIM will be focused on developing the new operating system.
The leaked roadmap does not confirm whether or not we will actually see OS 7 on devices this year, however.
Moving Toward a Big Change
The introduction of BlackBerry OS 7 will take RIM one step closer to the launch of the QNX OS-based operating system it is developing for its smartphones, according to a statement from a RIM vice president last fall.
Since BlackBerry OS 7 will serve as a stepping stone, QNX is still a ways off and was subsequently nowhere to be found on the leaked roadmap for the upcoming months.
For BlackBerry OS 7 to see the light of day this year would be quite a fast follow-up, as OS 6 was unveiled last August, and RIM is still rolling out upgrades for some of its older BlackBerry models, like the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the Curve 3G.


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“It is relatively easy to be thankful for the most important and obvious parts of life…but truly happy people find ways to give thanks for the little, insignificant trifles…the smell of fall in the air, the fragment of a song that reminds you of when you were a kid. ”
Preowned Market Recovering Slowly, Report Indicates
“While the preowned business aircraft market continues to show improvements, all indicators have been slow to recover in the first nine months of 2011,” according to the latest report from industry research firm JetNet. “These figures are, however, much improved compared to the lows recorded over the past two years, as the for-sale inventories have declined and full-sale transactions have improved.” Preowned business jets for sale at the end of September represented 13.8 percent of the in-service fleet, down from 15.1 percent a year ago. Asking prices remained soft during the first nine months of the year, sliding 19.7 percent compared with the same period last year. However, business jet transactions in the first nine months climbed 11 percent from the year-ago period. Meanwhile, used business turboprop inventory dropped to 10.1 percent in September, down 0.6 points from the same time last year. Despite this, average asking prices and sales transactions for preowned turboprops declined 12.9 and 0.9 percent, respectively. The average days on market for jets climbed 18 days to 373 in the first three quarters, while turboprops took 25 fewer days (325) to sell, JetNet said.


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This article was originally published on AdExchanger in its “On TV and Video” column on February 25, 2019. You can find the original article here.
For a few years now, traditional pay TV providers in the United States have lost subscribers each quarter as viewership shifts to less expensive alternatives and to other long-form programming.
These losses have been in part due to an increase in cord cutters, who have canceled their pay TV subscriptions for other premium options. There is, however, still demand for linear content.
While digital streaming and over-the-top (OTT) are slowly eating away at traditional TV platforms, multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) have sought to become part of the growing digital-first media landscape. They might partner with companies that offer app-based streaming TV services as an alternative to a managed video network, which relies on set-top boxes or developing digital versions of their linear offerings (virtual MVPDs), as DirecTV and Dish Network have done with DirecTV Now and Sling TV, respectively.
Virtual MVPDs and app-based streaming TV services are also OTT providers, in the sense that they allow their content to be delivered over the internet through their own mobile apps, websites and connected TV apps. MVPDs and pay TV providers have also invested in popular, joint-venture streaming platforms like Hulu to get in on the rising OTT opportunity.
The convergence of digital and linear media
With the increased consumer demand for digital linear content, there is a newer segment of publishers rising up: the digital linear programmers.
Digital-first publishers, such as Tastemade, Red Bull, Cheddar and Jukin Media, have traditionally relied on social platforms like Facebook and YouTube to reach their audiences and for monetization. With much of the consumption happening on mobile devices, these digital-native publishers have traditionally focused on developing more short-form, snackable content. The data from these platforms provides publishers with in-depth insights about how their content is performing, which allows them to adapt and evolve their content strategies quickly. Coupled with their ability to produce, source and curate content at a fraction of the price of traditional broadcast, these publishers can churn out what seems like an endless amount of content to satisfy their audiences’ appetites.
Today, many of these players are creating linear TV channels and distributing their content across OTT environments that include virtual MVPDs (Sling TV, fuboTV, Philo), Roku, Samsung TV and more.
However, when it comes to the consumption of linear channels in OTT, much of it happens in connected TV environments. This is where traditional broadcasters have the upper hand. Digital-native publishers must adapt their content strategies to cater to the lean-back viewing experience by producing more long-form content, developing new formats or adapting their best performing shorts. This will require a larger production investment, and they’ll need to work closely with their distribution partners to ensure they’re collecting the valuable data needed to inform this new content strategy.
The result? The industry is experiencing a convergence of digital and linear in which these two worlds – digital publishers and linear broadcasters – are competing more closely than ever.
Redefining the future of TV
As this new TV ecosystem emerges, it’s clear that the gameplay has changed. Although these digital programmers have aspects of the business to learn – scheduling, Nielsen GRPs and audience-based selling – they are not merely pawns. Rather, these rising stars are active participants, helping to define what “new TV” will look like in the future.
Today, most content is still being consumed in an app environment, and with Disney and NBC rolling out their streaming services, that trend is likely to continue. However, much of this content is also being consolidated into one digestible user interface, which Sling, Roku Channel (and TV), Samsung TV and other distributors are making available to customers. These distributors are giving digital-first publishers the chance to compete for audience attention alongside more traditional broadcast companies like NBC, CBS and ESPN.
The hardware manufacturers are extremely well-positioned because they control user behavior from the moment a device is turned on via a remote control. As such, playing nice with companies (such as Roku, Samsung and Amazon) is key, as they may influence how your content is accessed and how widely it’s seen, since they control promotions and subscriptions. While many of these players demand a huge percentage of the publisher’s inventory to monetize for themselves, partnering early on will stage digital programmers as a strong team player with the future giants of “new TV.”
As viewers continue to cut the cord, more eyeballs will move to IP-delivered content. The question is: Will we see these digital programmers buck the trend and launch channels on a traditional cable infrastructure to grow their audiences?
It is definitely a whole new playing field for these digital publishers. They’re learning on the fly, they are experiencing growing pains and they are seeking guidance.
Digital publishers can enlist partners to gain a better understanding of the processes and best practices surrounding linear ad monetization, content distribution and audience measurement. Doing so will allow them to better compete with broadcasters who have been in the business for decades.
Click here to learn more about all of the SpotX predictions for the video advertising industry in 2019.
This article was written by Geoff Spence, regional VP of business development at SpotX.


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In any case, the company said it was looking into the issue two weeks ago and even Steve Jobs himself said in an email that the company was prepping a fix, which should now appear in Software Update for owners of the new systems. Apple’s release notes for the update can be found here.
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Apple has claimed that it has never tracked the location of iPhone users and "has no plans to ever do so", following a controversy involving software on the device.
Last week, security researchers Pete Warden and Alasdair Allan claimed to have discovered a file on the Apple iPhone and iPad that saves every detail of their owner's movements.
"Apple has made it possible for almost anybody - a jealous spouse, a private detective - with access to your phone or computer to get detailed information about where you've been," said Warden.
In a question-and-answer document published today, Apple came out fighting against speculation that it has gathered and used location information on its mobile devices.
"Apple is not tracking the location of your iPhone," said the firm. "Apple has never done so and has no plans to ever do so."
Asked why the situation has caused such controversy, Apple admitted that it and other technology firms have "not provided enough education about the issues in question".
Apple said that iPhones and iPads do not log the user's location, but rather maintain a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers "to help your iPhone rapidly and accurately calculate its location when requested".
The company said that location calculations can take several minutes using GPS satellite data, but the hotspot and cell tower data reduces this time significantly.
Apple dismissed claims that its devices store location data and insisted that the tracking of locations is anonymous. The company said that the location data is sent in "an anonymous and encrypted form", meaning it "cannot identify the source of this data".
The Apple iAd mobile advertising platform can use location data to target advertising at users, but Apple stressed that iPhone locations are never shared with third parties or advertisers "unless the user explicitly approves giving the current location".
Apple also said that it "strongly" values the privacy and personal information of its consumers, giving the example that the iPhone was the first smartphone to ask owners for their permission when apps wanted to use their location.
To address any remaining concerns, Apple intends to release a free iOS software update that will reduce the size of the Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower database cached on their phones. The update will also stop the backing up of location data and delete the entire data cache once the 'Location Services' application has been switched off.
Also today, Apple announced that the white version of the iPhone 4 will become available worldwide tomorrow, almost a year after the black version launched.


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A delicate time for the cruisers – we’d like to share our thoughts
Fears that overcapacity in the Caribbean is causing soft bookings volume and down pricing persist. Cruise Week pedaled the weak Q4/Q1 again this week. While not a new theme, it’s not abating.
As pointed out by Cruise Week, agents continue to see RCL as best positioned in the current demand environment. However, we remain cautious as RCL’s capacity in the Caribbean will be at its highest since 2010 due to the debut of Quantum of the Seas in November 2014. Moreover, we’re not sure RCL’s guidance reflects the potentially weak environment.
For CCL, we believe the low yield guidance for 1H 2014 already takes into account the soft picture from the Caribbean, particularly for FQ1. As seen from our recent pricing survey, CCL may be experiencing incremental improvement in that market despite the negative scuttlebutt.
Here is what we are seeing/hearing/feeling:
- On a longer-term trend, the number of cruise passengers has been steady but selling price is down.
- River cruising segment is outperforming ocean cruising by a wide margin particularly in the summer. Onboard spend has been exceptional.
- Luxury cruises have been immune to the recent weakness
- Europe 2014 is trending much higher than 2013
- Onboard yield will continue to go higher
- Bar drink prices not discounted
- Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas getting higher yields due to strong onboard spending
- Mainstream land vacations for Mexico/Florida have been doing well
- OTAs are not having a significant impact on the cruise business
Recent industry news:
- (Nov 7) Costa Cruises will spend 10MM euros for 3 dry docks
- Costa Voyager starting 11/7/13 for about two weeks
- Costa neoRiviera from 11/7/13 to 11/12/13
- Costa Classica from November 12 to December 21.
- (Nov 7) Starting January 2014, the number of cruise ships that are permitted to enter Venice is cut by 20% while in November 2014, any ship over 96k tons will be banned from the Giudecca Canal (lies south of Venice).
- (Nov 11) Small fire on Dawn Princess on 11/8 on New Zealand sailing. There were no passenger or crew injuries and the itinerary did not need to be altered.
- (Nov 11) Due to propulsion problems on Allure of the Seas, the ship may be drydocked in 2014 rather than 2015. The Oasis of the Seas drydock is scheduled for 2014 but may be pushed back to 2015.
- (Nov 13) Starting in 2014, the VAT in Mexico's border states will rise to 16% from 11% previously. This means the cost of goods and services will rise 5% in leading cruise ports like Cozumel, Costa Maya, Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, among others. Transportation - not subject to VAT anywhere in the country before - will be taxed at 16%. CCL recently learned about the increase and is currently examining the matter.
- (Nov 13) Princess Cruises said it will pay 2% bonus commissions on short cruises departing January through April next year. The 3-5 day cruises leave from Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale. The bonus applies on bookings made Nov. 15 through April 22.


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"Airlines are concerned that Amazon’s quiet launch of domestic plane ticket sales in India last month is only the start of a global trend and the beginning of a battle for control of valuable traveller data. For years, airlines have found it difficult to compete with online travel agencies like Expedia Group Inc and corporate travel agents that control a large number of customers, Travelport Chief Executive Gordon Wilson said. “They have nothing left if Google is in that position, or Amazon,” he said at a CAPA Centre for Aviation conference this month. “I think the airlines are being very watchful over this.”"
In my last post I covered the proliferation of challenger banks, the mobile-first, digital-only neo-banks and what differentiates them from the incumbents. While the media lens is usually focused on the front-end, the user experience, I’m always curious about what’s powering these operations under the hood. From the traditional banks’ perspective, fintech companies are just […]


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(PRWEB UK) 25 January 2013
Scrap metal dealers are facing regular checks to ensure they are sticking to new legislation introduced at the end of last year. The ruling which outlaws cash transactions aims to keep track of transactions via electronic payments or by cheque in a bid to reduce the amount of untraceable scrap metal crime.
Durham’s Police force has made 40 unscheduled visits to dealers throughout the district and has found no breech of the law so far. Sergeant Andy Sutherland explained, “We have been pleased to see the cashless regulations are being observed and according to the operators, business has not suffered as a result. As well as going into the yards themselves we will be checking with itinerant traders to test for their compliance with the new regulations.”
The ruling has played a large role in decreasing scrap metal crime by 75% over the last 18 months.
SmartDebit, a leading UK electronic payment processor has seen a recent increase in businesses looking to make more digital transactions. A spokesperson from the company added, “There are many benefits for businesses increasing their use of electronic payments including security, convenience and speed. The scrap metal industry faced criminal issues dealing in cash transactions that were hard to track down – electronic payment has quashed this.”
SmartDebit continues to follow electronic payment news closely.
SmartDebit is UK’s leading Direct Debit service providers, specialising in payment processing services since 1998. A Bacs approved Bureau, scoring ‘Excellent’ in all five categories of the Bacs audit, and ISO 27001 compliant. Providing a complete range of services: Outsourcing; SmartDebit-Admin cloud based portal; SmartDebit-Online payer sign up; SmartDebit-API integrated solution and SmartDebit-Contingency.


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Dead Island’s Game of the Year Edition will be shambling on to store shelves in the U.S. on June 26, publisher Deep Silver has announced.
No word yet on a U.K. release date, though given the fact the GotY Edition was previously outed on the BBFC, we shouldn’t have to wait long.
As you might have expected, this special re-release of the zombie actioner includes a copy of the full game alongside DLC Bloodbath Arena and the Ryder White expansion. It’ll set you back $30.
Dead Island was released in September 2011 and went on to ship three million units worldwide by the end of the year.


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ASUS officially announced the ASUS Qube at CES today. We’ve seen hints of the Qube weeks prior to CES from the FCC. Not long after the device was spotted at the FCC Google announced that ASUS would be manufacturing a Google TV. ASUS promises to reveal more information about Qube later today, but so far all we’ve seen of it is a single picture above showing the device with a Qube (see what I did there?) design. What we know so far is the Google TV device will have access to Android apps, movies and TV and can be controlled from a smartphone.
We’ll hear more solid information later today.
Qube with Google TV – Bring the world of entertainment to your TV
Instantly add Google TV to your HDTV with the ASUS Qube. Qube with Google TV offers both motion control and voice search that integrates Google Play, Chrome™, YouTube™in one compact device. With access to over 100,000 movies and TV shows* from Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, plus numerous apps, videos and games from Google Play, ASUS Qube with Google TV is the perfect media content device.
ASUS has developed the unique Qube interface, which displays functions via a rotating on-screen cube shape. The advanced remote control supports motion sensing for gaming and other applications. Customers can also control Qube with Google TV from their Android smartphones and tablets using the Mobile Remote app, available through Google Play. ASUS includes 50GB of WebStorage cloud space with every Qube with Google TV.


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With the price of gas at an all time high in Ottawa, many people are turning to electric cars for their daily commute.
But is it actually cheaper to drive an electric car over gas? Every year, more and more electric vehicles are making their way on to roads. Markus Beyritz, product specialist at Myers Volkswagen in Kanata has the brand new, all electric Volkswagen ID.4, but not for long; they are spoken for just as fast as they show up. “It’s fast, it’s quick. And it’s just fun to drive,” says Beyritz. “If you’ve never driven an electric vehicle, it’s a completely new experience and I find you’re completely blown away.” Beyritz says people shouldn’t shy away from new technology. It was embraced before and it’s happening again.
“Our grandparents experienced the revolution and the development of gas-powered engines, and it was completely new to them, gave them some freedom of course,” says Beyritz. “And now I think it’s great, it’s amazing, we have the opportunity to experience the transition to electric vehicles.”
Just in the last week, it is costing some people in Ottawa anywhere from $100 to $150 on average to fill up their car; leading to electric vehicles (EVs) gaining in popularity. “If you do the math, and you do the actual long-term cost of driving the vehicle, especially if you drive lots of kilometres, it is today already cheaper to drive an EV,” says Raymond Leury, Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa President.
So let’s do a little math with CAA’s Driving Cost Calculator. With gas prices at $1.50 in Ottawa right now, the average crossover costs just over $2,500 a year to drive 20,000 kilometres. Compare that to the all-electric Chevy Bolt at just $430 a year to drive. It adds up to almost $11,000 of savings over the course of five years.
But how does that translate to your monthly hydro bill? Leury drives a Tesla Model Y, and he drives it a lot. “I drive about 30,000 kilometres a year, and more than 95 per cent of the time I charge at home. And the cost on my bill is somewhere between $30 and $50 per month.” That’s a big difference when most people are paying over $100 a week on gas. There are also hundreds of charging stations across the city; a map from Plugshare.com shows more than 160 in the Ottawa area.
“With an electric vehicle you can install your own ‘gas station’ at home,” says Beyritz. Home charging not only saves money, but EV drivers love the convenience of waking up every morning with a “full tank.” In the winter, you can warm up your car in the garage while still keeping the garage door closed because there are no fumes or exhaust. If you’re worried about range anxiety, Leury says the average daily commute is only 30 kilometers.
“With a charger at 30 amp, the daily commute would take less than an hour to charge your car with a level two charger,” says Leury. Back at Myers Volkswagen, with dozens of calls every day, the new ID.4 is now one of the most requested vehicles at the dealership. “Right now, at least 70 to 80 per cent is on the ID.4,” says Beyritz. “So the transition is there. The demand is there. It’s started.” Ontario dropped its EV rebate in 2018, but if you’re looking to buy an electric car you can still get a federal rebate of up to $5,000, based on which model EV you get.


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MADRID, 25 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Next Tuesday, March 30 from 9:00 p.m., Spanish schedule, Maroon 5 will offer an exclusive virtual concert for all their fans around the world that can be followed in streaming through the LIVENow platform. A date in which the band led by Adam Levine will perform their legendary hits of yesteryear and also their most recent releases such as ‘Beautiful Mistakes’.
In this streaming show, the three-time Grammy and multi-platinum-winning band offers a spectacular immersive journey on a visual level reviewing his greatest hits and also interpreting his new songs. After more than two decades playing for millions of people around the world, Maroon 5 promises this performance won’t be like anything they’ve done before: a global show created in collaboration with iconic award-winning music video director Sophie Muller.
‘American Express UNSTAGED: Maroon 5’ It will include songs from the band’s six albums: ‘Songs About Jane’, the double platinum record ‘It Won’t be Soon Before Long’, ‘Hands All Over’, ‘V’ and ‘Red Pill Blues’. The band will also review their 11 songs that have reached number one on the US charts, including ‘Maps’,’ Animals’, ‘Sugar’ and ‘Girls Like You.
This concert also marks the return of American Express UNSTAGED in 2021 that fans around the world will be able to attend through LIVENow on March 30 and 31.
Tickets for ‘American Express Unstaged: Maroon 5’ are already on sale in LIVE-now.com from 21.15 euros with exclusive packs available for American Express card holders. Fans can watch the show at the following times:
Tuesday, March 30
8:00 p.m. London, 9:00 p.m. Madrid, 10:00 p.m. Moscow
Tuesday, March 30
6:00 p.m. Los Angeles, 9:00 p.m. New York, 9:00 p.m. Lima, 10:00 p.m. Buenos Aires
Wednesday, March 31
4:00 p.m. Bangkok, 5:00 p.m. Manila, 6:00 p.m. Seoul, 8:00 p.m. Sydney
Maroon 5 is one of the most important pop music groups of the 20th centuryI. To date, the world-renowned Los Angeles band has received three Grammy Awards, has sold more than 75 million albums, 400 million singles worldwide and has received gold and platinum awards in more than 35 countries. They have also accumulated more than 45 million monthly listeners on Spotify and they have offered more than 120 concerts in more than 30 countries, with more than 6,750,000 tickets sold.
Maroon 5’s performance is the continuation of a series of great UNSTAGED performances in 2020, such as those of Alicia Keys, Sam Smith, Dua Lipa and Shawn mendes. The American Express series returns for the first time in 2021, in collaboration with LIVENow, to connect fans with unique music experiences from the comfort of their own home.


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In a report from Deadline, Disney has decided to flex its muscles today by firing the Marvel Marketing department. This isn’t exactly a surprising move since Disney seems to do pretty well marketing the hell out of anything they put their hands on. The report states Kevin Feige isn’t going anywhere, so sleep soundly fellow fanboys.
However, is this the first of many changes to come to the Marvel brand? Comic book fans have been extremely concerned since Disney’s acquisition of the Marvel brand that they would make the brand overly “family friendly.” Thus far Disney has taken a somewhat hands off approach to Marvel.
Sound off with your feelings on the recent move and if you are concerned about Marvel’s future with Disney at the helm.


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Despite the volatility in the sector over the past year, DairyCo found that at a retailer level only minor changes were recorded in prices for liquid milk and mild Cheddar between 2008/9 and 2009/10.
Retailers widen margins
There was a fall of 2.9 pence per litre (ppl) to 64.9ppl in mature Cheddar prices but the report said that retailers have managed to increase their margins overall. For example, in 2009/10 retailers had a gross margin of 34 per cent on liquid milk, up from 29 per cent in 2008/09 and 20 per cent ten years ago.
As retailers have seen their share of the retail price go up, DairyCo said farmers have seen their share go down over the past year.
Explaining the decrease, DairyCo senior analyst Patty Clayton said: “This appears to be due to two main factors; an increase in the retailers’ gross margin and a lower farmgate price. Despite a recovery in commodity markets, the farmgate price remains at a low level.”
Price transmission concerns
The DairyCo report found that the gap between the APME, which measures average returns from commodity markets, and farmgate prices are at the highest level for three years. Clayton expressed concern that the prices farmers receive may not be rising rapidly enough to match increases in milk prices.
“It takes time for the farmgate price to reflect the ups and downs in the commodity market, but we need to watch the time it takes for the farmgate price to adjust and whether it will attain a level which will provide dairy farmers with a sustainable return.”
For this reason, DairyCo plans to commission a report on price transmission that will investigate how well the markets are working. In particular, the report, which is expected to be finished by the end of the 2010/2011 financial year, will look at how quickly and fully changes in dairy market prices affect farmgate prices.


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Not long after the Supreme Court green-lighted a lawsuit against Apple over its allegedly monopolistic App Store, two iOS app developers have hit the tech giant with a similar suit in which they allege the tech heavyweight has violated federal antitrust law by squelching any competition for a platform on which developers may sell their apps.
According to the case, the only way developers can make their apps available to iPhone users is through the App Store. “They have no choice in the matter,” the complaint reads, “but not because Apple built an app store that beat all comers fair and square.” Instead, the case attests, Apple has unlawfully maintained a monopoly over the market for iOS apps and in-app product purchases, thinly justifying its position by purporting to be “uniquely qualified to ensure the safety and device-compatibility of apps.”
Apple’s market power, the lawsuit continues, allows it to charge developers a supra-competitive 30 percent commission on the sale of their apps and in-app products, as well as a $99 annual fee to list their products in the App Store—which the suit points out is the only place iPhone users are able to buy them.
To further bolster its profits, Apple, the case goes on, dictates the price points at which developers may sell their apps, allowing nothing less than $.99 and only price points ending with $.99, the suit says. “This maximizes Apple’s profit by ensuring that it collects roughly $.30 on every paid sale,” the complaint states, adding that Apple’s ruling out of prices ending in $.49, for example, generally forces developers to up their prices and generate more profits for the tech company.
The lawsuit goes on to argue that the sheer size of the App Store, with more than two million available apps, inevitably causes “huge numbers” of apps to never be seen by iPhone users. One of the plaintiffs, for example, claims his baby naming app can only be found after scrolling through “pages and pages” of search results for “baby naming,” well after the point a “typical, reasonable consumer” would have stopped scrolling.
Citing statements made in the recent Supreme Court case, the lawsuit notes that Apple itself has admitted that app developers have standing to sue over antitrust claims. Apple reportedly argued before the high court that the software developers, and not the consumers on whose behalf the case had been filed, “are the ones who have antitrust standing” because they were the “direct purchasers and ‘consumers’ of the allegedly monopolized distribution services.”
The lawsuit looks to cover a proposed class of all developers of any iOS app or in-app product that was sold for a non-zero price in the App Store.


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This article appeared originally in Gulf News: link to original article
Africa imports $40 billion (Dh146.8 billion) worth of food every year. How is that even normal? Actually, how is that normal for a continent that was a net exporter of food only a few decades ago?
One would normally presume that African countries must be quite rich in agricultural land, explaining why countries are crowding into grabbing land there and investing in an underdeveloped sector. That does not seem to be the case, and Africa is far from escaping poverty and its debt trap.
Though one thing does stand the factual test, which is that Africa does possess significant amount of untapped agricultural land among other resources that are underutilised or, for one reason or another, are not allowed to prosper.
While its agriculture sector – and food production – is one example of Africa’s downfalls, it is nevertheless essential for a continent that seems stuck in a developing stage.
Countries such as Sudan with hydrocarbons and other natural resources gave up economic diversification, including into agriculture, as soon as petro and other dollars started flowing in.
Others like Sierra Leone are over-dependent on agriculture, with countries like Tunisia and Morocco exporting highly-valued commodities, including olives, coffee beans, fruits and vegetables. Kenya focuses on non-consumable exports like flowers.
That, along with ineffective domestic economic policies, has forced the continent into stagnant incomes and persistent poverty, which in turn has caught governments in a malicious debt cycle.
In this op-ed, selected root causes of poverty in Africa will be discussed as well as their association with the debt cycle that African countries find themselves trapped in. To simplify matters, the term “African countries” will be used though it doesn’t refer to all on the continent.
Many identify the 2007-08 hike in food prices as the one that destructed livelihoods and set countries back in terms of their food security and their citizens’ incomes. But that’s not true. In the early 1970s, a much worse hike in food prices was more detrimental in undermining individuals’ incomes and countries’ food security.
Not only that, it was at that time when many farmers in Africa were put out of business when their commodities were kept out of certain markets, and where food aid switched countries from producers and exporters to net importers and consumers.
An over-reliance on a specific sector to drive economic growth is a problem, but not necessarily a bad one. The problem with the latter countries, for instance, is that such over-reliance is in itself creating another issue.
Agriculture being significant for citizens’ incomes gets diluted when food prices go up for both farmers and non-farmers. For non-farmers, it curbs their purchasing power and limits their access to food, leading to a vicious cycle of undernourishment, stunting of high growth, increased rates of poverty, and so on.
Farmers are faced with two scenarios. The first has them selling their food instead of consuming it to be able to buy other necessary items for the household, which is quite reasonable if market conditions are favourable. The second, and more problematic, scenario is that many rural farmers are not properly integrated into the food production value chain.
As such, they do not have the same bargaining power that their counterparts elsewhere possess, which prevents the first scenario from taking place and brings me to the second root cause of the poverty trap.
Whether agriculture or any other sector, international trade rules have not been set in favour of African countries, but the other way around. Agriculture is one example where the liberalising markets’ argument and pro free trade agreements (FTAs) stance have disadvantaged the underdeveloped and developing economic sectors in many African countries.
Unfair competition, through subsidies for different industries and tariffs on imports, ensured those sectors continue to underperform despite their naturally perceived advantage. The argument is not against free trade or open markets, but that it occurs at a peculiar stage during a country’s development, continuing to disadvantage countries that are yet to develop their competitive industries.
The third root cause of Africa’s poverty trap is the discovery of hydrocarbons and other natural resources. Sudan is a case in point. When oil was first discovered in Sudan by Chevron in 1979, with fields later developed by Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian interests among others, the country shifted its energy from agriculture and other industries to developing its oilfields and starting to export crude as soon as possible.
Decades of turmoil and a South Sudan later, Sudan’s ineffective economic reforms as well as losing three-fourths of all oilfields dealt its economy the final blow. Sudan knew that its oil reserves would only last until early 21st century and had at least two decades to reform its economy and invest in other sectors, which would have carried it forward, post-oil. It didn’t.
So, how can Africa move forward and escape its poverty? To assume that such a question can be answered here is a naive, presumptuous claim to make. There are though a few key points that could be of importance for Africa’s poverty and debt dilemma.
One, offshore investments into agriculture must be conditioned upon ensuring employment opportunities as well as access to food for neighbouring communities. Two, trade agreements must be signed on an equal footing, ensuring protectionist measures in favour of underdeveloped and developing nations with adequate market access allowed.
Three, African countries need to introduce significant domestic economic reforms that would lower over-reliance on any specific sector.
The last thought that I want to leave you with: is a different development model needed for African countries?


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As much as mobile backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms free up developers from having to worry about the infrastructure that support their applications, they do generally come with a downside; most of them lock the developer into a particular cloud platform. With that issue in mind, FeedHenry created a namesake BaaS platform that took advantage of Node.js to create a BaaS platform that developers could deploy and ultimately move to any cloud platform of their choice.
Last week the world's largest annual computer expo, the CeBIT conference, was held in Hannover, Germany. While CeBIT still covers the latest physical advances in things like consumer electronics, server hardware, security and access devices, etc, this year there was also a focus on the application development side of technology. This included a large area devoted to open-source and a number of panels devoted to general education on topics such as Virtual Worlds, Digital Content Distribution, as well as a panel I moderated on Business Solutions with Enterprise Mashups.
At the Enterprise Connect 2014 conference today Cisco announced it will be working more closely with Google to integrate conferencing services with various Google APIs. Rowan Trollope, Cisco senior vice president for collaboration, and Rajen Sheth, a product manager for Google Enterprise, took the stage to show a prototype of the Cisco Webex conferencing service running on a Chromebook. In the future, Cisco and Google will make it possible to launch WebEx directly from Google Calendar and start an instant meeting from the Google Contact Card and the Google People widget. Users will also be able to connect with others by clicking on phone numbers or extensions displayed in Gmail or Google Apps.
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Utah-based mostly Chip Cookies has sold additional than 50 territories and opened four locations in 2022. The brand name appears to be like to triple that selection in 2023, aiming to open up 12-15 new destinations from coast to coastline, according to a push launch.
The brand name was started by Sean and Sarah Wilson.
“Sean and I are beyond energized about the opportunity to just take our favored cookies to even far more communities and families across the country,” Sarah Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Chip Cookies, explained in the push launch. “As a organization that very first started out in our kitchen area, we are honored to be developing as swiftly as we are and to be bringing so a lot of new franchisees and clients into the Chip Cookie spouse and children.”
Chip Cookies also is celebrating new partnerships with Kodiak Cakes, Babe Lash and Georges Niang, NBA player for the Philadelphia 76ers. These partnerships bring new, confined-time cookie flavors, like the Kodiak Chip and the Circus Animal Chip, to shoppers and help the model innovate.
Chip Cookies is actively searching for each solitary and multi-unit operators.


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Trillion-dollar technology companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon have grown so large that almost every human breathing today is aware of their existence and reach. These brands provide unbelievable value to their customers, but it does come with an attached cost. These conglomerates have grown so large that they have created a massive barrier to entry for others looking to enter the technology space. This keeps competition out and increases the CLV for their brands. Trellis CEO Isaiah Bollinger explains why the major technology corporations are so far ahead and how it may be difficult for any competitor to ever catch up.
Winner Take All Effect
Facebook thrives because there is no alternative platform. Other companies have launched similar services and failed to leave Facebook as the victor earning all the spoils. Facebook added to their Social Media empire by buying Instagram and WhatsApp creating even more space between them and the next guy in line. Google and Amazon play in different fields of technology but they are creating similar experiences.
Economies of Scale
The major technology corporations have recognized that their sector is most profitable by producing in high volumes for a cheaper price. These economies of scale make it nearly impossible for smaller firms to compete without having billions of dollars to spend on upfront costs. Let’s take a look at the computer industry. We have two rival giants: Microsoft and Apple. besides these two, there are no real competitors in the space. Google has stuck to its specialty and has begun to enter the space with software development that can be integrated into other hardware but has not made a real dent as of yet.
Tall Barrier to Entry
The reality is these companies are so far out ahead that it is unlikely for anyone to catch up and gain market share. The barrier to entry has skyrocketed to unfathomable levels. This effect is most prevalent in the industry of technology but could take hold of other verticals as well. Whichever industry you specialize in, be cognizant of the changes that may come. Get your foot in the door before the barrier to do so becomes too high.


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06.30.20 | Systemic racism bleeds into parts of our culture without many of us being aware. Case in point, NPR covered a story about the 100 plus-year-old jingle of the ice cream truck. Then, Eskimo Pies are getting a new name and Wal-Mart comes under fire for co-opting Black Lives Matter.
06.24.20 | Shop Talk this week looks at how June Pride Celebrations have had to pivot in our world of social distancing. Virtual Prides anyone? Also, companies are trying to navigate their support as parades and other gatherings are canceled. But first, The Pomodoro Technique and an iconic bus removal are the subjects of Caught My Eye. Chuck Taylor of Converse High Top Fame is our Business Birthday.
06.23.20 | A 90-year-old man in Colorado finally comes out of the closet and is enjoying making up for lost time with help from his lesbian daughter. But first, a wife becomes irate during a flight when she discovers her husband is having an affair—causing it to be diverted, and many airlines are foregoing alcohol as people begin to fly again.
06.17.20 | The Supreme Court rules that the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ employees from workplace discrimination. Robotic pets and an LL Bean scam catch the eye of Tim and John. Tory Burch is our Business Birthday, and Shop Talk explores how lavender became a color of LGBTQ resistance. Oh, and try Magic Spoon cereal—it’s a hit with us and our families!
06.16.20 | A bumper crop of nuts and warmer than usual winter has created a chipmunk explosion in the northern US. But first, colleges are rescinding admission to students who posted racist comments on social media and gay marriage has contributed billions into the US economy since marriage equality became law in 2015.
06.10.20 | Shop Talk looks at two titans of industry this week. Warren Buffet says this one word is the key to success and Jeff Bezos reveals the most important question to ask in business. But first, Starbucks used items are a hot commodity and check out Poolside.fm for some great summer music. The Founder of Dunkin’ Donuts, William Rosenberg, is our Business Birthday.
06.09.20 | A slight silver lining, to all that we have encountered in 2020, is that HIV and STD transmission rates have plummeted since people have social distanced. Cutting down on infections means less spread later. Good news. Then, the Trump 2020 campaign is selling Pride T-Shirts despite supporting many anti-LGBTQ initiatives and The Village People have asked that Trump stop using their music at rallies.
06.03.20 | Shop Talk explores 8 things that smart people never reveal about themselves at work. Some are obvious, and others both Tim and John may be guilty of sharing. But first, Darth Vader, Queen, and Redneck Cowboy Boot Sandals. Norman Brinker, often credited for the “invention and popularity” of the salad bar is our Business Birthday.
06.02.20 | Who’s there? A sexual fantasy goes awry when the man who hired two men to carry out the scene were given the wrong address. The man’s fantasy included being tied up and tickled with a broom. Truth is always stranger than fiction. Then, Japan has requested that amusement park goers not scream on rides when the parks reopen this month and LGBTQ bars are dealt an additional blow with new social distancing rules.
05.27.20 | Jeff Bezos of Amazon says that failure is an important part of growth and companies should not beat themselves up about it. We agree. An “out of this world” rancher in Pittsburgh, and an astronomical demand for eggs Caught our Eye this week. Amelia Jenks Bloomer is our Business Birthday.


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Google will launch two Pixel models this year, according to multiple independent reports, including one that’s going to look like the original Pixel and one that will embrace the full-screen design that’s in fashion this year. HTC will reportedly make the Pixel 2 based on the iPhone-like Pixel design it used last year, while LG has been tasked with creating the Pixel 2 XL, which will look a lot like the LG G6 and the Galaxy S8 when it comes to screen size.
A few days ago, we saw the first render from a trustworthy source that showed us what the Pixel 2 XL might look like. Based on that image, YouTube channel Concept Creator made the short video at the end of this post.
The Pixel 2 XL should have minimal side bezels and smaller top and bottom bezels as well, if all the leaks are accurate. The back is still made of glass and metal, but the glass part is slightly smaller and doesn’t include the rear-facing fingerprint sensor as is the case with previous Pixels.
As for the camera, we’re looking at a single-lens camera on the back instead of the dual-lens configuration most flagship phones have this year.
The video shows the Pixel 2 XL in various colors, likely based on the rumor that said Google is considering a few crazy color options for the 2017 Pixel models. These rumors haven't yet been confirmed, but they certainly sound appealing.
Google should unveil the new 2017 Pixel handsets in late September or early October, although nothing is official at this point in time. If this is the real design of the Pixel 2 XL, it’s likely that we’ll see it in more leaks down the road, including actual pictures of the handset as we get closer to release. In the meantime, enjoy the following concept clip.
14 June, 2017 What if the Google Pixel 2 looked like this? The first revealing Google Pixel 2 rumor arrived a few days ago, with the news that HTC might not be making the Google Pixel 2 XL, as was initially expected. Instead, that job went to LG, and there’s evidence that Google’s Taimen is indeed an LG device — though nobody […]
26 June, 2017 This might be the worst thing about Googleâ€™s upcoming Pixel 2 The Pixel 2 is set to launch in just a few months, which explains the sudden increase of Pixel 2 rumors. A new report details the design and specs of the upcoming Pixel phones, potentially revealing what may turn out to be the worst thing about Google's new Pixel 2 series.
11 July, 2017 New leaks show us Google’s Pixel 2 phones, and there’s some bad news Google’s iPhone-inspired Pixel phone has a great design if you ignore the back, which combines glass and metal in a bizarre way. Rumors say the next-gen Pixel models will still have a glass and metal back, although the use of glass might be more limited. But it looks like […]
3 July, 2017 New concept imagines a Google Pixel 2 XL you’ll fall in love with A report from a few days ago said that the 2017 Pixel phones coming from Google will not be identical. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be made by HTC and LG, respectively, other leaks have indicated, and that may be the reason why they won’t be similar in terms of design. Google […]
10 March, 2017 Leak: Can the iPhone 8 compete with a Galaxy S8 that looks like this? Dozens of high-profile flagship smartphones will be released in 2017 but truth be told, there are really only a handful of upcoming new devices that consumers at large actually care about. Google's Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be big towards the end of the year, and some people are […]


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Quickly countering the latest announcement from Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile has revealed that it is now adding HD video to its unlimited plan. Specifically, the third biggest wireless carrier in the United States has added HD video and 10 gigabytes of high speed hotspot data to its T-Mobile One unlimited plan, which normally costs $70 per month. For good measure, the major US wireless carrier also took the opportunity to launch a deal that offers a couple of lines of T-Mobile One service for just $100 per month, basically allowing subscribers a $20 discount on the usual pricing.
For those not familiar with Verizon Wireless’ most recent move, the Big Red has just introduced (or more accurately, re-introduced) an unlimited data plan (Verizon Unlimited) that is priced at $80 per month. For the longest time, the number one mobile operator in America had veered away from offering unlimited data plans. But two months into the year, the carrier has finally gave in -- launching a new plan that comes with HD video and 10 gigabytes of LTE hotspot access -- and in the process, compelling T-Mobile to make a lightning fast response.
It makes sense for T-Mobile to act quickly. After all, before its announcement, its unlimited data plan had only offered video streaming limited to 480p and zero tethering. Via a press release, John Legere, the ever outspoken chief executive officer of T-Mobile, stated that the Big Red was bound to give in eventually -- having just lost its network advantage. Legere added that the next step is to get Verizon to include monthly taxes and fees.
While it is true that the Big Four carriers in America (Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint) constantly try to outdo each other, the first couple of months of 2017 has already seen increased competition from most of the players. For instance, just a few days ago, Sprint had launched a deal that offered 5 lines of unlimited data for $90 a month. This week, Verizon then made its move, which prompted a quick response from T-Mobile.
But for industry watchers, perhaps a more curious aspect of this whole unlimited narrative is how these major wireless carriers (or even the wireless industry as a whole) will deal with the sudden increase of network traffic that is sure to result from the new HD video and unlimited data deals being offered. We will all find out in the next few months.
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Every young company has its own set of challenges, usually involving such things as available capital, market awareness, employee recruitment, and product development. Farm animals wreaking havoc on the home office isn’t often found on that list. But KISSsoff — which is located just outside of Zurich, Switzerland — isn’t your average company.
“We’ve been based in a farmhouse since 2001,” according to Stefan Beermann, Ph.D., vice president, “and one day a horse found its way inside, resulting in a great deal of damage to the doorway. But we’re about to move into a schoolhouse that was closed due to a lack of students, so we don’t expect that to be happening again.”
What he does expect is the continued growth of KISSsoft, which was spun off of its mother company — L. Kissling & Co. AG — some eight years ago. The background is fairly straightforward: Ulrich Kissling, Ph.D., who is a mechanical engineer by training, and who represented the third generation in the established gearbox manufacturer’s family line, had developed a design calculation program for the company’s own use, and it worked so well that they decided to begin selling the software package on the open market. In addition to Kissling and Beermann, the company’s third partner is Markus Raabe, and KISSsoft now employees 15 people in total. Of particular note is that so many of those employees are technicians working on software design under Raabe’s direction.
“We have three mathematicians — of which I’m one — and six mechanical engineers, so that’s quite a lot of technical expertise to have under one roof,” Beermann says. “But technology is what drives our enterprise, so we all work together to shape our product according to the customer’s needs and their feedback.”
One thing that helped the company during its startup phase was the fact that the software package had been in use for some 20 years by that time, and that KISSsoft already had an established clientele as well. “We had about 80 customers at the beginning, who were mostly found in Switzerland and Germany, and we’ve since grown to 900 companies who are using our software all around the world.”
Those companies represent a wide range of industrial activity; everything from gearbox design for automobiles to wind turbines, cable cars, marine propulsion systems, and space exploration vehicles. “We feel that we’ve done a pretty good job of covering all the major industries, so now we’re planning expansion of a geographic nature,” Beermann says.
While eyeing growth markets including India and Japan, the company most recently targeted the United States, establishing a KISSsoft branch in Johnsburg, Illinois, which is overseen by Dan Kondritz. “In less than a year Dan has already been able to bring about 10 new accounts onboard, so we’re very pleased by the interest he’s generating in the U.S. industrial market.”
As for the software itself, KISSsoft is a calculation program consisting of a standard package for the certification, design, and optimization of machine elements, while KISSsys is a system add-on to the original program, with which complete gearboxes and drive systems can be modeled. Costs run from around $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the designer’s needs, and training is also available.
“We have scheduled public training sessions here at our offices, to which 10 or so companies will send their engineers, and we also offer on-site training for larger customers when it makes more sense to visit their facility,” Beermann explains. “On both occasions we’ll go into the basic operational procedures — although the software is fairly self explanatory to someone who already knows what they’re doing — and also how AGMA and ISO standards have been incorporated into the software.”
As the company continues its sure and steady growth, Beermann says that he and his colleagues plan to continue their “soft marketing” approach; letting the quality of the product speak for itself. “Our customers seem to appreciate the fact that our software takes all of the elements found in the gearbox into account — gears, shafts, bearings, bolts — which is the central feature that really sets us apart,” he says. “So we tend to focus our energies on refining and evolving the technology, because that’s really what we do best.”


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Latest news of Apple: “Apple iPhone X 2017 Coming Soon With OLED Display”. iPhone’s are a dream come true for every gadget freak and the substitution for these high-end phones with cutting edge technology is nowhere to be found. And with all the news making rounds about what might be coming in the next edition of the iPhone, no rival seems to give stand even close to Apple in the competition.
Can you think of a smartphone with wrap around screen, facial sensor technology, wireless charging technology and a dynamic name like “Apple iPhone X”? Yes, you read that right and if this comes true with the next iPhone, it will surely be a treat for all the loyal customers of the franchise.
Timothy Arcuri, an analyst at Cowen and Company wrote a research note to his company’s investors in which he apparently projected the impact of one of the president-elect’s favorite descriptor and referred it to using the Apple iPhone X moniker. Later on, the note was provided to both the Business Insider and Apple Insider.
Apple iPhone X 2017 OLED Display
Further, he also claimed with the information from sources within Apple’s supply chain, 2017 will have a “feature-rich launch” highlighted by a new 5.8” model, the Apple iPhone X. Another feature it might include is the OLED display using the same fixed flex screen tech found on some Samsung devices because it is reported that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of the new displays.
The front facing camera, the earpiece and fingerprint sensor could be embedded directly into the display to make more room for even more space for a true edge-to-edge screen. Arcuri, while rounding out the new features is an unspecified form of facial and/or gesture recognition tech also speculated about a new laser sensor and an infrared sensor mounted near the front-facing camera. Even though the specs are highly exciting, there is no evidence to back up the claims made by the reports.
Arcuri’s note was mostly about speculations than any real documented information, but most of the claims made in the note fit along with the rest of the rumor cycle. Apple has long stuck in the boring-but-dependable zone of the smartphone industry and these specs point towards the company taking the next flagship.
The first of iPhone towards a bold and cutting edge new design can begin at the least with changing from LCD to OLED, curving edges and ditching bezels in its 2017 release. Share your thought about to Apple iPhone X 2017 below in comments.


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Data Flows, AI, and International Trade: Impacts and Prospects for Future Value Chains
Latest technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics are changing international trade. They are facilitating innovative business models, generating new revenue streams, lowering geographical barriers, and creating products and services that are more customer-focused, resourceful, and inter-connected.
Companies, especially e-commerce giants like Amazon, Alibaba, Home Depot, and Rakuten, are successfully harnessing AI and big data to enhance their value chains and attract new customers. They are precisely gauging market trends, forecasting future demands, and understanding customer preferences in order to target them with personalized offerings when they are most needed.
Thus, it seems like the future belongs to the more tech-savvy and innovation-hungry generations around the world. According to Joshua Meltzer, Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution, technologies like AI and big data have the potential to transform international trade. He stated, “already, specific applications in areas such as data analytics and translation services are reducing barriers to trade… At the same time, there are challenges in the development of AI that international trade rules could address, such as improving global access to data to train AI systems.”
AI and data analytics can lead to better delivery systems that use drones and autonomous vehicles, as well as better decision making, while businesses can rely on data analysis to make more accurate and timely decisions. This will enhance productivity which will automatically make value chains more agile, boost overall economic growth, and provide new prospects for international trade.
They could also be used to improve the outcomes of international trade negotiations. For instance, AI and data analytics can better analyze each negotiating partner’s economic trajectories under various assumptions, including trade negotiation results and how these are affected in a multiplayer scenario where trade restrictions are reduced at different rates. They will also make forecasting the reaction of economies that are not even part of the negotiation easier.
However, many industry analysts have cautioned that some jobs will disappear as a result of the widespread use of technology in trade. But, as we have witnessed from previous industrial revolutions, this will also create a number of new jobs, transforming the existing labor market canvas and creating new tech-centric employment opportunities.
Overall, the tech revolution, like any other discoveries, interventions, and developments, will bring various changes to international trade; changes that cannot be categorized as good or bad, but simply changes that are unavoidable and very necessary.
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EXIMA’s ultimate goal is to provide our users with all the knowledge we have on international trade. For more information, make sure to check out our other articles here!


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“Black Friday – what’s that?” (Black Friday – c’est quoi?) was the headline on one major French news site on Friday, a sign that the shopping spectacle was still not quite understood in France.
There’s no doubt the phenomenon – which sees stores offer massive discounts to shoppers the day after Thanksgiving Thursday – has become a feature on the French consumer calendar since being imported from the US four years ago.
A quick look at the website of any big French retail store like Darty or FNAC reveals that Black Friday or the “Big Weekend” (because it’s more than just one day now) is certainly now an event in France.
One study said the French will spend some €735 million this year, €100 million more than the €632 spent last year, but well below the €1.69 billion that British shoppers will hand over on Friday.
Amazon France boss Frédéric Dubal said: “Last year, one million products were purchased on this day alone, more than twice as much as a normal day on the site.”
But while Black Friday has grown in France, the phenomenon is still yet to really take off in a country which sticks rigidly to two set sales periods – the summer and the New Year.
One survey carried out this week revealed only 18.2 percent of French people said they will definitely buy something in the Black Friday sales.
The reality is that many in France are still not quite sure what Black Friday is, perhaps it’s not helped by the fact the name is in English.
One survey by Toluna suggested only 57 percent of French people had heard of Black Friday, well below another cultural event in November – Beaujolais Nouveau day (81.3 percent).
“The brands have been communicating a lot in the past two or three years, but it has not yet been fully imprinted in the minds of the consumer,” said Anne-Marie Schwab, the CEO of French online shopping site Poulpeo.
There are some suggestions it may have suffered given that the name “Black Friday” is also associated with last year’s terror attacks in Paris on Friday November 13th.
As a result many shops have avoided the name and prefer to use “crazy weekend” or “Big weekend”, something which specialists say limit the popularity of the event.
French shopping culture – always more subdued than in the more consumerist “Anglo-Saxon” countries – is framed by the two sales periods authorized by the law – summer and January.
Companies are not allowed to make loss-making sales, usually through crazy discounts of up to 90 percent, outside these official sales periods unless in rare cases.
And companies in France are also less likely anyway to offer the kind of crazy discounts that have prompted riots in the US in the past.
“Black Friday is a typical American institution. It’s hard to import it because it is not in the collective memory of the French,” says Rudolph Bonasse, a distribution specialist from CA Com.
“For us, the sales are traditionally after Christmas and Black Friday seems like a totally artificial way to reverse the logic. It has not succeeded,” he said.
For Bonasse, Black Friday could become popular, but it “will take a lot more time” and will need all the big stores to jump on board “to create a massive event like in the United States”.


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Published 10:00 pm, Wednesday, June 25, 2003
IBM takes on Microsoft for market share
IBM Corp. unveiled new software and hardware products for medium-sized businesses, a move widely seen as an attempt to grab market share from Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft has made inroads into the software market for medium-sized businesses in recent years, acquiring software companies Navision and Great Plains Software Inc. In a news release announcing its new offerings, New York-based IBM singled out Microsoft by name, comparing an IBM program to create and manage e-commerce sites to a similar Microsoft product.
Palm shares rise after good sales news
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Shares of Palm Inc., the world's biggest maker of hand-held computers and the software that runs them, rose 5.7 percent after Palm said sales in the fourth quarter fell less than forecast and may rise this period.
The shares gained 90 cents to $16.60 on the Nasdaq Stock Market and earlier rose as high as $17.57. They were unchanged this year through yesterday.
Chief Executive Eric Benhamou said hand-held computer makers are starting to recover from an industrywide slump that left the company with losses of $881.2 million in the last three fiscal years. Palm forecast sales to rise as much as 7.4 percent this quarter, which would be their first gain from a year before since the fourth quarter of 2002.
Device secures information transfers
Researchers at the University of Idaho say a new device, dubbed CipherSmith, secures wired, wireless, and fiber-optic communications against unauthorized listeners by speeding up and changing how the information is transmitted so that an intruder can't keep up. The university is now seeking organizations interested in licensing the technology for use in operating systems, servers, controls and automation equipment.