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04 November 2011 19:56 [Source: ICIS news]
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The 12 days surrounding the US Thanksgiving holiday, which falls on 24 November, is projected to have a drop in passengers accompanied by fuller flights, said an industry spokesman.
“The reason we say there is going to be a drop is because of the low consumer confidence in this country,” said Air Transport Association (ATA) spokesman Steve Lott. “We still have a stubbornly high jobless rate. A lot of families in the country have little disposable income.”
The holiday season is expected to have 37,000 fewer US travellers per day than last year. The ATA expected about 23.2m air travellers will fly on US carrier’s in domestic and international flights during the holiday period, a 2% year on year drop.
“A lot of it has to do with the economy. The Thanksgiving travel period is largely a leisure travel period,” Lott said. “People are going on vacation and visiting friends and family.”
Lott said much of the revenue for airlines from air travel is through business travel, where tickets are often bought closer to the date of travel at a higher price.
The Sunday and Monday following Thanksgiving will be the busiest travels dates, with an expected 2.3m and 2.2m passengers, respectively. Thanksgiving Day will have the fewest travellers, with an expected 1.3m, the ATA said.
The planes will be filled to capacity for the holiday season as airlines have reduced capacity and the amount of seats starting in September and October, Lott said. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the ATA expects available seats to be down by 1.6%.
“In the airline industry, the name of the game is matching supply and demand,” Lott said. “Supply is the number of seats available and demand is the number of people who want to fly."
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Atwater Brewery is gearing up for a big summer with an expanded lineup that includes three new products that underscore its Detroit roots.
The new beers include a variety pack starring new takes on Atwater’s flagship Dirty Blonde, an IPA and a lager brewed for the Detroit Tigers. All will be in market by April 1.
“We wanted to hit the spring resets in a really meaningful way and tell our story through the summer months,” says Katy McBrady, Atwater’s president.
Dirty Blonde variety pack
Atwater has built its portfolio around its top seller, Dirty Blonde, which is the centerpiece of a new flavor-packed variety pack. The Dirty Blonde Variety Pack includes three new flavors : peach, strawberry and tropical, which were top performers in the brewery’s Detroit taproom last summer.
With flavor trends driving beer sales – fruit-flavored beers grew nearly 14% in volume sales between 2021 and 2022, according to Circana (formerly IRI) data – Atwater saw an opportunity to increase Dirty Blonde’s footprint and attract new drinkers, McBrady says.
“There’s a flavor for every type of consumer, even people who don’t think they’re beer drinkers,” McBrady says. “These are packed with flavor, but they’re very approachable and are hitting just in time for another Michigan summer.”
The 12-packs will be sold in some of the region’s top grocery stores, as well as in independent and liquor stores across Michigan. While Dirty Blonde is 4.5% alcohol by volume, the three new flavors weigh in at 4%.
The two styles that have mainly defined IPA are the bitter and dank West Coast IPA and the hazy, citrusy New England IPA. With its new Atwater IPA, the brewery is shooting for the center with what it calls a Midwest IPA style.
“We love IPA from the coasts, but there’s an opportunity for someone to stand up and be loud and proud to be from the Midwest,” McBrady says.
And any true Midwesterner is a bit humble, which is why Atwater IPA relies on balance and drinkability over overwhelming bitterness or juicy haze. Made with Centennial and Cascade hops and pale, Munich and wheat malts, the beer clocks in at 6.5% ABV and 49 IBU.
“When we look at the Midwest style, it has a lot to do with hops. We use a lot of Centennial hops, which is one of the top-growing varietals in Michigan and has more citrus aroma than hops grown in other regions,” McBrady says. “Atwater IPA has a fairly easy-drinking body, which means you can have a few of them over an evening.”
Atwater IPA replaces its Better Life Choices IPA in the lineup as the brewery seeks a bigger piece of the all-important Michigan IPA market. The beer debuted last summer at its Detroit taproom and quickly became the No. 2 seller behind Dirty Blonde.
Atwater IPA will be sold in six-packs of cans in the off-premise, on draft and in 16-ounce cans for venues. It’s the second IPA Atwater’s released this year after its AI IPA, which uses a recipe developed by an artificial intelligence program.
Detroit is never far from Atwater’s heart, and its new lager, D Light, underscores its Detroit bonafides. The 4.2% ABV craft lager will be available at Comerica Park this season, as the Tigers chase the division title.
“When you think about Detroiters and what they’re doing during the summer, they’re going to Tigers games and looking to have a few refreshing beers. With D Light, we’re giving them a super-crushable beer brewed just down the street from the ballpark,” McBrady says. “It’s light and refreshing and really the perfect ballpark beer.”
Atwater’s first light lager also will be served at its taprooms in Detroit, Grosse Pointe and Grand Rapids.
McBrady, who took the reins at Atwater about a year ago, has sought to refocus the brewery’s attention on Detroit and, in turn, Michigan. A revamped strategy to win the city and the three-county area it anchors is paying off, she says.
“We’re not trying to be all things to all people. We are a Detroit brewery, a Michigan brewery, and we’ve been here since 1997,” she says. “We’ve always embodied that grit, the hard-working spirit of Detroit. People are noticing. We have the opportunity to own Detroit, and we believe we’ve got the portfolio to do it.”

domain: news


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Perdigão, a traditional exporter of chicken to the Middle East, intends to start
selling greater added value products, including sausages and hamburgers, to
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
by Geovana Pagel
“With this we hope to have a 20% increase in sales (to the region),” stated the company Foreign Relations director, Ricardo Meneses, yesterday during the Expo Abras 2004 fair.
Export of the new products, to be halal, should start next year. The company, which is commemorating 70 years in operation, has been selling to the Middle East since 1977.
According to the director, the Arabs already answer to 30% of Perdigão export. “The Arab countries are currently one of our main markets. This is so true that all the units follow Islamic regulations, executing halal slaughter,” he explained. The company also has an office in Dubai so as to simplify sales to the region.
Perdigão has the largest stand among the exhibitors at Expo Abras, with an area of 720 square metres. The company forecast is to receive around 6,000 visitors a day.
In the first half of this year, Perdigão export rose 61.4% in terms of revenues and 24.6% in terms of volume. Export totalled 149,400 from April to June, a growth of 19.9% with regard to the second quarter last year. Company foreign trade represented 59.4% of net revenues in the period, around US$ 412.6 million.
Perdigão also took advantage of Expo Abras to announce investment of around US$ 104.5 million. Most of these funds, around US$ 82.5 million will be invested in the construction of a new agro-industrial complex in the city of Mineiros, in the midwestern Brazilian state of Goiás.
According to Meneses, the work will be partially funded by a Goiás state special program for government investment, and by a midwestern fund, through the Bank of Brazil.
“The unit will be destined to halal slaughter and to the processing of turkey and Chester. There will be two slaughterhouses, one hatchery, an animal feed plant, and a distribution center, and should be put into operation in the second half of 2006,” he explained.
The company is going to generate around 2,000 direct jobs, and 6,000 indirect jobs in this new unit. The complex will have a processing capacity of 81,000 tons/year, the project forecasts an increase in company revenues of around US$ 190 million.
Another US$ 22 million, part of the company investment program for 2004/2005, will be turned to logistics, infrastructure, and improvement of production lines, including distribution and expansion of the productive capacity in various units in the southern Brazilian states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
ANBA ”“ Brazil-Arab News Agency


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G.fast, the new standard that proposes the delivery of speeds of 1 Gbps over existing copper wire, has gained final approval from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
While fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) is the ultimate service delivery architecture in terms of being able to achieve 1 Gbps and higher speeds at the home, the G.fast standard will give service providers another option to deliver such speeds where they can't prove a proper business case for FTTP.
Leveraging a fiber to the distribution point (FTTdp) architecture, G.fast provides the best of the DSL and fiber-based broadband worlds with fiber-like speeds with the ability for customers to install service themselves.
"The time from G.fast's approval to its implementation looks set to be the fastest of any access technology in recent memory," said Hamadoun I. Touré, secretary-general, ITU, in a release. "A range of vendors has begun shipping G.fast silicon and equipment, and service providers' lab and field trials are well underway."
Much of the initial interest in G.fast has been in Europe, where BT (NYSE: BT) and Telekom Austria have been conducting trials of the technology.
Telekom Austria said that "fiber-to-the-home remains our long-term vision but we consider G.fast as an intelligent interim solution until fiber will have similar coverage as we have with copper now."
The approval of the physical-layer protocol aspects of G.fast--defined by Recommendation ITU-T G.9701 "Fast Access to Subscriber Terminals (FAST) - Physical layer specification"--follows the approval in April of ITU-T G.9700, a companion standard specifying methods to ensure that G.fast equipment will not interfere with broadcast services such as FM radio.
The Broadband Forum applauded the passing of the standard, saying that it will enable service providers to deploy next-gen 4K Ultra High-Definition TV (4K UHD) and consumer cloud services.
"Consumers should have confidence that the leading broadband service providers globally are working hard to deliver 1 Gbps, ultra-broadband access," said Robin Mersh, CEO of Broadband Forum. "The new G.fast standard makes it possible for telcos to deploy 4K UHD services faster and more affordably than they could with fiber to the home (FTTH)."
Despite its potential, the ITU's passing of the G.fast standard is just the first step in what will be a long journey where silicon manufacturers and equipment vendors will start developing products over the coming year and service providers will test the viability of these products in live network environments.
- see the release
- see this Broadband Forum release
Telekom Austria subsidiary serves residential customer with 100-plus Mbps data rates using G.fast
BT achieves 1 Gig rates with G.Fast copper trial, creates new broadband lab
Adtran tackles G.fast, VDSL2 vectoring compatibility with Frequency Division Vectoring technology
eircom vectored DSL to reach 700,000 premises by end of March; telco sees potential in G.fast
TeliaSonera, Huawei conduct G.fast trial in Finland


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As federal efficiency standards phase out traditional incandescent lightbulbs, how do you know what is the best choice to use now? The compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were the first cost-effective, energy-saving alternative to traditional bulbs.
“We gave away CFLs at our annual meetings, energy audits and other member events for several years. We see them as a quick, low-cost way our members can start saving on their electric bills,” explains Alan Raymer, Energy Advisor at Access Energy Cooperative.
By 2014, household lightbulbs using between 40-W to 100-W will need to consume at least 28% less energy than traditional incandescents. Because incandescents use 90% of their energy producing heat, upgrading saves Americans an estimated $6 billion to $10 billion in lighting costs every year.
More lighting changes will roll out in coming years. The federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires that lightbulbs become 70% more efficient than classic bulbs by 2020 (LEDs already exceed this goal).
Lighting accounts for roughly 13% of an average household’s electric bill. Hardware store shelves are filled with lightbulb options. What works best for co-op members? While a majority of consumers have been using the CFLs, which have a smaller shelf price, the price of LEDs for home use has substantially dropped. So we may begin to see more LEDs as it becomes more economically feasible to buy them.
A helpful addition to lighting products is the Lighting Facts Label. Much like nutrition labels found on the back of food packages, this version shows a bulb’s brightness, appearance, life span, and estimated yearly cost. The Lighting Facts Label was created by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help consumers understand the product and buy the most efficient lightbulb.
Consumers’ energy-efficient lighting options include:
- Halogen incandescents: Use 25 percent less energy, last three times longer than regular incandescent bulbs
- CFLs: Use 75 percent less energy, last up to 10 times longer
- LEDs: Use between 75 percent and 80 percent less energy, last up to 25 times longer
Federal lightbulb standards have the potential to save consumers billions of dollars each year. For an average American house with about 40 light fixtures, changing just 15 bulbs can save about $50 a year per household, according to DOE.
A word of warning when purchasing new types of bulbs: You generally get what you pay for. Some manufacturers exaggerate claims of energy savings and lifespans, and cheaper models have a tendency to not last as long as higher-quality bulbs. If you look for the ENERGY STAR label, that means the bulb exceeds minimum efficiency standards as tested by the federal government.
The best way to benefit from this fast-changing technology is to purchase a more energy efficient lightbulb the next time one goes out. To learn about lighting options, visit energysavers.gov/lighting. For shopping tips visit ftc.gov/lightbulbs.


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Tesco PLC is cutting 1,200 jobs at its head office, the latest round of cuts as the supermarket chain works to turn around its performance under Chief Executive Dave Lewis.
"This new service model will simplify the way we organize ourselves, reduce duplication and cost but also, very importantly, allow us to invest in serving shoppers better," said a spokesman.
Under Mr. Lewis Tesco has worked to simplify its pricing, improve customer service, expand its online delivery service and put more staff on the shop floor.
Grocers in the U.K.--a highly consolidated food retail market--have for years been battling against one another in a fierce price war. Following Brexit, and sterling's consequent slump, chains are now facing a further headwind: higher costs that are forcing up prices.
"We have made good progress so far in our turnaround but we have more to do," said the spokesman.
The 1,200 cuts at its head office in Welwyn Garden City, just north of London, are just the latest in a string of redundancies Tesco has pushed through since Mr. Lewis took over. Britain's largest grocer earlier this month said it would close its call center in Cardiff, Wales, impacting up to 1,100 jobs. In April the company said it was cutting night shift roles.
Write to Saabira Chaudhuri at email@example.com


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No excuses: GymGuyz brings the gym to you
For 16 years and through two tours in Iraq, Dave Dequeljoe flew with a wingman as a Navy fighter pilot. He saw the importance of having a partner in accomplishing their mission.
Now he wants to provide a wingman for people in reaching their fitness goals. Greenwich’s newest gym, GymGuyz, aims to eliminate any excuses not to work out.
While many gyms entice people to visit them, GymGuyz trainers instead show up at the customer’s doorstep. GymGuyz has opened 86 franchises in two years, one of which is now based in Greenwich and owned by Dequeljoe and Amber Alagich.
Dequeljoe ended his Navy career with injuries that prevented him from maintaining the peak fitness he’d achieved while flying fighter planes. The realization that he was happiest when working out and playing sports combined with a desire for entrepreneurship prompted him to enter the health industry.
He found success in running a top franchise for a large massage company. There he met Alagich, who was also deeply rooted in health and wellness.
“Some of my earliest memories are of being in the gym,” Alagich said. She described growing up reading nutrition information and being involved in a gamut of sports and dance classes.
After being recognized for his work with the massage company’s franchise, Dequeljoe went on to attend Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. This opened the door for him to meet an array of powerful figures in government and business and attend the Harvard Innovation Lab.
These experiences convinced the pair they wanted to open their own franchise, and “it was a no-brainer” after they learned about GymGuyz, Alagich said.
Another entrepreneur with a love for fitness, Josh York, founded GymGuyz in 2008 and began offering franchises two years ago. West Hartford is the only other Connecticut GymGuyz franchise, and York said there about 10 more up for grabs. Dequeljoe and Alagich have dibs on all of Greenwich and downtown Stamford.
The business has grown in just a few years, and York has bigger dreams for its future. “We will be the largest fitness brand in the world in 15 years,” York said.
He credits the brand’s growth to it being a “turn-key franchise,” where owners who display they are a “cultural fit” are given education, support and a van stocked with 365 pieces of equipment.
From there, the franchise owners hire a team of trainers and begin building a client base.
Dequeljoe and Alagich are still new to Greenwich, having arrived about a week ago, but they already have their first gig next week working with seniors at an assisted living center.
For each customer, a GymGuyz trainer has an initial fitness consultation to give a physical assessment, learn about the person’s desired workout style and determine which trainer is the best match.
All clients have to do to get an intense workout is set up a time to meet with their trainer, Dequeljoe said. He emphasized that the brand’s three core ideas — convenience, customization and creativity — drive everything they do.
Trainers are responsible for crafting new and customized workouts for their client every session, which breaks up the monotony, he said. “We want to eliminate people getting bored so they don’t quit,” Dequeljoe said.
Their workouts can vary from obstacle courses in the yard to strength training in the office.
While many clients experience short-term gains, Alagich said their goal is to ensure long-term results. “We’re working out in a smarter manner,” she said. “We want to come up with a system that works for you long term.”
GymGuyz offers programs for all age groups and can organize sessions for individuals, couples, groups and corporate events. Individual sessions begin around $70 and there are packages of multiple sessions available.
For more information, visit www.gymguyz.com or call 203-930-7733.
MBennett@hearstmediact.com, 203-625-4411; Twitter @Macaela_


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Wienerschnitzel, the nation's largest hot dog chain, has introduced the "Chicago Dog," an all-beef number in a steamed poppyseed bun with all the requisite trimmings -- mustard, neon green relish, onion, tomato, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt.
The $1.99 dog is being sold at more than 350 Wienerschnitzel stores in the West and Southwest, and even in Guam.
It is possible to find Chicago-style dogs outside of Chicago, though some might argue that puts the authenticity of said dog in question.
Wienerschnitzel, based in Newport Beach, Calif., is known for its chili dogs.
Company executives had reservations about whether a Chicago dog would sell because they weren't sure if Californians even knew what one was, said Lowry Hughes, vice president of operations for Galardi Group, Wienerschnitzel's parent company.
The company quelled its fears by e-mailing a survey to customers to gauge their interest in the dressed-up dog.
"There are some fanatics about Chicago dogs," Wienerschnitzel advertising rep Doug Koegeboehn said.
To make sure they got it right before adding it to the menu in June, Hughes sampled the goods of hot dog mainstays such as Portillo's while in Chicago in May for the National Restaurant Show.
The chain is selling about 40 Chicago dogs a day per store, paltry compared with the 500 chili dogs a day average, but "we're real happy," Hughes said.
Bruce Kraig, president of the Culinary Historians of Chicago and Roosevelt University historian, says he has noticed the growing popularity of Chicago dogs.
"I've seen Chicago-style hot dogs in Nashville," he said.
The origin of the Chicago-style hot dog is a bit murky.
Kraig said the "garden on a bun" was the creation of Greek street vendors in Chicago in the 1920s trying to get an edge on Italian vendors, their main competition.
But Peter Sload, director of marketing for Chicago-based Vienna Beef, contends Vienna's founders introduced it at the World's Fair and Colombian Exposition of 1893.
Most agree a true Chicago-style hot dog these days is a Vienna Beef frank in a poppyseed bun, dressed appropriately.
Sload was somewhat disappointed to hear that Wienerschnitzel's wiener is not a Vienna product, but rather their own frank made from a proprietary recipe.
"If they're not offering it that way, it's not a true Chicago-style dog," Sload said.
Spoken like a true Chicagoan.
On July 5, Nightline featured all american summer things: baseball, apple pie, and HOT DOGS - I can't find an online transcript of the show - they gave a little history of the modern miracle that is the hot dog, and mentioned that Chicago had the most hot dog restaurants in the nation (perhaps due to its proximity to Vienna Beef) with approximately 3000. Perhaps an Octodog trip to the Windy City would be in order sometime. After all, how can you call yourself a hot dog fanatic if you haven't been to the hot dog capital of America!


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A version of the Sprint HTC EVO 3D, a 4G smartphone with dual-core 1.2 GHz CPU and a glasses-free qHD 3D display, was spotted going through the FCC as a GSM variant. The 3G CDMA/4G WiMax radio of the Sprint edition has been gutted for a GSM/HSPA+ radio that is compatible with T-Mobile’s 4G network here in the U.S., but it’s uncertain if the phone is headed to the fourth largest U.S. carrier after it makes a quick stop at the regulatory agency for approval.
If T-Mobile does get the phone, it would show that not only has Sprint lost exclusivity over the EVO branding internationally, but also in the U.S. When Sprint had launched the original HTC EVO 4G a year ago, the wildly popular phone was sought out by many across the globe, and HTC later released a variant of the device under the HTC Desire HD brand. With the HTC EVO 3D, the second-generation phone in the franchise, the device was recently confirmed as the HTC EVO 3D Plus for Europe and if it comes to the U.S., it looks like the franchise will not be limited to Sprint abroad or even in the U.S.
If T-Mobile adopts this device, it would be the third carrier to get a 3D-capable smartphone as LG is launching its Optimus 3D smartphone as the LG Thrill 4G for AT&T, which also utilizes a glasses-free 3D experience, albeit with a WVGA display rather than the higher resolution qHD screen on the EVO 3D.
Additionally, a T-Mobile EVO 3D would compete against the HTC Sensation 4G on the carrier. That device has many of the same specs as the EVO 3D, except that the Sensation 4G foregoes the glasses-free 3D display (although it retains the same high resolution qHD display) for an 8-megapixel camera rather than the dual-5-megapixel 3D camera on the rear on the EVO handset.
Even though the HTC EVO 3D variant may be going through the FCC, the device is still not guaranteed a release on T-Mobile USA’s network.
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By Argen Duncan: PNT senior writer
With lessons including jewelry, marketing and belly dancing, the sixth annual Women’s Day Out is coming up this month.
The event, organized by the Portales Women’s Club, raises money for the group’s community projects and offers a variety of workshops, vendors, a speech by motivational speaker Pam Atherton of Clovis and lunch.
“It’s a great event for women to network and to learn, and I’m always honored to be asked to be a part of it,” Atherton said of her reasons for speaking every year.
The contents of her talk aren’t always formulated in her head until closer to Women’s Day Out, she said, but she always speaks on women, growth and empowerment.
Event organizer Patrice Tompkins said most of the classes are new this year. However, popular classes, such as belly dancing and yoga, and regular presenters, such as Dillards and Curt Jaynes of Garden Source, are back with fresh topics.
Among the workshops, subjects include growing vegetable and house plants, cake decorating, child development, skin care and information about plastic surgery. The day has three class sessions with several choices of workshops for each one.
“I think these classes are as good as or better than last year,” Tompkins said.
Organizations providing booths range from Girl Scouts and local children’s homes to candle vendors, exercise facilities and clothing stores. Tompkins said the schedule now allows for 30 minutes of shopping before the turkey sandwich lunch.
“We’re making money, but we’re giving back to the community,” she said.


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Washington, D.C.— Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Congressman John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the EIDL Forgiveness Act, bipartisan legislation that would exclude the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance when determining loan forgiveness for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The legislation would ensure that those business owners who received PPP funds will not have their loan forgiveness reduced by their EIDL Advance.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Colorado’s economy, and for many of them, PPP loans and EIDL Advances have been their only lifelines,” said Congressman Neguse. “The bipartisan EIDL Forgiveness Act provides some relief to struggling small businesses when they need it most by helping them save thousands of dollars, allowing them to focus their limited resources on keeping their employees on the payrolls and their doors open.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the lives of hard-working Utahns across the state,” said Curtis. “This is especially the case for the countless small businesses that are the foundation of Utah’s economy. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Forgiveness Act is a perfect example of how we can find pragmatic, bipartisan solutions to help small businesses across the country overcome the current set of circumstances and continue serving their communities without further interruption.”
“Having my EIDL advance forgiven would be amazing! My wife and son and I have been working day and night to keep our family run business alive,” said Gerald Trainor, owner of Two Hands Paperie in Boulder, Colorado. “If this bill passes, it would pay for 2 months of our rent and help us save the business we have worked so hard to grow.”
“MenuTrinfo is a women-owned business that has been hit hard by the coronavirus shutdowns,” said Betsy Craig, owner of MenuTrinfo in Fort Collins. “We were grateful to receive a $7,000 EIDL advance, which we thought was a gift from the government to help us stay alive. To turn around and realize that we owed that money back because we got a PPP loan was a real punch in the gut. Every little bit matters right now.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act established an emergency grant program, the EIDL Advance, which provided eligible businesses with $1,000 per employee up to a maximum of $10,000 to be used to keep employees on the payroll and other business expenses. If a small business received an EIDL Advance and a PPP loan, the Small Business Administration (SBA) deducts the PPP loan forgiveness amount by the amount of the EIDL Advance. The EIDL Forgiveness Act ensures that the amount of PPP loan forgiveness a small business receives shall be determined without regard to any amount the small business received under the EIDL Advance.
To date, all available funds for the EIDL Advance have been allocated. As of July 15, 2020, 5,781,390 EIDL Advances were disbursed for a total of $20,000,000,000. For Colorado small businesses, a total of 87,334 EIDL Advances were disbursed for a total of $267,687,000.
CONTACT: Lisa Bianco


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A study conducted by Lotlinx, a deep-linking inventory platform for the auto industry, and released in late January 2014, found that deep-linking delivers twice as many real shoppers and twice the shopping engagement of traditional search engine marketing campaigns.
In the mobile space, Criteo,TapCo
“We have seen deep linking drive significant performance improvements for our retail, travel, and media subscription clients. Guiding consumers to the most relevant section of an app from an ad is a huge marketing win, and this new standard makes it easy for app developers big and small to drive more revenue,” explains Evan Schwartz, CEO, ActionX, which provides tools that drive mobile revenue.The Mobile Deeplinking Project aims to provide consistent, high-quality resources to help mobile app publishers create effective, seamless cross-media user experiences and marketing campaigns. According to the Mobile Deeplinking Project, deep linking in the mobile context is a methodology for launching a native mobile application via a link, and can connect unique links to a defined action in a mobile app, seamlessly linking users to relevant content.
|Source: Mobile Deeplinking Project website|


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Commuters train sights on first class
Thought only residents of affluent suburbs prefer to travel in first-class compartments? Think again.Updated: May 06, 2011 02:14 IST
Thought only residents of affluent suburbs prefer to travel in first-class compartments? Think again.
Figures of 2009-10 and 2010-11 procured from the Western Railway (WR) show that there has been a considerable rise in the number of commuters boarding the first-class compartment beyond Borivli station.
According to statistics, the number of commuters boarding trains from Borivli after purchasing tickets and season passes has gone up by 22% and 0.20% respectively in 2010-11.
Interestingly, Nalasopara registered the maximum sale of tickets with a 40% increase, while sale of season passes rose by 29%.
“There is a demographic shift in the sale of first-class tickets and monthly passes. It is now more towards the north after Andheri station,” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief PRO, WR.
Housing projects on the Bhayander-Virar belt seem to have taken the crowd to the far suburbs. The number of card ticket sales at Virar went up by 31%, while Bhayander saw a 29% rise.
There has also been a 37% increase in the number of people purchasing tickets and passes at Jogeshwari station. “Due to the ongoing Metro rail work, many commuters find it difficult to reach Andheri station and hence go to Jogeshwari,” said a WR official, adding that sale of one season ticket is equivalent to 50 card tickets.
There has been a negative growth in the number of commuters travelling to and from Churchgate. There is –0.14% difference in purchase of card tickets and sale of season tickets has dropped by -1.06%.
However, Dadar station is the most crowded and registered a 25% rise in sale of tickets.


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India doubles STB tax
December 18, 2017
By Chris Forrester
India has slapped a 20 per cent import tariff on set-top boxes, up from 10 per cent, as part of its scheme to encourage more local production.
Most locals see the move as a means of curbing the supply of equipment from China. Typically, the country imports about 10 million STBs a month, while the cable industry in general needs about 20 million units a month as the nation moves from analogue to digital distribution.
There is also a Goods & Service Tax (GST) on set-top boxes (and other electrical items) to be paid.
Part of the demand for high-specified boxes comes from players such as Netflix which want to see their ‘App’ included in a STBs menu options.


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US payday lender Enova has been fined $15 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Burea (CFPB) and banned from offering short-term loans in the wake of "widespread illegal conduct".
The consumer watchdog says the online lender withdrew funds from customers’ bank accounts without their permission, made deceptive statements about loans, and cancelled loan extensions.
Enova is a repeat offender in this regard, having been docked $3.2 million in 2019 and ordered to clean up its act.
For violating that order and continuing to break the law, Enova is now banned from offering certain consumer loans, must provide redress to the consumers it harmed, and is required to tie executive compensation to the company’s compliance with federal consumer financial protection laws.
“Enova decided to keep flouting the law after it was caught taking advantage of its customers, and violated a law enforcement order,” says CFPB director Rohit Chopra. “Today’s action imposes a $15 million penalty, bans the company from certain lines of business, and reforms executive compensation.”
In reponse, the firm says that the issues affected a small portion of its customers and arose from "unintentional technical systems and processing errors which have since been addressed".
Ranning Li, president of consumer lending at Enova comments: "We take any errors in our systems very seriously, especially those that impact our customers, and will continue to invest in our technology, systems and compliance processes to prevent, identify and ensure appropriate resolution of errors."


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Do your homework if you want grass-fed meat
Though it started as a small Crystal River Valley operation, the Carbondale-based Crystal River Meats is now the biggest producer of grass-fed beef and lamb in Colorado. But the company has had some real battles to overcome in the grass-fed livestock industry.
You want to get a hold of some straight-forward grass-fed American beef? It’s not as simple as reading the label.
Crystal River Meats, run by the Jacober family, has seen remarkable growth since about 2010. Originally started in the Crystal River Valley with a few cattle, the company’s operation has expanded dramatically in recent years, and its main property of about 7,000 acres has been in the San Luis Valley since 2014. The company still runs cattle on Forest Service leases in Coal Basin west of Redstone and in Eagle County, and its headquarters is in Carbondale. Crystal River Meats also leases land in New Mexico for weaning calves.
Tai Jacober, the company’s CEO, describes the ranch as “more of an ecosystem for cattle” that just a farm.
In 2014, the company spent a lot of time researching agricultural land that made business sense for a large commodity farm, said Jacober. They eventually landed on the San Luis Valley in central southern Colorado. In the San Luis Valley, the livestock graze on a variety of crops, including oats, rye grass, field peas, kale and radishes.
Their system of rotational grazing attempts to be ecologically beneficial in full circle. This is a system that benefits the soil, which then benefits the crops and then benefits the cattle and the environment overall. According to the company, the farm produces about 90 percent of the feed its cattle requires.
“Our goal was to try to be more local and try to keep it a small, sustainable business,” said the company CEO. “In agriculture, you have to be an economy of scale. So we quickly outgrew this valley, in terms of size, to make a living. And it’s still quite challenging to turn a profit,” he said.
“But it’s been exciting. We have a great team, and it’s fun to be on the forefront and leading the way in a new industry,” said Jacober.
Along its path to booming expansion, the company has had to battle an industry practically built to deceive customers, he said. There are some serious problems with the market, and they revolve around consumers not knowing what they’re actually getting.
A great deal of politics surrounds the industry, and Jacober said that has been one of the company’s biggest challenges.
Many companies trying to compete in the industry are selling products that are not what they claim to be, and the law allows these deceptive practices, he said. Jacober called it “label washing.”
Part of that battle is against the labeling requirements for “grass-fed” beef. There is no U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for grass-fed meat, said Jacober. Basically, if a rancher has spent any amount of time feeding the cattle grass, even if the bulk of its life it was not, that product can still be labeled grass-fed.
“There are a lot of big players who are feeding their cattle traditionally and still calling them grass-fed,” said Jacober.
A second battleground regards where your meat comes from, and how you would know that information.
With imported meat, there is no longer a requirement to label the meat by its country of origin. In 2015, Canada and Mexico successfully pressured the U.S. to remove its country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. In fact, the packaging you’re looking at might even say it’s from the United States.
Meat is often imported to the United States in bulk form, then it is processed into smaller cuts here. That’s all a company has to do to call it a product of the USA, said Jacober.
About 80 percent of the meat products called grass-fed in the country are imported, he said. “And the consumer has no idea.” Once it’s shipped in, you can mislabel it as a U.S. product because it was manufactured in the U.S.
This is a problem, not just because it isn’t transparent, but because of the process that meat goes through to get here. Imported meat will generally come on a boat, and it’ll be at least 30 days from the time of slaughter until it gets to the U.S., so it has to be frozen, said Jacober. Some of these are coming from as far away as Uruguay and Australia into your national retail grocery stores, he said. “So there’s no transparency in what the consumer is really buying.”
Some legal efforts are underway to combat both issues.
Last month the Ranchers-Cattlemen Legal Action Fund, United Stockgrowers of America filed a lawsuit against the USDA over the country-of-origin labeling, and there are also lawsuits in play over “grass-fed” labeling requirements.
So what’s a consumer who just wants some grass-fed, all-American beef or other meat to do?
“The most important thing a consumer can do is look for third-party auditing,” said Jacober.
Crystal Valley Meats, for example, has the American Grassfed Association backing its products as grass-fed. To get that backing requires the producer to follow strict guidelines for animal welfare and diet, he added.
And if you want to support domestic meat producers, you can look for labels that explicitly state that the meat was born, raised and harvested in the U.S.
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“Turn off the lights! Turn off the lights!” the crowd yelled as Joseph Thompson stood behind his music mixing board and flashing strobe lights inside the school gym during Thursday night’s special halftime performance on…


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For Immediate Release: January 8, 2015
WINNIPEG, MB – Red River College showcases its latest applied research in food innovation at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, this time incorporating bean flours and purees into healthy familiar dishes.
The showcase, entitled ‘Plating Pulses’ is the product of a research partnership between the College and the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association Inc. (MPGA), a not-for-profit organization representing 3,000 Manitoba farmers of edible pulses such as soybeans, dry beans and peas.
“We are thrilled with the work the College has been doing to develop nutritional and delicious recipes that demonstrate to consumers how locally produced pulses can be incorporated into their everyday diets,” said Kyle Friesen, MPGA president.
Research has shown that only a half-cup of beans per day can reduce bad cholesterol, help manage hunger, and provide a sustainable source of protein.
“That is why we partnered with College,” said Friesen. “We know about the amazing health benefits of pulses, but we wanted to create more awareness among consumers and the Manitoba food industry by modifying traditional dishes that feature pulses, without affecting the taste or texture of the food.”
The dishes showcased include perogies made from bean flour dough, chicken potpie with a bean flour crust, and crème bruléewith half the fat cut using navy bean puree.
“This showcase is an excellent example of the role that our culinary institute plays in supporting the growth of Manitoba’s food producers,” said Ray Hoemsen, director, Applied Research and Commercialization, Red River College. “Along with training the culinary innovators of tomorrow, RRC provides a wealth of applied research resources for local businesses, including recipe development, test marketing, and demonstrations.”
Red River College’s Paterson GlobalFoods Institute opened in 2013 and was supported with funding from the Paterson Foundation and Western Economic Diversification Canada to fill an innovation gap for food product development and service in Manitoba.
“Our Government is pleased to support the applied research being conducted at Red River College through the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute. The partnership between RRC and the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association demonstrates how locally grown produce and grains can be transformed into healthy and delicious foods,” said the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.
Winnipeg is becoming a true leader in culinary excellence, with the recent opening of Red River College’s Paterson GlobalFoods Institute. World-class instruction, cutting-edge technology and partnerships with key industry players prepare RRC students to become the next generation of influencers in the fields of culinary arts, professional baking and patisserie and hospitality and tourism management.


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Congratulations to John Brockman who celebrates his 70tiest birthday today. He is the pioneer of the Third Culture and it's most important agent connecting the most influencial minds of our times. His range spans from from Warhol's factory, many brilliant books to Edge.org. Here a hommage published on FOCUS online today.
Where Twitter trending comes from and why media brands seem to be important, HP study published on mashable http://on.mash.to/e2GY1Q
Max Levchin of Slide / Google on air why Facebook could become the most valuable company in the world, http://read.bi/gjkgAq; currently Apple is th most valuable tech company by a 100bn US.
Congrats to DLD friend and speaker Ilya Laurs of cross app platform Getjar for raising his new 25 m US round http://tcrn.ch/hyiQUz
Deep and thorough piece in TC on Apple's new app subscription model and what it means for consumers and publishers, http://tcrn.ch/f14T6J


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- 2 min read
ITIC Summit concludes successful return of live and in-person ATM
At the summit, decision makers, professionals and investors discussed the challenges, issues, opportunities, but more importantly the way forward for the tourism industry in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Middle East Tourism Summit, organised by International Tourism and Investment Conference (ITIC) in partnership with Arabian Travel Market 2021, rounded off the Middle East region’s largest travel and tourism showcase by calling for continued collaboration at government level to support the recovery of the tourism industry in the Middle East. The comments came ahead of ATM Virtual, which takes place from May 24-26.
“Governments must come together. They must work together. There is no sense in any country working on its own anymore,” said Taleb Rifai, Chairman, ITIC and former Secretary General UNWTO.
The summit, which will also take place virtually on May 27, was held under the theme ‘Invest-Rebuild-Restart the tourism industry in the Middle East’ and attended by high-level decision makers, professionals and investors who discussed the challenges, issues, opportunities, but more importantly the way forward for the tourism industry in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The summit also focused on green sustainable investment, underscoring a new vision for responsible tourism recovery.
“Putting sustainability at the heart of the future development of the tourism industry in the Middle East will be crucial to meet the expectations of local and international visitors, who are now more socially aware and informed, than ever before. The industry has undoubtedly made huge strides in this area, with a range of initiatives across the sector positively impacting the environment,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market.
Elsewhere on the conference agenda on the final day of ATM, was a session entitled ‘East Meets West: Lessons Learned Leading to Recovery and On-going Resilience’ with guest panelists from industry associations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
The overwhelming consensus was that it is extremely important that countries and destinations work together to share best practice and align protocols in order to get global travel restarted seamlessly and safely, a point reiterated by aviation experts earlier at ATM. According to the panel, the most pressing issues making the current situation so challenging for the industry is the fact that the situation remains unpredictable and there is a lack of clarity, which makes medium to long term planning very difficult.
Another popular seminar was a hotel summit session about the challenges to traditional hospitality, brought on by social distancing and the increased reliance on technology – impersonal by nature. A panel consisting of hospitality leaders, agreed that nothing would replace genuine hospitality, rather guests would decide what level of human interaction they were comfortable with – balancing safety with personal attention while maximising the efficiency of technology without compromising on service excellence.


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London’s landlords are declaring war on vehicle deliveries, amid fears that overcrowded and polluted streets are jeopardising business.
Property heavyweights fear that worsening congestion is driving commuters, shoppers and tourists away from major destinations in the capital, as the rise of online purchasing leads to ever more delivery vans, motorbikes and lorries.
Moves to pedestrianise entire streets and cut down on delivery orders are among the steps being taken to ease congestion, as landlords and councils worry that congestion in many parts of the capital has reached breaking point.
“In the West End there is a sense that it is already very crowded, and with Crossrail opening, there’ll be a lot more people. It’s a real problem…you’ve got endless delivery vehicles and private packages, and more Ubers cruising around and waiting for a fare,” according to Brian Bickell, the boss of West End giant The Shaftesbury Group.


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Mysuru, January 23:- Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and MSME organised Gem portal and public procurement policy on Wednesday.
Former president of FKCCI Sudhakar S Shetty inaugurated the event.
“Though there is 3 per cent reservation for state industrialists in MSME, state and central government tenders, none of the industries has participated. Though 4 per cent reservation is available for SC and ST section, only 0.2 per cent have made use of it. All these benefits are available in documents, but not in reality due to lack of publicity and awareness among industrialists by the government and government officials,” he said.
“Women entrepreneurs should be given higher prominence. 50 per cent of Indian population is women, women entrepreneurs are not getting encouragement. Women empowerment should not be limited to speeches and documents. The district in-charge minister should discuss with industrialists and merchants once in every three months to know their requirements. MCCI, APMC, Hotel Owners’ Association should hold a discussion with the district in-charge minister,” he advised.
Satish of MCCI, Suman S Raju and others were present. (MR/GK)


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Media, Entertainment and Gaming
Streaming21, a provider of broadcast-quality streaming solutions, and Cool.revo, an IPTV system integrator in Japan, have entered into a new system integration partnership to develop and market end-to-end IPTV and video-on-demand (VoD) solutions for providers of telecom, broadband and content services as well as hotel operators in Japan. The solutions will include streaming server, set-top box (STB), DRM, middleware and networking. Streaming21 provides interactive IPTV and digital home solutions over fixed-mobile-convergence (FMC) and open networks.
Skype Technologies has entered into a partnership with Excite Japan Co., an Internet portal operator, to offer co-branding software for personal computer-based phone calls. Under the agreement, registered users worldwide will be able to make free phone calls via their PCs by downloading software free of charge. The deal will also allow users to make calls to fixed-line and cellular phones at flat-rate charges. Skype said it has selected Excite Japan as the partner after its contract with Livedoor Co. has been terminated. With Excite Japan having 24 million users, Skype said it aims to increase its users in the country to 10 million from the more than 5 million at present.
NTT DoCoMo Inc has been asked to let Japan Communications Inc set mobile phone rates following a decision by the settlement panel of the communications ministry to allow the newcomer the use of NTT DoCoMo's cellphone network. The ruling is seen as encouraging more firms to enter the mobile phone business, stimulating competition and expanding the variety of services available. Japan Communications is the nation's first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offering wireless data communications services using Willcom Inc's personal handy-phone system (PHS) network. Earlier, the company said it is looking to work with NTT DoCoMo's network in order to expand its business.
Willcom, one of the largest Little Smart service operators in Japan, announced that it will work with China Netcom, a Chinese communications operator, on promoting the Personal Handset System (PHS) within China. Willcom said it has already signed an agreement that will enable the two companies to cooperate on research and technology of services. The agreement includes the introduction of data communications services in the Chinese market. Under the alliance, Willcom will provide technology support to China Netcom's Little Smart online data communications service and may also cooperate with China Netcom on the new generation of PHS. Originally from Japan, PHS is widely used in China and has up to 100 million users in the country.
According to media sources, Sri LankaÆs Supreme Court has advised Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp to invite transparent bids if it is to go through with its plan to dispose of two-thirds of its 35.2% stake in Sri Lanka Telecom. According to a separate report, NTT was aiming to sell a 25.3% stake in SLT to Malaysia's Usha Tegas Group. This deal was stopped after a public interest case was filed, which alleged that NTT had arbitrarily handpicked the Malaysian buyer without issuing an invite for open bids.
Sanyo Electric plans to undertake a major investment in its battery business. The decision is part of the companyÆs new business plan and will be made over three years from April 2008. Sanyo said it will spend Ñ100 billion to boost production. Sanyo remains the worldÆs top maker of lithium-ion batteries used in notebook computers and mobile phones.
Aeon Co, a major supermarket chain, plans to introduce electronic gift certificates at all of its outlets in Japan The company said it plans to make electronic gift cards available at about 23,000 outlets across Japan and has set a target to issue some 2.5 million cards in the first year. Aeon becomes the first company in Japan to offer the said type cards that can be used to buy different kinds of goods. The magnetic cards will be available in denominations of Ñ1,000 ($9.2) and will be worth up to Ñ100,000 yen each. The cards will come in 14 colors and be sold with special cases so that they can be used on ceremonial occasions, which is close to the Japanese tradition of gift-giving.
Aiphone Co. said it has developed a system to provide condominium residents with emergency earthquake information through intercoms. The system, which it aims to sell, installs a machine in a building that receives information from meteorological authorities on a possible quake via the Internet. The device then immediately calculates when and where it is likely to hit the site as well as its expected intensity. The machine is designed to inform residents in the building of calculated data through intercoms. It can also automatically bring elevators to the nearest floor to so that people will not be trapped in case of an earthquake.
According to media sources, the governments of South and North Korea, through their prime ministers, have agreed to set up Internet, wire and mobile phone services including mobile phones in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea. Under the agreement, the two parties will allow the free movement of South Korean people and vehicles in the complex starting next month. The move is aimed at expanding inter-Korean economic cooperation. The agreement is also expected to enable exchanges of video calls starting next year and the completion of the construction of a family reunion centre at Mount Geumgang soon.
NCsoft announced the release of a series of social-networking services from Openmaru, an in-house software studio. The company said it will also increase its investment in the online services sector, which is dominated by big portal operators such as Naver, Daum and SK Communications. The four services launched by Openmaru are MyIDnet, Life Pod, Spring Note and Rolling List. The first two are personal data and schedule management programs, while the latter two are social-networking services where users can share a single notebook for business or personal purposes. NCsoft is South Korea's largest computer and video game producer in terms of revenue, with sales of W161 billion ($173 million) in the latest quarter.
Foxconn plan to spend $12.8 million to acquire 74,999 shares of Diabell, a South Korean mobile phone manufacturer. Foxconn said the investment is aimed at improving its own design and manufacturing capacity of key mobile phone components. DiabellÆs clients include Motorola, Samsung and LG. Foxconn is the trade name of TaiwanÆs Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Ltd.). The acquisition is expected to be completed before January 3, 2008.
Media, Entertainment and Gaming
NHN USA, the US subsidiary of South KoreaÆs largest Internet company, NHN, announced the premium service launch of Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu for PCs on its ijji.com site. Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu is a political and economic MMORPG (massively multi-player online roll-playing game) which allows players to choose their profession as a warrior, artisan, or politician. According to the CEO of NHN USA, the combination of politics and economics is a unique twist from traditional MMORPGs.
According to NIDA (National Internet Development Agency), GAMEVIL came out top among all game companies in South Korea in wireless portal rankings in the month of October this year. With 309,855 visits from January 2007 to August 2007, GAMEVIL ranked 7th overall among all mobile portals. Analysts say that the WINC address played a huge role in this. Industry observers note that GAMEVIL is using 555, which is convenient for the end user to remember since the number is in the centre of the keypad. WINC addresses are just like URLs or short codes that were adopted to enable easier access to a companyÆs wireless portals. The mobile portal with the largest amount of visits turned out to be the Bus Information Service in Daegu, with 2.1 million visits, followed by GyungGi Bus Information Service, with 973,031 hits. The most popular search engine company in the country, Naver, was ranked No. 3 with 640,592 visits during October. Daum, another popular search engine, was ranked 5th with 467,056 visits. Among game companies, Com2Us was ranked 9th, garnering 191,347 visits.
According to media sources, KT has enabled its MegaTV IPTV service to be accessible via the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3), using the games console as a set-top box. Industry observers say this is the first time IPTV services will be delivered to a games console. Available in the country since June this year, the MegaTV service only requires subscribers to update their PS3 console to the latest V2.0 firmware version and click on the MegaTV icon which is created in the XMB (Cross media bar) after the upgrade is complete. Sony Computer Entertainment Korea (SCEK) has developed software called Broadcasting Engine to allow the PS3 to support the IPTV service. The software allows the user to connect to the Internet to surf the web while watching the TV service. Microsoft is also reportedly working with various tier one telecom operators worldwide, such as BT in the UK, to enable IPTV services using its Mediaroom platform to be delivered to its own Xbox 360 games console by the end of this year
According to media sources, Prime View International (PVI), a Taiwanese maker of small display panels, is in negotiations to buy a 3G LCD plant from South Korea's Hydis. Prime ViewÆs move is seen as a way to get new supply sources to meet strong demands for the flexible displays for electronic books that it makes. Prime View and other companies are developing and producing a new generation of thin electronic displays, or e-paper, that need no added light source to read. e-paper is used in handheld e-books that allow several books to be downloaded onto them. Prime ViewÆs clients include Amazon and Sony Corp.
Magnachip Semiconductor Ltd., a provider of analogue and mixed signal semiconductor products for high volume consumer applications, has initiated the marketing of a new line of power management solutions. The products are designed for applications such as mobile phones and LCD TVs. For mobile device applications, Magnachip's product design is focused on improving battery life. For LCD televisions, the company has focused its product design on controlling and reducing standby power consumption.
PayPal disclosed that it is cooperating with China International Travel Service (CITS) to offer a new payment service on CITS' web site. Under the partnership, CITS clients will be able to use their personal PayPal accounts, a debit card, a bank account or a credit card to pay for the services. PayPal provides payment services in 17 currencies in 190 countries and regions across the world.
Google announced the formal release of a new mobile phone short message search product in China. Google said the service can provide information to millions of Chinese. The product will enable mobile phone users to make inquiries about such information as stocks, weather forecasts, train schedules, language translation and contact details for restaurants and allows them to get a short message reply with the search result. Google said it will not charge any fee from mobile phone users for this service. The clients will only need to pay the regular SMS fee to the mobile service operators. Google indicated that it plans to add more search functions soon.
Qunar, a Chinese Internet travel search engine, has received a round of financing worth $10 million, according to media sources. The company has previously received funds from GSR Ventures and Mayfield and this time Lehman Brothers Private Equity Partners led the financing. The reports indicated that Qunar will be using the funds to attract more clients from all over China. Qunar operates as a meta-search engine that aggregates and provides Chinese-language search results of travel deals around China.
Alibaba.com announced the official launch of Alimama, an online advertising exchange designed to enable web publishers and advertisers to trade online advertising inventory. Alimama is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group. Industry analysts see Alimama as a response to the needs of the countryÆs fragmented market for online advertising. Fresh from its 100-day beta period, Alimama is expected to be one of ChinaÆs largest online advertising exchange platforms.
Alipay, the largest electronic payment service in China, has decided to enter the Taiwan market through its partnership with Taiwan-based eDynamics. The move is part of AlipayÆs efforts to help users in China to do online shopping in Taiwan. Alipay is a member of ChinaÆs Alibaba Group. eDynamics provides e-commerce and online marketing services specifically for small enterprises and individuals in Taiwan.
China Telecom has decided to launch its own IM service following similar initiatives by China Mobile, China Unicom and China Netcom. China MobileÆs IM service is dubbed Fetion. Local media sources indicated that China Telecom is working on the research and development of the IM software.
Media, Entertainment and Gaming
Hurray! Holding Co, a China-based artist development and wireless music company, has decided to merge with Enlight Media, a China-based independent entertainment production company. Under the agreement, Enlight shareholders will receive the equivalent of 15.7 million American Depositary Shares, which will given them a 42% stake in Hurray!. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008. The newly formed entity is called Hurray Enlight. Separately, Hurray! reported total revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 were $13.6 million, representing a 6.5% decrease from the preceding quarter, and a 23.9% decrease from the third quarter in 2006. Total wireless value-added services revenues were $11.4 million, a decline of 10.7% from the previous quarter and decline of 30.6% from the third quarter of 2006. Recorded music revenues were $2.2 million, an increase of 22.8% from the previous quarter and 47.8% from the third quarter of 2006. The net loss was $11.5 million and the net margin a negative 84.7%, compared with a positive margin of 1.3% in the second quarter and 9.0% for the third quarter of 2006.
Sohu has secured an advertising contract for ChinaÆs CCTV following a long intense bidding process against traditional industry competitors. According to reports, Sohu has spent more than Rmb20 million ($2.7 million) on the 7.5 seconds of advertising that is expected to be aired before the nightly half-hour news broadcast and before the weather forecast. Industry observers see CCTVÆs bidding for advertising space as a sign of increasing competition among portal web sites for the Beijing Olympics.
Giant Interactive, a Chinese online game developer reported a 164.2% surge in its net revenues for the third quarter of 2007 to Rmb405.2 million ($54.7 million) over the third quarter of 2006. The companyÆs net income increased 152.6% to Rmb290.2 million ($39.1 million).
China Academy of Telecommunication Technology (CATT) is selling a 13% stake of Datang Mobile, the leading Chinese 3G technology firm, for Rmb1 billion ($133 million) to cover a capital shortage. Media sources indicate that PICC is interested in acquiring a 15% stake for Rmb1.5 billion ($202.7 million). Other interested investors were said to include China Yangtze Power, China Life Insurance and Ping An Insurance, which are reportedly all aiming to shell out Rmb1 billion ($135.1 million) each. Datang Mobile, a subsidiary of Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group, is a major proponent of China's TD-SCDMA standard.
According to media sources, China Mobile will start the bidding for the first batch of TD mobile phones in late December or early January 2008. The company said it plans to buy about 300,000 to 400,000 TD mobile phones to be used mainly for testing and optimising TD networks and testing the mobile phone performance of each TD maker. The testing is in preparation for the companyÆs large-scale outsourcing planned for 2008. The bidding will take place while the company is conducting a TD test in some eight cities across the country. China Mobile plans to spend a total of about Rmb3 billion ($504.4 million) to Rmb4 billion for 2 million to 3 million TD mobile phones.
Longtop Financial Technologies Limited, a software provider, reported an 80.3% year-on-year rise in its total revenue to $20.2 million in the third quarter, compared to adjusted revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. The company said its software development revenues went up 115.6% year-on-year to $18.2 million. According to its CFO, the strong revenue can be ascribed to its increasingly diversified customer base. The company had its IPO in October this year.
According to the general manager of Lenovo Greater ChinaÆs Commercial Desktop Computer Marketing Department, the company is considering to recruit online agents for its PC products in a response to the significant sales generated online. In a related development, the company said it is in talks with Alibaba on a possible cooperation in selling its products to Alibaba-registered small and medium enterprises.
Intel has entered into an agreement with Digital Video Networks (DVN), a leading Chinese digital TV solutions provider, to work on a double module set-top box (STB) that can support interactive digital services. The agreement is seen as providing Intel an entry into the countryÆs set-top box market. According to the general manager of Intel's Digital Home Group, their new STB is based on Intel's CE2110 processor, which features functions such as high definition film play and PC applications, plus more interactive experiences. According to industry observers, Chinese STBs can be used only for signal conversion.
Shanghai-based Spreadtrum Communications has agreed to pay an estimated $76 million for the acquisition of Quorum Systems, a company that designs CMOS radio frequency transceivers. Spreadtrum is a wireless chip designer. The acquisition is significant amidst speculations that China will soon issue 3G licenses.
Media, Entertainment and Gaming
A total of 15 java mobile games based on popular teenage pop groups, Lollipop and Mei, have been launched in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The games, which are developed and distributed by Artificial Life, Inc., a provider of award-winning mobile 3G technology and applications, and STAR, Asia's leading media and entertainment company, are available for download on Artificial Life's m-commerce portal and via mobile game services of leading telecom operators in Hong Kong. Users in Taiwan can download the mobile games on dedicated Lollipop / Mei Mei web sites. The games will be made available soon as part of the mobile services of major Taiwan telecom operators. STAR is a wholly-owned subsidiary of News Corporation that broadcasts over 60 television services in 10 languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. Artificial Life, Inc. is a public US corporation headquartered in Hong Kong and with offices in Berlin and Tokyo. It is a leading global provider of award winning mobile technology, content, games and applications.
Modelabs Group has launched the first Levi's mobile telephone in Hong Kong with the handset now available in around 40 points of sale in the city. Modelabs designs, develops and markets mobile phone handsets, accessories and services for mobile phone operators, retailers and brands. ModeLabs Group is listed on the Euronext-Paris Eurolist.
Taiwan-based Teco Electric & Machinery has agreed to establish a joint venture in Taiwan with Japan-based Intec and Nihon Technos. The latter two are providers of information/telecommunication technology solutions and IT services. The newly formed entity, tentatively named Tech Intec International, will undertake production of business-use software outsourced mainly from Japan. According to media sources, the joint venture will have an initial capital of NT$56 million ($1.7 million), with Teco holding 60% and Intec and Nihon Technos holding 20% each. The announcement indicated that Teco's Information Systems & Service business group will participate in the operation of the joint venture.
Foxconn International Holdings (FIH), the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) company, said it will invest $500 million to build a new handset manufacturing base in Huizhou in ChinaÆs Guangdong Province. The company said it will put in an initial $100 million for the construction of the plant, which will start at the beginning of 2008. The new plant will require more than 10,000 employees. Huizhou and Guangdong are expected to become the two major bases for FIH in southern China. Currently, FIH has plants in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Hebei in China, in Mexico and in India. It is also planning to build a plant in Vietnam.
Walden International, a US-based venture capital company, plans to invest NT$10 billion ($309 million) in Taiwan over the next 20 years, targeting companies in the component, IC design, re-usable energy, medical and automotive industries. Over the past two decades, Walden in Taiwan has invested 40.2% in electronics and 34.4% in semiconductors. The venture capital firm has invested in 67 companies in the region, including D-Link, Elan Microelectronics, Everlight Electronics, Megic (acquired by International Semiconductor Technology in 2005), Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) and Sigurd Microelectronics.
BenQ, a producer of digital network devices and the DLP projector brand, has unveiled the MP511+ projector in the Indian market. The device has been described as suitable for home and office users, as well as for gaming, movies or corporate presentations.
Indonedia, Malaysia and Singapore
Indonesia's PT Excelcomindo Pratama plans to raise $950 million through the sale of bonds or borrowing to repay existing debt. The company said it aims to boost its wireless services amidst strong market competition. Having obtained approval from its shareholders, the countryÆs No. 3 mobile-phone operator said it will use about $350 million of the funds for expansion, while the rest will be used for debt reduction. Excelcomindo, a company controlled by Telkom Malaysia, is expanding outside the main island of Java to win more customers that may help it counter a decline in prices as competition increases. Excelcomindo is rated BB- by Standard & Poor's, three steps below investment grade. Rival operator PT Indosat also plans to spend $1.2 billion, while Hutchison TelecommunicationsÆ mobile-phone unit will invest HK$4 billion ($514 million) next year to build wireless phone towers and other infrastructure in Indonesia. Hutchison added 1.6 million users in its first six months of operating in Indonesia by offering voice call rates of as low as 150 rupiah (2 US cents) a minute, or half the amount charged by PT Telekomsel. Excelcom, which had 12.8 million subscribers as of September 30, is offering call rates as low as 60 rupiah a minute for bulk users.
Telcordia, a global player in number portability and the development of IP, wireless, and mobile telecommunication software and services, and Unified Communications, a provider of carrier-grade telecommunications products and customised solutions, are ready to bring their number portability solution to Malaysia, industry sources say. The solution, which will be implemented in the first half of 2008, will enable carriers to comply with the countryÆs timeline for the implementation of mobile number portability. In March this year, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that a consortium composed of Talian Gerak Alih, Unified Communications, and Telcordia had been selected to build, operate and manage the Mobile Number Portability Clearinghouse in Malaysia.
Singapore-based conglomerate ST Electronics has entered into an agreement to acquire Telematics, a 55% subsidiary of Israel-based Ituran Location and Control Ltd. The move is seen as a bid by ST Electronics to up its current offerings in the telematics solutions market. ST Electronics said it looks to enter the market for M2M application and wireless telemetry. Telematics develops radio frequency technology and wireless solutions for the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) industry. Under the agreement, Ituran will get royalties for the next five years on the revenues earned by Telematics' business in Korea and China. Telematics will continue to provide its location technology to Ituran and in return will receive consultation and knowledge-sharing from the company for the next 10 years.
Singapore Technologies Telemedia (STT) has rejected a ruling by the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) that Temasek Holdings is guilty of cross-share ownership in Indonesian telecommunications companies, PT Telkomsel and PT Indosat. According to STTÆs CEO, KPPU's ruling had triggered the question of whether foreign investors could be confident and secure about their investment in Indonesia.


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Game developers responsible for mega-hit franchises like Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and NieR are all interested in exploring NFTs.
NFTs and blockchain are gaming's latest craze. Any new multi-million dollar business model turns heads (just look at how microtransactions have grown), and Ubisoft is pioneering NFTs with its widely-unpopular Quartz program. Square Enix is set to expand further into the NFT market following the success of its Shi‐San‐Sei Million Arthur digital collectibles.
In a recent interview with Famitsu, multiple high-profile Square Enix developers have expressed interest in NFTs. While no plans have been set in stone, developers like Yoshinori Kitase (Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger), Yosuke Saito (NieR franchise), and Dragon Quest alum Noriyoshi Fujimoto all want to see what happens in this lucrative million-dollar market.
This fits perfectly with Square Enix's recent comments that it may release a "robust entry" in blockchain gaming.
"It will be interesting to see how new technologies such as NFT and Metaverse will be involved in the game world!" Kitase said. Right now Kitase is helping Square Enix's internal development team work on Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2.
Dragon Quest director Noriyoshi Fujimoto says we should look out for NFTs in 2022:
"NFT digital assets...There are many issues such as legislation, and I think there are still many [growing pains in 2022], but it seems that interesting game ideas will be born. It seems that new values will be born in the world in three or four years."
Then there's NieR's Yousuke Saito, who outright says he wants to experiment with NFTs:
"I'm curious about NFT-related content and games. I think that new play is from new technology, so now I want to do something with NFT."
The Japanese market is uniquely aligned with NFTs due to the popularity of collectibles and the massive recognition of entertainment properties. If handled correctly, Square Enix could tap a new lucrative domestic business model and eventually translate that overseas.
At the same time, Square Enix has failed to capture specific segments of the games industry, namely monetization in full-priced video games. The badly-received microtransactions in Deux Ex Mankind Divided come to mind. However, Square Enix has been incredibly successful in the MMORPG live service market with Final Fantasy XIV's ongoing content expansions.
- > NEXT STORY: Miyagi-Do, Eagle Fang, and Cobra Kai outfits sweep Fortnite
- < PREVIOUS STORY: Koei Tecmo will unleash its true power in 2022 with big new games


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Say it isn't true! Jared Leto appears to be
off the market as he goes late-night grocery shopping with stunning female companion
Sorry ladies, but it appears that Jared Leto may finally be off the market.
The man with the best hair in showbiz was spotted picking up groceries with a pretty female companion at Whole Foods Market in West Hollywood on Wednesday night.
Despite rumours that he had his sights set on A-listers Lupita Nyong'o, Miley Cyrus and even Katy Perry, it seems the 42-year-old has actually opted for an unknown beauty.
Scroll down for video
And a million hearts around the world break... It appears that Jared Leto may be off the market, spotted picking up groceries with a pretty female companion at Whole Foods in West Hollywood on Wednesday night
The pair certainly seemed to be hiding something as they made their way separately through the parking lot to their car after being spotted inside the supermarket picking up several bags of supplies and a large pizza, which the Oscar-winner paid for and wheeled in the shopping trolley.
They stood close together as their purchases were rung up at the checkout, with the pretty brunette looking a little coy, biting her lip, one arm crossed over her body as she gazed sweetly at her rumoured beau.
Indeed, the Thirty Seconds To Mars frontman appeared comfortable and relaxed around his apparent date, enough so that he was dressed casually for the outing.
He paired black pants with scruffy faded black sneakers, a grey top and black jacket.
He wore his signature long ombre tresses down in loose waves and was sporting quite a substantial shaggy growth of facial hair.
Cosy date night at home: The Oscar-winner was dressed casually in black pants, scruffy faded black sneakers, a grey top and black jacket as the pair picked up several bags of supplies and a large pizza, while they walked separately to their car in an effort to avoid being seen together
His companion wore a short black dress that exposed her long, toned legs, black buckled biker boots and a trendy dark teal snakeskin leather jacket.
She added a pop of colour in the form of a bright yellow handbag, which she wore on a long strap over one shoulder.
locks were pulled back from her pretty face in a messy low bun, while
she appeared to be wearing only a minimal, natural covering of make-up
on her already flawless complexion.
private when it comes to his personal life, the star usually takes
brother Shannon Leto
or even his mom, Constance Leto, as his date to red-carpet events.
One week ago, on May 1, however, he flew solo as he attended the first annual iHeartRadio Music Awards, where he accepted the Best New Artist Award on behalf of New Zealand songstress Lorde.
Acting coy: The pretty brunette was stylish in a black dress that exposed her long, toned legs, black buckled biker boots and a trendy deep teal snakeskin leather jacket, paired with a neon yellow handbag, while she wore her long tresses in a messy low bun and sported only a fresh covering of make-up
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FORD AND CITY OF SEATTLE TEAM UP TO PREPARE CITY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
- Ford and the City of Seattle will work together to develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary demand.
- The partnership between Ford and the City of Seattle also includes working with state and local governments around permitting, support for electric vehicle tax incentives and future legislations or regulations.
- Over the next two years, Ford will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the Ford Focus Electric passenger car, two third generation lithium-ion battery hybrids (2012) and a plug-in hybrid (2012).
- Earlier this week, Ford and Portland General Electric announced a similar relationship to help the city of Portland, Ore. get ready for electric vehicles.
SEATTLE: August 26, 2010 – Ford Motor Company and the City of Seattle today announced a partnership to help prepare the city for the operation of electric vehicles. Ford and the City of Seattle will work together to develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information on charging needs and requirements to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary demand.
“Ford will has a an aggressive plan to bring five new electrified vehicles to market over the next two years including the Transit Connect Electric later this year and the Focus battery electric in 2011,” said Mike Tinskey, Manager of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure, Ford Motor Company. “There is an incredible excitement for electric vehicles in Seattle. To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles in Seattle and across the country, it is important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary infrastructure and demand on the grid are ready.”
The partnership between Ford and the City of Seattle, including municipally owned Seattle City Light, also involves working with the state and local governments around permitting, electric vehicle tax incentives and future legislations or regulations. Continued tax incentives as well as an easy charging station permitting process are both considered keys to electric vehicle acceptance in Seattle and across the country.
“I am pleased Seattle is working to support the environmental benefits of electric vehicles,” Mayor Mike McGinn said. “We are working with Ford to better understand the needs these vehicles will have so we can provide local owners with excellent service to support electric cars.”
Seattle and Seattle City Light have been national leaders in promoting the use of electricity for personal transportation. Their efforts include:
- Participation in one of the country’s largest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle demonstration projects.
- A commitment to respond to home charging station permit applications within three business days. Winning $500,000 in ARRA funding through a Clean Cities Coalition grant, which will enable the City to install at least 50 charging stations on public property.
- Seattle City Light’s fully offsetting its carbon emissions since 2005, the only large utility in the country to achieve carbon neutrality, which means electric cars charged in City Light’s service territory run totally clean.
The collaboration between Ford and the City of Seattle was announced during Ford’s “Charging Into the Future Tour.” The 14-city tour, which kicked off in Portland, Ore. earlier this week, promotes Ford’s electric vehicle strategy and educates consumers about what to expect from electrified automobiles and what is needed from the public and private sector to support this new technology.
Over the next two years, Ford will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the Ford Focus Electric passenger car, two third generation lithium-ion battery hybrids (2012) and a plug-in hybrid (2012).
These vehicles will achieve breakthrough efficiency; some, like the pure battery electric vehicles Ford Transit Connect Electric and Ford Focus Electric, will use no gasoline at all.
Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s overall product sustainability strategy that includes a range of fuel efficient and alternative fuel technologies including EcoBoost engines, six speed transmissions, power assisted steering, aerodynamic improvements and light weighting materials. Ford’s electrification strategy also leverages the most fuel-efficient powertrains, the most technically competent hybrids and our global vehicle platforms in order to develop affordable choices for consumers.
About Ford Motor Company: Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
About Seattle City Light: Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents.


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You may be entitled to some money if you rented a car from Dollar and Thrifty car rental companies.
The state attorney general just announced a settlement with Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., the company that owns the Dollar and Thrifty car rental companies.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Companies owe it to their consumers to be upfront about all of their services and the prices and fees that accompany them. This case not only affected Floridians, but people visiting Florida from all over the country. I am hopeful that this settlement will provide relief to consumers harmed by the company’s actions and prevent future harm.”
The company was accused of not being open about their charges to customers who drive the rental cars through Florida toll lanes that charge tolls based on the license plate.
Some customers faced fees up to $105.
People who rented a car from 2011 until Jan. 7 of this year can get a refund.
© 2019 Cox Media Group


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CARLSBAD, Calif., April 28, 2021—PRESS RELEASE—Vessel Brand, a community-led company focused on uplifting the cannabis consumption experience, announced a new partnership with GAIACA Waste Revitalization in an effort to combat the ongoing waste issue facing the cannabis vape industry. Key retailers on each coast, including Chalice Farms in Oregon and Happy Valley in Massachusetts, will support the initiative.
Vessel Brand offers a high-end line of vape pen batteries and accessories made with quality materials and premium finishes. Helmed by CEO and founder James Choe, Vessel stands apart as a company that puts people and the planet first. Thoughtfully designed with the user experience top-of-mind, Vessel batteries power any oil in style with optimized airflow technology, low-temperature settings and extra-long battery life.
Leading the charge in industry sustainability, Vessel’s batteries last nearly 300 charge cycles, and optimized power settings ensure that users don’t burn through oil too quickly, meaning oils last longer and fewer cartridges and batteries end up in the trash.
By joining forces with GAIACA, a leader in providing compliant and environmentally focused solutions for cannabis waste, Vessel will make it easier for consumers to recycle batteries.
“At Vessel, we are committed to holistic wellness, whether that’s personal wellness, that of the community, or in this case the environment—we believe it is all interconnected and equally important,” Choe said.
Utilizing GAIACA collections services includes:
- Monthly collection of vape pen batteries
- Collection and pre-processing on dispensary premises
- Secure deposit by consumers in a sleek, locked front-of-house collection box
- Back-of-house collection box for dispensary consolidation
Universal waste is then processed through a multistep high-temperature, high-pressure process that separates the batteries into their component materials. Those materials are separated, collected and sold for reuse.
“Our mission is to help operators handle and revitalize their waste in an environmentally friendly manner within this highly regulated market, so they can get back to doing what they do best,” GAIACA co-founder and CEO Jonathan Lee said.
Together, Vessel and GAIACA are committed to addressing the environmental concerns as they pertain to the cannabis vape industry, and this recycling program is an integral step. Apply to become a retailer and join the recycle program here.


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As the era of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence continues to take shape, more companies seem to be making an effort to align themselves with the looming technological revolution.
As such, most of these firms have opted to acquire artificial intelligence-based startups in a bid to take advantage of their already existing AI talent and expertise. Doing so helps to save leading companies a considerable amount of time, which would have been spent playing catch-up with other firms in the artificial intelligence field.
Salesforce sparked headlines regarding its intention to buy the Datorama, the Israeli marketing intelligence firm. The reports highlight the intention to acquire Datorama came two months after Salesforce acquired MuleSoft for$6.8 billion which is the largest ever purchase in the history of the company.
The software giant is said to have signed a definitive agreement to purchase Datorama, a foremost cloud-based, AI-driven analytics, and marketing intelligence platform for publishers, agencies, and businesses. According to the Israeli website CTech, Salesforce is anticipated to pay more than $800 million in cash for the startup.
Datorama prides itself on being a marketing intelligence and analytics company that utilizes insights from artificial intelligence (AI) to assist marketers in understanding which of their marketing campaigns operates and which ones do not.
What’s more, its more than 3000 customers comprise a mixture of global marketing brands and agencies such as Unilever, Ticketmaster, Pernod Ricard, Trivago, Foursquare, and PepsiCo. The company helps these brands in making data-driven decisions faster, automating reporting and optimizing marketing campaigns.
The acquisition of Datorama will help Salesforce in boosting the power of Marketing Cloud with both data intelligence and integration in a bid to allow marketers to unlock insights spread out across all of their data sources and marketing channels.
By leveraging the unified view of both insights and data, companies are in a better position to make smarter decisions across the entire customer journey and improve engagement at scale.
Salesforce will incorporate the marketing intelligence and analytics platform of its Marketing Cloud, which is a small but burgeoning part of the company’s product portfolio. Both Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud and Marketing Cloud, which are integrated into financial disclosures, accounted for only 13% of the company’s $9.7 billion in revenue in fiscal 2018.
Although Datorama has its headquarters in New York, it also boasts offices across the globe including Tel Aviv. After the acquisition, the company’s customers will be in a position to take advantage of the power of the world’s #1 CRM in a bid to take action on both insights and data. In turn, this will allow the delivery of smarter engagement across the complete customer journey.
The recent announcement will help to reinforce the ability of Salesforce to empower brands across the globe in an effort to deliver smarter, more connected and personalized customer experiences. The undertaking complements recent innovations including its recent partnership with Marketing Cloud Einstein capabilities and Google Analytics 360.
Salesforce is a United States cloud computing company based in San Francisco, California. Aside from receiving revenue from its customer relationship management (CRM) product, the company acts as a vendor of commercial applications, particularly those of social networking, through internal development and acquisition.


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Adrien Victor Sauvage is a famous British fashion designer. Microsoft has partnered with Adrien to create world’s first pair of wireless mobile-charging pants. Adrien started experimenting with wearable technology six months back when he came up with this idea as his phone is always dying because of low battery. The prototypes of this pant will be shown at A. Sauvage spring/summer show at London Collections: Men.
Adam Johnson, head of marketing for Nokia Devices who supported this project said, “We don’t see a mass-market opportunity for wireless-charging trousers, We’re just having a bit of a hack, trying to move the wearable technology concept beyond smart watches. This is a world first.”
How does it work?
The front pockets of the pant is fitted with wireless charging plate from the Nokia DC-50. So, once you put your phone inside your pocket, it will start charging.
Read about pricing and availability after the break.
How much does it cost?
Even though it is just a concept for now, Sauvage predicts that the trousers will cost over £200.
When it will be available?
It will now be available to buy for the next three months through Amazon’s fashion store.
via: Business Insider