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The battle for headphone dominance is playing out in video.
It may be no huge surprise Beats by Dre is beating Bose in the race for YouTube dominance, given the discrepancy in brand perception. Beats has usurped Bose as the reigning champion of the premium headphone market: It now captures 61 percent of revenue of $100-plus headphone sales, while Bose’s total has dropped to 22 percent, according to NPD Group data from October. In a word, Beats is to LeBron as Bose is to carpool dads.
Yet the gaping disparity between the two companies’ YouTube channels is even larger, suggesting Beats is capturing more millennial mindshare than its older competitor. Beats’ YouTube success isn’t reflective of its products’ performance — audiophiles consistently decry Beats’ products as overpriced for the quality they deliver — but it does speak to the company’s superior marketing strategy on Google’s video-streaming platform.
The video lineup on Bose’s YouTube channel is eclectic, ranging from how-to content and tech tips to artist interviews and product campaign spots. The official Beats by Dre channel, meanwhile, is filled with video content starring athletes and other celebrities, with a heavier emphasis on branded storytelling than hawking products. Bose became the official headphone sponsor of the NFL last month, but several NFL players have opted to keep wearing their Beats and pay the league fines.
“We find that brands who pick and own a singular theme typically do better at developing a consistent audience on YouTube,” said Mike Henry, CEO of Outrigger Media, which operates YouTube analytics platform OpenSlate. “This is certainly the case with Beats, which converts views to subscribers at a much higher rate than Bose and has more than 10 times the YouTube subscriber base.”
The primary Beats by Dre YouTube channel has 303,000 subscribers, while Bose’s channel has just over 20,000. In aggregate, Beats videos get nearly 17.6 million monthly views, while Bose videos get nearly 2.9 million, according to OpenSlate data.
Yet Bose publishes videos far more regularly: In the last 90 days, Bose posted 179 YouTube videos, while Beats only posted 27. During that period, however, the average Bose video racked up 15,000 views, while the average Beats video attracted 867,000 views, which speaks to a discrepancy in content quality.
Granted, paid promotion across YouTube and other social properties accounts for a portion of that imbalance. Over the last 12 months, Beats spent $3.3 million promoting its YouTube content, while Bose only shelled out $900,000, estimates Strike Social, a certified YouTube data partner that estimates online video spend. (Strike Social’s algorithm separates views stemming from paid ads from organic views, then multiplies the paid views by cost-per-view average for that industry to arrive at an estimated spend per video.)
But even though Beats bought more views, in aggregate, it has far more organic traction than Bose, according to Strike’s data. Roughly 88 percent of Bose’s YouTube views came from paid promotion, compared to around 41 percent for Beats. That dismal ratio suggests Bose desperately needs a new content strategy, said Strike Social CEO Patrick McKenna.
“If Bose doesn’t figure out how to create better content that resonates, Beats is going to flat out crush it, the end,” said McKenna. “Your content isn’t good, you lose.”
Neither Beats nor Bose responded to requests for comment on this article.
More in Marketing
TikTok has officially launched its new e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, earlier this month on August 1. Using the new e-commerce platform, brands and creators can sell products directly on the platform, potentially creating new revenue streams, and tap into the short-form video platform’s growing popularity.
‘The influencer industry can be really vile’: Confessions of an influencer marketer on the industry’s unfair hiring practices
While the influencer industry might sound exciting and like it’s full of opportunities, one marketer can vouch for the horrific scenarios that still take place behind the scenes.
After a tumultuous 12 months, marketers are getting a clear picture of how they really did during a time of true uncertainty. And, as it turns out, it wasn’t all that bad.
Ad position: web_bfu


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|The X5 SAV is the latest locally-assembled BMW variant to be announced by BMW Malaysia. The X5 becomes the 15th variant to be domestically manufactured at BMW Malaysia’s Kulim plant in the Northern State of Kedah.|
Operational since 2008, the BMW Malaysia Assembly Plant in Kulim has been an integral part of the premium automaker’s success in the country with a production run of more than 8,000 units to date. The X5, in xDrive 35i and xDrive 30d versions, is the second variant to be manufactured domestically this year.
New elements for the locally-assembled BMW X5 SAV consists interior upgrades and drivers assistance features
New elements for the CKD X5 are homed in on the interior and Driver Assistant systems. The new BMW X5 xDrive35i now incorporates an electrical Panorama glass roof, 9.2-inch screens as part of the standard rear entertainment package, and additional seats on the third row. And via a remote control, occupants at the back are able to operate the radio, navigation, and with BMW ConnectedDrive, they are able to access BMW Apps or surf the Net.
In addition, the locally-assembled BMW X5 is all about offering a unique range of functionality and an updated range of mobility services. Notable highlights include; the BMW HUD (Head-Up Display), which is now available in the X5 xDrive30d, as well as the Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and City Collision Warning. Lane Departure is based on a video sensor to help drivers keep their attention on the road ahead by recognizing when the vehicle is straying out of lane unintentionally. Forward Collision Warning and City Collision Warning assist to prevent collisions by automatically braking; at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
BMW M’sia Chief Dr. Gerhard Pils commented, “The new BMW X5 is the second locally assembled vehicle we have introduced this year alone, further demonstrating that the expansion of our assembly line is a key strategy in BMW’s production roadmap for the country.”
BMW X5 xDrive 30d and xDrive 35i prices and availability
Scheduled to hit BMW showrooms on 30 and 31 August, the X5 xDrive 35i is priced at RM 579,800.00 and the X5 xDrive30d is RM 539,800.00.
BMW X5 images

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Some shoppers are getting a jump on their holiday gift buying by putting must have items on layaway.
Many stores did away with layaway about 10 years ago, especially when they started offering their own store credit cards but now, as banks are tightening their lending practices, layaway is making a big come back, especially around the holidays.
Michael Moorer is the store manager at Kmart on Nolensville Pike.
He said while they “never got rid of layaway” the retailer saw a decline in the number of customers who used the service.
After all, why wait eight weeks for a must have item when you could simply charge it and take it home right away?
Moorer said his storage rooms are already packed with items that will end up under the tree.
Layaway, he says, is a simple process.
“You come in you pick your purchase. You put at least 10% down, and you have an eight week period to pay on it. It allows our customer to put something on layaway and pay on it a little at a time,” Moorer explained.
Kmart’s success has other retailers bringing back the service or advertising it heavily this holiday season.
Sears, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Toys ‘R Us and Burlington Coat Factory all offer layaway.
Retail experts say in a day when people are budgeting, its easier to pay in small segments versus one lump sum and with out the high interest rates.
- Nov. 24, 2008: Kmart hopes shoppers use layaway during money crunch
- Oct. 23, 2008: Layaway proves popular in trying times


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Facebook might be the social networking platform du jour, but Bebo has always enjoyed a strong following in the UK and Ireland, and is now looking to expand its European footprint by launching new localizations in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Dutch, as well as partnering with both new and established media brands to provide premium content in those langauges. And Bebo isn’t looking to be a walled garden: the service’s Lifestream feature enables users to keep up with their friends and favorites across a wide variety of services, including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and others.
"The social networking audience is growing rapidly and our new sites will allow local users to connect with other users, entertainment and brands, both globally and locally," said Bebo’s international VP Nicole Vanderbilt, in a statement. "The richness of our experience lies in the user’s ability to express him or herself—as evidenced in our new Lifestory feature—and in the ability to connect to people, media and brands through the Lifestream and our Open Media Platform."
Bebo’s media partners for the expansion include AlloCine, RTL’s Clipfish, Telecom Italia-owned Yalp!, Diagonal View, and Preview Networks’ Filmtrailer: AlloCine will launch four channels on Bebo covering TV, movies, and film trailers, along four four channels in the UK. Clipfish will offer channels on Bebo Germany featuring everything from comedy to astrology, while FilmTrailer will offer localized versions of Hollywood releases.
Bebo currently operates in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, and Canada and claims more than 22 million users worldwide.
- Plex launches on the new Apple TV, streams your local media
- Bebo Makes Its Inbox Socially-Aware
- AOL To Buy Bebo for $850 Million
- AOL Launches Local Search Service


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Carbonite, With IPO On the Horizon, Puts New Focus on Consumers and Small Businesses
For years, Carbonite has been one of the compelling stories of the Boston-area tech scene. That story is about to get more compelling in 2011.
The online data-backup company, which launched its consumer service in 2006, has talked openly about its plans to file for an initial public offering later this year. In an in-depth profile last January, my colleague Wade wrote about Carbonite’s approach and history, as well as its broader business and marketing strategy and competition with Mozy (part of Hopkinton, MA-based storage giant EMC).
A year later, it seemed like a good time to check in with Carbonite to see how things are progressing—particularly in regard to the company’s proposed IPO, and its relatively recent move to focus on small businesses as well as consumers. The firm is led by serial entrepreneur and CEO David Friend, who co-founded five previous tech companies: ARP Instruments, Computer Pictures Corporation, Pilot Software, FaxNet, and Sonexis.
“We’re in the final stages of banker selection,” Friend told me a few weeks ago about Carbonite’s IPO progress. “We’re just marching ahead. We’re in no huge rush; we have quite a bit of money. We want to have top name bankers. We just have to continue to execute, continue to bring out new products, and expand internationally.” The prospective IPO, he says, depends mostly on Carbonite’s “ability to show we can do more of what we’re doing.”
Indeed, cash is not an issue for the company, which most recently closed a $20 million Series D venture round about a year ago, and has raised more than $67 million to date. More importantly, Carbonite has been doubling its revenue every year since 2006. The firm has about 160 employees in Boston, plus around 200 other full-time equivalents, Friend says.
Yesterday the company announced a series of promotions and hires to go along with a reorganization around its two main kinds of customers. Swami Kumaresan, formerly vice president of marketing, is now general manager of Carbonite’s consumer group, while Peter Lamson, formerly senior vice president at NameMedia, has joined Carbonite as general manager of its new small business group. And, rounding out the personnel moves, Bill Phelan from Intuit and Richard Surace from PlumChoice have joined Carbonite as vice presidents of product and services, respectively.
Carbonite’s focus on providing online backup for businesses (in addition to consumers) has grown over the past year or so. The significance of yesterday’s news is that the company’s business software has matured to the point where Carbonite needs a separate, dedicated division to sell it. And the company has matured to the point where it needs to work harder to understand its different customer groups.
Business customers already “account for a pretty significant part of our business,” said Friend, who estimated the fraction as between one-third to one-half of Carbonite’s total revenue.
Yet the online backup sector is still relatively young. A huge number of people and businesses—amounting to hundreds of millions of personal computers worldwide—still don’t back up their data in any systematic way. That is where Carbonite and other companies could see growth in the coming years. For now, Friend sees the future of the sector as a two-horse race. “Most of our competitors who tried to scale have fallen by the wayside, except for Mozy,” he says. “Most people don’t have the engineering depth. The problem for a startup these days is, how are you going to get 50 million bucks to be a serious competitor?”
On the topic of his chief competitor, he says, “Mozy is less aggressive in the consumer space than they’ve been in the past. That’s not surprising given the EMC DNA. They will continue to be successful in the business space.” He adds that Carbonite will “compete strongly” there as well, with one of its sweet spots being the “three-person dentist office.” [Disclosure: Mozy provides online backup service for Xconomy—Eds.]
Carbonite also has its eye on other expansion areas, including mobile apps and remote file access technology that lets customers access individual backed-up files over the Web from any computer. “More and more people say, ‘I don’t need to drag my computer everywhere—I can get all my files on every computer anytime, anywhere, on any device,’” Friend says. “The adoption rate of that stuff is really starting to move.”
But the overarching message I heard from Friend was that Carbonite needs to hunker down and focus on what it does well—providing fast and efficient online backup to its customers. “Our bet is just to get to be really, really excellent at what we do. That will provide us with years of runway,” he says. As for the timing of the potential IPO, all he would say is that the company is shooting for later this year.
So, in the meantime, I asked him for his top advice to other entrepreneurs, based on his vast experience with startups. “Do as much market research as you can before you get started,” Friend says. “Talk to customers before you build the product. Build something that looks and feels like a picture-perfect prototype and see what people really think of it. If they don’t like it, change it. If they like it, make it real. And if it starts to sell, worry about the scaling. Most important is to have a product that solves a real problem.”
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After a brisk run-through of new models from all of its many brands, Volkswagen Group closed last night's preview event before the Paris Auto Show with a few words on its plans for plug-in hybrids.
"Many companies are reducing their plans for electric vehicles," said VW Group chief Martin Winterkorn.
"We at Volkswagen don't have to do that; we have always looked rationally at this transition."
"The new powertrain [that is] taking shape as very promising," he said, "is the best of electric and engine power: the plug-in hybrid."
VW Group believes this gives the best flexibilities for drivers and families who need the range of gasoline vehicles to drive on holiday, but want zero-emission capability for a range up to 50 kilometers (31 miles).
"On holiday, there is no alternative to the internal combustion engine," Winterkorn said.
To provide green vehicles that are "economical, refined, comfortable, and flexible," the plug-in hybrid system offers the best blend of capabilities.
"This technology is not pie in the sky," Winterkorn said confidently. "It will soon become a reality on our roads," and he promised that the executives and reporters in the audience would soon be driving them.
Then he dove into a detailed listing of the plug-in cars that would emerge from the group's Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche brands over the next few years.
The list he gave consists of cars that will be introduced in European markets; VW Group's U.S. operations will have to decide which, if any, of them to offer.
Indeed, the first hybrid in a volume segment will be the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, which will arrive in U.S. dealerships later this year.
For Europe, the Audi R8 e-tron and Volkswagen e-Up and e-Golf are already in the works and will hit the roads this year or next, Winterkorn said.
Next year, he continued, will come a Porsche Panamera plug-in hybrid--using the system shown in the Panamera Sport Turismo Concept first unveiled at his event--and also the limited-edition Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid sports car.
Then for 2014, the group will show plug-in hybrid versions of the following vehicles:
- Audi: A3, Q7
- Porsche: Cayenne
- Volkswagen: Golf, Passat
And the Audi A5 and A6 will follow shortly thereafter, plus "numerous other derivatives" to fill out the rest of the decade.
"We will take this pioneering technology out of its niche," Winterkorn concluded, "and make it accessible to as many people as possible."
As for the U.S. market, further details emerged during a technical roundtable this morning with Ulrich Hackenberg, head of development for the Volkswagen brand.
Volkswagen Golf Blue e-Motion
The one plug-in vehicle already confirmed is the Volkswagen e-Golf, a battery electric version of the new Golf that was just introduced this month.
Prototypes of the e-Golf have been tested, using the current generation of Golf, for several years now.
The Volkswagen e-Golf will arrive in the U.S. in 2014, most likely as a 2015 model-year car to comply with an expanded set of California Zero-Emission Vehicle requirements.
Asked whether VW would attempt to sell high volumes of the e-Golf in the States--or whether it was merely a "compliance car" to meet the California rules--Hackenberg said, in effect, "Well, we'll see if people want to buy them."
The Audi A3 e-tron, a plug-in hybrid version of the same hybrid system to be used in the upcoming Jetta Hybrid, may be Audi's first foray into selling plug-in vehicles in the States.
No firm plans for that vehicle have been announced, although dozens of prototypes are now being tested by Audi employees across the country.
The group's MQB architecture--which underlies the new VW Golf, the new Audi A3, and a large number of vehicles to come--has been designed to accommodate a wide range of different energy sources and motive power.
Those include gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models, as well as battery electric and, perhaps surprisingly, even hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains.
Volkswagen provided airfare, lodging, and meals to enable High Gear Media to cover the Paris Auto Show.


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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is paying a three-day visit to India. The businessman has already announced that his company is going to invest a billion US dollars in the development of online trading in the segment of small and medium-sized businesses.
Bezos has chosen India as the main platform for business development in the coming decades. Amazon analysts have calculated that in just five years, the company’s annual export of Indian goods will amount to $ 10 billion. By the way, at the moment, the corporation has invested about 5.5 billion US dollars in a developing state.
It is expected that Jeff Bezos’ visit will be accompanied by protests by local businessmen. They have reason to be indignant – the platform underestimates prices, thereby squeezing out competitors from the market.
The material was prepared with the participation of Katya Wilson,
a leading analyst of the brokerage company UFT Group


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Vietnam aims to make 5G service universal and become a digital society by 2030
|Viettel listed among top 30 in global valuable brand ranking
|National Strategy draft: Vietnam targets to expand 5G coverage nationwide by 2030
|Vietnam carrier tests budget 5G in 4 SE Asia countries
|E-Cabinet system, a model for the e-government, aims to shift governance from a paper-based working model to an electric, modern, transparent, and efficient working environment. Photo: Ministry of Information and Communications
A national digital transformation program for long-term development
According to Voice of Vietnam (VoV), under the scheme, Vietnam will experiment a range of new technologies and models, strive to completely renovate the way in which the Government operates, update business operations, develop the working lifestyles of citizens, alongside creating a safe, secure, and humane digital environment.
Vietnam also targets to be among the world's top 35 countries in Global Innovation Index by 2025, reported by Tap chi Tai chinh (Finance Magazine), the news agency under the management of the Ministry of Finance, cited the report of National Digital Transformation Program until 2025 with a Vision to 2030.
The scheme is set to look at a wide range of key areas focusing on digital transformation, for instance: health care, education, finance, banking, agriculture, transportation, energy, natural resources, the environment, and industrial production. Meanwhile, national databases, including those on population, land, business registration, finance, and insurance, will have e-government platforms by 2025, said the report.
|Digital Transformation will help to activate an effective public administration. Photo: dantri
It is expected that over 80 percent of Vietnam's population will have the opportunity to access online payment methods with their own e-payment accounts.
In order to successfully establish a real digital society, the digital gap must be narrowed, with the schedule for change ahead to 2025 outlining that the fiber optic network infrastructure will reach out to more than 80% of households and 100% of communes nationwide.
|CSIRO’s Data61, the data and digital specialist arm of Australia’s national science agency, and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology have developed Vietnam’s Future Digital Economy: Towards 2045
In the report "Vietnam's future digital economy towards 2030 and 2045" published by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia, the trends affecting the development in Vietnam’s digital economy have also analyzed and presented.
According to the report, the next wave of digital technologies – artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things, and platforms and cloud-based services – has the potential to transform Vietnam into Asia’s next high-performing economy, and to bring up the living standards of all of Vietnam’s citizens over the coming decades.
|Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform Vietnam into Asia’s next high-performing economy. Photo: Hurriyet daily news
Experts have observed and seen a boom of the digital economy in Vietnam. In 2016, Vietnam was described as South East Asia’s Silicon Valley with emerging sectors and fast-growing sunrise industries in Vietnam include finance technology (fintech), telecommunications, electronics and computer manufacturing, and information and communications technology (ICT) services. In mid-2018, Vietnam was home to an estimated 30,000 businesses spanning IT hardware, software, digital content, and ICT services. The country has a thriving community of software developers and start-ups, developing digital products and services for use within Vietnam as well as undertaking software development offshored from advanced economies. ICT is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Vietnam with the total ICT industry revenue in 2018 was US$98.9 billion.
E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing segments of Vietnam’s digital economy. According to the Vietnam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency (VECITA), the nation’s e-commerce market is growing by 35% per year – 2.5 times faster, for example, than Japan. Vietnam’s online retail revenue reached US$6.2 billion in 2017, over double that of 2014. By 2020, VECITA predicts the number of online shoppers will increase by 52%, while the Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM) predicts online revenue will reach US$10 billion.
|Vietnam will become the leading digital country and economy in the ASEAN region by 2030. Photo: cafebiz.vn
Vietnam to be a "Smart Nation"
The authors of the report "Vietnam's future digital economy towards 2030 and 2045" pointed out a number of spheres that would be the key momentums for Vietnam to become a smart nation in the future:
The logistics sector has grown rapidly along with the e-commerce boom. In recent years logistics enterprises grew on average by 14-16% (US$40-42 billion) per year. Enterprises operating in the field are transforming from traditional logistics companies to e-commerce logistics companies to cope with competition and new markets.
According to data from the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, the number of enterprises applying technology in their operations increased from 15-20% to 40-50% in recent years. However, more than half of these businesses have not taken on significant technology adoption. This likely contributes to the high cost of logistics operations in Vietnam – 16.8% compared to 12.5% in the Asia Pacific. Although there is significant potential here, the competitiveness of this industry is still quite modest compared to other countries in the region, especially in technology adoption. New technologies that have been applied in the global logistics industry are still not commonly used in Vietnam. For instance, until 2019, robotics systems in warehouses have only been applied by two companies in Vietnam, namely German Schenker and Vinamilk in Binh Duong. Major domestic shipping companies are still manually handling goods without using automatic distribution centers. Looking ahead, technologies such as virtual reality or delivery by drones have not yet been announced in any technology deployment plans.
|Enterprises operating in the field are transforming from traditional logistics companies to e-commerce logistics companies. Photo: Adobe Stock
Contributing over six percent to Vietnam’s GDP every year, tourism is one of the most important driving forces for Vietnam’s economic development. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in 2017 the tourism industry received 13 million international visitors and 74 million domestic tourists, representing increases of roughly 30% and 20% respectively. In the same year, total direct revenue from tourism reached over US$23 billion and contributed nearly 7.5% to GDP. As of November 2019, Vietnam welcomed 16.3 million international travelers, a 15.4 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase. Vietnam aims to attract 17 to 20 million international visitors in the coming years.
Under Industry 4.0, Vietnam’s tourism sector has rapidly changed and increased service quality using the ‘smart tourism model.’ According to a survey by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in 2017, 71% of international tourists to Vietnam used online sources to determine their travel destination. In addition, 64% of international tourists booked their trip to Vietnam online. Nearly 100% of Vietnamese enterprises in the tourism sector used websites to introduce their products to consumers. The market share of online hotel bookings in Vietnam has also been high in recent years, accounting for an average of 30-40% of total sales. In this online market, statistics from the Vietnam E-Commerce Association indicate that foreign businesses such as Agoda and Booking.com account represent 80% of these sales, while Vietnamese businesses such as gotadi.com, ivivu.com, chudu24.com, and vntrip.vn only occupy a modest part of this market despite some early success as new entrants. The public transport system also contributes to smart tourism growth. For example, buses with free Wi-Fi have been launched in several cities to enable convenient travel.
|Smart tourism is not a trend, but the future of tourism development. Photo: dantri
Vietnam’s health sector set specific goals to develop the smart health system since 2018, with plans to adopt digital technologies in three main pillars: smart disease prevention, smart examination and treatment, and smart medical administration. One such initiative, the ‘healthcare digitalized communication network model,’ is a closed network of communication channels in the hospital environment, operated and processed via the Internet. Additionally, the online portal Medihub.vn provides official information on each hospital’s services, procedures, regulations, as well as information on diseases and new treatments. Major hospitals in Vietnam have begun to build and implement a model of Smart Medical Clinics, such as Thu Duc District Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. People visiting the hospital can now register their medical appointments through a central system that is connected to overall hospital management software. Visitors receive automated ticket numbers and can wait for their appointment with greater comfort and convenience, with several screens around the hospital displaying the order of ticket numbers. Information management systems are being digitalized. The Ministry of Health is extending its Electronic Medical Records (EMR) plan to its subordinate units over the country after a successful pilot. This EMR system enables medical facilities to record, display, and store medical data of each citizen digitally. Vietnam Social Insurance is also actively researching and drafting an electronic health insurance card form. These steps will help Vietnam’s health sector save management costs and create conditions for visitors to experience more convenient healthcare.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of technological-based initiatives implemented by The Ministry of Health have shown their great impacts in fighting against the outbreak.
|HCM City launched a pilot model of two operation centers for smart health and education as parts of its project on developing into a smart city. Photo: VNA/VNS
“Mastering the digital economy creates an opportunity for Vietnam to maintain rapid and sustainable growth through the next phase of development. Strong leadership and institutions will be key in Vietnam’s development across all economic sectors including the private sector. Digital transformation resulting from this strong leadership will unblock bottlenecks to promote further economic development.” said Dr. Nguyen Van Binh, Politburo Member, Secretary of Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Economic Commission.
According to Mr. Nguyen The Trung, Managing Director, DTT Group, “The next 25 years represents a decisive window of opportunity for Vietnam to transition to a more digitalized economy and escape the middle-income trap. The success and speed of that transition depend greatly on the profile of the workforce of today, and the workforce is aging rapidly. Strong national leadership, institutions, and policies are needed now to create collective upskilling – across the workforce and society – and enable a successful digital transformation.”
|ASEAN Economic Ministers pass Ha Noi Action Plan to facilitate ASEAN trade
Economic ministers from ASEAN member nations convened an online meeting on June 4 to implement instructions from ASEAN leaders made at the Special ASEAN Summit ...
|Vietnam developing policies to manage import-export goods via booming e-commerce
Individuals and organizations participating in e-commerce for import and export goods will carry out customs procedures actively and effectively.
|Vietnam sets ambitious target for IT development
Viet Nam targets to have 10 localities with revenue of more than US$1 billion each from information and technology (IT) by the year 2025.


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During the Mobile World Congress event of this year, HTC has announced a low-end spec’d, yet an impressive HTC One V handset, alongside the HTC One S and One X handset. Both the HTC One X and One S are now available in the U.S. to purchase through AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Finally, the manufacturer has announced the U.S. availability info of the HTC One V handset.
HTC has officially confirmed that the One V handset will hit the American soil “through a variety of U.S. partners later this summer” and it will also make its first ever appearance in the U.S. during this year’s CTIA 2012 at HTC’s booth #3519.
HTC One V Specs:
- 3.7-inch Super LCD2 display with 480x800p resolution
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS with HTC Sense 4 UI
- 1GHz Snapdragon S2 single-core processor
- 512MB RAM
- 4GB built-in storage
- 5MP rear-facing primary camera with F/2.0 aperture.
- Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, micro USB
Beats Audio by Dr,Dre


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TickPick has been one of the early adopters of an all-in pricing model, and Joe Cassitto, VP Inventory & Seller Operations, will represent the company at Ticket Summit. Cassitto is one of the marketplace representatives who will speak on the marketplace panel at Summit, which is on track to be the largest ticket-focused trade show in history when it gets underway at Aria in August.
Joe and his team manage the relationships between 2000+ professional resale partners, and have molded the policies implemented by TickPick to make it one of the most broker-friendly ticket exchanges. TickPick was notably the only marketplace to not modify its payment terms to pay-after-event during the pandemic, and has been gaining traction with its competitive B2B program, TickPick Pro.
Joe lives in Hoboken NJ with his 10-year-old black Labrador, Cosmo. Cosmo recently started coming into the TickPick office to chip in wherever he might be needed.
Ticket Summit will be back in 2021, returning to Las Vegas for an August show at the Aria Resort & Casino. The annual trade show, which brings together leaders and businesses operating in ticketing and live entertainment, will run from August 15-17 at the hotel located on the Las Vegas strip.
Ticket News will be running stories in coming weeks highlighting speakers and events surrounding the trade show, which is running concurrently with the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) conference, with expectations that the combined shows will be the largest ticketing-focused trade show in history.
Reserve an all-access pass to Ticket Summit and learn more about the event by visiting TicketSummit.com. For more information follow Ticket Summit’s official pages on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.


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Coty Inc. is a whole new company, according to Camillo Pane, the chief executive officer who recently shepherded the integration of 41 brands acquired from Procter & Gamble.
“We like to say this isn’t your Coty; this isn’t your P&G. We’ve taken the best of both worlds,” he said, adding the new entity is open to ideas from the outside.
It isn’t just rhetoric, Coty is putting actions behind the words. A perfect case in point is the speed and the message reflecting the new culture illustrated by a just released campaign created by Droga5. Pulled together in a swift three weeks, the project tackles the stigma of applying makeup in public.
“Makeup is truly freedom of self-expression so I was surprised and shocked to hear about subway signs asking people not to apply makeup in public,” Pane said. Cover Girl plunked women in the middle of Manhattan streets equipped with mirrors and encouraged them to apply their beauty products in a campaign called #ProjectPDA — public displays of application.
Continuing to challenge conventional wisdom part of Pane’s playbook as Coty looks to restore luster to the acquired P&G brands while expanding sales in its own portfolio.
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Pane said social media and distribution channel shifts are disrupting the business. “The consumer tells us what they want, where they want it, how they want it — I call it consumer power in action.”
The pace of innovation is also escalating. Compounding that is the emergence of entrepreneurs who Pane concurred have changed the industry. “I personally think it is a good thing, so thank you to all the entrepreneurs who keep us on our toes.”
In fact, he’s prompting Coty executives to duplicate the spirit associated with fledgling brands. “I tell people to think like a start-up, to keep disrupting the industry rather than be disrupted.” As part of that push he also tells his team to think of a new venture in regard to whether they would do it if they were spending their own money. “If not, then think twice before making that decision on behalf of the company.”
The time for change is coming to big companies as the beauty industry becomes more complex. “Our instinct is to dislike complexity,” he acknowledged. “But in reality, I think it is here to stay. Complexity in the beauty industry is the new normal and either we embrace it and make it part of how we do business or we’re never going to be around to experience the beautiful growth of this industry.”
Beauty is more than selling products, it is about an intimate connection. “Don’t get me wrong, I love selling product. But it is about a deep connection to the consumer that motivates me every day,” Pane added.
Pane admitted Coty has big challenges as it digests brands, some of which admittedly weren’t as healthy as they once were. “We are starting a new adventure and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in the last eight months. It is a hell of a start,” he said.


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Frontier Communications Expands Broadband to 8,100 Additional Wisconsin Households
Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR) announced that it has made enhanced broadband service available to an additional 8,100 households in Wisconsin. Frontier is leveraging the FCC’s Connect America Fund (CAF) program to bring broadband to approximately 5,000 households in CAF-eligible census blocks while expanding its overall service and reach to approximately 3,100 more households throughout Wisconsin. “Through ongoing network investments, Frontier is providing broadband and faster speeds to residents in our Indiana service areas,” John Van Ooyen, Frontier Director of Operations said. “We have been aggressively deploying and upgrading our broadband service and look forward to serving more residents.”
The deployments are made possible through a combination of Frontier’s capital investment and the CAF. The FCC established the CAF in 2011 to facilitate broadband deployment to the millions of Americans living in rural areas without access to broadband infrastructure. As of 2016, Frontier began receiving approximately £30 million a year from the CAF to expand and upgrade the company’s network to 77,000 locations in Wisconsin by the end of 2020.
The CAF program and investments by Frontier are enabling broadband access to previously unserved households, as well as improvements in speeds and services. Frontier offers simplified broadband offerings and bundled service packages that provide customers with choice and affordable options. Broadband availability allows businesses and consumers to stay connected and take full advantage of online education, healthcare, and entertainment options. “Broadband connectivity is critical today, especially in more rural areas,” said Van Ooyen. “Through investment and ongoing enhancements, Frontier is helping to close America’s digital divide.”
About Frontier Communications Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR) is a leader in providing communications services to urban, suburban, and rural communities in 29 states. Frontier offers a variety of services to residential customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks, including video, high-speed internet, advanced voice, and Frontier Secure(R) digital protection solutions.
Business Edge(TM) offers communications solutions to small, medium, and enterprise businesses.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170410006110/en/
- ^ www.frontier.com (cts.businesswire.com)
- ^ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170410006110/en/ (www.businesswire.com)


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Farming comes to Prison Architect with the Going Green expansion
Going Green is the next expansion for prison management simulator Prison Architect, publisher Paradox Interactive and developer Double Eleven have announced.
This latest expansion for the game introduces a new type of prison labor that allows inmates to grow crops that can either be exported or used as ingredients for meals. Additionally, the Fruit Orchard, Farm Field, and Vegetable Allotment outdoor rooms are being added alongside a Pantry for storing produce.
Players can also give their prison a green makeover with this expansion thanks to new solar, wind, and solar/wind hybrid energy sources. Excess generated power can be sold back to the grid through the new Power Export Meter feature.
However, it’s not all good news, as new crops mean new contraband. Prisoners will be able to grow their own herbs, steal ingredients to make booze, and turn fields into gang turf.
Joining Going Green will be a free update called The Glasshouse. This update includes additional objects, quickrooms, and community improvements, as well as the K9 units Shepherd and Bowtie Bandit.
“Going Green continues Prison Architect’s history of riffing off popular prison fiction seen in movies, TV, and other media. This will be the third Prison Architect expansion we will have launched since Paradox took over the IP in 2019 and we can’t wait to see your latest creations,” Steacy McIlwham, Product Manager for Prison Architect at Paradox Interactive, said. “The Glasshouse also kicks off a series of updates we will make to the game’s interface, starting with the dump and demolition tools, making it more user-friendly. We understand this is something the community has been asking about for a long time and we want you to know your voice has been heard.”
Going Green is scheduled to launch on January 28th for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Matt is one of the longest-serving members of the EGMNOW team. An ability to go many hours without sleep and a quick wit make him ideal for his role as associate editor at EGMNOW.com. He often thinks back to the days when the very idea of this career seemed like nothing but an impossible dream.


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Mercedes will launch its 2018 car on the same day as rivals Ferrari, while McLaren has opted to take the wraps off its new car a day later on February 23.
Both Mercedes and Ferrari will launch their cars on February 22 as the two rival teams prepare to rejoin battle ahead of the 2018 season.
The new Mercedes, which will be known as the W09 EQ Power+, will be the car used by Lewis Hamilton in his world title defence. It will complete its first 100km on the day of its launch during a shakedown at the Silverstone Circuit. In between runs, the car will be presented to the media before the drivers and team personnel speak about their expectations ahead of the 2018 season.
One day later, McLaren will launch its 2018 car -- the MCL33 -- as the team hopes to return to competitiveness with Renault power next year. The car carries the hopes of Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne and marks the end of the team's ill-fated engine partnership with Honda.
Toro Rosso is due to launch its car on the evening of February 25, just one day before the first test gets underway in Barcelona. Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly will drive for the team this year as it embarks on its first season with Honda power.


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Hollywood, as well as the entire country, woke up a little sadder earlier today with the news that Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin had passed away due to a possible incident with his Jeep Grand Cherokee. The incident, which is now under investigation by California authorities, is now being tied to potential issues that may or may not have been addressed after the actor’s vehicle model was recalled in April.
According to a series of news reports, the 27-year-old actor’s body was found pinned between Yelchin’s house’s gate and his car, a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. According to the reports, Yelchin’s friends found the star’s body Sunday. Preliminary investigation shows that the vehicle rolled backward down the steep driveway.
The 2015 Grand Cherokee model was recalled back in April after Fiat Chrysler learned of an investigation that was carried out by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. At the time, regulators found that the design of the transmission in the 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees manufactured between July 16, 2012 and December 22, 2015 was defective since drivers may fail to recognize that the transmission is not in the “park” position. If that occurred, the vehicle would end up rolling away, exposing bystanders and other vehicles to collision risks. Due to the investigation and the concerns brought up by regulators, the company launched the recall in April.
After California officials claimed they are investigating the possible link between the issue that prompted the recall and the deadly incident that claimed Yelchin’s life, the company released a statement saying that it’s still too early to determine whether the transmission issue has anything to do with the incident. But the company also concedes that this tragic incident and the regulators’ pressure will help the firm enhance its transmission-shift strategies.
While the authorities are still working on digging in deeper to figure out whether the incident could have been prevented, it’s important for our readers to keep in mind that auto recalls tied to safety risks should never be ignored.
All too often, drivers act as if incidents prompted by equipment failure is something uncommon. But accidents tied to problems that later lead to recalls are frequent. Drivers who are concerned about their safety and the safety of their loved ones should not ignore the risks.
For more on the tragic accident involving Yelchin, a rising star follow this link or watch the video below.


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UMassFive needed robust digital banking solutions to serve a membership with a high aptitude for technology, including students, professors and medical center staff. Tight integration with the account processing system and a single sign-on capability were must-haves.
UMassFive implemented the ASP version of Corillian Online and Mobiliti, along with Fiserv solutions for bill payment, person-to-person payment and personal financial management.
Just two months after implementation, online banking penetration had risen from 39 percent of members to 42 percent. In the same period, Mobiliti adoption increased from 43 percent of online bankers to 48 percent. Members cite others' enthusiasm about the online banking platform as a reason they've adopted it.


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Three UK’s parent company CK Hutchison has confirmed it is in “advanced talks” to sell its European mobile masts for €10 billion to Cellnex but has yet to reach a decision on whether to go ahead with the deal.
There has been a flood of investments in the sector by private equity firms in recent years because of the predictable, stable revenues promised by assets such as fibre networks and mobile masts.
Meanwhile demand for ultrafast broadband and 5G means there is scope for growth.
- These are the best business SIM-only deals around today
- And the best business broadband deals
- Here are the best business mobile phone deals
CK Hutchison towers
This long-term view contrasts with the short-term pressures that network investment imposes on mobile operators who are in the middle of expensive network builds. An independent operator would also be able to agree deals with multiple operators, increasing revenues.
CK Hutchison’s operators currently require funding to build 5G networks while the conglomerate’s other businesses in ports and retail are suffering from the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. A sale of towers would raise much needed capital.
In a submission to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CK Hutchison confirmed the talks but added the caveat that “no decision has been taken to proceed with any transaction and there can be no certainty that any transaction will proceed or, if it does, what the scope or terms of such transaction would be.”
Spanish-based Cellnex has snapped up a vast array of infrastructure assets over the past few months, recently securing deals for towers in Portugal and Poland. Earlier this year it also concluded a deal to with Arqiva to buy masts the UK’s largest independent network infrastructure operator.
Vodafone has also spun off most of its European tower assets into a separate entity and is planning an IPO for 2021.
- Here are the best Three mobile phone deals
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Steve McCaskill is TechRadar Pro's resident mobile industry expert, covering all aspects of the UK and global news, from operators to service providers and everything in between. He is a former editor of Silicon UK and journalist with over a decade's experience in the technology industry, writing about technology, in particular, telecoms, mobile and sports tech, sports, video games and media.


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To support local businesses and community engagement, the city of Boston is now among four American cities to offer its own top-level web domain.
On Thursday, the city and its domain management partners opened early registration for “.boston” web addresses. The new domain offering is advertised as a branding opportunity for local businesses and organizations trying to associate themselves with the city. Additionally, a portion of the revenue generated from domain sales will go toward community grants.
Boston Chief Information Officer Jascha Franklin-Hodge said the intent of the initiative is to bolster economic development and enhance community engagement through greater awareness of local organizations.
“We hope that .boston will allow nonprofit and government organizations to present their local initiatives in a new way online, while showcasing their pride in the Boston community,” Franklin-Hodge said in a statement.
Nonprofits and government organizations get first dibs at a discounted annual price of $8.75, while the public can pre-register for .boston domains at $19, or buy them for their regular price of $15 when they open up for general purchase on October 8.
A spokesperson for the City of Boston told StateScoop that while the city does not receive revenue from the domain purchases, a portion of the revenue that goes to the domain’s media partners will be channeled to the Community Domain Fund, which will fund projects that foster and promote technology innovation and education in the city.
Boston’s domain is part of a growing number of Internet place names that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) created in 2012. In the U.S., New York, Miami, and Las Vegas have used the geographic addresses as commodities to highlight local organizations and businesses.
Jeremiah Johnston, a spokesperson for Minds + Machines Group Limited, a top-level domains company, said participating cities are gradually seeing the benefits the domains have for their local entrepreneurs and small business. London and Miami are also among the domains within the company’s portfolio.
“If you’re a small business — and especially if you’re a small business that started up in the last 10 to 15 years — you started in a space where good domains have been gone for a long time,” Johnston said. “Well, with these launches of special geographic extensions, it is the ideal opportunity for local businesses to not only get a perfect domain or better domain that they’re used to, but to really show their market and their community.”
Johnston said the naming convention will also help participating websites to become easily recognizable in search results and reach a “hyperlocal” status, as businesses gain recognition for their local services and products. Someone looking for a local book store in Boston, for example, will likely view a .boston address as an indication to visit that website over a national competitor.
Until October, Boston and MMX are encouraging local nonprofits and government agencies to apply for the address.
“The key thing is to really take advantage of this opportunity,” Johnston said, “to be pre-landrush on something that’s going to be a great piece of virtual real estate in a city where real estate is king.”


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The Nintendo Switch has been recording “phenomenal” sales ever since it was launched, and Zelda is a good part of the reason why. Breath of the Wild is the only game anyone has cared about on the Switch so far. But Breath of the Wild also happens to run just fine on the Wii U, and thanks to some clever hackers, it also has a shot at running on a PC.
Cemu is a Wii U emulator that’s been around for a while. Ever since the launch of Zelda, the developers have been working to get Breath of the Wild running on Cemu. They posted a video showing a glitchy demo just days after launch, but it appears we’re much closer to a functioning version of the game now.
In a video spotted by PCGamer, an upcoming version of Cemu is shown running Breath of the Wild at a stable 30fps, and looking good while doing it. There are still occasional visual glitches, but nothing that makes it unplayable. It’s a big improvement since the first version, which was more of a proof-of-concept than a real emulator.
With this much progress coming in just a couple weeks, it means there’s a genuine possibility that Wii U releases of Switch games will generally be playable on PC. It’s still not a fun or simple process — and unlike the Switch, it’s difficult to take a gaming PC for a bus ride — but for anyone sitting at home still waiting for a pre-order to arrive, it’s certainly better than nothing.


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The better the risk, the greater the opportunity; BUSINESS OF SPORT.
Since becoming a bona fide professional sport, rugby has developed at breakneck speed. Players are bigger, training methods more intense, while the game's international schedule permits little time for cigars and port while on tour, even with the Lions.
Commercial considerations, television contracts and sponsors are as much a part of rugby as any other sport and given the Lions' increased media profile, one currently miniscule sector of the sport business is set to enjoy a significant expansion before the team plays its final Test in Johannesburg on July 4.
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has long been renowned for its novelty bets, but following an unusual success at football's European Championships last year, the company is set to expand its sports risk insurance offering during the forthcoming Lions series.
Prior to the Euro 2008 final, Paddy Power's insurance subsidiary, Airton Risk Management, signed a 'conditional rebate' deal with a German electrical retailer which effectively underwrote the retailer's commercial liability.
The retailer ran a nationwide campaign offering to reimburse customers 100 euros (pounds 94) on all purchases of 500 euros or more for every goal (to a maximum of eight) Germany scored against Spain in the final. The scale of the potential liability approached ten million euros, a proportion of which Airton syndicated elsewhere. Germany failed to score, an outcome which pleased the retailer and delighted Airton who envisage developing the business further during next year's World Cup.
Beforehand, Airton is understood to be in talks with several retailers and is offering to underwrite the risk on special promotions linked to the Lions winning all three tests.
Conditional rebates are popular with companies because they can generate a significant increase in sales without denting profits.
One of Airton's early successes was with an Irish BMW dealer, Frank Keane, with whom the company devised a promotion based around the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The dealership offered any customer buying a BMW during July and August 2007 a 10,000 euro cash rebate if Ireland won the competition. The promotion attracted considerable media attention and had a beneficial impact upon car sales, although throughout the tournament, Mr Keane knew his potential liabilities were covered.
Rod O'Callaghan, a director of Airton Risk Management, is convinced change is imminent.
"We are already pricing sports risk on two billion euros of bets a year," he said.
"We thought 'why don't we leverage up that expertise'. We would expect to be competitive because sports risk is our business." Other bookmakers are exploring the possibility of establishing their own sports risk insurance businesses, particularly as Airton has provided clients with an estimated pounds 45million of cover since it was established in June 2007.
Several leading European football clubs already hedge against future uncertainty by removing the potentially adverse financial impact of paying performance-related bonuses to players by insuring against outcomes such as winning their domestic league titles. Sponsors too have turned to insurance companies to mitigate their risks as sponsorship invariable includes a provision for increased payments (to a player or club) in the event of a specified success.
Leading bookmakers recognise that as they're already pricing billions of pounds worth of sporting risk on a daily basis, this is an area of the sports business they're well positioned to exploit.
The anticipated expansion of the sports risk sector provides a further indication of sport's wider appeal, especially to retailers, many of whom are already working on their promotions for next year's World Cup. If ambitious bookies have anything to do with it, retailers will be in a position to offer enormous conditional prizes to customers, thus driving sales and boosting profits.." Companies can generate a significant increase in sales without denting profits
Germany's failure to score in the Euro 2008 final against Spain almost came as pleasant surprise rather than a nasty shock for Airton Risk Management and a German electrical retailer
|Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback|
|Publication:||The Birmingham Post (England)|
|Date:||Apr 23, 2009|
|Previous Article:||McCarthy still having to play waiting game for signings; COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP.|
|Next Article:||Young Bears bowling attack shows promise; CRICKET: LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP.|


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HTC is planning to update HTC U11 to Bluetooth 5.0 from Bluetooth 4.2. According to FCC (Federal Communications Commission) filing, HTC plans to “enable Bluetooth 5.0 by software without any hardware change.”
HTC U11 will be the third Smartphone to feature Bluetooth 5.0 next to Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, which were launched with Bluetooth 5.0 back in April.
With Bluetooth 5.0, HTC U11 will have longer connectivity range, as well as higher transmission bandwidth with low power usage. The upgrade will be available via software update, which should be marked by HTC in the changelog.
Still we are not sure when the update will be available for the user.


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Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky tweeted a survey Monday asking its some 400,000 subscribers what they expected from the rental platform in 2022.
Chesky revealed today that the majority of those polled wish they could pay with Bitcoin (BTC) or other popular digital currencies when renting their next home or apartment on Airbnb. Other requests included clear price displays, a loyalty program for visitors, up-to-date cleaning fees, and improved customer service.
You have 4,000 suggestions. Here are the top 6:
1 – Crypto payments (superior suggestion)
2 – Clear price display
3 – Customer loyalty program
4 – Updated cleaning fees
5 – More long-term stays & reductions
6 – Better customer service
I am already working on most, I will review more now! https://t.co/rxEM4BXZci
– Brian Chesky (@bchesky) January 5, 2022
Chesky also added that he has seen a number of token ideas, implying that Airbnb’s potential cryptocurrency payment selection will not be limited to just one or two digital assets. Airbnb currently accepts Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. The CEO also noted that the hosting company has processed $ 336 billion in transactions since 2013.
Chesky spoke about the potential of new technologies. In September, he told Fox Business that the company had received numerous inquiries regarding crypto payments:
“We get a lot of requests, I’ve been getting it for years, I have nothing to say about it today.”
During a November interview with The Verge’s Nilay Patel, he was asked about his thoughts on the future of crypto and the metaverse:
“We’re definitely thinking about it. Absolutely. Like the travel revolution, there is clearly a revolution going on in crypto. Airbnb and crypto both have interesting relationships with trust.”
Related: Crypto Exchange Lists Airbnb Derivatives Contract Before IPO
He went on to note that Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, was a former Airbnb employee. The crypto buzz around Airbnb comes amid growing competition from decentralized blockchain-based alternatives like Travala.com’s Dtravel, which provides a vacation rental service.


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Asda makes big change to all its tea bags
Asda has made a major change to its own brand tea bags by introducing plant-based packaging, meaning that the 550 million tea bags it sells each year can be disposed of in kerbside food waste bins.
The new tea bags are made from PLA derived from corn starch, which is a natural, plant-based material and will replace the non-renewable oil-based plastic bags which it has previously used .
Asda will phase in the new bags over the next six months across its entire range, from Just Essentials to Extra Special.
Jon Wells Packaging Technologist at Asda, said: “We know our customers want to do all they can to reduce their impact on the environment and we want to make that as easy as possible for them.
“Tea is a staple in most customer’s households so for us to make a change which can make such a difference is a big moment for us.”
Adam Herriott, Sector Specialist – Resource Management, WRAP, said: “It’s positive to hear of further moves by Asda, a founding member of The UK Plastics Pact, to make innovative moves on their products and tackle plastic waste. We must continue to go further, and ensure we bring in more changes that benefit shoppers and the environment”.


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Otter Media, the online video-focused joint venture between the Chernin Group and AT&T, expects to generate more than $200 million in revenue across its business units this year, executives told Variety this week. This would represent a growth of 70 percent, said Chernin Group President Jesse Jacobs.
The majority of that revenue is being contributed by the multichannel network and services company Fullscreen, which Otter Media acquired a little over a year ago. Fullscreen is looking to further grow its revenue with a new paid service, which the company plans to launch in the coming months.
Jacobs said that he doesn’t see these plans being complicated by the launch of YouTube Red, which launched as a paid tier to YouTube’s free service earlier this month. If anything, getting people used to pay for content would help everyone in the industry, he argued: “It validates the market, it trains consumers.”
Otter Media is already operating a successful subscription service with Crunchyroll, which now has around 700,000 subscribers, who pay between $7 and $12 per month for the service. When the Chernin Group acquired Crunchyroll two years ago, that number was still at around 240,000. Fullscreen also got its hands on a service with 100,000 paying subscribers when it acquired Roosterteeth a year ago.
AT&T and the Chernin Group officially announced their joint venture in early 2014, with both companies committing a total of $500 million in funding to acquire and build online video services. Otter Media recently founded a new corporate entity called Ellation for Crunchyroll, and has plans to launch additional subscription services under the Ellation umbrella in the future.
Once those and Fullscreen’s service are launched, we may also see more involvement from AT&T, which has thus far largely been a silent partner in the joint venture. Jacobs and Chernin Group and Otter Media EVP Sarah Harden declined to comment on what exactly AT&T could contribute in addition to funding, but one could imagine that the telco giant could use its mobile and TV businesses to promote Otter services to its customers. “There are a lot of opportunities with them,” said Harden.


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Helen Mirren new face of Marks & Spencer?
IANS [ Wed, Jun 19, 2013 ]
- London, June 19 (IANS) Award-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren is said to be the new face of lifestyle and fashion brand, Marks & Spencer.
The 67-year-old was spotted shooting for brand's new ad campaign at London's St Katharine's Docks, here, Sunday, alongside TV personality Katie Piper, who is also believed to be starring in the advertisement, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
It would be the first fashion campaign for the actress, best known for her movies "The Queen" and "Hitchcock".
This is the first series of advertisements shot under the instructions of brand's new creative director Belinda Earl, who started working with the brand over six months ago.


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INVESTING IN THE PLACE WE CALL HOME
For more than 30 years, Westcap Mgt. Ltd. has been investing in Saskatchewan companies. As fund manager for Golden Opportunities Fund Inc., the province’s first local venture capital fund, as well as a family of private equity funds, Westcap invests capital where it is needed to maximize value for its shareholders. Recently, yet another well-known Saskatchewan company joined the Westcap family.
In January 2020, Westcap announced a $63 million investment into Degelman Industries, a long-standing, family-owned company with deep roots in the province and a major presence in the agriculture and industrial sectors in North America and around the world for its premium equipment. “The Degelman family started their investment search in early 2019, with plans for growth and succession,” says Grant J. Kook, president, CEO and founder of Westcap. “They were looking for a strategic partner and our interests were aligned.”
Westcap and Degelman explored what a partnership might look like and discovered they were likeminded about corporate values, culture and more. Over the year, the two organizations developed a plan for how they could work together. “It’s a good fit for both companies,” says Kook. “Degelman has a great track record built over 58 years with an experienced management team, solid growth in many markets, and they’re an innovation leader which is key to future growth. For Degelman, we provide capital for them to grow what they’re good at. They’re an industry leader and we’re going to help them stay that way.”
Degelman will use the investment from Westcap’s Golden Opportunities Fund and the Westcap MBO II Investment LP to manage succession planning for the company’s owners, and to grow its innovative product offerings through its dealer network currently found across Canada, the U.S. and six other countries. In Westcap, Degelman has found a trusted partner that adds value and has Degelman’s growth and success in mind.
The Funds allow Saskatchewan shareholders to benefit from these investments in long-standing, quality brands that are poised for growth. Shareholders can also take pride in knowing that their investments are playing a part in the success and continued growth of local companies while keeping these legacies here at home to further impact local jobs and benefit the local economy.
For other Saskatchewan companies looking for capital like Degelman, Westcap’s door is always open. “To date, we’ve completed over $1 billion in transactions in more than 200 companies,” says Kook. “We’re well-known to the financial community, and we’re always open for a discussion on how we can add value to Saskatchewan enterprises.”


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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Police say a man stole detergent pods from a grocery store and then threatened the store manager with a gun.
It happened Friday at about 10:00 PM at the Food City on Asheville Highway.
The store manager told police 35-year-old Michael Williams entered the business, took 4 buckets of detergent pods, and ran away.
The manager said he caught Williams outside.
Officers say Williams pointed a gun at him and threatened to shoot.
Police say Williams then drove off in a white truck.
Officers searched the area and found Williams, they also found a toy handgun that may have been used in the crime.
Williams was charged with theft and aggravated assault.


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In the report’s Foreword, Nick Mason from Pink Floyd writes: “If blockchain technology can help the commercial and contractual relationships in music keep pace with technology and the communication between artists and fans then it could be truly revolutionary.
“This report is a valuable contribution and I hope it can help inform the debate and take us forward.”
Blockchain technology is the digital ledger that underpins cryptocurrencies – encrypted digital currencies – such as bitcoin. It allows payments to be conducted peer-to-peer without the need for a third party to verify the authenticity of the transaction. Experts argue that it is the most important IT invention of our age and could shape the entire way we manage our society.
According to the report, there are four main areas where blockchain could transform the music industry:
- a single, networked database for music copyright information, rather than the many, not-quite-complete databases maintained at present
- fast, frictionless royalty payments, whereas payments can currently take years
- transparency through the value chain, allowing musicians and their managers to see exactly how much money they are owed, as opposed to a culture of non-disclosure agreements and ‘black boxes’
- access to alternative sources of capital, with smart contracts – contracts implemented via software – potentially transforming crowdfunding and leading to the establishment of ‘artist accelerators’ on the model of tech start-ups
Music and digital experts met in London this week to discuss the report and the impact of blockchain technology on the creative industries.
Senior Lecturer in Popular Music and lead author, Marcus O’Dair, said:
“Since the turn of the millennium, people trying to make money from recorded music have struggled with significant challenges.
“Music can be streamed and downloaded at the click of a button but payments to the people who actually make that music can be slow and opaque. There is also a major problem with copyright data.
“Though some of the claims made for blockchain technology are premature, it does appear to have at least the potential to transform the record industry.
“We have set out to summarise the key arguments, and to present something more nuanced than what can be a black-and-white argument between the ‘for’ and ‘against’ camps.’ It is not a case of one-blockchain-fits-all.
“We’re delighted to be working with the Featured Artists Coalition on this, and to be launching the report at Sonos Studio in Shoreditch with leading figures in music, tech, media law and academia.”


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by Jason Goodman
October 5, 2018
James Perloff, joins Jason to explain why he discarded the “No Planes/Holograms” Theory.
Visit James’ website – https://jamesperloff.com/
Jason Goodman is an investigative reporter and founder of Crowdsource the Truth. He is also founder and CEO of 21st Century 3D, an internationally company, recognized for innovation in production techniques and stereoscopic 3D technology development.
Support Jason on Patreon and view exclusive subscriber content: patreon.com/crowdsourcethetruth


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Wii U Has a Release Date?!
-Eric Lee Lewis
According to a representative of PDP at the GameStop Managers’ Conference, the Wii U will make its way to store shelves on November 18th. This information was not meant to hit the public quite yet and was obviously a mistake.
On September at a meeting in New York is presumably when we were going to get the official price and release date.
According to people watching the conference as soon as the presenter realized what they had said, they changed the subject in an extremely quick manner.
Candace Hinton (PDP Manager) said this when asked about the release date: “at this time we can’t confirm Nintendo’s dates and we don’t know exactly what was heard, but we simply do not know that this point. We are launching accessories, but the date for the accessories doesn’t mean a confirmation on the hardware. If you seek confirmation on the date that is something that is going to need to go specifically though Nintendo, but we can’t confirm or deny dates on any of their hardware.”
When a Nintendo representative was asked this simple answer was given: “We have nothing to announce at this time.”


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MOSCOW, May 15 (RAPSI) - The Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has released exporters from responsibility to put natural diamonds up for sale in the Customs Union before exporting them to other countries, according to a statement from the commission.
Currently, producers must first offer their stones for sale on the domestic market within the Customs Union by posting their offer on the EEC website. If there are no responses within 10 business days, the exporters are allowed to sell the batch abroad.
“The measure will lift excessive administrative barriers in the export of natural diamonds, reduce the terms of contractual obligations and ensure equal competition with foreign producers,” Andrei Slepnev, the EEC trade minister, said in the statement.
In 2013, diamond exports from Russia increased by 18.6% and reached 35.36 million carats worth $4.37 billion. Diamond production has grown by 8.5% and reached 37.88 million carats.


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(FeaturedNews.com) – Lina Avinhannel a Florida woman, has launched a boycott of Publix stores after the grocery chain decided to enforce its policy that banned all non-service animals from entering their store.
In an interview with WPTV, a Florida News Outlet, Avinhannel stated that she would not be shopping in the Publix store following their decision to place signs that banned pets from entering the store. Service animals are still allowed in the grocery store.
Many users online have posted photos from the signs placed outside Publix stores which informed customers that only service animals were allowed to enter the store.
Publix spokesperson revealed to The Tampa Bay Times, that while the stores did introduce new signs in reality the policy followed by the store was still the same. Publix argued that their policy is also available on their website and it seems to have been last modified in 2020.
The supermarket added that any pets meant to provide companionship and even emotional support are not considered service animals even if the person has a doctor’s note.
People in Florida are split on what to make of this decision with some being against it and others in favor.
Avihannel claimed that normally she would walk her dog before going into Publix but that her routine would now be disrupted as she would have to return home, leave her dog there and then head out again to visit Publix.
However, other shoppers have pointed out that the policy makes sense as more dogs inside a store could trigger people’s allergies and could lead to more germs caused by the dogs shedding.
Copyright 2023, FeaturedNews.com


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Brad Garlinghouse, likes his cryptocurrency like his coffee. Paid for in XRP, not Bitcoin.
What makes a currency really a currency? Is it the liquid ability to transact? Is it the ability to accrue with time? Is it the ability to withstand crises throughout the world and maintain value?
These questions are pivotal to the digital currency industry as much as it is to the billion-dollar payments industry. The CEO of one of the most important companies dominating the convergence of these industries spoke at the World Economic Forum making his opinion clear. Central Bank and baristas take note!
Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, the company behind the second-largest altcoin in the market, XRP, spoke at the WSJ forum during the WEF Summit in Davos, Switzerland, addressing both the payments landscape and Bitcoin’s role in it. While affirming his bullish notion on Bitcoin’s store of value claims, he doubts the coin’s medium of exchange promise.
Speaking at the aptly named “Ripple Panel: Changing The Finance Industry From Within” and before WSJ’S Phillipa Leighton-Jones the Ripple CEO spoke about Bitcoin and the potential of IPOs in the cryptocurrency industry.
Revealing himself to be a caffeine connoisseur, Garlinghouse stated that he would not use Bitcoin at retail-merchants as it takes too much time. Ripple’s SVP of Product, Asheesh Birla, quoted his CEO as saying,
“I’m bullish on BTC as a store of value, but not for payments. You don’t want to use BTC at Starbucks b/c [because by the time you get your coffee, it’ll be cold.]”
Chiding the bold claim made by Bitcoin-maximalists to the altcoin trolls, Birla followed this by underpinning the notion that Ripple has made clear with their developments – “there won’t be one crypto to rule them all.”
Ripple’s approach with the sensitive cryptocurrency industry has always been cautious. Aligning themselves with banks, it’s safe to say that XRP and Ripple have not really adopted the complete cypherpunk lifestyle. This ‘setting themselves apart from their crypto-peers’ attitude was underlined by the letter addressed to the US Congress, penned by Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen, Ripple’s Executive Chairman.
The letter was in response to congressional agitation against Facebook’s digital currency Libra, and by-and-large Bitcoin.
Garlinghouse and Larsen urged Congress to “not paint us with a broad brush” right from the first line. The Ripple duo stated that they work “in partnership with regulated financial institutions” and work to “complement existing currencies like the U.S. dollar,” rather than replace them.
At a time when congressional officials were comparing Libra to 9/11 and calling for a ban on cryptocurrencies, Ripple asked legislators to use nuance,
“We urge you to support regulation that does not disadvantage U.S. companies using these technologies to innovate responsibly, and classifies digital currencies in a way that recognizes their fundamental differences—not painting them with a broad brush.”
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The growth trend seen in China’s tyre exports throughout 2023 continued in July, albeit at a slower rate of year-on-year growth than seen earlier in the year. China’s tyre makers exported 56.89 million tyres in July 2023, 4.7% more than a year earlier. The value of these exports increased 9.4% year-on-year, to RMB 14.02 billion (£1.5 billion).
Despite its turnover increasing 4.6 per cent to more than 62 million euros in 2022 – a new record for the company – tyre recycler Genan reports that decreasing steel prices and significantly higher energy and freight costs more than halved its year-on-year earnings to less than 1.5 million euros. In response, the company is now speeding up its ongoing work to invest in renewable energy sources.
To put the weirdness of 2022 into perspective, consider that tyre wholesalers must contend with the impact of both rising costs and falling costs. And this contradictory situation is but one of a host of challenges in a year that tore up the rulebook. Antwerp-based wholesaler Deldo recently shared its experiences with us.
Ocean freight is in the midst of a predicament. The global shortage of shipping containers, primarily caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to continued port congestion and freight prices at all-time highs. Hankook Tire & Technology has worked with Hapag-Lloyd AG, the world’s fifth largest liner shipping company, for more than 20 years and now aims to strengthen its logistics capabilities through a new partnership.
Consolidated sales and operating profit may have been down year-on-year during the three months to 30 September 2021, but Hankook Tire was nonetheless pleased to experience “qualitative growth” during the quarter.
Year-on-year comparisons of financial performance tell us arguably more about global events than an individual company’s economic trajectory at the moment. Thus, it came as no surprise a few months back when Michelin reported much healthier first-half results compared with pandemic-riddled 2020. Similarly, eyebrows aren’t raised now when the company notes the impact of rising materials, shipping and energy costs as well as a shortage of semiconductors and labour shortages upon its performance in Q3 2021.
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has announced that it will increase the dealer base prices across all tyre categories by up to 8.5 per cent from 1 August 2021. The tyre maker comments that the price increase “is a result of continued increases in raw materials and logistics costs.”
Yokohama Off-Highway Tires has announced further price increases for its brands in Europe. These will take effect next month and see prices for Alliance and Galaxy tyres rise by around five per cent. The manufacturer says this increase comes at a time when the costs of raw materials and freight rates “continue to rise at a dramatic pace on the global commodity markets.”
A shortage of shipping containers and essential equipment at Chinese ports, exacerbated by fluctuating international trading environments in the Covid pandemic, has meant inflation in international shipping rates. In November, rates for transporting containers between China and the east coast of the USA increased to $4,750 per container, 42 per cent up on July rates, according to RefinitivEikon data. The cost of shipping from China to the US west coast has increased 50 per cent to $3,878 per container. Europe’s Shanghai Container Freight Index (SCFI) spot rate index has risen sharply, with Northern Europe rates up 21 per cent and Mediterranean rates up 23 per cent, rates that have not been seen since the beginning of 2014. According to Trojan, a tyre marketing agent headquartered in Qingdao, China, shortages have worsened recently. This busy period for Chinese exports could see deficits continue to deepen into the New Year, meaning further price increases.
Shipping plays a vital part in the world of tyre wholesaling. Managing the volatility of freight rates with efficient and transparent service is paramount in maintaining the competitiveness of distribution operations. Maritime Cargo Services, a freight forwarder with significant ties to the UK tyre industry, tells Tyres & Accessoires about the factors affecting the global shipping industry, and how its fluctuations, illustrated by this chart, which shows at a glance the trends of the last 12 months, must be managed effectively to allow tyre wholesalers to operate efficiently.
Considering the increasing price of oil and continuing consolidation in the freight shipping, the slight decrease in freight rates, as shown on the graph, may come as a surprise. Maritime Cargo Services, a key freight forwarding agent in the UK tyre import business, explains…
As August came to its close, the world’s seventh largest – and South Korea’s biggest – container shipping line, Hanjin Shipping, filed for court receivership, consumed by mounting debt schedules with creditors and increasing industry overcapacity. Hanjin had suffered annual net losses from 2011-2014 – with total debt in June reaching a staggering $5.5billion. While there may be hope on the horizon, (Hyundai Merchant Marine are in talks to acquire Hanjin’s vessels and staff), for the time being, ports in China and the US have denied entry to Hanjin ships and goods cannot be unloaded. Discussions between banks and Hanjin are yet to proffer a solution, though it seems likely that its Asia-United States route and related sales and marketing assets could be on sale by the end of the week in order to raise rehabilitation funds, several news sources have reported.
Asia-Europe container transportation rates are currently at a deep low (see graph), but the obvious price benefit to importers of tyres from South-East Asia is mitigated somewhat by volatility in shipping conditions, which affects punctuality and reliability of tyres’ delivery. Shipping lines’ over-estimation of the market potential has led to artificial capacity restrictions used to mitigate over-capacity, and in some cases, cancelled shippings. With these factors fundamental to UK tyre wholesale, Tyres & Accessories asked freight forwarder Maritime Cargo Services partner Rob Shelley about the issues currently at play in this market.
Increases in freight rates during the last quarter of the year happened earlier than expected, according to Maritime Cargo Services’ Rob Shelley. The freight forwarding company said that the market, led by supply and demand, had seen rates harden due to increased demand for shipping space “earlier than expected”. This ahead of schedule peak season combined with “higher than forecast import volumes” to increase both rates – “in some cases by 150 per cent” – and dockside waiting times.
Freight forwarding company, Maritime Cargo Services has made the point that while shipping costs have remained relatively stable in 2014, the past seven years have been marked by volatility. Freight forwarding specialist, Rob Shelley explains: “2008 saw the end of the Asia-Europe box cartel known as the Far Eastern Freight Conference. The FEFC was banned by the EU as it thought it anti-competitive. Its departure came as Asia Europe suffers historically low freight rates. It took with it stability with all the shipping lines in communication with one another.


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DroneDeploy, the San Francisco-based company that provides cloud-based data management services for drones, added two new senior executives today.
Scott Lumish, who previously worked as vice president of global business development at NetSuite, will now serve as vice president of business development at DroneDeploy. The company also brought on Eric Hauser to be the new vice president of engineering. Hauser was the vice president of engineering at Salesforce’s IoT Cloud before joining DroneDeploy.
Drone manufacturers worldwide are finding it hard to compete against China-based DJI, with Parrot and 3D Robotics both moving away from building consumer-end drones altogether.
But when it comes to software for drones, there is no shortage of companies racing to provide aerial data analysis and mapping solutions for the growing commercial services sector, an area that’s seen rapid expansion since the FAA passed its commercial drone rules in August of last year. Many drone companies are saying parts of their business have tripled since the new rules clarifying how commercial operators can legally fly went into effect.
DroneDeploy specializes in analyzing and mapping aerial data captured for agriculture and construction projects. The fact that the company was able to attract two executives with experience with two high-profile tech companies is an indicator that the drone software industry is continuing to look like an attractive prospect to Silicon Valley, even if the hardware side of the equation still feels like a tough nut to crack.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.


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According to the Transportation Minister Hesham Arafat, all Egyptian ports are running for 24 hours a day, since April 16.
Alexandria port, Egypt.
The Egyptian government recently decided to extend ports opening time as the country is tackling a sensitive-time issue: to cut long waiting times for shipments.
According to the ministry of Transportation, the best solution for ports would be a 24 hours service. Since April 16, that option became a decision allowing them to keep running all day and night, instead of the regular 16 hours.
Egypt which is the world’s largest wheat importer receives a significant number grain traders’ ships every day. In the case where they fail to unload their ships on time, they must pay demurrage fees.
Map of seaports and terminal containers in Egypt.
Traders say the high demurrage fees have resulted from congestion at Egypt’s ports and due to the long inspection process stalling their vessels, prompting them to add risk premiums of up to 500 000 dollars on individual cargoes.
According to the Maritime Transport Sector department, Egypt has 19 seaports and terminal containers.
Discover out our latest videos about the economic news in Egypt:
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Meet 20 local women who are so much more than a measure of their own success.
Co-founder of The Discovery Labs.
Josh Shapiro has taken on pedophile priests, President Trump and, now, COVID-19. What’s next for the state’s attorney general? We find out.
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Italian court dumps antitrust fine against Apple and Amazon
The decision lets the companies off the hook for more than €200 million in fines
A newly released document shows that an Italian administrative court scrapped a fine imposed by the country's antitrust authority on US tech giants Apple and Amazon for alleged collusion.
The antitrust authorit... Read more
European Central Bank to launch a digital euro prototype
The European Central Bank, Amazon and four other companies are ready to develop a prototype of the digital euro.
The European Central Bank has selected five companies to assist in the testing of the future digital euro project. The conglomeration of banks -- including Nexi, Italy's EPI, France's... Read more
Amazon will have to do more to end antitrust inquiries, Vestager says
Although Amazon's plans to resolve two European Union antitrust inquiries "appear relevant" to relieve concerns, the bloc's antitrust commissioner believes they may have to be improved further.
The European Commission has begun to evaluate industry feedback on Amazon's proposal to address concer... Read more
Amazon’s proposal to end EU antitrust probe is ‘weak and vague’
Amazon wants to suspend some online selling and marketing methods to avoid potential EU antitrust fines, but a coalition of 11 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) called the proposal "weak, vague and full of loopholes".
The coalition includes LobbyControl, the Centre for Research on Multinatio... Read more
Amazon acquires Belgium’s Cloostermans to further develop robotics
Amazon announced the acquisition of Cloostermans. The Belgian company develops robotic systems for transporting heavy pallets and sorting products.
Cloostermans was founded in 1884. Automation has always been central to the business. The Belgian company produced textile machines during the seco... Read more
White House presents principles to reform big tech
The White House presented six principles for reforming big tech platforms, saying it was heartened by a bipartisan willingness in Congress to rein in US tech giants.
The six principles, dubbed 'Enhancing Competition and Tech Platform Accountability', were revealed on Thursday. The announcement f... Read more
FTC investigates Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical
Amazon wants to acquire One Medical for $3.9 billion, but the FTC is investigating the deal before agreeing to move forward.
Amazon recently announced the $3.9 billion acquisition of One Medical. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has requested Amazon for further data as they investigate the ac... Read more
Amazon to stop offering its Amazon Care healthcare services
The move is just a blip in the tech giant's general push into the US healthcare market.
Amazon will stop offering its Amazon Care primary health-care services at the end of this year, according to an internal memo published by GeekWire. The company made the decision after determining that it was... Read more
‘Amazon eyes acquisition of health platform Signify Health’
Amazon is interested in health technology company Signify Health, which is up for sale. This is what the Wall Street Journal reports, based on sources.
According to the business newspaper, Amazon is interested in bidding in the Signify auction, which is due to take place soon. Signify is current... Read more
Ireland could be getting more datacenters despite energy concerns
Controversy is brewing in Ireland as one development company challenges the prohibition of data center construction in the Dublin area. At the same time, Amazon was authorized to build two new sites near the city amidst rising concerns about data center energy consumption.
Back in June, th... Read more


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- 2 min read
Chinese phone maker Transsion Holdings eyes top three slots in Indian market
Chinese mobile maker Transsion Holdings, which has recently entered the offline premium smartphone market in India with Tecno Mobile brand, is looking to be among the top five smartphone brands in India in offline space by the end of December 2018, a top company official said on Wednesday.
KOLKATA: Chinese mobile phone maker Transsion Holdings is eyeing the top three slot in the Indian markwith its four brands - Tecno, Itel, Infinix and Spice, and start local manufacturing from next year across its brands as they pick up scale.
Itel operates in the feature phone space at Rs 700 to 1,500 and entry smartphones priced at around Rs 3,000, while Infinix is going to focus only on e-commerce. On the other hand, Tecno is an offline-focussed premium smartphone brand and Spice will operate across feature and smartphone segments.
Anish Kapoor, the chief executive officer for Tecno and Infinix brands, said Tecno is now being rolled out in 15 states after the initial launch in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab earlier this year.
"We are here for the long term and will invest accordingly. The plan is to make Tecno amongst the top five smartphone brand in offline retail by next year, while Infinix which is currently Flipkart exclusive to reach 8-10% share,, Kapoor said.
Incidentally, the Itel brand is already the second largest player in the feature phone and overall market as per latest report by Hong Kong-based tracker Counterpoint Research. Accordingly, Itel has around 10.2% share in overall market as compared to 25.4% share of market leader Samsung in the April-June quarter. In feature phones, Samsung has 26.6% share followed by Itel at 15.7%.
Transsion already manufactures Itel in India since it has achieved a scale and will explore opportunities for the other brands. "We are launching models which have been developed after extensive local consumer research. Going forward, we want to develop and manufacture the three other brands as they gain scale,, said Kapoor.
The company has also set up its first company-owned service centre in Noida and plans to open 14 more by end of the year. Transsion is one of the relatively newer and successful Chinese mobile phone maker to enter India after attaining market leadership in Africa with around 40% share.


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This Summer, we’ve joined forces with a strategic IT distributor partnership! Omnicharge’s full line of products are now available through IT resellers across the United States through Tech Data.
Check out our August Newsletter for all the latest and greatest of what Omnicharge has been up to!
Our blog has covered the power challenges facing higher education institutions as well as how businesses can increase productivity in today’s smart tech-infused office environments. Our Director of B2B Sales, James Riel, shares tips on how to be more impactful with everyday work activities and our Marketing Manager, Allison Frieden, highlights photographers in Omnicharge’s Photographer Spotlight Series:
July 19, 2018
“This is so convenient! It’s also pretty affordable especially if you forget your charger and need to get a quick charge – no outlets required! Amazing!”
July 9, 2018
“Super convenient, easy to activate, and totally “life-saving” product! These Omnicharge chargers should be EVERYWHERE!”
June 26, 2018
“It’s so cool! Got it through Northeastern. Will be using all the time. Already told a bunch of people how cool it is!”


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The country’s largest home heating oil supplier has pushed up its prices during Britain’s record cold spell with the help of a supposedly independent price comparison website, which it owns.
Its site, BoilerJuice.com, claims to find the “cheapest” price in any area, yet last week its best deals were up to 65% higher than the rates charged by genuine independents.
An investigation by The Sunday Times has found some users of the site, including elderly customers, have seen prices double recently while the commodity price of kerosene has gone up by less than 10% since November.
The firm, DCC Energy, based in Dublin, faces the threat of an Office of Fair Trading inquiry after complaints.
Last week the best price found by BoilerJuice.com in West…


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News about iPads
The iPad 10.9 (2022), iPad Pro 11 (2022), and iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) are all available in stores, starting today.
Apple released new iPads and raised the price of last year's models on the same day, strangely.
Alongside new iPads and a new Apple TV, a bunch of software updates will be available after months of testing and feedback.
The iPad Pro 2022 uses the Apple M2 chip, and the real benefit will be for iPad OS features.
It looks very likely that the iPad Pro 2022 line will land today, with a new basic iPad possibly arriving too.
We have fresh information about Apple's range of tablets, and it comes from a reliable source.
It's been hinted that the latest update to iPadOS could be landing toward the end of October, but what will it feature?
Opinion After trying out the iPad's new way of multitasking over the summer, it's still at a point where it's nowhere near ready.
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