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22nd February 2022, Skopje – Customs tariff rates on 258 raw materials and intermediate goods are permanently reduced or abolished, thus entailing lower import duties for domestic companies. This is stipulated under the modifications and amendments to the Law on Customs Tariff, as adopted by the Parliament, wherefor Ministry of Finance undertook activities in consultation with the business community last year.
By abolishing the tariffs, according to Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi, the production costs are being reduced, thus providing for boosted competitiveness of Macedonian economy.
According to Besimi, this Law contributes to boosting the competitiveness of domestic companies, making the country more attractive to new companies with foreign capital from various economic sectors, expanding the production of the existing capacities of domestic and foreign companies, as well as increasing the employment.
In the opinion of the Minister, by abolishing the customs tariff rate on natural gas, the domestic companies and the industry are additionally provided substantial support, by reducing the production costs. At the same time, amid energy crisis, as per the Law, support is provided in terms of greater price stability of this energy source, thus encouraging change towards using less polluting energy sources.
Reduction of customs tariff rates on raw materials and intermediate goods used in technologically advanced production, will also provide for direct support to automotive industry, metal processing industry, metallurgy, textile industry and leather industry, which recorded significant drop in the industrial production in 2020 and 2021.
In times of pandemic and exacerbated operations of the companies in the field of manufacturing, the reduced customs tariff rates on certain raw materials and intermediate goods will provide for facilitating the working conditions of these companies, we well as boosting their competitiveness on the market.
The Law covers raw materials and products not being produced in the country, and which are imported in the Republic of North Macedonia, with their customs tariff rates being significantly higher than the customs tariff rates applied on the same products in the EU. By reducing the import duties, their amount will get closer to the customs tariff rates applied in the EU, meaning boosted competitiveness of domestic companies and making the country more attractive to new companies with foreign capital from various economic sectors.
Adoption of this Law provides for implementing the Government Program, as well as the Measure 17 under the fifth set of economic measures, aimed at reviving the economy in times of COVID-19 crisis, pertaining to reduction of the customs tariff rates at the EU level for the most priority goods such as raw materials and intermediate goods used in the field of manufacturing.


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We can call it whatever we want but a toll is still a toll. So when the Singapore government recently announced an increase in the toll for Malaysian vehicles coming into this country, the Malaysian government responded with a corresponding increase, and the plan for a further increase. This plan was met by the Singapore government’s plan to further increase the toll to match the Malaysian’s planned increase. And this is when it becomes a toll war.
The Singapore government’s intention to increase the toll was seemingly reasonable at first. It was to rationalise and optimise the use of Singapore roads which are increasingly costly to maintain, for all road users including foreign vehicles. But when the government announced that it would further increase the toll depending on the amount that the Malaysian government would increase in the future, the first point became mute. What has the Malaysian toll rate got to do with rationalising Singapore’s road usage? It doesn’t make sense. And so the accusation that Singapore is taking a tit-for-tat measure in this issue came thick and fast.
But let us now consider the merits and demerits of the toll increase. The merit is as the government’s official reason for the increase. The demerits on the hand are the increase in the cost of living and doing business in Singapore, and the general inconvenience caused to the people of both countries.
Singapore imports a lot of its food from Malaysia. We also import a lot of raw materials from Malaysia for value-added production. And we also have a substantial number of Malaysians who come here to work and study. As for Singaporeans, we drive to Malaysia on weekends for some shopping and generally to escape the hustle and bustle of our over-populated island.
So an increase in the vehicle toll will have an inflationary impact on some consumer products as the cost will eventually be passed down to the consumers. It will also lead to an increase in business cost as the cost of raw materials will increase. And to add to that, the Malaysian workers and students who commute daily between the two countries will suffer an increase in transportation cost as well. And for Singaporeans, this may discourage some of them from having a relaxing retreat to Malaysia. As we have written in our earlier article, it is psychologically good for Singaporeans to escape to a less crowded place to de-stress.
Will Singapore one day impose a visit toll on all tourists coming to Singapore? After all, they will enjoy our clean and green environment and safe surroundings which are not cheap to maintain. Definitely not, because tourists bring in tourist dollars. So why do we impose toll on Malaysian vehicles? Malaysians coming to Singapore do contribute to our economy in one way or another. And most importantly, as neighbours, we should be more welcoming and gracious towards them. Already, a lot of the Malaysians commuting daily between the two countries have ditched their cars in favour of motorcycles which have now caused long delays for motorcyclists at the checkpoints. There are reports that the delays could be as long as 5 hours. This is not the way to treat our neighbours.
Not everything should be about dollars and cents especially when the disadvantages of a certain policy far outweigh its advantages. In this regard, it will be prudent for the government to take a helicopter view and tweak the policy to take into consideration its economic and social impact.

domain: news


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OnLive game streaming service has got off to a pretty slow start, but started to pick up steam with the release of their MicroConsole for streaming to TVs. Today, electronics manufacturer Visio and OnLive announced that they would be building the service into a brand new line of VIZIO VIA HDTVs and Blu-ray players. The service is also expected to come to the VIZIO VIA Tablet and VIA Phone when they are launched.
The service, which will run as a web app on the VIZIO hardware, will provide support for full 1080p resolution, OnLive’s wireless controllers, and stereoscopic 3D. The OnLive equipped Visio devices are being shown off this weekend at CES, and are expected to hit the market later this year. A snippet from the press release is below.
With the integration of OnLive across the VIA Plus ecosystem of compatible VIZIO devices, consumers can access the OnLive cloud gaming service directly through any VIA Plus HDTV, Tablet, Smart Phone or Blu-ray Player for instant gaming on any VIA Plus device-even seamlessly continuing gameplay from one device to the next-without the need for a game console.


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Data Science News
Microsoft launches 'Explore Space' data science, AI modules inspired by Netflix's 'Over the Moon'
Learners will get a chance to use data to plan lunar missions, predict meteor showers and analyse images using AI.
IIT-Madras launches BSc degree in programming and data science as 'world's first online diploma'; offers admission without JEE
The programme in IIT Madras was launched by Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Minister of State for HRD Sanjay Dhotre.
IIT-Madras launches online diploma, BSc in data science and programming; course open to those who have passed Class 12
IIT-Madras has launched an online course on data science and programming with the option to exit at three levels — foundation, BSc degree and diploma
Shiprocket raises $13 mn from Tribe Capital, Innoven Capital, Bertelsmann India Investments
Launched by Bigfoot Retail Solutions in 2017, Shiprocket turned profitable in 2018-19 with an annualised revenue run rate between $25-30 million.
Swiggy co-founder Rahul Jaimini quits after 6 years but to continue as board member; to join edutech platform
Jaimini will be joining Pesto Tech, a career accelerator start-up, as their co-founder, Swiggy said in a statement.
Hike to leverage natural language processing, AI and ML for improving multi-lingual chat experience
"Stickers have been at the core of Hike for many years now, and just like the landscape we operate in, it has evolved rapidly"
Salesforce buys out big data analytics firm Tableau Software Inc for $15.3 bn
Salesforce’s biggest deal ever comes days after Google bought big-data analytics company Looker for $2.6 billion.
MIT announces a $1 bn AI college for responsible, ethical use of the technology
MIT will create an interdisciplinary hub for work in computer science, AI, data science, and more.
Over 50,000 positions in the fields of data science, ML vacant, says report
The report found that despite the rise in interest in data science there's a lack of skilled professionals.
AI explainability and causal inference are necessary for AI adoption
Automated decision-making systems are both producers and consumers of data.
Top IIT, IIM graduates get over 100% higher salaries than other college graduates, reveals report
In IITs, computer science or information technology graduates are receiving the highest annual package of Rs 6.9 lakh per annum,
Using cognitive insights to navigate and extract value from the sea of data will give your organisation a competitive advantage
Instead of the overwhelming fear of “drowning in data” educational institutions can then swim with confidence and be in control as they use cognitive insights to navigate a new course
Aegis will host the second Data Science Congress from 29 May to 1 June at Navi Mumbai
Aegis School of Business, Data Science, Cyber Security and Telecom is hosting its second Data Science Congress with focus on Analytics, Big Data and more.
Karnataka partners with NASSCOM to launch a Centre of Excellence for data science and artificial intelligence
Nasscom President said the centre will position India as a disruptor in the space and the IT body will evangelise such a programme across the country.
Audi to host third edition of its autonomous driving cup; offers winners placements and internships
Audi's main objective here is to see which model car can complete a lap of Audi's test course, which includes achieving maneuvers in the quickest of times.
How NoBroker uses data science and machine learning to help users identify suitable properties
The machine learning algorithms basically bring about a kind of equilibrium between the demand and supply side of the market.
Thinking beyond Titan: Amazon needs to take Indian crafts, textiles and artisan goods worldwide
The Jeff Bezos-led US giant is now trying to help India’s own Titan brand of watches sell across the world through its global selling programme.
Consumer goods companies have the potential to unlock $2.95 trillion in next one decade
According to the report over the next one decade, retailers and consumer goods companies have the potential to unlock $2.95 trillion for the industry.
IBM to hold roadshows in India to engage with developers on AI, machine learning and IoT
IBM is conducting roadshows in three cities of Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad from 28 June to 1 July.
Professionals with big data and machine learning skills get paid the best salaries in Mumbai
It's not the Silicon Valley of India but companies in the financial capital that are paying fat salaries to those with big data and machine learning skills.


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It’s a bittersweet day for Wichita — one in which the city can celebrate the fact that a homegrown restaurant concept has lasted for an entire century while simultaneously bemoaning the fact that it doesn’t do local burger fans one bit of good.
Today — March 10 — is White Castle’s 100th birthday. On this day in 1921, Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson opened the first White Castle restaurant at 110 E. First St. in Wichita, selling small, square-shaped burgers by the sack for five cents apiece.
A century later, the chain is still going strong and operates more than 360 restaurants across the country. But none of them are in Wichita. In fact, White Castle hasn’t operated here since 1938.
The earliest roots of White Castle date back to 1916, when Anderson opened a five-stool stand on East Douglas selling “pressed beef sandwiches” served on dinner rolls and topped with pickles and onions. They were so easy to eat, people dubbed them sliders.”
By 1920, he had expanded to four stands, and that’s when he took on Ingram — a friend and local insurance salesman — as a partner. The two decided to build more hamburger stands and to call them White Castle. They designed buildings that looked like little castles and opened the first restaurant at First and Main. They’d continue to expand over the next decade, opening all over Wichita at addresses including 111 E. Second, 112 S. St. Francis, 146 N. Emporia and more.
The popular burger restaurant, which White Castle says was the first hamburger chain in the United States, began to expand outside of Wichita, and by 1934, there were 123 White Castles operating in 156 cities. The headquarters were relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where they remain today. Anderson retired, leaving the business to Ingram. The last White Castle in Wichita closed four years later, and longtime White Castle manager A.J. “Jimmie” King bought three of the restaurants and renamed them Kings-X. He went on to establish his own local burger chain and at one point had 10 stands around town.
Wichita never forgot White Castle, nor did White Castle forget Wichita. In 2011, the chain marked its 90th birthday by returning home to throw a party in the parking lot of the Dillons at Central and Rock, where for two frenzied hours it sold sliders for 90 cents apiece. Thousands of people showed up and stood in long lines to get a taste.
COVID-19 is preventing the White Castle from throwing any type of huge 100th birthday party, the chain has said, but cities that still have White Castles are selling special beverages and cake on a stick. The restaurant chain is planning a virtual birthday party on May 15.
White Castle representatives have said over the years that they would never rule out returning to Wichita, but there’s been no movement in that direction. White Castle is preparing to open the chain’s biggest store yet in Orlando, Florida, this spring.
Wichitans who want to celebrate don’t have many options, unless they want to road trip to the nearest White Castle restaurant in Columbia, Missouri.
Here’s another idea: White Castle sliders have been sold in the freezer section of grocery stores since 1987, so there’s always that. Wichitans could grab a box, heat some up, head over to the Sunflower Bank branch at 201 N. Main, which sits on the site of the first White Castle, and raise a tiny square burger in salute.


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Latest Nissan Motors Stories
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An autonomous car is a vehicle that is able to move without a driver. Theses vehicles are classified as a self-driving car or a robotic car capable of transporting passengers without the aid of a human driver. Instead of human input, these vehicles use sensors like radar, lidar, GPS and computers to navigate. These systems sense the surroundings, determine obstacles within their path, use maps to determine a route to take. They also keep track of the position the vehicle is and can...
- Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a radiate animal.


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It’s safe to say that retailer Club Monaco was slow in getting into the social media space. Although the company had both a presence on Twitter and Facebook in 2010, it hadn’t yet developed an actual social strategy. Posts on Facebook weren’t in synch with its posts on Twitter to tell the brand’s story.
Last year, it aimed to change that, implementing a strategy to develop a global community of brand ambassadors on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Pinterest. The goal: to skew a bit younger and encourage fans to not just engage with the brand, but also promote it to their friends. Its social media strategy now centers around the brand’s Culture Club blog, which depends on social media platforms to distribute the brand’s content.
“Launching a social media strategy was a natural progression to evolve with the dramatic shifts in the media landscape and how our consumer is consuming content,” said Ann Watson, vp of marketing at Club Monaco.
The Culture Club Blog, a collection of images from those behind the brand, launched November 2010 as a section of ClubMonaco.com. It was then moved to its own microsite, before becoming fully socialized on Tumblr.
Club Monaco reoriented its Twitter, Facebook and other social presences to act as distribution channels that draw on the Culture Club. The idea is to repurpose content to fit each social venue. For example, Club Monaco posts behind-the-scenes photos from Instagram on Facebook every Friday; every Tuesday pick a photo from its Foodies board on Pinterest or Culture Club and post it to Facebook and Twitter for #TastyTuesday. It typically posts once or twice daily on Facebook and Twitter, where it has 119,000 and 15,000 followers, respectively.
”We are very selective about how much and what we do cross-promote,” Watson said.
The social team tries to include a call to action in each post. It asked on Facebook, for example, “Are you looking forward to wearing a cashmere sweater or a leather jackets this fall?” The brand’s data shows these type of posts elicit more participation from followers.
Club Monaco has defined a different set of metrics for each platform. It has found that not all metrics within social are trackable to a direct sale or conversion. For instance on Facebook and Twitter, while it loves to see its likes go up in numbers, engagement (comments, shares) is at the top of the brand’s KPI’s. On Facebook it places value on the “talking about” and “daily engaged” metrics. This allows the brand to adjust its social content strategy on the fly because it is not just about gaining more fans but making sure that those consumers that have taken the time to engage, do so more than once.
“Until we have a firm social content strategy in place for a platform, we make it a rule to not to engage with a community only halfway,” said Watson.
Of all the concerns marketers may (or may not) have about TikTok right now, the pixel isn’t one of them
Marketers have a lot on their minds when it comes to TikTok these days, from the geopolitical tensions over the app’s supposed ties to the Chinese government to whether they should be funding some of the content on it.
With podcast advertising maturing, more mainstream brands want in on growth
Podcasts, once a go-to marketing channel for direct-to-consumer brands, have become a mainstay for more seasoned advertisers, agency executives say.
Marketing Briefing: Coca-Cola and other major marketers enter ‘test and learn’ phase with generative AI
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SponsoredMarketers are driving ad effectiveness and engagement with digital audio
Ann Piper, head of client partnerships, vertical team, Spotify Advertising As an increasing number of people engage with digital audio, marketers are keen to understand what keeps listeners engaged — and how they can tap into their attention. Recent reports anticipate the global digital audio advertising market will top $8.9 billion this year. In 2022, […]
As its future hangs in the balance, TikTok tries to keep advertisers on its side
The whole idea that TikTok is really spyware is nothing more than a myth, according to the app. And it wants marketers to know it.
How gaming organization OTK strikes a balance between creator-ownership and more traditional executive experience
Since its formation in October 2020, creator ownership has been a core part of One True King’s DNA. The group is constantly adding new talent to its list of creator–owners, fueling a rapid rise and accolades such as “Best Content Organization” at last year’s Streamer Awards.


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There are as many reasons to attend the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas this week as there are attendees (and that’s more than 50,000).
Some go for the chance to see trucking friends and colleagues they may not have seen since last August. Others go just to attend the seminars or get free health checkups or enjoy the hours of free music. And, of course, folks go to see the show trucks.
However, many go to see the latest in tools, technology, and other gear that can help make them safer, more efficient and more profitable while on the road. For these folks, GATS has a new attraction: the New Product Pavillion.
Located in the lower A/B lobby, the New Product Pavillion will showcase the latest gear from 24 companies. Featured are new products from established companies familiar to most truckers, and items from ambitious startups.
Show attendees will be able to learn about the products and how they’ll benefit the trucker on the road.
GATS opens Thursday at noon and is open to 5 p.m. On Friday the show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday its open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.


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Two of downtown Dallas' most prominent hotels are hitting the market.
The Fairmont Dallas and the Marriott Dallas Downtown have almost 1,000 rooms and are both owned by a Florida real estate investment trust.
Orlando-based Xenia Hotels & Resorts is shopping the two Dallas hotels, along with three other U.S. properties, according to a report by Real Estate Alert, a New York-based real estate newsletter.
The two Dallas hotels are worth an estimated $200 million, according to the reports, and are being marketed by Atlanta-based commercial property firm Hodges Ward Elliott.
A growing number of hotels around the country are being offered for sale at a time when the industry is struggling with reduced business from the pandemic.
Downtown Dallas' two-tower Fairmont reopened at the end of July after closing down operations earlier in the pandemic.
The 545-room hotel opened in 1969 and was an instant landmark. Its posh Pyramid restaurant was a draw, and so was the Venetian Room, which featured headliner performers including Ella Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich and Sonny and Cher.
Xenia Hotels has owned the property since 2011.
The Marriott Dallas Downtown has 416 rooms and is part of the Plaza of the Americas complex on Pearl Street.
The hotel opened in 1980 along with two office buildings and an atrium retail center.
Plaza of the Americas was downtown’s first mixed-use development.
Xenia, which owns 39 U.S. hotels, is also looking to sell hotels in Boston and California.
The real estate investment trust recently sold its 275-room Marriott Napa Valley Hotel & Spa for $100 million.
After closing most of its hotels in March and April, almost all of Xenia’s properties have not reopened.
The two downtown Dallas hotels are just the latest major properties to hit the market after a slowdown in transactions early in the pandemic.
Uptown Dallas' landmark Crescent complex is for sale along with downtown’s 56-story Renaissance Tower.
And a major building in North Dallas' Preston Center district — the 20-story Sherry Lane Place — is also on the market.


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New Payment Technology Could Save Travel Businesses Costs and Time
In 2013, it was estimated that two out of five travel agencies had adopted virtual payments, according to MasterCard Worldwide.
This is a great reflection of the progressive nature of the sector and its willingness to embrace new technology. However, the majority of supply chain payments continue to take place utilising more traditional mechanisms such as BACS, Swift, Credit and Prepaid cards and indeed e-wallets such as PayPal. This mix of payment channels can become an administrative burden and adds an additional level of financial complexity, with the cost of payments changing by channel and supplier.
“Whilst there is undoubtedly increasing noise around crypto currencies such as BitCoin, we don’t believe that this will become a mainstream payment vehicle in the near future. At Tuxedo, we believe that rather than looking to new payment channels, the most significant short term opportunity for the travel industry is to use technology to consolidate the existing channels and processes to drive efficiency and cost savings.
At Tuxedo, we are currently working to develop and implement a web based portal that will enable travel businesses to carry out supplier payments across existing channels from a single point. This will mean that organisations will no longer need to log into different systems to make bank payments, card payments, virtual payments etc. They will be able to log into one platform and make the payment using the most appropriate channel for them. As well as offering clients a much more streamlined process, we believe that we will also be able to offer businesses an opportunity to bring down the real cost of payments as well. Using a mix of our own prepaid and virtual payment solutions, alongside leading third party payment channels, we anticipate we may be able to bring real costs down for many organisations by as much as a quarter, as a result of the volume of payments being processed driving cost/price efficiencies.
According to responsibletravel.com, in 2013 over 143m transactions were generated by agents and The World Travel and Tourism Council anticipates that travel and tourism will reach a global value of $10.8tn by 2018 , As such, this level of saving, both in real terms and administrative costs would be significant in an industry that is seeing increasing downward pressure on margin.
The travel sector has already demonstrated a forward thinking approach through its adoption of virtual payments, and so the emerging path toward one streamlined payment portal will be a natural, progressive step for the industry.”


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Follow Theverge, Alphabet’s value has doubled from the $1 trillion the company made in January 2020. This is partly thanks to the record third quarter revenue that Alphabet achieved when it brought in $ 65.1 billion.
The company reported a 41% increase in their revenue, while profits increased by almost 69%. Google Search saw a slight increase in profits, from $35.8 billion last quarter to $37.9 billion. Alphabet’s other subsidiary, YouTube, earned $7.2 billion in its most recent quarter.
Alphabet becomes the third US company to reach a market capitalization of 2 trillion USD
It is known that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Big Tech businesses have received a lot of attention from customers. As companies worldwide move from in-person workplaces to remote and cloud-based environments, Google has benefited greatly from relying on cloud storage services and digital advertising.
As such, Alphabet becomes the latest US-based company to join the $2 trillion club, following Apple and Microsoft. Apple hit the $2 trillion mark in April last year, while Microsoft hit $2 trillion in June of this year. Amazon is also about to join the $2 trillion club, despite its current valuation of $1.7 trillion.


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Roblox (NYSE:RBLX) shares hit the skids early Wednesday, falling more than 20% following the metaverse company's fourth-quarter results that failed to meet Wall Street's expectations.
At issue was Roblox (RBLX) saying on Tuesday that it lost $0.25 a share, and had total bookings of $770.1 million, during the final three months of 2021. Analysts, however, had forecast the company to lose $0.07 a share, and total bookings of $772 million.
Roblox (RBLX) said its average daily active users, known as DAUs, reached 49.5 million during the quarter, a 33% gain over the year-ago period. Engagement hours also rose by 28% from a year ago, to 10.8 billion hours.
At Morgan Stanley, analyst Brian Nowak cut his rating on Roblox's (RBLX) stock to equal weight from overweight, and slashed his stock-price target to $65 a share from $115. Nowak said that Roblox's (RBLX) report "speaks to larger than expected reopening headwinds and forward growth uncertainty for the online gaming platform developer.
"In effect, Roblox (RBLX) has not been able to retain [or] grow engagement, bookings or users as well as we hoped through reopening," Nowak said.
Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey, who has a sell rating and $70-a-share price target on Roblox's (RBLX) stock, said the results were disappointing "and could suggest Roblox's core geographies have peaked."
Roblox (RBLX) also gave look into how business is going this year, saying that revenue in January was between $203 million and $206 million, and bookings came in a range of $220 million and $223 million. Stifel analyst Drew Crum said that while those bookings rose from a year ago, the rate of the gain is concerning.
Roblox's (RBLX) January bookings represent an increase of 2% to 3% over a year ago, but are well below December's 21% year-over-year rise, and the 23% annual rise in November's bookings. Crum said the slowdown in bookings suggests tough comparisons "in countries such as the U.S. and the U.K., which generate the majority of the monetization for Roblox, along with reopening headwinds."
Crum holds a buy rating and $110-a-share target price on Roblox's (RBLX).
In addition to its disappointing report, Roblox (RBLX) was also the subject of a BBC report that found the online gamer hosting several sexually explicit games that could be accessed by minors.


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Nowgamer spoke with the studio Drinkbox Studios and asked them what it will it take for the next gen consoles to be attractive in the eyes of the people.
Graham Smith, co-founder of the studio, said that the platform holders need to secure exclusives.
“I’m really curious what Microsoft’s strategy is going to be with their next generation console,” he said. “Sony seems to be pushing things farther on the social side and connectivity with the PS4, which I do think is a really cool direction to be taking.”
“To really be a success, I think they each need to secure desirable exclusive content for their systems that take advantage of the next-gen features they are offering. Though DrinkBox Studios has produced games largely for the PS3 and PS Vita, this isn’t a guarantee of exclusivity going forward.
“We don’t actually have any objection to releasing on other platforms. When we were initially pitching Guacamelee! to publishers, we were thinking to release the game on PS3/X360/PC.
“After Sony approached us with a Pub Fund deal for the game, we decided to take the deal and switched to PS3 and PS Vita for the initial release.”
Tell us what you think in the comments section below.


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At the Food Marketing Institute's annual supermarket show last week, Sara Lee Corp. projected so-called HMRs will account for 80% of the $100 billion in projected industry growth by the year 2005, noting that "most families no longer prepare dinner from scratch."
BOSTON MARKET MEALS
Boston Market knows that well. The takeout chain credited with sparking the supermarket industry's wakeup call is kicking off a line of ready-to-heat branded meals for sale in its restaurants, said Gerard Lewis, senior VP-research and development.
He estimated that ready-to-eat HMRs are 25% of the overall $80 billion to $110 billion HMR category, while ready-to-heat meals account for 35%.
Boston Market also has been toying with a national supermarket line under the Boston Market name; a spokeswoman said that although discussions with grocers have taken place, no such line is imminent.
One of the most aggressive in new products is Tyson Foods, with its Tyson Restaurant Favorites eight-item line of frozen meals. Actually a relaunch of the company's Fajita Kits, Restaurant Favorites is marketed as a meal for two and some products in the line feature wraps, a popular item on fast-food menus relatively untapped by supermarkets.
Restaurant Favorites is Tyson's second big push. It is currently testing in six markets a refrigerated line of single-serve meals under the Gourmet Selections banner. The chicken and pasta combination comes with sauces created by Mallard's Restaurants of California.
DDB Needham Worldwide, Chicago, handles both lines. Res-taurant Favorites will receive about $3 million to $5 million in total marketing support, mainly radio, according to Robert Klein, senior VP-group account director. Gourmet Se- lections, now in select markets, will be supported in its introductory phase with couponing, in-store advertising and sampling.
Sara Lee's HMR entries include Sara Lee HomeRoast, a line of slow-roasted meats marketed in sandwich slices, spiral sliced meats and "main course" meats such as Oven Roasted Chicken Breast and Honey Ham; all are handled by PGC, Dallas, which will kick off radio and TV ads in June.
Sara Lee's Hillshire Farm unit, meanwhile, is launching ads for a line of ready-to-serve cooked meats under the TenderSmoked name. Euro RSCG Tatham, Chicago, handles advertising, breaking in June.
Sara Lee has Savory Fare Gourmet Sausages, an upscale line of six flavors such as Chicken With Sun Dried Tomatoes & Parmesan Cheese, already receiving a national TV ad campaign.
Kraft Foods' HMR drive so far has focused on recipes and ingredients. The company has created numerous store displays linking its products as ingredients for themed meals or under banners such as "No oven summer" and "Simple answers."
It's also touting meal solutions on its Kraft Interactive Kitchen Web site (www.kraftfoods.com).
Kraft is testing at least one new product that fits the HMR banner, Oscar Mayer Hotwiches, which Group VP Robert Eckert described as a refrigerated line of single-serve microwaveable meals like sloppy joes.
Testing in Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis, the product is handled by J. Walter Thompson USA, Chicago.
The rush to HMRs has prompted meal solutions from unlikely players.
Frito-Lay, for example, is testing Frito-Lay Cafe, a display featuring recipes, the company's chips and a cooler to be stocked with a retailer's private-label recipe ingredients. Now in Wegman's in upstate New York and Houston, Frito Lay Cafe provides meal recipes using salty snacks as ingredients, including Florentine Shrimp Au Gratin and Fritos Beef Skillet.
Even Coca-Cola Co. is looking to get into the act, touting merchandising systems


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Your computer is watching you too
It’s not just your phones. Today, the Wall Street Journal reports “Apple gathers information from some Apple Macintosh computers connected to Wi-Fi networks, and Google collects data from Wi-Fi-connected computers that use Google’s Chrome browser or search ‘toolbar.'” Sometimes the companies ask users to collect this data, sometimes, the companies can’t ask. What happens to this data? We’re not always sure.
From the Journal:
Google says the collection process works like this: the computer scans the area around itself to find available Wi-Fi networks, and then the Google Toolbar or the Web browser sends the Wi-Fi access-point information back to Google’s location database. Google “anonymizes” and aggregates the information.
Apple disclosed its location-gathering practices in a letter last year to Reps. Edward Markey (D., Mass.) and Joe Barton (R., Texas). According to the letter, Macintosh computers running the “Snow Leopard” operating system send the company information about a computer’s location if the user is connected to the Internet through a Wi-Fi network and is using location-based services, such as asking the computer to automatically identify the local time zone.
The data is “collected anonymously, and is stored in a database accessible only by Apple,” the letter said. Users can prevent the information from being collected by turning off “location services” in the “security” menu under “system preferences” on the computer, it said.
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The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept was designed from the ground up to be the “most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever built,” and a little over a year ago, it managed to drive nearly 750 miles on a single charge. That’s the kind of range that puts pretty much every other electric vehicle to shame, but a team of German engineering students just drove an EV they built more than twice as far on a single charge. That’s an accomplishment they claim makes it the longest-range electric car in the world.
Students at the Technical University of Munich who are part of the TUfast Eco team had been working on a vehicle they call the “muc022" to make it even more efficient than it already was. But instead of adding a big battery, they went for lightness. Without a driver, the car weighs a mere 374 pounds and has a 15.5-kWh battery. The motor, on the other hand, makes a mere 400 watts, which works out to about 0.5 hp. But with a drag coefficient of 0.159 and so little weight, it doesn’t need much power to get moving.
More from Jalopnik


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Perhaps the most well-known companies may find themselves caught up in the middle of scandal in the rapidly changing fields of design and marketing. Adidas, a major player in the field of sportswear, has came under considerable scrutiny and criticism for an advertisement promoting their swimwear. Feelings that they were “erasing women” from their marketing materials sparked the debate, which raised issues with the business’s message and the more general problem of representation of women in the clothing sector. The piece delves into the specifics of the issue surrounding the Adidas bikini advertisement, the reactions it has sparked, and the broader discussion about gender equality and inclusion in advertisement.
The Controversial Adidas Swimsuit Advert
When Adidas revealed their advertising effort for swimwear, the debate around the company erupted. While most hoped for a varied and welcoming initiative, a number of people noticed a notable lack of female models throughout the advertising. Adidas was accused of ‘erasing women’ from its advertising approach’ since the advertisement mostly showed models who were men.
The internet was crucial in magnifying the way people reacted to the advertisement. A widespread discussion on the problem developed as a result of the numerous articles, responses, and links voicing surprise and annoyance. Opponents said that Adidas’ determination to promote inclusiveness and plurality, particular in regard to female representation, was compromised by that obvious error or purposeful decision.
The Wider Discourse
The debate over the adidas bikini advertisement has brought a wider discussion to prominence it highlights concerns about diversity and female representation in the clothing and commercial sectors this instance of the absence of female inclusion is not only a single incidence but also a symbol of a more widespread problem that exists in the clothing sector this problem has to do with how frequently womens apparel and swimsuits are hypersexualized and objectified frequently in order to appeal to the masculine eye in order to represent various cultures and act strategically opponents argue that corporations must embrace and promote every gender identity through their marketing advertising that are comprehensive and varied are thought to resonate across a larger range of customers and help in favourably to a companys reputation.
The clothing and advertisement sectors are currently under intense examination, especially in light of the growing interest in gender parity, democracy, and independence. Customers increasingly demand that businesses speak out in favour of diversity and inclusion in their message and connect with their beliefs.
The debate concerning the Adidas bikini advertisement highlights the significant duty and power that major global fashion companies have in influencing social norms and views. Adidas has responded to criticism and apologised for any improper messages, but the event highlights the need of a persistent and deliberate dedication to inclusiveness and diversity in the clothing and commercial industries.
Responses to the Backlash
Adidas was quick to address the criticism, admitting the issues brought up and apologising for whatever improper messages the advertisement may have sent. They clarified that their objective was to highlight the swimsuit selection instead of excluding women.
Some observers and customers weren’t happy with this approach, though, feeling that Adidas had squandered a chance to champion inclusion and gender balance. They stated that the business ought to have utilised the occasion to take on the problem and emphasise the significance of include men and women in their marketing.
Adidas Acknowledges the Concerns
Adidas, a significant participant in the clothing and athletic industries, reacted quickly to the mounting criticism. The business addressed the issues brought up by consumers and the press, most notably the absence of female presence in their bikini marketing push. Adidas first responded by stating that their goal was to display and promote the swimsuit line rather than excluding women.
This reaction was regarded as a significant first move since it showed that the company was aware of consumer discontent and prepared to address the problem.
Mixed Reactions to Adidas’s Response
Mixed responses were given to Adidas’ statement, though. While many customers and others welcomed the company’s admission of the problem and its explanation of their intentions, others thought the reaction fell near of resolving the fundamental issues.
Critics argued that the statement came out as rather combative and thus Adidas lost the chance to engage more pro-actively. Others believed that the company could have used this situation as a chance to make a more compelling argument regarding its principles and objectives, emphasising the importance of female inclusion and portrayal in branding.
The Broader Conversation
The public outcry around the Adidas bikini advertisement sparks a broader discussion about diversity and representation of gender in the apparel and media sectors. Since feminine clothing and swimsuits are frequently sexually oriented and dehumanised for men to view, the absence of female representation within this instance is regarded as representative of a larger problem throughout the apparel sector.
Additionally, opponents stress how crucial it is to acknowledge and celebrate every gender identity in branding as both a commercial necessity and a representation of society variety. Programmes that are broad and wide-ranging have a favourable impact on a variety of customers and may help a business build a great reputation.
The apparel and promotion sectors are coming under more and more examination as conversations regarding equal opportunities for women, democracy, and independence gather traction. Customers anticipate that businesses will reflect their beliefs in their message and demonstrate an honest dedication to inclusiveness and inclusion.
In short, The debate surrounding the Adidas bikini advertisement acts as an illustration of the influence and obligation that major global clothing manufacturers have in influencing cultural views and ideals. The episode highlights the significance of a persistent and aggressive dedication to diversity and inclusion of women in the manufacturing and marketing sectors. Although the brand reacted to the customer outcry and acknowledged apologies for any accidental conversations, it has also acknowledged that it made a mistake.
The event demonstrates the necessity for firms to be thoughtful and purposeful in their communications, understanding the relevance of diversification and the impact of inclusion marketing strategies as the discourse around women equality as well as representation keeps growing. The obstacle for fashion businesses is to actively encourage inclusion and appreciate the diversity of our planet rather than simply responding to issues.
To read more attractive news, visit Britainobserver.co.uk


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Nutreco lands Cargill subsidiary
Nutreco announced on Wednesday that it is purchasing Cargill’s animal nutrition division in Spain and Portugal for EUR 40 million (USD 56.4 million).
The acquisition includes Cargill’s 12 compound feed production facilities, with an annual capacity of around 700,000 metric tons, annual sales of approximately EUR 240 (USD 338.6 million) and 450 employees. Netherlands-based Nutreco already operates an animal nutrition division on the Iberian Peninsula called Nanta.
The deal is subject to the approval of European Commission anti-trust authorities.
“This acquisition will strengthen Nanta with a team of professionals with significant know-how of the business,” said Francisco Irazusta, managing director of Nanta. “Together with the commitment and knowledge of our people, the talent of this new team will generate important synergies and will enhance the level of the industry in terms of quality, innovation and food safety for the benefit of our existing and new customers.”
“Cargill has been in animal nutrition in Spain and Portugal for many years, but now we have decided to reassess our portfolio,” added Joe Stone, president of Cargill’s global animal nutrition business. “We are a longstanding provider of raw materials to Nutreco for their animal feed production and will continue to supply them from our other operations in Spain. The sale of the business to Nutreco represents an opportunity to better position it for future success. We are confident that we are placing these operations in capable hands.”


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Historians may one day point to December 10, 2011 as the official date the showrooming wars began. That’s when Amazon announced that users of its Price Check mobile app would receive an additional 5% discount when they scanned a barcode from a product spotted in a bricks-and-mortar retailer and bought it from Amazon. It was a bold shot across the bow of traditional retailers.
And a year on, showrooming is becoming increasingly prevalent in grocery. Microsoft’s research of consumer shopping habits in US, Brazil, Korea, Japan and the UK showed that 71% of smartphone users have used their mobile phone to compare grocery prices.
Once, shoppers had to take pricing promises on faith. Today, it takes about 30 seconds on an iPhone for a 25-year-old to figure out that your 52-inch flat-screen is 14% cheaper on Amazon.
No retailer can continue to drive prices down so they are consistently lower than the competition. And an EDLP retailer that loses on price, simply loses.
We do not have to look too far to see the evidence of the impact of this trend. In the US, Best Buy and Target are both EDLP-led leaders in their respective categories who, for the critical Christmas trading period this year, have pledged to match online prices. However, this additional pressure on margins is untenable.
So if EDLP (as a sole marketing strategy) is dead, where does that leave retailers? Price remains the driving factor - it’s simply that we have entered into a retail environment of ‘price +’.
John Lewis is an example where exceptional customer service and tangible benefits make customers question whether a lower online price alone is worth it. For example, that 52-inch flat-screen might be 14% cheaper online - but a free five-year warranty and no-quibble return policy would make a consumer question the value of that saving.
Other retailers use loyalty currencies as a lever to influence customer behaviour and add value.
‘Price +’ is about creating added value that shifts the focus to a service, experience and benefits-led proposition. Retailers whose key focus has been price-only are suffering. Showrooming has signalled their death knell.


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Woman Steals Autographed Hulk Hogan Wrestling Shoe, Returns It Days Later
A tourist from Michigan stole an autographed Hulk Hogan wrestling shoe from his shop in Florida and returned it a few days later.
The woman, whose name has not yet been revealed, allegedly took the shoe on a whim while looking inside Hogan’s Beach Shop in Clearwater on Sunday, March 16. Employees of the shop didn’t notice the one-of-a-kind shoe – Hogan once wore the shoe and signed it – was missing until Tuesday evening, and the theft was announced to the press on Wednesday, March 19. The shoe is valued at $5,500.
Source: Clearwater PD
In their original press release, the police said that security tapes showed four white women, possibly on Spring Break, had entered a shop at 5:16 p.m., minutes before a statue of Hogan fell outside the shop, distracting the store’s employees long enough for the suspect to grab the shoe. The woman was described as “a white female in her 50s, heavyset” in the initial report.
Only a day later, on Thursday, March 20, the Clearwater Police Department announced on its official Facebook and Twitter pages that the shoe had been recovered. The woman reportedly called Hogan’s Beach Shop and apologized, saying she “did something stupid.” The woman had since returned to Michigan, but had left the shoe in the care of friends she had made in Clearwater. The friends brought the shoe back to the store intact. Clearwater PD stated that the investigation is still ongoing and no charges have been filed.
– Olivia Truffaut-Wong
More on Hulk Hogan:


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Legendary New York bar Dante, named The Best Bar by The World’s 50 Best Bars, aims to raise $1 million for the hospitality industry during Negroni Week.
The legendary New York bar Dante NYC has joined forces with one of the city’s best restaurants in an attempt to raise $1m for the struggling hospitality industry. World-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will sell pre-bottled Dante NYC negroni at his restaurants in New York, including his 2 Michelin-starred restaurant Jean-Georges, for Negroni Week, which will last September 14-20. All funds raised through the sale of this special cocktail will benefit The Restaurant Workers Community Fund – helping out the restaurant and bar community impacted by COVID-19.
Those unable to get to a Jean-Georges restaurant this week can donate directly to the cause on the official Negroni Week website or by ordering the Negroni Sessions series from the Dante NYC website.


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If you're planning to do some online shopping to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, you might want to put down your phone and switch to your laptop or desktop to scroll through products on sites like , , and . It turns out we may make better shopping decisions when using a computer instead of a smartphone or other mobile device, according to research published Thursday from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.
"The fundamental finding is that consumers make less accurate decisions (in terms of the degree to which their decisions are consistent with their preferences) when they use mobile devices (compared to PCs), not because of the smaller screens of mobile devices, but because of the presentation of less information per page on mobile devices," Lior Fink, head of the university's Mobile Behavior Lab and a member of the department of industrial engineering and management, said in an email.
The conclusion is pretty straightforward. When you browse the internet on your phone, many websites reduce the amount of information you see so that it's easier to look at on the smaller screen. However, this can lead online shoppers to make purchases that may not be in line with what they actually want, because they see less information about a given product, Fink said.
More people are turning to their smartphones as shopping devices: On Cyber Monday last year, 47% of all traffic to online stores came from phones, as did 36% of sales, according to an . Cyber Monday sales made on phones hit $2.2 billion dollars, up from $1.4 billion the year before, the report found. Black Friday 2018 was the first time online sales on phones reached more than $2 billion.
But when it comes to decision-making, it's better for shoppers to be able to see all of the information on a website -- even if it's more difficult to read on a mobile device -- because their purchase decisions will be more accurate, the researchers found.
The researchers conducted two experiments to determine how shopping on a phone or PC impacts a purchase decision. In one, they asked participants to choose a fictitious hotel room among 11 options, and had them view information about each room on either a mobile device or a PC. All information was available on both devices, but was laid out more clearly on the PC display -- as in, you wouldn't have to click to see additional information, as you would on mobile.
When the same information was displayed on both screens at the start, participants made equally accurate decisions. However, when mobile displays hid some information from the initial view for an easier reading experience, participants made decisions that were less accurate and less aligned with their preferences, according to the research.
"This work is unique because it separates mobile device (screen size) from mobile display (information reduction), where the two are typically confounded in real-life use," Fink said in the email. "In so doing, we are able to show that lower decision accuracy in mobile use is due to mobile display rather than mobile device. If exactly the same information is presented on mobile devices and on PCs, there is no decrease in decision accuracy on mobile devices."
Bottom line? If you want to make the best decision whenor , get out your laptop, or look for a website that is less mobile-friendly but gives you all the information you need upfront.
For more, check out.


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Avalon fined for misleading advert
Thursday, July 7, 2005, 10:29
The Competition Office has fined Avalon Team Kft., a marketer of dietary supplements, for misleading statements concerning the curative effect of its products, business daily Napi Gazdaság reported. Besides paying the Ft 30 million fine, the company is required to announce the finding in paid advertisements. According to the Competition Office, the CEO of Avalon Team used to be an executive officer at another company fined for a similar offence earlier, which was considered an aggravating circumstance. Under current laws, dietary supplements may not be advertised with references to their potential curative effects.


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Dash Text is a Venezuelan-based cryptocurrency venture looking to provide SMS-based transactions for the Dash cryptocurrency. It seems as if this vision might now come to fruition, as Dash Text has reportedly launched in Venezuela.
By now, Dash Text has been in public beta for almost two months, according to Dash’s news webpage. Moreover, Dash Text is said to allow users without smartphones to send and receive the Dash cryptocurrency on their phones.
Dash Text allows SMS-based cryptocurrency transfers without an internet connection
Dash Text has been developed in a partnership with the cloud-optimized blockchain platform ”BlockCypher.” The service is currently said to work with work with Movistar and Digitel, Venezuela’s two largest telecom operators.
Venezuelans who want to sign up to the service reportedly only need to SMS-message ”DASH” to 22625. Following this, they just need to send ”CREAR” – ”create” – to the same number to start a cryptocurrency wallet.
According to Dash, this allows Venezuelans to perform cryptocurrency transactions even without internet access or smartphones.
Venezuela’s rampant inflation has turned its population onto cryptocurrencies
Venezuela has seen widespread cryptocurrency usage and adoption as the South American continues to battle rampant hyperinflation. According to a recent article in the New York Times Magazine, Venezuela has witnessed inflation of 52,000% over the past year.
Moreover, Toshi Times has previously covered how cryptocurrency saved a Venezuelan family from starvation. This highlights how cryptocurrency can be a crucial store-of-value for Venezuelans, even in a bear cryptocurrency market.
Despite the astronomical inflation, the country is also said to face a cash shortage. As people are forced to abandon cash, cryptocurrencies are becoming an attractive means of payment.
Furthermore, even Venezuelans who have escaped the nation could be interested in Dash Text. According to Bradley Zastrow, Dash Core’s Global Head of Business Development, Venezuelans abroad ”send an estimated 2 billion USD back home in remittances.”
Nevertheless, cross-national money transfers are oftentimes both time-consuming and costly, which makes it complicated for users. In addition to this, the uncertainty over whether inflation could render traditional money-transfers worthless is significant.
Even so, it remains to be seen whether Dash Text will catch on in the Latin American country. A report claiming that Dash had become the most popular cryptocurrency in Venezuela made the rounds this July. However, the legitimacy of this report has since been widely questioned.
Image Source: “Flickr”
Rasmus Pihl is a writer for Toshi Times by day and an avid follower of the blockchain industry by night. Rasmus holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the Gothenburg School of Business, Economics, and Law and runs a Swedish marketing consulting firm. Moreover, when he isn’t writing for Toshi Times, traveling, working or changing the world in some other capacity, Rasmus is more than likely caught up in postgraduate studies.


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A report issued by Gartner says that the Indian PC market, which comprises of both desk-based and mobile PC, totaled about 2.8 million units in the first quarter of 2012, almost 6.6 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Though this seems to be good news, it is hardly so. The fact is that sales have gone down over the last few quarters, due to reasons of inflation and increased prices. The increase in excise and import duties also played a part reducing sales. While desktop PC’s declined 20 percent in the first quarter of 2012, when compared to the same period in 2011, Mobile PCs, saw an increase of 27 per cent driving overall market growth.
Lenovo represented 64 per cent of PC sales and gained the top position, where as HP grew by 21 per cent. What’s surprising is that Dell that has been one of the torchbearers declined in sales by as much as 11 per cent. HCL’s share dropped to 5.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2012, as it experienced a 13 per cent year-on-year decline from the first quarter of 2011.


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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dairy West has launched Curds + Kindness, a program to direct surplus, nutrient-rich dairy foods to those who are hungry and unable to afford groceries throughout Idaho and Utah.
"Dairy farmers want to get dairy foods into the homes of those who need them most," Kristi Spence, Dairy West's senior vice president of marketing, said. "Much of our local dairy foods are used in restaurants, schools, and hotels, so current restrictions have caused a milk surplus.
"By working with community partners, dairy companies have devised a mutually beneficial solution that directs nearly 200,000 gallons of milk per week that would have otherwise been disposed."
Dairy processors are transforming the excess milk into cheese, butter, and other dairy foods instead of discarding it.
"In an unprecedented collaboration with dairy farmers, milk processors, and local community partners, we have generated a solution that will get significant quantities of dairy foods to those in need," Spence said.
Curds + Kindness will continue at least through the end of May for the nearly 5 million residents of Idaho and Utah.
"We are constantly discussing solutions to help us all, and since agriculture -- including dairy farming -- is at the core of our region and local economies and provides sustenance for all of us, we will continue search for ways to provide relief throughout this crisis," she said. "Through a collaboration with Idaho and Utah food banks and some local school districts, dairy foods will be made available at existing sites across the two states we serve."
Spence said the pandemic has revealed how unified dairy and broader agriculture communities can be.
"We have been truly humbled by the rapid support and implementation of this program and sheer amount of dairy foods that we look to move through the Curds + Kindness initiative," Dairy West CEO Karianne Fallow said. "It is a testament to the power we have when we work together to solve problems and make a difference."
Dairy West is a regional dairy promotion organization established in 2017 to represent dairy farmers, processors, and supply chain partners in Idaho and Utah. The organization raises awareness of the importance of dairy farming, promotes the health and nutritional benefits of dairy foods, and encourages global demand for Idaho, Utah, and Western U.S. dairy foods through coordinated marketing and communications efforts, nutrition counseling, and research programs. Visit DairyWest.com and Unbottled.com for more information.


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Boosting exports: Beyond formalisation – reforming MSME financing
My recent columns have been about India’s Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) policy, including comparisons with, and possible lessons from China. If we step back and consider India’s recent export performance, the need for, and limits of, CEZ policy become even clearer. Recent news reports highlight the country’s sluggish export performance in recent years. The problems began earlier, but demonetisation, a less-than-optimal rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the mess in the banking sector—with new cases of fraud piled on a legacy of distressed assets—have prolonged the pain.
Although export growth has picked up, labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, jewellery, and leather have continued to lag. Anaemic exports in general can contribute to macroeconomic vulnerabilities, especially when oil prices remain high, but the big issue is really the need to create more good jobs, and labour-intensive exports have to be part of the strategy of meeting that need. In my last column, I noted that China is emphasising innovation, finance, and talent for its major CEZs, in ways that India has not. In India’s case, even the supply of workers with basic skills suitable for a range of labour-intensive production is relatively small. CEZ policy has to address this in ways that China did even before it began pursuing a more capitalist route: in short, India still needs to improve the basic health, nutrition and literacy of much of its population. This seems like a tall order for CEZs, but one can think of historical examples of employers, enlightened or just pragmatic, who found that it made sense to invest in their workers and the workers’ families to increase productivity. So, it is not outside the realms of possibility.


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Michael Edelson, dubbed the 'shellmeister' in the City for his practice of reversing businesses into floated shell vehicles, ensuring they gain a stock market listing, is believed to be on the point of standing down as chairman of Knutsford. The company made news last November when its share price soared from 9p to 240p in a few days.
His replacement will be fellow director Archie Norman, former chairman of Asda and Tory MP for Tunbridge Wells.
The dramatic rise in the company's share price came after four high-profile entrepreneurs - Norman, retailer Julian Richer and property developers Nigel Wray and Nick Leslau - bought a 90 per cent stake in the firm with a view to using it as a takeover vehicle for ailing retailers.
Edelson's stepping down suggests they may be close to identifying a target. The team, dubbed the 'awesome foursome' in the City, has said it expects to have found a suitable company by March.
Possible targets mooted in the City include Sainsbury, Storehouse and Marks & Spencer, although Knutsford, currently valued at around £700 million, is believed to be looking at a smaller acquisition to start with.
Edelson, a Manchester United director, hit the headlines when he masterminded the reversal of Pharmacy restaurant into a shell company in 1998. A string of other reversals have followed.


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Following successful trials with launch partners, Amazon Counter goes live today and will be rolled out across partner stores throughout 2019, including hundreds of Next stores in the UK and thousands of stores in Italy with bookshop chain Giunti and the network of Fermopoint and SisalPay stores across the country.
Next ceo Lord Wolfson said: “The ability to collect Amazon parcels from hundreds of Next’s UK stores provides a helpful and exciting new service for UK consumers. Amazon Counter combines the internet’s power to offer unprecedented choice with all the convenience of local stores. In a tough retail environment our aim is that Amazon Counter will contribute to the continued relevance and vibrancy of our stores.”
Delivery to an Amazon Counter location is available on the tens of millions of items sold on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.it and works with One-Day and Standard Shipping. The service is available at no extra cost to Prime members.
After shopping on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.it, customers proceed to checkout and select a Counter pick up point as their delivery location. As soon as their package arrives at the store, the customer receives an e-mail notification with a unique barcode, as well as the address and opening hours of their selected store, and will have 14 days to collect their parcel. At the store, customers show the barcode to the partner store staff, who will scan it, retrieve the package, and hand it to the customer.
Counter is part of the Amazon Hub family, which includes Lockers. Patrick Supanc, Amazon director of Lockers and Pickup, said: “With Counter, we’ve used technology to enhance and redesign the click & collect experience.
“We’re excited for customers to experience this service at one of the thousands of stores now available for Counter, but we’re not stopping there. We’re now actively looking to bring even more partners on board across Europe. From family-run corner shops to retail chains, businesses of all sizes can take advantage of the opportunity as we expand the Counter network for customers.”
Amazon Counter at a Next store


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According to a report from TechNews, Micro LED technology boasts superior qualities such as higher transparency, richer color saturation, increased brightness, enhanced efficiency, and lower power consumption. It also extends product lifespans, making it an optimal choice for automotive displays. However, it currently grapples with challenges related to cost, mass transfer, extensive inspections, and red light efficiency, posing obstacles to large-scale production.
According to a report by TechNews, TrendForce held the Micro LED Forum 2023 on the 5th, inviting numerous companies to share insights on the next-generation display market trends. Eric Chiou, Senior Research Vice President at TrendForce, believes that Micro LED technology is making significant strides in the metaverse sector this year. Many technological challenges need to be overcome, such as semiconductor integration techniques. Ever since AUO announced the mass production of Micro LED watches, cost reduction has become a major focus for many companies.
Chiou stated that to cut costs, chips are the most effective components to optimize. Manufacturers are shifting from using 6-inch wafers to 8-inch wafers for chip production to help reduce costs. In terms of mass transfer techniques, a few years ago, stamp transfer technology was in use, but the industry has been increasingly leaning towards laser transfer while striving for efficiency. In the future, there’s a strong possibility of moving towards a “hybrid transfer” approach, which combines stamp transfer and laser bonding methods.
For instance, companies purchasing equipment might conduct in-house experiments and modify equipment to suit their needs. Equipment providers are also drawing from industry experience to create new solutions, offering next-generation equipment to inexperienced customers, making the production process more practical.
Regarding product development, the most evident direction for Micro LED is in smartwatches. Chiou revealed that by 2026, the cost of a 2.12-inch Micro LED Apple Watch from Apple could potentially drop to $100, compared to the current $40-50 for OLED displays. This suggests that Micro LED may pose strong competition to OLED in the near future.
TrendForce anticipates that Apple Watch will attract more brands to invest in the development and promotion of Micro LED wearable devices, leading to a compound annual growth rate of 873% from 2022 to 2027. This year, the Micro LED chip production value is approximately $27 million, and with the market’s continuous expansion, it is expected to reach $600 million. The compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2027 is projected to be 111%.
Dr. Mingchi Hsu, Special Assistant at the AUO Display Development Center, mentioned during the forum that the challenges of mass transfer in Micro LED technology were previously considered bottlenecks, but significant improvements have been made in the last two years. As for the inspection and repair aspects, AUO has developed its own equipment and has already completed its development.
Porotech’s primary technologies include Dynamic Pixel Tuning (DPT) and PoroGaN technology. Daniel He, Director of Product and Marketing Taiwan Branch Manager at Porotech, disclosed that they are currently mass-producing 8-inch GaN wafers and collaborating with Taiwanese foundries. Although they can produce 12-inch GaN chips, they plan to observe market response before proceeding.
Mr. Lin Mao-Song, General Manager of Coherent Technologies, a leading laser source technology company, stated that the inspection and repair phase in Micro LED manufacturing might be longer than the actual manufacturing process. A 99.95% yield rate implies a high repair proportion, making it crucial to enhance production yield and reduce costs. Laser technology plays a significant role in increasing production speed and yield, with excimer laser being the best choice for repair and mass transfer, achieving yields of over 99.99%.
TrendForce will host the “LED Forum 2023” on September 5th at the National Taiwan University Hospital International Conference Center. The event will showcase presentations from TrendForce’s Senior Research Vice President, Eric Chiou, and representatives from various companies and institutes, including Mojo Vision, ITRI, Lumus, and others. Majorly focus on the advancements in Micro LED technology and its applications.
This event will host the Micro LED Forum on September 5th. The forum will cover key topics including Metaverse trends, Micro LED technology advancements and innovative applications. Industry experts will share market insights, company progress updates, and notable technological breakthroughs in 2023.
Date: September 5th, 2023
Time: 09:30~17:00（Registration starts at 8:45）
Location: Room 401, NTUH International Convention Center
According to research conducted by TrendForce, the much-anticipated Micro LED version of the Apple Watch is facing yet another delay and is now expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2026. The primary reason behind this delay is believed to be the need for reconfiguring the production supply chain.
Previously, industry speculations suggested that Apple would take charge of the core production process, particularly the massive transfer of Micro LED technology. However, recent industry research by TrendForce indicate that LG Display (LGD) might now take over this crucial aspect of the production process.
The critical process involved in the production of the Micro LED version of the Apple Watch, especially the massive transfer of Micro LED technology, has been a point of interest in the industry. It was widely speculated that Apple would handle this key engineering either at its Cupertino headquarters in the United States or potentially transfer the production to its facility in Longtan, Taiwan, for the essential massive transfer of the technology.
TrendForce understands that Apple’s decision to undertake the crucial engineering process in either the United States or Taiwan reflects their intent to have complete control over the core manufacturing process during the initial production phase. However, this approach also introduces complexities in terms of logistics and supply chain management, as the chips are set to be manufactured in Malaysia, the backplates in South Korea, and the final assembly by system integrators in China or Vietnam.
As a result, recent industry research by TrendForce indicate that Apple has finalized LGD as its primary collaborator for Micro LED production. This means that LGD will now be responsible for the critical massive transfer process. In addition to providing its own equipment and technical support, Apple is also expected to invest in LGD’s related equipment procurement to ensure a smooth transition and expedited progress in the Micro LED production pipeline.
For more information and details about the Micro LED industry, TrendForce will hold the “2023 LED Forum” on September 5th (Tuesday) from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm at the NTUH International Convention Center. The seminar has invited TrendForce’s Senior Research Vice President, Eric Chiou, as well as representatives from various industries such as Mojo Vision, ITRI, Lumus, Unikorn, Porotech, Nitride Semiconductor, Tohoku University, Coherent, InZiv, AUO, and Tianma to share the progress and related applications of Micro LED technology.
Throughout this year, the Micro LED industry has been receiving a constant stream of positive news in terms of new product launches, latest technological achievements, project progress, and investment and financing. This has once again accelerated the commercial development of Micro LED. TrendForce has collected and compiled various dynamics of Micro LED since the beginning of the year, providing a retrospective view of the latest progress in the Micro LED industry.
As of early June, a diverse array of Micro LED-related products have emerged this year, covering essential aspects of the Micro LED industry. These products include upstream components such as wafers, chips, devices, backplane materials, driver ICs, production equipment, micro displays, and micro display modules, as well as downstream end-user products like displays, automotive lighting, consumer-grade televisions, and AR glasses. In total, there are approximately 29 different products. These latest Micro LED products reflect the development trends within the Micro LED supply chain.
In the upstream segment, wafer manufacturers are focused on developing larger-sized Micro LED wafers, such as 8-inch and 12-inch wafers. Chip manufacturers are continuously improving the light emission efficiency of Micro LED. Equipment manufacturers are introducing devices that enable larger-scale production and testing of Micro LED.
In the midstream segment, an increasing number of manufacturers are paying attention to the applications of Micro LED micro displays. They have released multiple small-sized, high-resolution, and high-brightness monochrome or full-color micro displays and display modules to meet the application requirements of XR, smartwatches, and other head-mounted or wearable devices.
In the downstream and end-user segments, the abundant applications of Micro LED can be observed. These applications range from common large-sized display screen products to small-sized AR glasses, and even to automotive lighting and display applications, as well as flexible touch displays. Micro LED demonstrates its diverse range of applications as the ultimate display technology.
Furthermore, Micro LED applications extend beyond the aforementioned areas. Recent reports reveal that Apple plans to upgrade iPhone screen materials from OLED to Micro LED in the future, aiming to achieve higher brightness, lower power consumption, and superior contrast.
Eric Chiu, Vice President of TrendForce, predicts that looking ahead to 2026, with further maturation of Micro LED technology and costs, AR and automotive displays are expected to enter a fast track of development, driving the demand for Micro LED chips. Based on significant cost reductions, there is bold anticipation that by 2027, smartphones will also provide opportunities for Micro LED applications.
While the Micro LED industry boasts a rich variety of related products, Micro LED technology still faces several challenges. Therefore, continuous research efforts are underway, involving collaboration between academia and industry to gradually improve Micro LED performance. This year alone, approximately 17 Micro LED-related research projects have achieved notable results. These include advancements in red light efficiency, realization of full-color displays, improvement in massive transfer efficiency, and research on new structures and materials for Micro LED. The ultimate goal is to enhance Micro LED performance, production efficiency, and reduce application costs.
For more information on reports and market data from TrendForce’s Department of Display Research, please click here, or email Ms. Vivie Liu from the Sales Department at firstname.lastname@example.org


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The tenth James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me will forever stand out as the movie that had the submarine car in it. Now you can own part of pop culture history: RM Auctions will be putting the bizarre underwater vehicle up for grabs this September.
External batteries are great to keep our mobile devices juiced up, but I’ve never seen one in a car form factor before. Now we have one. Japan Trust Technology (JTT) has introduced the GT5200 Coupe with a built-in lithium-ion battery that will charge your tablets and phones that are equipped with a microUSB port.
I wish I could buy this thing. The team at Porcubimmer Motors has created a pretty accurate recreation of The Homer. You might remember it as the car designed by Homer Simpson that brought his brother’s empire crumbling down.
The hard part about driving isn’t exactly the driving part; it’s actually parking. I can drive automatics and stick shifts, but it takes me close to a quarter of an hour to park after I’ve found myself a spot.
In my career as an online journalist, I get to test drive a lot of vehicles. And while I like many of the cars that I drive, it’s rare that I truly love one, and would consider actually buying the model that I’m driving.
I have to admit that the McLaren F1 was a masterpiece in engineering, and it looked pretty awesome too. Though it took McLaren almost a decade before unveiling their production car that was wholly designed and built by the company.
Last year Kenji Ishida and his company Brave Robotics released 10 units of his awesome remote controlled car that can transform into a mecha. Unsurprisingly, all 10 units were bought, and there’s no word on when the company will release more.
European automobile maker Fiat has teamed up with appliance company Smeg to create some awesome retro refrigerators out of old cars. They’re basically finding classic Fiat 500s, cutting off the front ends, gutting the insides, and turning them into the coolest fridges ever.
There were a lot of cool cars in 1980s TV shows and movies. We must have been obsessed with cars in that era, because you don’t get these sort of iconic rides anymore. Ralph from Brothers Brick has created some awesome homages to TV and movie vehicles of that era and they look amazing.
Wow. This is a real sport. Extreme Barbie Jeep Racing is basically off-roading, but without the huge heavily modified and super horsepower 4x4s. Instead you use cheap, fast, toy plastic cars that grown men barely fit in, and remove the speed limiters.
One of the better tactics that publishers use to entice gamers to pre-order is by creating special bundles that include real goodies. The notable ones include the PIP-Boy 3000 clock from a Fallout 3 bundle and the loot chest from a Borderlands 2 bundle.
Continuing its long tradition of creating vehicles that mere mortals can’t even dream of affording, Lamborghini has unveiled the Egoista concept, shown off at a private birthday party to celebrate Lambo’s 50th birthday. The Egoista concept has room for a single wealthy occupant and is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine with 600 horsepower.
The Gumball 3000 is an international rally for rich people who own exotic supercars. It’s a chance to show off and let their expensive toys roar. But this year’s race will feature one car that’s surely more exotic than even the newest Lambo.
If you have been dreaming about flying around in your own Star Trek style shuttlecraft, that day is almost upon us. Terrafugia has unveiled a concept for a flying car that lot like a shuttlecraft that has the Enterprise’s warp nacelles.


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Royal Caribbean teams with Mattel for Barbie experience cruise
- Staff South Florida Business Journal
The cruise line (NYSE: RCL) said it will offer the premium cruise package on 22 ships starting in January. The package includes Barbie-related events, such as storytelling and Barbie movies on cabin televisions.
There will also be a Barbie stateroom, adorned in the doll's signature style, and keepsakes such as a Barbie blanket and pillowcase, tote bag, toothbrush and toiletries bag.
Stuart Chiron, a Miami travel agent known as Cruiseguy, said the cost of the package is $349.
The experience differs from a theme cruise in that it doesn't impact those who don't sign up for it, he noted.
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There’s been a lot of talk around the upcoming Galaxy S6 smartphone from Samsung. The phone is expected to see a launch around March 2nd, but a word on that is yet to come from the makers of the device themselves. Besides a ‘regular’ version, the Galaxy S6 is also expected to have a Galaxy S6 Edge variant, which as the name suggests, will have a curved screen. However, unlike the Note Edge that was released last year, the Galaxy S6 Edge could have rounded edges on either side of the screen.
Coming back to the ‘regular’ version of the Galaxy S6, the phone is due to launch with a couple processor variants — an Exynos SoC and the Snapdragon 810. If the innumerable recent reports are anything to go by, Qualcomm will be developing a special Snapdragon 810 chipset especially for Samsung. This so because the initial chipset developed by the company suffers from overheating, which will also apparently prevent Samsung from offering the Galaxy S6 in its Snapdragon avatar after launch. This means that buyers that don’t have the heart to wait will have to make do with an Exynos-powered Galaxy S6. In the recent years, Samsung has cut down on using its own SoCs for its phones, and has been relying on Qualcomm for the cores of its powerhouses.
However, be it Samsung’s first preference or not, the company will have to go with Exynos SoCs for the initial couple of batches of the Galaxy S6 in order to keep up with (the expected) market demand. The Galaxy S6 is expected to be made available to the public for purchase in either April or May. One can safely assume that it’ll only be the Exynos version that hits the market as early as that, since it is most certainly going to take time for the Qualcomm Snapdragon version of the phone to come out. The source however claims that the Exynos SoC is “incredibly fast” on Galaxy S6… which should be a positive sign for those who aren’t willing to wait for the Snapdragon version to come out to get their hands on the next Samsung flagship.


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Swedish business information business Bisnode, a portfolio company of Ratos, has acquired Grufman Reje, an analytics company specialising in trade and industry analysis.
France-based luxury holiday company is aiming for market consolidation following the fresh funding
Advisory firm’s first office in continental Europe will be led by director George Lyons
German centre-based tutoring provider will operate individually while synergies with new owner are identified
GP in informal discussions around exit or sale of parts of the UK-based company


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Selfie biometric authentication apps rolled out by India, New Zealand governments
It is now possible for Aadhaar digital ID account holders to verify their identity using their phone when accessing some services thanks to a mobile face biometric authentication app from the Unique Identification Authority of India.
The face authentication platform, called Aadhaar FaceRD, means users do not necessarily need to carry their physical cards. Their identity can be verified using the FaceRD on their smart phones, writes Mint.
The FaceRD app captures faces for authentication,” according to Mint. The app was developed by the ID authority.
Aadhaar card holders are already making use of the authentication app for Jeevan Pramaan, a biometrics-based digital certification service for pensioners, the Co-Win vaccination app, and for scholarships and farmer welfare programs.
According to the government, the app is available from Google Play. An account holder scans their face with their phone and the image is verified against their Aadhaar photograph.
The successes of the Aadhaar biometric ID scheme were discussed during the recently concluded Digital India Week event.
Verification through face biometrics also possible in New Zealand
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, it is possible for the Department of Home Affairs to verify a person’s identity using their driver’s license photo through the One Time Identity face biometrics system.
People have to opt into the authentication program, according to Waka Kotahi NZTA, the government agency that manages vehicle and driver licensing and other land transportation issues.
The One Time ID system, otherwise called Identity Check, has been in the works since 2019 and is said to be part of New Zealand’s proposed digital ID system.
While Waka Kotahi officials say Home Affairs can use Identity Check, they have not said whether other government departments such as the Minister of Health have similar permission, according to Newshub.
The Ministry of Social Development has said it abandoned plans for ID verification using the Identity Check about two years ago, with an official saying they do not have the required policy in place to verify a client’s identity using their selfie biometrics.


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What You Need to Know About the Collaborative Economy [Infographic]
For the better part of the past year, Altimeter Group Analyst Jeremiah Owyang has been trumpeting what he calls the collaborative economy. Loosely defined, it's all about people getting what they need and want from each other without out buying. Think Uber, BlackJet, Rent the Runway, Airbnb, LendingClub, etc.
Of the collaborative economy's future, Owyang says, "The data shows that new forms of peer-to-peer sharing like custom products, loaner vehicles and crowdfunding will double in adoption over the next year."
Earlier this month, Owyang released a report entitled Sharing is the New Buying and also an infographic (see below) that summarizes the study's finding.
Owyang has also launched Crowd Companies, an "association for large brands that want to partner with the Collaborative Economy, to help these large companies navigate, find partners and shift their business models."


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File this one in the ‘weird’ box. A recently uncovered patent filing from Microsoft shows plans for using Kinect to make sure users are adhering to content usage rules… by watching them.
According to industry website MCV, through the patent Kinect (or any camera really) could be used to spy on end users and see what they’re doing with what they’ve downloaded. The goal would be to make sure that they’re adhering to the rules of use for whatever piece of media they’re running.
Kids watching an ‘R’ rated film? Not gonna happen. Showing a movie (or game) publicly? Not any more. Get the drift?
I can see where the company was going with this idea and it probably seemed like a winning proposition at some point, but it’s not. Not in any way. As much as consumers will allow service providers of all kind to get away with, I can’t see them being okay with a giant company (or even a small one) putting a camera in their living room.
It’s invasion of privacy cranked up to the Orwellian max. More than likely, this is just another one of those interesting little footnotes in patent history that will never go anywhere or be seen in any form as part of a final piece of consumer electronics.


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Samsung is reportedly working on the successor of the Galaxy S7. According to rumors, this device will be unveiled around six months after the Galaxy Note 7 will hit the stores.
Currently, everyone is waiting for August 2, 2016, the date when the South Korean company is expected to unveil the Galaxy Note 7. This means that the company has still a good amount of time to prepare for the release of the Galaxy S8 device, which will happen sometime in Q1 of 2017.
The Mobile World Congress will be held next year, between February 27 and March 2 and it will take place in Barcelona. It is good to know that Samsung usually introduces its newest Galaxy S line at this event and in other words, there are big chances that we will see the Galaxy S8 next year, during that period of time.
Some rumors suggest that Samsung has been very busy building the Galaxy S8 and the company is planning to release it exactly six months later after the arrival of the Galaxy Note 7. However, when it comes to the release date, there are reports which suggest that the company will not be able to release the handset before mid-April 2016.
Galaxy S8: Rumored Specifications
According to TrustedReview, the Galaxy S8 will probably come with a 5.1-inch display that will be protected by a Corning Gorilla 5. If rumors will prove to be right, Gorilla Glass 5 will make the device unbreakable when dropped from a height of over five feet on a concrete or rough surface.
The handset will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor that will be backed by 8GB of RAM. There are reports which suggest that Samsung will place the speakers at the top and bottom of the smartphone, in order to provide a “3D sound” experience.
There are also reports which say that the handset will feature a dual-camera system which will be able to work separated or together in order to capture high-quality images.
Do you think that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be unveiled during the Mobile World Congress 2016?


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NEW YORK – Sprint capped off today’s news of new family plans with a press event in New York City that showcased the company’s bezel-less smartphone from Sharp, the Aquos Crystal.
At a lavish reception, Sprint showed off the Aquos Crystal, which was built by Sharp especially for Softbank in Japan and Sprint in the United States.
While the Aquos Crystal has some high-end specs, Sprint plans to make the device available at value pricing.
David Owens, senior vice president of product development for Sprint, said the company will sell the device for a suggested retail price of $239 and sell it outright to prepaid customers for $149.
The Aquos Crystal supports Sprint’s HD Voice product, as well as the company’s high-speed Spark network. It comes running Android 4.4.2 KitKat and features a 5-inch display , 8 megapixel camera, 2,040 mAh battery and a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor.
Early Tuesday, Sprint announced the Family Share Pack, a new set of shared data plans that start at 600MB and reach all the way up to 60GB. Under Sprint’s new offer, four lines with unlimited talk and text plus 20GB costs $160, doubling the data allowance packages with similarly priced plans from AT&T and Verizon.
To celebrate the new plans, available starting Aug. 22, Sprint has a limited-time offer of 20GB for $100 to families with up to 10 lines through 2015. The carrier is tacking on an additional 2GB per line with the offer, meaning that a family with 10 lines can pay $100 for 40GB a month.
The $100 limited-time deal, available through September, is similar to a deal T-Mobile currently has going where a family with four lines can get through September unlimited talk and text plus 2.5GB per line for $100 a month.
Owens said that Sprint’s new CEO, Marcelo Claure, did away with the company’s “Framily” plans because he wanted to simplify things.
“He said, ‘I want to make it really simple for our sales associates to understand exactly how we compare to others in the market,'” Owens explained.
Sprint’s new follows on Verizon announcement yesterday of a new $60 single-line plan that includes unlimited talk, text and 2GB of data. Verizon, however, will bring the price of that plan down to $50 if the customer signs up for Verizon’s Edge device financing program.
Verizon’s ‘More Everything’ plans include data packages that range from 250MB to 100GB of data that can be shared with up to 10 lines. More Everything customers who choose Verizon Edge will also be eligible for $10 off their monthly smartphone access for data allowances up to 8 GB, and $25 off monthly smartphone access on plans of 10 GB and higher.


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Mobile 5G Becoming a Reality in 12 Cities with Rapid Enhancements to Follow as the Ecosystem Evolves
On Dec. 21, NGMN Partner and Board member AT&T will be offering a mobile 5G device over a commercial, standards-based mobile 5G network.
While the initial launch starts small and will be limited, as the 5G ecosystem evolves customers will see enhancements in coverage, speeds and devices.
“This is the first taste of the mobile 5G era,” said Andre Fuetsch, president, AT&T Labs and chief technology officer. “Being first, you can expect us to evolve very quickly. It’s early on the 5G journey and we’re ready to learn fast and continually iterate in the months ahead.”
The standards-based mobile 5G network will be live in parts of 12 cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Fla., Louisville, Ky., Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Raleigh, N.C., San Antonio and Waco, Texas.
In the first half of 2019 AT&T plans to deploy mobile 5G in parts of these 7 additional cities: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.
“As the ecosystem evolves, this technology will ultimately change the way we live and conduct business,” said Mo Katibeh, chief marketing officer, AT&T Business. “We expect that our initial adopters will be innovative, growing businesses. They’re the starting point for what we think will be a technology revolution like we’ve never seen before.”
Early adopters will be able to experience mobile 5G over mmWave spectrum.