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Cash may no longer be king with credit cards, wires, and peer-to-peer payments as payment options. Today’s FA Alpha Daily will look into Fiserv (FISV), one of the companies at the center of this transition, and its returns from a Uniform Accounting perspective.
FA Alpha Daily:
Thursday Uniform accounting analysis
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It has been nearly 5,000 years since people started using tokens like coins and shells to enhance global commerce – a revolutionary innovation.
As governments and economies continued to evolve, people realized there was a better way of holding and spending money. That is when banknotes were introduced, and coins were replaced.
Now, it seems there is even an easier form of payment, and it promises a similar revolution from the move from gold coins to cash.
The proportion of people carrying cash has become smaller and smaller. While some people still prefer holding cash, most people disagree.
Younger adults are least likely to have cash, as 40% of millennials and 45% of Generation X said they carry it “most of the time” versus 59% of people born between 1946 and 1964. As younger generations eschew the greenback in their pocket, the future will eventually be cash free.
Cash is no longer king, and the ever-developing world of payments replaces it, including credit cards, wires, and now peer-to-peer payments.
This is an amazingly fast transition as well. According to a Boston Consulting Group report, the number of fintech startups doubled in the past two years, rising from over 12,200 in 2019 to 26,000 in 2021.
The fintech sector is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 20% and the peer-to-peer payments sector is estimated to grow at 17%. These numbers alone would be sufficient to see how the new payment options take the place of cash.
One of the companies at the heart of this transition is Fiserv (FISV).
Fiserv is a global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions. The company works in lots of different areas such as digital banking solutions, card issuer processing and network services, and payments.
It provides these services under its three segments: Merchant Acceptance, Fintech, and Payments. Even though the majority of the company’s revenue comes from the U.S., it is exposed to international business as well.
Considering how ubiquitous the fintech world is, one might think that these services are a commodity. This perception of a glut of fintech companies all performing interchangeable services is only backed up when looking at the as-reported metrics.
As-reported return on assets (“ROA”) makes it seem like the company struggles with profitability. Not only have returns never crossed corporate average levels of 12% in the last decade, but they have now collapsed to just 1%.
Investors looking at Fiserv’s performance may conclude fintech solutions were never that profitable, and recent competition has sent players like Fiserv into the doldrums.
However, this picture of Fiserv’s performance is not accurate. This is due to distortions in as-reported accounting, and can be fixed by making the over 130 adjustments needed under Uniform Accounting.
The reality is that Fiserv plays a key role in a profitable industry, as the transition from cash to other payment options has been gaining pace. The company’s Uniform ROA almost reached 80% in 2021 after steadily improving over the last decade.
The company has been performing much better than anyone using GAAP metrics would guess, all due to the wrong data.
Without Uniform Accounting, investors would miss how strongly Fiserv positioned itself in the industry, and how much fintech is the way of the future for both the industry and payments at large. Without the right data, it’s impossible to understand a company well enough to invest in it.
SUMMARY and Fiserv, Inc. Tearsheet
As the Uniform Accounting tearsheet for Fiserv, Inc. (FISV:USA) highlights, the Uniform P/E trades at 15.8x, which is below the global corporate average of 24.0x and its own historical P/E of 19.8x.
Low P/Es require low EPS growth to sustain them. In the case of Fiserv, the company has recently shown a 5% growth in Uniform EPS.
Wall Street analysts provide stock and valuation recommendations that in general provide very poor guidance or insight. However, Wall Street analysts’ near-term earnings forecasts tend to have relevant information.
We take Wall Street forecasts for GAAP earnings and convert them to Uniform earnings forecasts. When we do this, Fiserv’s Wall Street analyst-driven forecast is a 26% and 7% EPS growth in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Based on the current stock market valuations, we can use earnings growth valuation metrics to back into the required growth rate to justify Fiserv’s $98 stock price. These are often referred to as market embedded expectations.
The company is currently being valued as if Uniform earnings were to shrink by 6% annually over the next three years. What Wall Street analysts expect for Fiserv’s earnings growth is above what the current stock market valuation requires through 2023.
Furthermore, the company’s earning power in 2021 is 13x the long-run corporate average. Also, cash flows and cash on hand are at 171% of total obligations—including debt maturities, capex maintenance, and dividends. All in all, this signals moderate credit risk.
Lastly, Fiserv’s Uniform earnings growth is above its peer averages, and the company is also trading above its average peer valuations.
Joel Litman & Rob Spivey
Chief Investment Strategist &
Director of Research
at Valens Research
The Uniform Accounting insights in today’s issue are the same ones that power some of our best stock picks and macro research, which can be found in our FA Alpha Daily newsletters.


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Retailer Mega Image increased its share capital by EUR 25.2 million this April to finance the opening of new stores and the construction of a new warehouse in Bucharest, according to Mediafax. The retailer presently operates a network of 310 stores under the Mega Image (supermarkets), Shop&Go (proximity stores) and AB Cool Food (only one store which sells exclusively frozen foods retail brands) retail brands.
The retailer will continue to expand in Bucharest where it will also invest in a new distribution center in order to support these plans, said Frans Muller, the general director of the Belgian Delhaize group which owns Mega Image, in March, according to Mediafax. Expansion outside the capital is questioned given the low purchasing power, he added.
Mega Image was one of the players that maintained an aggressive expansion pace over the past years, in 2013 opening 104 new stores.
The previous year it increased its profit 3.5 times to RON 46.7 million (EUR 10.5 million) on the previous year, while its turnover rose by 44 percent to RON 1.75 billion (EUR 394 million), according to public data, after opening 88 new outlets.
Mega Image is owned by the Belgian Delhaize Group. Most of its local stores are located in Bucharest but the retailer also operates stores in Constanta, Ploiesti, Pitesti, Braov, Targoviste and other local cities.

domain: news


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A HELMSHORE commercial property developer has been convicted of duping investors across the country in a £1.3million scam.
Shaun Kiely, 43, of Limewood Close, was the director and shareholder Sky Properties (Northern) Ltd, a development and real estate business, as well as S-Mart Stores, a chain of small retail outlets.
The 2005 fraud involved Sky Properties buying 50 cheap outlets and creating 20-year commercial leases for S-Mart.
S-Mart auctioned off the freeholds to seven investors who believed they would make money from ‘viable and profitable business opportunities’, while S-Mart paid the rent.
But they were stocked with poor quality goods, damaged items and got no customers.
A trial at Preston Crown Court heard Kiely’s intention was to make a quick short-term profit.
Investors were shown falsified 2004 accounts which overstated S-Mart’s turnover by millions of pounds.
But the company was really making significant losses and within a matter of weeks, and in some cases only days, after the sales had gone through, S-Mart defaulted on all its leases and stopped
Investors from Lancashire, Cumbria, Essex and Co Durham were amongst those who lost their money and Kiely sent out a letter to them, saying: “For the past six months S-Mart has suffered the worst
trade in its history. Takings in our stores are down in some cases 90 per cent and we often have sales of less than the wage of a single member of staff.
“Our losses over this period have been massive…The fact is that we cannot make the rent payments – we cannot operate the stores…No matter what action you take – we cannot continue to rent your
property and we felt it best to send you the keys so you can re-rent the property as soon as possible”.
The case was referred to the Serious Fraud Office in 2007 which ran a joint investigation with Lancashire Constabulary, culminating in charges in 2009.
Kiely, was found guilty of obtaining money transfers by deception and of false accounting. He will be sentenced in July.
Another defendant, Christopher Page, 44, of Woodside Road, Accrington, a former manager at the two companies, was acquitted of obtaining money transfers by deception.


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AT New Media has announced plans to re-launch the ’90s U.K. racing game, “Carmageddon.”The original version of the video game will soon be available for mobile devices, and a new game, “Carmageddon Reincarnation” is in develo
April 6, 2018
AT New Media has announced plans to re-launch the ’90s U.K. racing game, “Carmageddon.”
The original version of the video game will soon be available for mobile devices, and a new game, “Carmageddon Reincarnation” is in development.
AT New Media has been appointed as licensing agent for the video game brand to capitalize on the interest this gaming re-launch will bring. The agency is already in talks with potential partners in the collectibles and apparel categories.
“With the original soon to be available again and the new version waiting in the wings, ‘Carmageddon’ fever is set to explode in the same way it did 15 years ago,” says Simon Kay, chief executive officer, AT New Media. “The brand is receiving a lot of press coverage, and gaming websites are absolutely alive with anticipation, so we will be using this massive buzz to build up a licensing program that will delight new and old fans alike.”
“Carmageddon” was created by U.K. developer Stainless Games and was first released in the late-’90s. The game’s tongue-in-cheek violence caused a media storm, prompting questions in the Houses of Parliament and TV debates about violence in video games. The game is based on the 1975 movie Death Race 2000.
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Amsterdam-based supermarket operator Ahold has announced consolidated net sales of €7.8 billion, or about $10.4 billion, for the fourth quarter of 2012, an increase of 7.5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, or up 5.1% at constant exchange rates. The company’s banners in the United States, including Stop & Shop, Giant Landover, Giant Carlisle and Martin’s, as well as the Peapod Internet grocery delivery service, posted net sales of $6.1 billion in the fourth quarter, an increase of 4.3% versus the 2011 period.
Identical store sales increased 2.4%, or 1.4% excluding gasoline revenues.
For the full year, net sales were $25.8 billion, up 3.1% over 2011. Identical store sales increased 1.4%, or 0.5% excluding gasoline revenues.
The company said its U.S. performance was partly driven by Hurricane Sandy. Company stores remained open to serve customers during the storm period, to the credit of its employees, Ahold stated. The boost from Sandy-related sales, the company noted, was partly offset by a negative calendar impact due to the timing of the year’s end. Ahold U.S. gained market share in all divisions, the company added. The 15 Genuardi’s stores it acquired in 2012 performed in line with expectations, Ahold said.
Late last year, Ahold’s Giant Carlisle division announced that it had entered into an agreement with Genuardi’s Family Markets, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., to acquire 16 Genuardi’s stores in Greater Philadelphia for $106 million.


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General DataComm unveiled a new channel program last week. The company plans to sell its InnovX routers, switches and access merchandise to enterprise customers solely through company partners. George Best, vice president of sales and marketing, noted that partners in the program could earn margins of up to 30 percent, with the intent to employ a leasing program. General DataComm believes it can fill voids in networking giant Cisco Systems’ product line with its new enterprise program. The enterprise products include InnovX FastRoute ($895 an up) and InnovX FastSwitch ($795 and up).
IBM, in separate announcements last week, said it is trimming and growing its operations. On one hand, company officials announced an attempt to restructure operations by cutting nearly 200 jobs in its software sector. IBM Spokesman John Reilly said employees affected by the cut can search for work elsewhere within the company. That ‘elsewhere’ could well be the channel. IBM expects in January to expand global software sales and technical personnel by nearly 30 percent.
Siebel Systems is still toying with its sales model as it targets the midmarket. Last week Siebel Chairman and CEO Tom Seibel said he was contemplating indirect channel relationships to pursue the midmarket. According to Siebel, the company’s primary thrust into the midmarket is a result of Project Nexus, a companywide attempt to modify the company’s software into components for the Microsoft .Net or J2EE framework. Siebel also said the company will make a combination of licensing models available in 2004 for its hosted and on-premise applications that allow consumers to mix and match term licenses, subscription licenses and perpetual licenses for any Siebel software.
Also last week, Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina said the company plans to use direct sales and add-on sales to boost commercial margins next year, even as CFO Bob Wayman acknowledged that the company’s cost of selling direct is higher than through the channel.
Prices, Policies and Spifs
Cisco is teaming up with Trend Micro, Symantec and Network Associates under the new Cisco Network Admission Control program to thwart worms and viruses. The program is part of Cisco’s Self-Defending Network Initiative, designed to develop networks that can recognize, stop and adjust to security threats.
SUSE Linux is offering a 40 percent discount on Linux software purchased through CCV Software or RICIS to all educational and nonprofit customers.
A key Sun sales executive defected to Microsoft. Barbara Gordon left her position as vice president of worldwide sales at Sun Microsystems to become the vice president of Microsoft’s global accounts. Gordon will be in charge of Microsoft’s top 50 accounts. Current Sun executive John Halliwell is expected to be Gordon’s replacement.
IBM’s Frank Vitagliano has been promoted from vice president of distribution channels management for the Personal Computing Division to vice president of worldwide distribution channels for Global Business Partners, Sales and Distribution. Vitagliano will be accountable for global relations and global revenue for the company’s top Intel distributors.
Former top Acer European executive Rudi Schmidleithner has been named president of the company’s Pan American Operations. Schmidleithner replaces Patrick Lin, who accepted a senior management position with Acer IT Products Business Group in Taipei.
Mergers & Acquisitions
SCO officials said they have no intention at this time to file an injunction blocking the Novell-SUSE merger. But once the deal is complete, SCO does plan to implement a non-compete agreement with Novell.
The European Union has extended its review of Oracle’s $7.5 billion bid for PeopleSoft. The EU will direct its investigation on enterprise application software and possibly database markets where Oracle is strong.
High-Tech jobs continue to decline this year, as employers are on route to let go another 234,000 high-tech workers, according to figures assembled AeA. The trade group’s figures show that the high-tech industry will close this year with approximately 5.73 million employees, following the loss of 540,000 jobs last year. But William Archey, the AeA’s president and chief executive officer, predicted a growth in high-tech jobs in the spring.
InfoTech issued a report predicting that approximately 80 percent of U.S. enterprises will install wireless LANs by the year 2008. Currently, almost half of the nation’s companies have installed WLANs. Additionally, 40 percent of users will install wireless technologies within five years.
Elsewhere in the News
Wal-Mart may include laptop computers in its product line in 2004, according to news sources. A number of laptop makers, including Arima, Quanta, Compal Electronics and Wistron, are expected to provide PCs for Wal-Mart’s new line. Wal-Mart may enter into the market with a sub-$800 product, using a Celeron 2.5 GHz processor and 256 Mbytes of RAM; an Athlon XP 2000 Processor with 256 Mbytes of RAM; or a Pentium 4 with a 2.6 GHz processor and 512 Mbytes Ram.


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By Lu Wang
Shares of the following companies are having unusual moves in U.S. trading this morning.
Alcoa Inc. (AA US) posted the second-steepest gain in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, climbing 2.3 percent to $9.63. The largest U.S. aluminum producer rose for a second day after Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld said he’s “very optimistic” about sales as the Chinese economy and U.S. automotive industry start to recover. The company may report its third-straight quarterly loss today.
Amgen Inc. (AMGN US) rose 16 percent to $60.45 for the best gain in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The world’s largest biotechnology company reported that its lead experimental product, a bone strengthening medicine, worked better than a potential rival in a study. Analysts raised peak annual revenue projections for the drug and price expectations for Amgen stock.
Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ARNA US) fell 12 percent to $4.09 and declined 13 percent earlier, the most intraday since May 12. The biotechnology company said it priced a 12.5 million share offering at $4.17 a share.
ARYx Therapeutics Inc. (ARYX US) sank 44 percent to $2.35 and tumbled 55 percent earlier, the most intraday since November 2007. The Fremont, California-based drugmaker said its anti- clotting medicine wasn’t more effective than warfarin in a study, and it will analyze patient data before deciding future development plans. Warfarin is a blood-thinner sold by Bristol- Myers Squibb Co. (BMY US) that was developed six decades ago.
BPZ Resources Inc. (BPZ US) climbed 14 percent to $5.21 and advanced 15 percent earlier, the most intraday since May 4. The oil and gas company said that its subsidiary, BPZ Exploracion & Produccion S.R.L., obtained commitments for a $70 million reserve-based credit agreement.
DynCorp International Inc. (DCP US) jumped 13 percent to $17.97 and advanced earlier to $18.58, the highest intraday price since Sept. 19. The Falls Church, Virginia-based and Fluor Corp. (FLR US) were picked over KBR Inc. for five-year contracts worth as much as $7.5 billion for each company, if all options are exercised, to support the U.S. troop build-up in Afghanistan, according to an Army official.
Family Dollar Stores (FDO US) added 10 percent to $30.59 and jumped 12 percent earlier, the most intraday since March 5. The discount retailer raised its forecast for the current fiscal year, saying it expects adjusted earnings of $2.03 to $2.07 a share, up from its previous guidance of $1.90 to $2 a share.
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE US) had the biggest loss in the S&P 500, sliding 9.2 percent to $88.99. The second- largest U.S. futures market fell for a second day after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said it will hold hearings to explore the need for government-imposed restrictions on speculative trading in oil, gas and other energy markets.
CME Group Inc. (CME US), Intercontinental’s bigger rival, also slipped for a second day, losing 6 percent to $265.11.
MSC.Software Corp. (MSCS US) rose 12 percent to $7.56 and rallied 13 percent earlier, the most intraday since March 23. The developer of simulation software for manufacturers agreed to be acquired by Symphony Technology Group for $7.63 a share.
Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU US) climbed 5.2 percent to $28.80 and advanced 7.2 percent earlier, the most intraday since June 1. The largest U.S. coal producer was raised to “buy” from “neutral” by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which cited the company’s “unique exposure” to Asia’s coal market.
SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SCLN US) fell 10 percent to $2.68 and slipped 13 percent earlier, the most intraday since April 8. The drugmaker was downgraded to “hold” from “buy” by BWS Financial.
Steak n Shake Co. (SNS US) rose 14 percent to $9.25 and jumped earlier to $9.34, the highest intraday price since May 27. The restaurant chain featuring steakburgers and hand-dipped milk shakes said sales at stores open at least one year increased 5 percent in the fiscal third quarter.
Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO US) jumped 9.1 percent to $44 and increased earlier to $44.80, the highest intraday price since Sept. 30. The largest U.S. farm-supply chain boosted its full- year profit forecast, saying it now expects at least $2.78 a share.
Websense Inc. (WBSN US) retreated 11 percent to $14.99 and declined 12 percent earlier for the biggest intraday drop since Jan. 29. The maker of software to help companies monitor employees’ use of the Internet said it expects to report revenue excluding some items of no more than $84.2 million in the second quarter. That’s short of the average estimate of $84.6 million from analysts in a Bloomberg survey.
XenoPort Inc. (XNPT US) dropped 11 percent to $19.14 and retreated 12 percent earlier, the most intraday since April 27. The developer of a technique to promote drug absorption said it’s offering to sell 2.5 million shares at $19 each.
YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW US) slumped 13 percent to $1.08 and plunged earlier to 96 cents, the lowest intraday price since at least 1980. The trucking company, which is negotiating with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to modify labor contract terms, will “ultimately enter into bankruptcy,” Morgan Keegan & Co. said in a note. YRC spokeswoman Suzanne Dawson didn’t return a call seeking comment.


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Are you a fan of McDonald’s salads? Well, you may want to find an alternative lunch choice for the time being. According to the company, the popular fast food chain recently pulled salads from “3,000 restaurants in the Midwest after health experts announced that more than 100 people had been infected by an intestinal parasite in recent weeks.” The intestinal parasite wreaking havoc throughout Illinois, Iowa, and other states is cyclosporiasis. So far there have been confirmed reports of “15 infections in Iowa and 90 others in Illinois.” According to health officials, “everyone who became ill in Iowa and about a quarter of those who became sick in Illinois said they had eaten McDonald’s salads in the days before symptoms appeared.”
The decision to pull the salads was made “out of an abundance of caution.” McDonald’s is also taking proactive measures to remove lettuce from the affected locations and distribution centers and will switch “to another lettuce supplier” for the time being. In a statement about the matter, McDonald’s said:
“McDonald’s is committed to the highest standards of food safety and quality control. We are closely monitoring this situation and cooperating with state and federal public health authorities as they further investigate.”
Dr. Nirav D. Shah also chimed in about the spread of cyclosporiasis in the region, saying:
“Although a link has been made to salads sold in McDonald’s restaurants in some Illinois cases, public health officials continue to investigate other sources.”
Dr. Nirav D. Shah is the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. He, along with other health officials throughout Illinois and Iowa are urging anyone who thinks they’re experiencing symptoms of the parasite shortly after eating a McDonald’s salad to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Cyclosporiasis is “microscopic parasite, known as cyclospora.” Typically, its found in water or food that’s been contaminated with feces. It’s not usually fatal, though symptoms can include everything from severe nausea and fatigue to diarrhea that lasts more than a week.
According to health officials, the Illinois cases began in Mid-May while the Iowa cases began being reported in late June and early July. This isn’t the first time reports of people being infected by the parasite have circulated. In fact, the reported illnesses are coming on the heels of other cyclosporiasis illness reports throughout “Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin that have been tied to Fresh Del Monte Produce vegetable trays.”


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Lastminute 'will have last laugh'
SHARES in online travel retailer Lastminute.com have been given a shot in the arm after it ducked the 11 September effect on the holiday market and claimed to be on target to break even in its core operations next year.
Probably the most famous child of the dotcom boom, Lastminute made a loss before tax in the year to 30 September of £53.7m, compared with £35.8m a year earlier.
But chief executive Brent Hoberman, joint founder with Martha Lane-Fox, said: 'We're on track to deliver operational breakeven in the UK and France in about six months. Then the whole business will break even early in 2003.'
He was 'very confident' the firm's £46m cash pile would see the business through until it starts making money. Lastminute burnt through £6.8m in the final three months of the year compared with £16m in the same quarter a year earlier.
It sold tickets and other bookings worth £124.2m in the year - nearly four times the value of its transactions for the previous 12 months. That growth was accelerating through the year, jumping to £46.9m in the final three months from £29.3m in the previous quarter.
Hoberman said: 'There's no doubt the economy and the travel industry are going through tough times. But that has meant there are great deals being offered by the industry at the last minute. Our UK operation saw 76% growth in sales in the last quarter and we expect to do 70% in the next quarter.'
There had been barely any slowdown in the number of people booking holidays since the terror attacks, although there was a trend in Lastminute's sales towards shorter weekend breaks, hotel stays and Eurostar trips to the Continent. The company relied on transatlantic travel for only about 4% of its business before the terror attacks.
Turnover for the year, made up of commission and advertising revenue, stood at £18.4m compared with £3.7m before.
Losses before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation narrowed to £33.6m from £38.1m the previous year and by 26% in the final three months.
Hoberman and Lane-Fox have slashed the payroll and introduced new technology to boost profit margins at the group. Total staff numbers have fallen by 100 to 580 during the year, with layoffs hitting Britain and France, where the company has been integrating its Degriftour online travel group acquisition.
Lastminute's roller-coaster shares - once worth nearly £5 each - advanced 4 1/2p to 36 3/4p.
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On June 26, the 2019 World Mobile Communications Conference was held in Shanghai, and major terminal manufacturers around the world showed 5G terminal settings. The fifth generation mobile phone mobile communication standard, also known as the fifth generation mobile communication technology, foreign language abbreviation: 5G. It is also an extension after 4G. In the study, the theoretical downlink speed of 5G network is 10Gb/s (equivalent to the download speed of 1.25GB/s).
"Even if there is a 5G network, there is no 5G terminal support", which is a big problem for 5G commercials. At present, there are only a few 5G mobile phones on the market, such as Xiaomi and Huawei. The price is not very close to the people, and there is no mass production.
For example, Huawei's folding screen 5G mobile phone Mate X, the official price is 2299 euros, equivalent to 17800 yuan; OPPO released Reno 5G version, priced at 899 euros, equivalent to 6900 yuan; Xiaomi also launched MIX3 5G version, 599 euros, equivalent The RMB is nearly 4,600 yuan.
For ordinary users, the key issues of 5G commercial use have had some eyebrows in these two days. First, China Mobile's 5G test unified package exposure, followed by Huawei Mate 20 X to obtain China's first 5G terminal telecommunications equipment network access license, will be listed as early as July.
"From the perspective of network layout and terminal price, if you are interested in 5G, the second half of next year will be a good time to start 5G mobile phones and use 5G networks. By then, 5G will become the standard for new mobile phones, and the price will drop significantly. "The operator related personnel said. Like the 4G phones of the year, the price of these devices will go from expensive to close to the people. Especially in the case of a decline in user enthusiasm for the change of the machine, in the face of the "changing tide" brought by 5G, domestic and foreign manufacturers will rive their feet to meet the needs of consumers.
China Mobile revealed that the first batch of terminals is expected to obtain national network access licenses in July and will start listings at the end of July.
Fortunately, from the trend point of view, the future price of 5G mobile phones will gradually become close to the people. China Mobile announced that it will launch a 1000-2000 yuan 5G mobile phone at the end of 2020, targeting the consumer and industry markets, and creating more than one hundred terminal products.
Do you want to change your 5G phone now? With the issuance of 5G commercial licenses, many users are considering this issue. According to a survey initiated by Chinanews.com microblog, as of 21:00 on the 25th, nearly half of netizens chose to “see the situation and wait and see”, and only 14.5% of netizens chose “must buy”.
The user's willingness to change the mobile phone has already dropped. The relevant data shows that from the third quarter of 2017, the domestic 4G mobile phone market has experienced a year-on-year decline in sales for the seventh consecutive quarter, with an average annual decline of more than 10%, mainly due to the slowdown in product innovation.
But it is undeniable that for 5G commercial, users' expectations for 5G mobile phones are still very high. Xiaobian has been waiting for 5G mobile phones, but the price is now deterred by the small editors. Only when the price of 5G mobile phones is close to the people, it is necessary to start 5G mobile phones. , 5G mobile phone, do you expect it?


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According to Takkar, there are strong indications that competition will follow. Mittal said the current low tariffs in the sector were unsustainable: “You have to stick to market conditions,” he said, referring to industry rivals and TRAI. But he added that the industry should not consider major tariff increases in one fell swoop. In an interview with Business Standard, Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel spoke about the urgent need to raise mobile tariffs, industry interest in the forthcoming auction of 4G spectrum, companies in favor of 5G, and government actions to exclude Chinese equipment suppliers from the telecoms. Asked about Airtel’s plans to raise tariffs, the chairman and founder of AirTel’s said it would depend on the company.
Mittal believes that India is a major player in the latest state-of-the-art 5G technology and wants investor-friendly pricing. Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, hopes that the central government will ensure that India remains with the digital dream, having supported the existence of three telecoms operators in the country. In May 2008, Sunil Bharti Mittal announced the possibility of taking over MTN Group, a South African telecommunications company covering 21 African and Middle Eastern countries. I spoke to reporters at a virtual event hosted at OneWeb, a satellite communications company that is run for the British government by Bharti Global. The interview came days after Vodafone Ideas posted a hefty Q4 loss of Rs 7,023 crore.
The Financial Times reported that Sunil Bharti Mittal was considering offering billions for a 100% stake in MTN Group, a South African-based telecommunications company with operations in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East, in what would have been the largest acquisition by an Indian company overseas. In 2016 Mittal BhARTI Airtel made changes in order to compete in the race to become India’s largest telecommunications company with the newly formed Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.
In 2017, he announced the war on roaming by abolishing charges for incoming and outgoing calls within India as well as international roaming charges. The telecoms czar said on Thursday that the industry was under enormous stress and that he hoped the government would ensure that its digital dream remained intact by providing three operators. Bharti Airtel Tsar and chairman Sunil Mittal said that the bigger question on the question is whether Chinese telecoms equipment providers can or cannot participate in the next-generation 5G network or not, the telecoms tsar and chairman Sunil Mittal said that the nations “decision to impose itself has been taken and should be accepted. Mittal acknowledged that telecoms tariffs need to rise and Airtel will not hesitate to do so, but quickly added that this could not happen overnight.
Sunil Mittal, the telecom tsar and chairman of Bharti Airtel, responded to a question about when an industry-wide tariff increase seemed imminent in the Indian market and whether the company would take the step or wait for rivals to take their first step. The industry needs a tariff increase at this point, he said, adding that the company would look at market conditions before any tariff increase. On customs, we have been clear on this issue, “Mittal said, adding that the company believes tariffs should be increased.
In the ongoing AGR ( Adjusted Gross Revenue ) case before the Supreme Court, chief executive of Bharti Airtel warned that the country’s telecom sector is shrinking due to financial pressures facing the sector to just two companies. “We have two companies that are putting a financial burden on the industry. The promoter of the third company has decided to inject a large amount of capital due to sustainability problems. According to a recent report, CEO Gopal Vittal of Bharti Airtel agreed that the current tariffs are unsustainable.
Another recent report suggests Vodafone Idea is likely to raise its tariffs in the country by the end of this year or very soon on 15 to 20 per cent. Bharti Airtel posted a stunning net loss of 230.45 rupees for the second quarter ended September 30, with a provision of 28,450 rupees in the wake of the SC ruling on legal charges. According to government data, legal liabilities in the case of BhartiAirtel increased by Rs 35,586 crore in royalties and Rs 13,904.01 crore in SUC (spectrum usage fees and charges) (excluding charges for Telenor and Tata Teleservices). BhARTI Airtels Bhharti Enterprises, with diversified interests in telecommunications, insurance, real estate, education, shopping malls, hospitality, food and other industries is a flagship company and one of the largest and largest telecommunications companies in the world, with offices in 18 countries in Asia and Africa and a customer base of 399 million.
The era of low tariffs for Indian consumers seems over as major telecom companies such as Vodafone Idea Limited, VIL, Bharti Airtel Limited and Reliance Jio have increased rates for prepaid customers by up to 40%. The three telecoms companies decided to increase tariffs from 3 December, while Jio set out the impact of the increase on 6 December. The telecommunications companies also announced new prepaid tariffs with start-up options of 2 days, 28 days, 84 days and 365 days, priced from Rs19 to Rs23.99.
Airtel Chief Sunil Mittal calls space the next frontier of communication, and India is ready to take full advantage of the global investment in 5G standards and ecosystems over the next two to three years, as equipment prices fall and devices become available, he told Airtel today. Airtels shares rose 1.1% to a record high, and that is why the average cost per user, a key metric in the telecommunications sector, rose 2.5% to 154 rupees in the mobile services business in India for the quarter ending March 31. Its Beetel telephones revolutionised the telephone market in India and replaced the turntable telephones. A major breakthrough came in 1992 when the government licensed mobile telephony services for the first time and Mittal struck a deal with the French telecommunications company Vivendi for Delhi Mobile Circle. In 1995 Mittal set up Bharti Cellular Limited (BCL) to provide mobile telephony services under the Airtel brand.


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LAS VEGAS – The ATSC Mobile DTV Standard will transform into a multifaceted
platform replete with conditional access security, device authentication and
backchannel communication access this week at International CES.
The long-planned new capabilities were established as part of the
two platforms being developed through separate broadcaster groups – the Mobile
Content Venture (MCV), which developed its Dyle system, and the Mobile 500
Alliance, which is working on its own similar platform due for a fourth-quarter
introduction from its 420-member TV stations.
The two systems are not expected to interfere with each other,
and will require some form of backchannel capability for device authentication
and a variety of interactive capabilities.
The first fruits of those systems were ready for primetime Sunday
night at the CES Unveiled event, and will be on display through the show in the
Mobile DTV TechZone (Central Hall 13546).
Among the new offerings are the following:
will show live mobile
digital broadcast TV services soon to be available in MetroPCS markets to
customers who have purchased a forthcoming
Android-based smartphone with Dyle support.
Dyle will enable mobile consumers to watch live national and
local news, sports, and entertainment programming via a broadcast television
Dyle Mobile TV is the brand
adopted by the MCV, which is owned by 12 broadcast groups representing 281
stations, and by two other TV broadcasters. The broadcasters plan to launch
Dyle service through 72 stations that reach 50 percent of the U.S. population.
developed an application for iOS devices supporting audience measurement, EPG
data, channel logos, interstitial ads and banner ads. Live recording and time
shifting of over-the-air Mobile DTV content will be included through DVR-like
functionality built into the app.
The system will support both in-the-clear and encrypted SD
programming from up to four channels per broadcaster at a time. The alliance
said it also plans to have Android adapters soon.
The initial solutions are small tuner adapter/dongles for iPhones
and iPads that will run a TV app from
incorporate an MDTV chip from
At the local television station, the MDTV head-end is powered by Expway’s ESG
Beta testing is planned to begin soon in Seattle, and a full
system rollout is expected to begin in the fourth quarter.
The Mobile500 exhibit will also include
and its NetRover Mobile DVR content distribution
platform, which utilizes a consumer’s 3G/4G/Wi-Fi connection to pre-position
movie and TV content into mobile device memory.
The alliance plans to offer a lineup of two to three local and
national channels and plans to eventually expand to 15 to 20.
demonstrate an in-car ATSC-MH Mobile Video System – a self-contained blackbox
solution with a built-In Wi-Fi receiver to access premium channels (gated by
new conditional access security technology). The device will also permit access
to all ATSC-M/H free over-the-air channels, and will periodically connect to
the broadcaster via Wi-Fi hotspots and smartphones for device authentication.
Digital Stream’s RCA
brand is introducing a flat-panel receiver designed for both over-the-air
Mobile DTV reception and Internet connectivity.
The RCA MIT700 will be released later in the year, at a price to
be announced, featuring a thin design, Android operating system and a
conditional access security system.
Among other Mobile DTV announcements were a number of
applications presented by
one of the core developers of the Mobile DTV platform.
LG is showing Mobile DTV applications for social-media
interaction and instantaneously updated digital signage using portions of the
mobile broadcast stream.
LG’s Mobile DTV social-networking application would use Tweet-TV
messages to interact with program content.
The broadcaster would receive the text comments, consolidate them and
transmit them as conversational overlays to the TV program.


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Hopefully, you have not yet made your Thanksgiving plans yet – as you may have to head to the gigantic Kardashian residence at the Madison Club in La Quinta to make sure the family of, ummm, let’s say entrepreneurs (?) is able to feast on Turkey Day.
The Kardashians spent last Thanksgiving in the Coachella Valley and, while they didn’t confirm that would be the case this year, they did explain to those who are attempting to keep up with them that they have a big dilemma surrounding the holiday this year.
During a joint appearance with sisters Kim Kardashian West, Khloé Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian on Tuesday’s episode of The Real, cohost Adrienne Bailon asks whether they “actually” like to cook their Thanksgiving meal.
“I do. I love to cook,” Khloé, 35, said.
However, Kim, 39, added that the family’s “biggest argument right now” is whether to cook the huge holiday meal themselves or outsource it to a chef.
Yup. that’s the “biggest argument” this family has right now, reader. And here you thought your family had big problems?
As for the cooking, I am no betting man, but, in this case, I might just go ahead and wager everything I own on them outsourcing the cooking of the bird later this month.


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Grand theft auto has come a long way. A crook does not need a gun or a crowbar to steal a car. With some technical know how and an internet connection, a thief could unlock a car, or even disable its engine. Successful cyber attacks on cars are real. Equipping cars with internet connectivity opens worlds of convenience and possibility; however, it also draws unwanted attention from cyber-savvy criminals.
While we’ll continue to hear stories about what could go wrong if connected cars are compromised by cybercriminals, its highly imperative to focus on what can go right when this key component of the Industrial Internet of Things is built with security from the ground up. Securing automobiles and the infrastructure that supports them will be a powerful enabler. We know transportation efficiency and driver safety can be dramatically improved with new technology.
Today, there are distributed security architectures and layers of defence that can be proactively applied to help secure cars from chip to cloud. These include hardware security, software security, network security, cloud security, supply chain security and data privacy and anonymity.
Following the commitment to help mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with connected automobiles, Intel Security is releasing its whitepaper on “Automotive Security Best Practices”, containing recommendations for building security into the design, fabrication and operation phases of the automotive production process.
Some key points from the White Paper include:
– By advancing network connectivity in cars, the industry has enabled innovative functions such as ADAS and autonomous driving. However, this connectivity also raises the risk of malicious cyber intrusions and infections.
– With the onset of sophisticated attacks, cars design for safe failure and incident response plans has become a critical component of successful security operations
– Understanding the motivations, objectives, and actions of potential attackers can be highly crucial in improving the security posture, whether for a physical location or a computer system.
– With cars becoming an extension of, or adjunct to, smartphones, home automation systems, entertainment libraries, and other components of the digital life, there is a huge risk of data leakage, giving rise to the need of appropriate privacy controls and anonymization of data.
– Supply chain security is equally important to ensure end-to-end automotive security. Detecting and avoiding infiltration of tainted or counterfeit parts is absolutely necessary to maintain the trust and integrity of the security architecture.
– A detailed recipe for success is laid out by Intel Security, with considerations for car manufacturers and security solution providers to consider.
Please view the white paper and the infographics below to find out more.


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Nissan and Uber have signed a deal that will see 2,000 all-electric Leaf vehicles be made available for drivers who use the app in London.
As part of Uber’s Clean Air Plan, which aims to have every one of its drivers in London (around 45,000) with fully electric, zero-emission vehicles by 2025, the fleet of 40kWh Nissan Leafs will be offered with fee incentives.
Launched in January 2019, Uber’s Clean Air Plan aims to tackle air pollution by helping drivers upgrade to an electric vehicle through the introduction of a Clean Air Fee – 15p a mile is added on to all London journeys which will help drivers with the cost of adopting an electric vehicle. In the first year, Uber has raised more than £80million to support drivers transitioning to electric vehicles, with more than £200m expected to be raised over the next few years.
Through the Clean Air Plan, drivers will on average save £4,500, depending on the miles they’ve driven, off the cost of switching to an electric car. Once a driver has adopted a fully electric vehicle, the Clean Air Fee is used to support ongoing vehicle costs.
“Through innovation and collaboration, companies like Nissan and Uber can tackle the challenges of advancing personal urban mobility, whilst also improving air quality in our major cities. As the UK’s best-selling EV, the Nissan LEAF is the perfect vehicle to support Uber’s ambition of a 100% electric fleet in London for 2025. Not only will passengers enjoy the quieter ride that comes from all-electric driving, but cyclists, pedestrians and other road users will also benefit from the zero-emissions powertrain,” said Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Nissan Motor.
The second-generation Nissan Leaf was launched in 2018 with two battery capacities – 40kWh and 62kWh. The 40kWh model being made available to Uber drivers will provide around 168 miles of range. To meet the increasing demand for electric vehicles in the capital, Transport for London has installed more than 1,000 EV charge points in the last year alone. Conversely, central London has nearly half as many petrol stations per car as the Scottish Highlands and only four remain within the congestion charge zone.


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China Southern Airlines to spin off logistics business
31 / 03 / 2023
China Southern Airlines plans to spin off and list its logistics subsidiary on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE).
The airline’s plan for China Southern Air Logistics was confirmed in an announcement on the SSE website on March 29.
In the announcement, China Southern Airlines said the “spin-off still needs to meet a number of conditions before it can be implemented”.
The airline said after the completion of the spin-off, the company’s shareholding structure will not change.
Air Cargo News’ sister publication, FlightGlobal said the airline’s board approved the listing of China Southern Air Logistics on March 28, stating that the move has “commercial reasonableness, necessity and feasibility”.
The Chinese Government’s zero-Covid policy severely impacted flights in and out of the country during the pandemic, and China Southern Airlines suffered record losses in 2022.
The airline reported an operating loss of CNY22.5bn in the year to 31 December 2022, a significant uptick against 2021’s CNY9.9bn loss, said FlightGlobal.
The airline’s board noted that steps were taken to cut flights and reduce costs, but the company’s operations suffered a “relatively significant impact and incurred losses”.
Established in 2018, China Southern Air Logistics provides air cargo logistics services and flights.
China Southern Airlines operates more than 850 passenger and cargo transport aircraft.
Starting from wet-leased freighters, China Southern Cargo now operates a self-owned fleet of two Boeing B747-400Fs and twelve B777-200Fs.
It has established Shanghai and Guangzhou as its “dual-cargo-hubs” and developed a freighter network that covers 10 domestic and international stations.
Plans to list China Southern Air Logistics were first announced at the end of November last year, though the airline said then it had not submitted any official applications.
China Southern Airlines Company to list logistics company on stock exchange


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The View from Motown: Unfolding Ironies At Ford
Motor Trend's Detroit Editor Todd Lassa blogs on Ford's desperate attempts to save itself.
A week-and-a-half in California has diverted me from the goings on in Dearborn. Diverted, but not distracted, as the bad news of more heavy layoffs at Ford Motor Company and its cancellation of the 4.4-liter V-8 for the Lincoln MKS, according to Automotive News, reaches far and wide. And the executive offices at Ford seem to be leakier than the White House. In his desperation for good news, chief William Clay Ford Jr. is letting all sorts of ideas on how to fix the company get out to the press. One has the Ford family considering buying back the company and taking it private. It doesn't like the games Wall Street plays when Ford releases quarterly earnings reports. And Jacques Nasser, of all people, wants to buy Jaguar and Land Rover, says Bloomberg. Oh, how auto pundits love that irony. William Clay Ford Jr. ousted Nasser in 2001 and "temporarily" took over his position, which promptly sped up the Blue Oval's downward spiral. Nasser went a little overboard - okay, a lot overboard - in pursuing a cradle-to-grave business for your Ford, Lincoln, Volvo or Aston Martin. He bought up all sorts of parts- and service-oriented automotive companies.
The business press notes that Nasser's work at J.P. Morgan Chase & Company's One Equity Partners LLC includes buying moribund Polaroid (the camera company) a few years ago and then turning it around to sell it for about twice the price. Nasser may have taken the blame for the Ford Explorer/Firestone tire fiasco of the early new millennium, but he's also a pretty sharp business operator. And despite his inauspicious departure from the automaker, he's said to get along well with Bill Ford.
Ford's Premier Automotive Group was another of Nasser's pet projects, and another loveable irony. Here you had the company that put the world on wheels with its modest Model T looking for big profits by making the modern motorcar a luxury item.
It hasn't been an unmitigated success. Nasser believed that premium cars were the future; that the segment would explode worldwide for cars priced, in the U.S. from about $30,000 on up. Thus, Jaguar was to double its annual production with the S-Type (and it did, at first) and then double it again with the $29,999 X-Type. It didn't - everyone who desired a BMW 3 Series, saw the X-Type as the tarted-up all-wheel-drive Ford it is, and stayed away in droves.
Now Nasser is apparently ready to take Jag on again, even though it's starved for product, except for a costly and expensive big aluminum sedan and a costly and expensive aluminum coupe/convertible. He'll want, and have to take Land Rover. Ford's plan has Jag and LR sharing engines, and anyway, the Blue Oval doesn't need to keep another line of large, thirsty SUVs, especially one with a spotty quality reputation.
Back in the Ford executive offices, that desperate scion also is trying to strike up a conversation with Nissan/Renault's estimable chief, Carlos Ghosn. Bill Ford wants to talk with Ghosn about a possible link-up, after Ghosn has completed similar talks with General Motors, scheduled to conclude in mid-October. Obviously, Ford, like most everybody else, doesn't expect those talks to go anywhere. Like GM's largest shareholder, Kirk Kerkorian, Bill Ford thinks Ghosn would make a pretty good savior-chief for one of the struggling Big Three.
Unlike GM, Ford could use some of the things Nissan/Renault has, like Infiniti rear-drive platforms and V-8s, and a smooth and powerful V-6. Nissan's VQ 3.5-liter V-6 is designed for both front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive applications.
If Bill Ford is also making another move to snatch Ghosn for a top job at his company, it's also a display of a lack of confidence either in himself, as FoMoCo chairman and CEO, and in his youthful president of the Americas, Mark Fields.
So, this all comes together in a sort of Ford irony-fest. Last year, Ghosn turned down an offer to take a top job at Ford Motor Company, about the same time Nissan looked at Jaguar and passed on a chance to buy it. This year, Kerkorian tried to replace GM chairman Rick Wagoner with Carlos Ghosn, which failed, resulting in talks between GM and Nissan/Renault to develop a cost-sharing alliance. Silly waste of time. Meanwhile, Hyundai studied Jaguar, and also passed on a chance to buy it. Now Jac Nasser re-appears and looks at buying Jag and Land Rover, while Bill Ford goes after Ghosn again.
Meanwhile, the fallback position might be to find a Chinese company that would be willing to take Jaguar and Land Rover off of Ford Motor's hands. China would be most appropriate, as that country has the right curse to describe these events: may you live in interesting times.


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The Daily Telegraph reports today that Stella McCartney will be creating a line of everyday sportwear for Adidas. Stella says that she has worked with a variety of athletes to bring dignity and design to clothing created for high-tech performance in running, swimming and working out in the gym. Stella told reporters:
"Go into sports shops and most of the stuff available looks like My Little Pony on heat. It's all baby pink, candy-floss, baby blue, head-to-toe. What grown-up woman wants to look like an 80s teenager? I find it degrading. It's so inappropriate. Women deserve to look good and feel good when they're working out. They don't want to look like pastel Barbies."
Adidas said their partnership with Stella is long-term and there are plans to create outfits for other sports. According to Bill Sweeney, the project leader at the Adidas sports performance division:
"We combined Stella's unique design and insight into women with Adidas's knowledge in creating breakthrough functional sports products."
Starting in February, Stella McCartney Adidas will go on sale in selected department stores in the United States, Japan and Europe.
(kindly submitted by PLUGGED correspondent Joan M. Hopkins)
©1994-2013 Harald Gernhardt. All Rights Reserved


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Two long-time Sonoma County wine country destinations have been selected to receive 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards by WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings.
The awards recognize the top 5 percent of all-inclusive wedding venues, defined as demonstrating excellence in quality, service and professionalism. And making this year’s list are the Vintners Inn and John Ash & Co. Restaurant in the Sonoma County town of Healdsburg.
Surrounded by the scenic northern California landscape, lush vineyards and beautifully landscaped grounds with courtyards and fountains, Vintners Inn is home to 44 luxurious rooms and suites, along with a state-of-the-art event center.
It’s also the long-time home of one of wine country’s most acclaimed restaurants, John Ash & Co., as well as The Front Room Bar & Lounge.
“We are particularly proud of the hospitality team here at Vintners Inn,” says General Manager Percy Brandon. “We would not have received this coveted award without the help and cooperation of many of our employees, especially Cathy Reynolds, our wedding specialist.
To learn more about the Vintners Inn and its wedding packages, go to www.vintnersinn.com.


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SCIPP International Offering Signed Books
Vienna, Va. — Oct. 2, 2008
SCIPP International, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing security awareness training and certification services, is offering free autographed copies of books by security expert Winn Schwartau in support of the fifth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month this month.
The free books by Schwartau, a pioneer in the information security field, include Internet & Computer Ethics for Kids, Cybershock: Surviving Hackers, Phreakers, Identity Thieves, Internet Terrorists and Weapons of Mass Disruption, Information Warfare, Pearl Harbor Dot Com and Time Based Security. The books are available in limited supplies on a first-come, first-serve basis from SCIPP International at: http://www.scippinternational.org/SCIPP_International/Cyber_Security.html.
Important security awareness materials for average computer users are also available free from the site, including a security tip of the day, computer screen savers with security reminders, informative articles and security awareness posters. For consumers who wish to promote security awareness at their places of work, there will also be an opportunity to enter to win a free security awareness course for their company.
An information security professional since 1984, Schwartau is a recognized expert in understanding the critical role of end-user awareness in securing infrastructure. In 1990, Schwartau founded Interpact, an information security services, policy development and training organization, which later became The Security Awareness Company.
He is also the founder of NiceKids.Net Inc., a cyber-ethics Web site for kids, parents, families and teachers. In 2006, Schwartau founded SCIPP International with the vision of raising and validating the security awareness of enterprise end-users on a worldwide scale.
“A high percentage of data breaches and identity thefts stem from human error — therefore focusing on people and their behavior is a key element of any effective security program,” said Dow Williamson, executive director of SCIPP International. “As a global nonprofit agency that specializes in security awareness, we also believe that security awareness can and should be a fun exercise for the whole family. We encourage people to visit our site and download materials that can be beneficial to protecting themselves online.”
National Cyber Security Awareness Month is spearheaded annually by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a collaborative effort amongst experts in the security, nonprofit, academic and government fields to teach consumers, small businesses and members of the education community about Internet security. The NCSA aims to increase awareness about the risks associated with using Internet technologies and how to help protect against them, while also providing free tips, checklists and best practices for remaining safe while online.


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A new market group launching in the United Kingdom on Friday aims to get a reprieve from European guidelines enforcement by functioning with meals regulators when promoting CBD solutions, a departure from hemp producers who are in search of to undo the guidelines.
The new Association for the Cannabinoid Business (ACI) is created up of roughly 25 organizations from Europe and North America. The organizations vow to “foster complete compliance” with European Union guidelines that say CBD shouldn’t be sold as a meals ingredient with out very first possessing premarketing authorization for the reason that CBD is a “novel meals.”
Steve Moore, strategic director of the ACI’s parent group, the London-based Centre For Medicinal Cannabis (CMC), told Hemp Business Everyday that he expects that the commitment of ACI members to apply for authorization could ease enforcement against member organizations promoting CBD.
“The novel meals designation is not going away, and some enforcement from authorities is inevitable,” Moore told Hemp Business Everyday.
“We want to operate inside a regulatory framework that builds trust and aids sustainability, innovation and customer self-assurance.”
In addition to applying for authorization, ACI members have committed to eliminating detectable THC and adhering to testing and labeling requirements and advertising and marketing ethics.
The ACI method seeks to shield CBD sellers from getting the very first ones targeted by U.K. regulators in case of a crackdown.
Cannabinoids are integrated in the European Novel Meals Catalogue, triggering analysis specifications just before CBD solutions can be sold. Enforcing that designation is up to EU-member states.
The European Industrial Hemp Association is challenging the EU’s designation of CBD, arguing that for the reason that the crop has been eaten for centuries, its elements and extracts shouldn’t be regarded as new. The appeal is pending.
Amid the confusion more than CBD regulations, solutions are increasingly popping up in the United Kingdom. The circumstance is somewhat comparable to how CBD foods in the United States are banned below federal guidelines, however extensively readily available.
ACI members consist of London’s Sativa Group and Spectrum Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Canada’s Canopy Development with operations in 12 nations. Some members are primarily based in the U.S., such as Columbia Care and Charlotte’s Net Holdings.
According to the organization, the United Kingdom’s CBD market place is presently worth about $386 million (300 million pounds) a year. But a lack of market requirements has proved to be a challenge for each shoppers and organizations.
The only way for organizations to be completely compliant to sell CBD as a meals is to receive a premarketing authorization from the EU, some thing no firm has accomplished so far.
The ACI’s charter says its members want a “grace period” that enables them to sell CBD in the U.K. whilst awaiting word on obtaining the premarketing authorization.
The organization expects that organizations that are in the method of acquiring the authorization would be much more acceptable in the eyes of U.K. regulators. This could present much more capacity to commercialize the CBD solutions with out waiting till the finish of the application method.
To receive premarketing authorization of novel foods, solutions are evaluated on the following principles:
- Protected for shoppers.
- Correctly labeled.
- If a novel meals item is intended to replace one more meals, the latter ought to “be nutritionally disadvantageous for the customer.”
In all circumstances, a dossier of facts requires to be supplied to the European Commission. The application ought to be completed on line.
Alfredo Pascual can be reached at [email protected]
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Just as some have feared but so few forecast officially, this Summer’s travel was not as big a hit as expected. When Accor Hotel Group warned their investors profit may not meet expectations last week the recession’s effect on hoteliers was cemented for the season.
Accor, with some 4,400 plus accommodations across the star range, suggested last Wednesday that this Summer’s lagging numbers are in part due to booking losses in Southern Europe, the region hardest his by the economic uncertainty. As for this Fall’s outlook, all the group could conjure up was a simple “good”, Accor and others seem unwilling to make predictions now. Accor’s first half of 2012 (PDF) showed solid numbers, indicating this Summer must have been a real bust.
The French company has over 60 percent of their room inventory in Europe. Accor has been trying to work their way out of their own debt crisis, reorganizing and restructuring the way they do business. The company’s growth now seems largely dependent on their Asia initiatives too, further signalling uncertain times ahead for all hoteliers in Europe.
Accor reported that in July alone, RevPAR (revenue per available room) dropped some 7 percent for their more upscale hotels, and twice that for their budget hotels in Southern Europe. Accor’s problems seems small however, when compared to the larger economic picture. Greece, faced with economic collapse and chaos, is now considering selling off some of their Islands to assuage their burgeoning debt. This, with Spain teetering close behind, foretells of even bigger problems ahead for debt ridden hoteliers like Accor.
Tour companies going broke, further problems with infrastructures in emerging economies in East Europe, news of strikes and so forth, all that has happened since the crash of 2007 shows clearly how interconnected Europe is with the rest of the world. More importantly for Europe hoteliers though, are the critical connections on the continent.
Joblessness is perhaps the best way to look at the economy, to project business for large corporations like Accor too. For instance, the jobless rate across Southern Europe, where Accor seems to have its most negative focus, is staggering. Below are some of the countries hit with unemployment on a grand scale.
- Bulgaria – 12.4 percent as of July
- Croatia – 16.4 percent as of Q1 2012
- Greece – 23.1 percent as of May – probably worse now
- Italy – 10.8 percent, the highest since 1998
- Portugal – 15.4 percent, the highest in decades
- Spain – 24.7 percent, the highest in many decades
- Serbia and perhaps Albania, are far worse
According to The Economist some $4.2 trillion in corporate debt, most of which is issued by financial institutions, comes due before the end of 2016 (see chart). Looking at the whole economic picture, there really seems to be no viable solution to resolving debt burdens, not for Accor unless they consolidate and divest themselves of properties in the red, and not for Southern Europe unless the costs of labor become competitive with countries in Asia. Part of the problem is, the lack of disposable income for booking Accor or any other hotels.
Clear signs the hospitality industry is not the bed of roses early 2012 predictors suggested include: InterContinental selling off big assets; Orbitz and Priceline revenues from Europe plummeting; and Starwood (HOT), Hyatt (H), InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Marriott (MAR) all with significant European revenue losses or reductions so far this year. Starwood’s meager gains were all but wiped out by income taxes. Business travel spending in Southern Europe was actually predicted to fall sharply by GBTA, and that revenue stream generally trends with general tourism numbers.
Uncertainty is the brightest outlook that can be forecast for the immediate future of the Europe hotel landscape. It will be quite some time before hotels and motels get to display their No Vacancy signs again. One more thing that seems pretty clear too is that revenues gained by one hospitality player, will have to come from the coffers of a competitor. Growth in Europe hotels is stagnant for now.


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Google released its traditional monthly Android version distribution numbers. The latest state of the platform saw Android 4.4 KitKat debut with 1.1% share of all installs.
Unsurprisingly, Android Jelly Bean and all its varieties continue to gain ground as well. All three builds saw an increase in their share compared to last month.
Android 2.2 Froyo, 2.3 Gingerbread, and 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on the other hand, continue their slow decline. All three versions dropped their cut of the overall distribution. Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich were the biggest losers with 2.2% and 1.2% drops respectively over the past month.
Curiously, Android 3.2 Honeycomb is still around and kicking. The tablet-only Android version continues to sit on a .1% share – the same as a month ago.


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U.S. Hispanic customer visits to restaurants are outpacing the demographic group’s population growth, according to a new report by The NPD Group.
In 2014, Hispanics’ per capita visits to quick-service restaurants and other foodservice outlets increased by 4 percent, compared with a 1-percent decline in visits by non-Hispanics, according to the Port Washington, N.Y.-based research firm’s “CREST Hispanic” report.
NPD said that while the average U.S. Hispanic consumer visits quick-service restaurants more than the average non-Hispanic consumer, the demographic group’s use of full-service restaurants was less than non-Hispanics. Their per capita visits to full-service restaurants decreased by 7 percent compared with non-Hispanics, who reduced visits by 1 percent last year, the Crest report said.
Restaurant brands such as Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, KFC and Papa John’s Pizza are targeting marketing at the growing demographic.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen said earlier this year that it planned to target the growing Hispanic population across the U.S.
“We believe we have an opportunity to become even more relevant with this very fast-growing segment in the U.S.,” said Hector Munoz, Popeyes vice president and chief marketing officer-U.S. “We’re looking for creative, innovative ways to message to the Hispanic consumer. And that will consist of multiple mediums.”
In October, KFC launched a new campaign to appeal to the Hispanic market with an ad spot that represents how families, and the Hispanic community as a whole, can be united at the dinner table.
“Gathering together with family is at the heart of the Hispanic culture,” Rodrigo Coronel, spokesman for the Louisville, Ky.-based chain said. “KFC wanted to show how the different choices of a Favorites Bucket brings together a diverse Hispanic community, and everyone can meet at the table and enjoy the meal.”
The Hispanic community’s buying power is expected to reach $1.5 trillion this year, and the Hispanic population is expected to represent 19 percent of the total U.S. population by 2020, according to New York City-based statistics firm Statista.
NPD’s study found that in addition to increasing overall visits, U.S. Hispanics’ per capita spending at restaurants increased by 4 percent last year, compared with a 3-percent increase in per capita spending for non-Hispanics. Spanish-oriented Hispanics increased their per capita spending by 8 percent.
“Hispanics typically have larger party sizes, more visits with children, which contributes to higher spending,” NPD said in a statement.
NPD noted that U.S. Hispanics exhibit what it called “brand-friendly behaviors,” including choosing chains (75 percent Hispanics versus 62 percent non-Hispanic) and dining out with children more often (40 percent of the time versus 29 percent for non-Hispanics).
NPD noted that Papa John’s, the quick-service pizza chain, began its Hispanic marketing efforts in 2006 by expanding its 24/7 online ordering capabilities to include a Spanish-language website. In 2014, the chain shifted more of the marketing focus to Hispanic consumers by growing its Spanish-language TV spending to 13 percent of its total marketing spending.
The CREST Hispanic study found that sales from Hispanic customers at Papa John’s grew 43 percent, traffic rose 18 percent, average eater checks went up $1.50, and items per eater moved from 2.07 to 2.25.
“We put a Spanish-language strategy in place, but the message hasn’t had to change,” John Schnatter, Papa John’s CEO, said in a statement. “Papa John’s goal of bringing family and friends together resonates with Hispanics who are very focused on getting together with family.”
Schnatter said Papa John’s didn’t change any of its menu items.
“We just needed to communicate to Hispanics in a way they understood in order to build their confidence in the Papa John’s brand,” he said.


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Source: CVDaily Feed
LOGAN – From drinks to blue jeans, a Utah State University researcher may have just changed the way many everyday products are made. Associate professor of biological engineering Jixun Zhan recently secured a patent for a new method of producing a natural blue dye known as indigoidine.
Zhan said natural blue dye is already available, but synthetic dye is cheaper, which means it is more commonly used in products even though it poses greater health risks.
“Unfortunately most companies are using chemically synthesized dyes,” he said. “We don’t know what kind of health problems they cause because basically they are created by chemists, the synthetic dyes. It may cause health problems. Now more and more people understand the concerns, they tend to use natural stuff.”
Zhan said for about three years his lab’s objective was to develop a process that can efficiently not just produce the natural dye, but purify it as well. It was accomplished using the bacteria E. coli. Zhan said the gene that synthesizes the dye was originally found in a different type of bacteria, but it yielded so little of the color it wasn’t even visible. Zhan was able to clone the gene then put it into the E. coli bacteria, which rapidly created more and more copies of the gene in the same cell. The result was a much higher yield.
The natural dye isn’t just safer than the synthetic stuff, it may provide health benefits if used in food or drink. Zhan said it contains essential amino acids and antioxidants. He said some may be concerned about using E. coli bacteria to produce the dye, but said both the strain of E. coli and the purification method are very safe.
“I want to emphasize that this is a very safe stream to produce and a very common method in the industry for genetic engineering,” he said.


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The next time you get a message suggesting you have a delivery, you might want to make sure you know just who it’s coming from.
There’s never a dull moment in security it seems, and if you’re waiting for something to come in the mail, you’re probably used to the regularity of which scams occur.
Fake texts that suggest you have a package waiting only to send you to a dodgy web site phishing for your details are a normality these days, forcing you to be aware of what you click on. But some of these SMS scams are getting so aggressive, it might not be enough to merely be aware of the websites you’re visiting through them, but also what they potentially have waiting for you.
In recent weeks, Avast Security has found one that delivers a banking virus, yet in the guise of a delivery tracking app. It’s an Android specific thing, it seems, but one that Avast says has infected over 60,000 devices and ensnared the detailed of millions of phone numbers, simply because of what the app does: rather than track any delivery, this fake app is a nasty little virus that instead steals information from a phone, sending it to someone else.
Called “FluBot”, it’s something you don’t want on your phone, and yet spreads by SMS, making it a possibility that it could land there. It’s not a risk yet for iPhone owners, as far as we understand, but if an Android owner sees a message suggesting they have a package delivery waiting and clicks on a link only to ask them to install an app, you can more or less bet that’s what it is. When installed, you won’t get any delivery tracking, but rather an invasive app that looks for your details and sends it to a remote serverm, using the accessibility functionality of a phone to monitor what’s happening.
Representatives for Avast told Pickr that there weren’t any Australian examples yet, but that it was happening around the world, so worth pointing out that it could happen here.
“At the moment, primary targets of the attacker’s campaign are Spain, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the UK,” said Ondrej David, Malware Analysis Team Leader for Avast.
“But there is some potential that the scope of operation may be extended to target other countries in the near future,” he said.
“What makes this malware particularly successful is that it disguises itself as postal/parcel delivery services, using text along the lines of ‘Your parcel is arriving, download the app to track’ or ‘You missed your parcel delivery, download the app to track’, to which a lot of unsuspecting users would easily fall victim. This is especially the case in the current situation where some form of home delivery has become the standard mode of operation for many businesses during the pandemic.”
How to stay on guard against fake delivery SMS
While making sure you have security app on a phone is one way of warding off this virus, as is ensuring Android owners only install apps via the official Google Play Store, another way is to make sure you don’t get caught at all.
That might seem hard, so it’s worth looking at how not to fall for SMS scams in the first place, and that comes down to looking at the text with some lessons.
Scammers may be able to fake the name of where a text is coming from, but they typically won’t, so check the name. If it comes from a random phone number, it’s very unlikely to be the real deal.
Likewise, look at the URL with your own eyes. A real delivery company, such as Australia Post or DHL, will have their respective website in the link. Scammers can’t use the official website, however, and so tend to use something entirely unrelated and outlandish.
They’re the obvious giveaways that something is amiss, and that you should delete those messages ASAP.


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Ripple Supporters Mercury FX, Euro Exim Bank and TransferGo Explain Why XRP Blockchain is Powerful
Ripple's very famous objective is to use cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology (preferably, its own cryptocurrency, XRP, and its own blockchain technology and network) to make the world smaller by eliminating the friction prevalent in international money transfers.
The California-based company strives to achieve that goal by persuading banks all over the planet to adopt its platform when they settle cross-border payments. And it's been working very well so far. More than 200 banks scattered around the planet have adopted Ripple's tech (most of them in testing stages but some of them are actually using it in production).
Three of Ripple's European strategic partners attended a Ripple event recently where they showed the world how the new technology is helping them to expand globally. We're talking about TransferGo, MercuryFx, and Euro Exim Bank.
Each of them is using currently using Ripple's software, platforms and cryptocurrency to make cross-border transactions cheap, quick, and reliable (as opposed to the current standard, the SWIFT system which is neither of those things).
Euro Exim Bank.
We start with Graham Bright, head of Compliance and Operations at the Euro Exim Bank. He represented his company at Ripple's London regional even where he explained that the bank's biggest challenge is to make sure that their customer can have a fast, reliable, trusted, and secure service. Euro Exim chose xRapid as the means to achieve that, and Mr. Bright explained why.
“So why did we choose xRapid? We need our clients to be able to pay us in their local currency. It is very difficult for them to get a hold of dollars in some of the jurisdictions which we operate. So we need to make it easy to move funds as easily…and cost-effectively as possible.”
Then there's Mercury FX, represented by none other than its CEO, Alastair Constance. It's also using xRapid because it fits with the company's priority of making its customers' money move around faster around the world. Mercury FX went for Ripple's tech because they saw it as the perfect option as both companies share very similar values so Mercury could, at last, take advantage of the blockchain:
Mr. Constance had this to say: “Ripple was very keen for us to trial the xRapid payment process which we very gladly did. And we’ve had great success so far. We trialed several payments to Mexico. [They] were company funds we donated to an orphanage that takes kids off the street and teaches them how to surf…and then we did our first live commercial payments a couple of weeks ago…
The payments are moving a lot faster and cheaper than they would be going through SWIFT.”
Mr. Constance added that Mercury FX is working towards doing international transfers to the Philippines.
TransferGo: Let's test this thing
TransferGo is using the RippleNet to ameliorate remittances for migrant workers in more than 47 countries around the planet. That needs speed so people can send or receive their money quickly. And the best solution TransferGo has found so far is the RippleNet.
Tomas Snitka, Head of Operations for TransferGo, told the audience how it takes seven minutes to complete a test transaction to India. While that's very quick and much better than SWIFT, it's clear that by next year, that will be a long time.
So they want a quicker option and, luckily for both companies, Ripple has it. It's xRapid, which can do the same trick in less than 2 minutes. Which is why TransferGo is about to start testing xRapid.


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Best viewed on a device with a bigger screen...
Below is a list of our U.S. Publications for the last 6 months. If you are looking for reports older than 6 months please email firstname.lastname@example.org, or contact your account rep
Please use the filters on the right to search for a specific date or topic.
Stuck at low levels for the foreseeable future.
Prices are falling rapidly as homebuilders scramble to reduce inventory overhang.
Few signs yet of the long-awaited increase in inventory.
On course for an outright decline in Q2, despite April bounce.
The rebound in home sales is hitting the buffers.
Homebuilders continue to slash prices to shift excess inventory.
Sales rose in Q1, but expect a reversal in Q2; a sustained recovery remains a long way off
So much for the red-hot start to the year...
Sales will remain stuck at low levels until affordability improves dramatically.
Homebuilders continue to slash prices to shift excess supply.
A dramatic improvement in affordability is still needed before sales can recover.
Reversal of January spike in control sales delayed, not cancelled.
Weather and lower rates boosted sales; expect a drop in February
New home sales boosted by a lack of existing home supply.
Sales have bottomed, but the downturn in prices will be the big story for housing in 2023.
January strength in in retail sales unlikely to last, autos excepted.
Downturn in home sales coming to an end, but sustained recovery is a long way off.
The slump in new home prices has much further to run
The fall in prices will gather pace in the months ahead
U.S. Document Vault, Pantheon Macro, Pantheon Macroeconomics, independent macro research, independent research, ian shepherdson, economic intelligence


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Research Talk by Leonard Lee, University of Singapore (SGP)
In the most recent guest talk of our Research Seminar Series of the Marketing Department on the 21st of November Professor Leonard Lee from the National University of Singapore demonstrated that money is not the only thing that consumers might bank. Presenting his most current findings on consumers’ “banking of happiness”, Lee argues that merely anticipating a future sad event may motivate consumers to “accumulate happiness” (i.e. watching funny videos, listening to cheerful music) in order to enhance their ability to cope with the anticipated sadness - similarly to how consumers would save money for future expenses. Importantly, his research strikingly demonstrates that this mechanism is future-oriented and goes beyond simple mood repairment (that is, the tendency to compensate for one’s current negative mood by focusing on positive tasks or information).
We thank Leonard Lee for this very interesting introduction into this topic and we hope that he was able to bank many happy moments at the WU in Vienna. We are looking forward to welcoming him back at the Marketing Department in the future.


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1 hr ago
Advertising Student Ships His Pants to Kmart's Agency, Lands Internship
If you can ship your pants skillfully and creatively, you have a good chance of working at Kmart's ad agency, Draftfcb.
2 hrs ago
Special K churns out products in brand evolution
The brand first hit shelves in 1955 as a no-frills breakfast alternative but now caters to dieters who see its airy chips and pastries as a way to beat cravings and lose weight.
7 hrs ago
ConAgra tries to change consumers' perceptions about frozen foods
Kristen Hughes of Omaha shops with 10-month-old son Charlie in the frozen foods aisle at a Hy-Vee. Food consultants say consumers like to touch and smell food - making it tougher to promote the benefits of products behind glass.
10 hrs ago
Country Hour podcast 20 May 2013
On the Country hour, cattle farmers on the Southern Tablelands in NSW are facing the prospect of shooting livestock this winter, if decent rain doesn't come soon.
Sun May 19, 2013
Goulburn Murray and Riverina Rural Report: Monday May 20 2013
Last week US food processor Archer Daniels Midlands rolled out a charm offensive to grain growers as its GrainCorp takeover deal edges closer.
The Gloucester County Times
Chemical engineering grad gives up high-paying job to join the Peace Corps
Kelly Barb, of Mantua, a Rowan chemical engineering grad, will volunteer with the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa.
Sat May 18, 2013
N.W.T. Supreme Court rules Bell Mobility liable in 911 lawsuit
A judge has ruled Bell Mobility is liable to thousands of cellphone users in the N.W.T., Yukon and Nunavut who paid for 911 services they didn't receive.
StockCall Study on K, HSH, MKC, and DMND
Japanese policymakers have implemented aggressive monetary easing measures this year to boost economic growth in the world's third-largest economy.
Fri May 17, 2013
On the money: Flowers confident on cakes ahead of Hostess return
US baker Flowers Foods has said it is "confident" its snack cake business will continue to thrive even as the new-look Hostess Brands returns to the market, with products including Twinkies.
Daily Journal/Sunday Journal
Iroquois County Board rejects anhydrous facility in Sheldon
The Iroquois County Board dealt with a rare pair of agricultural issues Tuesday, denying a request for construction of an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer facility at Sheldon and hearing concerns about a proposed swine production site near Thawville.
The sun has come out again for Tony Moiso, the self-effacing gentleman rancher, unabashed cowboy, faithful donor, loyal friend, and considerate employer who holds the reins of his family's iconic Rancho Mission Viejo.
Thu May 16, 2013
Flowers Foods Beats On Revenue and Earnings--Should You Buy?
Flowers Foods delivered earnings that were three cents better than analyst expectations along with revenue that was $40 million higher than expected.
The Miami Herald
Former General Mills CEO Kinney dies at age 96
E. Robert Kinney, a former chief executive of General Mills who earlier in his career was instrumental in popularizing fish sticks, has died.
The 'Safe 8' Dividend Stocks To Hold The Rest Of Your Life
Have you ever heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words"? Well, I'm going to put that notion to the test and demonstrate why I believe that Coca-Cola , PepsiCo , Kellogg's , Kraft , Mondelez , Unilever , General Mills , and Nestle are the ideal stocks to make up 20-50% of your common stock portfolio.
Indianapolis Business News
Canada's Supreme Court won't hear Lilly appeal on Zyprexa
Canada's Supreme Court dismissed Eli Lilly and Co.'s request to appeal a federal court decision that invalidated its Canadian patent for schizophrenia drug Zyprexa.
Australia Stocks Edge Up, But Miners Extend Losses
Australian stocks were higher in early action Thursday, led by financial, energy and retail sector gains, but further weakness in mining shares limited the benchmark's advance.
Bureau County Republican
Andersons note 70th wedding anniversary
LaVerne Anderson and the former Maxine Carroll were married May 16, 1943, in Princeton.
First Derivatives plc Given "Buy" Rating at Sanlam Securities
's stock had its "buy" rating reiterated by investment analysts at Sanlam Securities in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, Analyst Ratings.Net reports.
UPDATE 1-Australian grain crop puts ADM target GrainCorp under pressure
Australia's GrainCorp, which is being taken over by U.S. agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co, faces pressure on near-term results from lower grain production, after posting an 11 percent fall in adjusted first-half profit.
Wed May 15, 2013
Charges for Man Disguised as Woman in Bathroom Filming
The suspect was wearing a wig, women's clothing and bra when he was found in a mall storage area, according to deputies Jason Pomare, 33, is suspected of dressing like a woman and carrying a camera inside her purse to allegedly film customers at a Palmdale Macy's store while they were changing.


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June 22, 2011 — On the Web, speed matters. The success or failure of online sales can hinge on the amount of time it takes to load a page, fill a shopping cart, and complete the purchase. Today AT&T* is announcing a new, cloud-based Content Delivery Network (CDN) platform— the AT&T Content Delivery Network— to help businesses quickly engage their important audiences with high quality, rich, and “sticky” website experiences.
The AT&T Content Delivery Network is designed to ensure lightning like fast delivery of digital content, such as videos and graphics – the staples of website experiences with “audience appeal.” The new AT&T platform, now being offered to customers on a limited basis, is expected to be generally available by the end of 3Q 2011.
“More and more businesses are relying on video, pictures and animation to get consumers excited about their products and services,” said Sam Farraj, Assistant Vice President of AT&T Digital Media Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. “Our CDN technology not only delivers videos and other attention grabbers at ‘lightning like’ speed, but it delivers them efficiently and at low cost.”
Internet Retailer1 cites a report that website visitors who view product videos are 85% more likely to make a purchase than those who do not. The digital marketing intelligence provider comScore2, reported that, in December 2010, 88.6 million people watched online video on an average day, an increase of 32 percent from the previous December.
Companies and organizations in a variety of industries can use the AT&T Content Delivery Network to help enable fast, highly secure, efficient, global delivery of digital media through the Internet. With this platform, universities can provide virtual campus tours, hospitals can deliver x-ray images, media companies can distribute movies on demand, and software and technology companies can virtually demonstrate capabilities.
The AT&T Content Delivery Network:
The new AT&T platform delivers a set of sophisticated analytics and tools designed to help companies understand what their Web audiences are looking for in an online retail or service experience. Some of the benefits it offers to businesses include:
- Allowing businesses to engage audiences with high quality, rich website experiences virtually anytime, anywhere
- Providing improved performance, control, flexibility, of digital media content
- Enabling separate billing and reporting for divisions or resellers
- Analyzing user preferences to provide valuable insights on consumer usage and buying patterns, such as purchasing frequency or preferences
The AT&T Network-Based Cloud Helps Ensure Security
AT&T has built its advanced media delivery capabilities into its network-based cloud, which delivers reliability and several layers of security protection for content and customer transactions:
- The AT&T global IP network operates at 99.99% availability.
- It is engineered for massive content volume and broad reach.
- AT&T has the largest number of eyeballs of any CDN provider.
AT&T Content Delivery Offerings
Together, AT&T Content Delivery Network and AT&T Content Acceleration provide a full range of services to help business delivery digital media — from rich content like electronic software distribution and live and on-demand video, to personalized content such as shopping cart data and GPS requests.
To learn more about how AT&T Digital Media SolutionsSM is delivering rich media to virtually any device, and transforming the way these services are used, visit www.business.att.com/enterprise/portfolio/content-delivery.


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Bitcoin is not new for online poker sites as according to them the digital currency is extremely suitable for online poker. However, the decision by Americas Cardroom, the US-facing online poker site has come with some special offers. The site is hosting its signature Million Dollar Sunday poker tournament, a $1 million guaranteed Texas Hold’em event with a first place prize of $200,000 guaranteed.
Bitcoin is expected to attract more number of players for it has some features that suit the nature of online poker sites. Americas Cardroom which is one of the world’s most trusted names in online poker accepts online poker players from around the world including poker players from the United States.
Talking about the decision to embrace Bitcoin Americas Cardroom spokesperson Michael Harris said:
At Americas Cardroom, we’ve become hugely popular among Bitcoin users. We make it easy to deposit and withdraw with Bitcoin so players all over the world can get to the tables and play anonymously. And best of all, with a $200,000 first place prize and another $800,000 spread among those who cash in the tournament; we’re able to offer players the fastest way to get their hands on their winnings.
Generous Loyalty Program for Online Poker Players
Americas Cardroom offers the most generous loyalty program in the online poker industry. Additionally, it brings a 100% guaranteed first-deposit bonus up to $1,000 and enables players have access to an array of real- and play-money online poker games, including Texas Hold ‘em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud and 32 Card Draw.
Now that the online poker site has embraced Bitcoin, players can get access to the huge number of tournament options, including multi-table tournaments, sit and goes, re-buy tournaments, and bounty tournaments. Moreover, as it part of the Winning Network, which features the most user-friendly software in the online poker industry,


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Leo Burnett Melbourne has been appointed as the integrated creative agency for iSelect, following a competitive Pitch.
iSelect previously worked with CHE Proximity for digital and AJF Partnership on creative, the latter having declined to participate in the pitch.
In partnership with iSelect's in-house marketing team, Leo Burnett will lead a creative and integrated strategy with the aim of boosting the brand’s position in the comparison service sector.
Its remit will include all marketing strategy and delivering, including above-the-line, digital and one-to-one advertising.
iSelect interim marketing director Natalie Ellisdon said the brand will support its strategic agenda of broadening its consumer proposition and loyalty.
“Throughout the pitch process, we were increasingly impressed with Leo Burnett’s strategic insights and strong through-the-line capabilities. Most importantly, their team demonstrated a strong fit and alignment with the iSelect team and I know both groups are greatly looking forward to working together on our exciting brand,” said Ellisdon said.
The appointment is effective immediately.
iSelect appointed Maxus as its media agency in December last year, with incumbent M2M declining to participate.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at email@example.com


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Chris Breen and Serenity Caldwell return to discuss the news of the week including Tim Cook telling climate deniers to shove off, Apple TV hobby no more, and CarPlay and you.
Don't-Miss Video player Stories
Apple's adding more and more content sources to its streaming set-top box. And that's a good thing. But it also presents some new user interface challenges. Here are some suggestions to improve the experience.
Sling Media's Slingbox place-shifting video device has upgraded its iOS and Android apps to support viewing on HDTVs and enhanced viewing on tablets and smartphones.
TiVo's DVR has added out-of-home internet streaming and downloads for iOS devices.
Sleuth Chris Breen tells you where all your ripped movies have disappeared to since the latest Apple TV update.
A month after adding a bunch of new Apple TV channels, Apple is at it again with Disney Junior and MLS soccer.
Roku sets its hand for the holidays with an updated lineup of streaming set-top boxes.
Apple has updated the Apple TV software to version 6, which supports iTunes Radio, iCloud to AirPlay streaming, and iPod syncing.
Apple's likely to have a new antitrust hall monitor, if the ebook price-fixing judge has anything to say about it; a new Apple Store invades Tokyo next year; and when it comes to Apple's hypothetical September event, read my lips: no new iPads.
Rumors are flying about what a next-generation television product from Apple might look like and what it might do. Jason Snell has a few thoughts of his own.
With so many places to watch TV and movies, it can be tough to find the show or film you're looking for. Apple's acquisition of Matcha.tv, an online service that did just that, may bring such capabilities to the Apple TV.
The latest update to Roku's iOS app brings direct video streaming to the party.
The Chromecast is cross-platform, flexible, and incredibly cool. Browsing the Web on your TV finally makes sense.
On Wednesday, Samsung announced it has acquired streaming video startup Boxee, a move that could finally make smart TV feel less dumb.
The Journal reads the supply-chain tea leaves, iPod touch sales hit a new milestone, and iCloud is, well, pretty much exactly as secure as you think it is.
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