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Chico’s FAS Inc. has rejected the unsolicited proposal received from Sycamore Partners on June 19 to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Chico’s FAS for $3 per share in cash.
Chico’s board made the determination after reviewing the proposal, in consultation with its independent financial and legal advisers. Chico’s said the proposal “substantially undervalued” Chico’s FAS and that the proposed deal was not in the best interests of its shareholders.
The board had previously rejected Sycamore’s $3.50-a-share offer made on May 10, which followed a $4.30 offer earlier this year. Sycamore said it’s been lowering its offer due to the company’s weak results and the departure of the chief executive officer.
Said Chico’s chairman David Walker: “Our focus is on serving the best interests of all Chico’s FAS shareholders, and we are pleased with the strong support we have received from numerous Chico’s FAS shareholders for the actions under way to improve the company’s performance. Notably, shareholders have also expressed their belief that Sycamore’s proposal significantly undervalues the company. We remain committed to enhancing value for all Chico’s FAS shareholders. We are making progress on our new operating priorities and the search for a new chief executive officer and will remain focused on continuing to execute in these areas.”
Walker sent a letter to Stefan Kaluzny, managing director of Sycamore, rejecting his firm’s offer, reiterating priorities stated in the first-quarter conference call, and stating, “We have recently made significant changes to the company’s leadership and reset priorities for growth and value creation. We have narrowed our focus and are now solely concentrated on three distinct areas that will positively impact our results, with sales-driving, customer-facing and supply-chain operational initiatives front-and-center. Implementation is under way; leaders who have successfully completed other apparel retail turnarounds are taking charge; and our search for a new ceo is proceeding ahead of plan with candidates who are enthusiastic about the company and our brands.”
Walker added that numerous shareholders support the board’s unanimous determination to reject Sycamore’s previous proposal.
Chico’s recently fired its chief executive officer Shelley Broader and gave the reins on an interim basis to Bonnie Brooks.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial adviser to Chico’s, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel.
The company operates the Chico’s, White House Black Market, Soma and TellTale brands, and operates 1,410 stores in the U.S. and Canada. It also sells merchandise through 84 franchise locations in Mexico and one domestic franchise airport store, as well as through various web sites and third-party channels.


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Omnivore of Comics is looking to expand | News
HUDSON – Edward Uvanni, the owner of Warren Street’s only comic book shop, is thinking of ways to incorporate and share his passion for graphic novels with the Hudson community.
“I think a lot of people have a very specific idea in their minds when you talk about comics,” Uvanni said. “Part of my goal with my store is to show people that your idea of what comics are is not necessarily true.”
Over the past two decades, comics have undergone a cultural paradigm shift from appealing to niche nerd audiences to asserting mainstream appeal in literature and film. This is partly due to the general appeal of Marvel Comics, a publisher of comic books since 1939 that were made into spin-off films from its classic comics beginning in 1944 with Republic Pictures’ “Captain America.”
In recent years, comic books turned movies have focused on the journey of superheroes. Movies like “Spiderman,” “Black Panther,” “The Avengers” and dozens of other cinematic stories have brought in billions of dollars for Marvel, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
Uvanni wants people to realize that comics aren’t just about superheroes. There are historical comics that focus on real events, narrative graphic novels, and much more.
Many potential customers who walk into Uvanni’s store have never read a comic or graphic novel, he said.
“With someone who isn’t into comics or doesn’t know them very well, the goal is to find out what other art they consume through conversation,” Uvanni said. “If they can give me a point of contact, I can find a recommendation.”
It’s because Uvanni has an encyclopedic knowledge of comics, though he’s too humble to admit it.
He’s been reading comics since he was a kid in central Florida.
“I always used to call myself an omnivore when it comes to comics because I love everything from mainstream superhero comics to weird underground comics from the
From the 60s and 70s to manga to experimental art comics and everything in between,”
Uvanni previously worked as a comic book order manager and director of programs for Coliseum of Comics, the Southeast’s largest comic book and game retailer.
He always dreamed of running his own comic book store. During the pandemic, the desire for an arts-focused community brought him and his wife, quality food safety manager at ADM Milling Company, to the Hudson Valley.
For Uvanni, operating Pure Folly Books has been both challenging and rewarding.
He experiences a learning curve when it comes to the business logistics of owning a comic book store and a flurry of inspiration from conversing with customers interested in comic books.
“It was a slow winter,” Uvanni said.
He opened Pure Folly Books in December and is learning to navigate the difficulties of owning a small business in the wake of a global pandemic.
Uvanni anticipates increased customer interest and sales with the warmer weather.
The global comic book market is expected to grow from $9.21 billion in 2021 to $12.81 billion in 2028 according to Fortune Business Insights, an India-based global market research firm.
Uvanni also plans to become more involved in the Hudson community. On May 7, he participates in Free Comic Book Day and will give away free comics to anyone who visits his store.
“And just because you might not want to jump into the superhero universe doesn’t mean there isn’t amazing art that isn’t there to be shown,” he said. -he declares.

domain: news


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Hear all about it.
The latest legal, crime and partnership news for Business Crime Partnerships. If you have a news story you'd like to be featured please contact us.
The Ministry of Justice is in talks to end prisons sentences of less than six months.
To combat the growing issue of travelling offenders who commit offences across the county, The Sussex Business Crime Group has launched a county wide exclusion scheme which will exclude prolific offenders from almost 1000 businesses across Sussex.
Victoria Atkins, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability, has agreed to attend a meeting with key partners from the world of retail and trade unions to discuss violence against retailers and shopworkers.
It is estimated that there are 40.3 million people involved in Modern Slavery around the world in every country.
Every one of the 60 retail units in Northampton’s Grosvenor Centre has been signed up to work in partnership with the Northampton Retail Crime Initiative (NRCI), which is part of the Northamptonshire Business Crime Partnership (NBCP).
Awards announced for Leeds’ retailers, bars and businesses leading the fight against crime
UK police accessed the Schengen Information System II 539 million times in 2017 but a ‘no-deal’ Brexit could see the UK denied access to the facility if we become a ‘third country’ outside of the EU.
The recent Yorkshire and Humberside Partners Against Crime meeting in Harrogate proved the value of regional intelligence sharing with two arrests being made shortly after the meeting.
Police Crime and Prevention Initiatives (PCPI) has become the accreditation body for Business Crime Partnerships (BCRPs).
A letter to the business community with regards to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The National Association of Business Crime Partnerships (NABCP) is one of only two Assessing Organisations working with the National Business Crime Centre to offer Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) assessments.
This Manifesto has been written on behalf of the retail industry, business leaders and local SME’s, by a not for profit business intelligence exchange with the desired intention of driving national consistency by Business Improvement Districts in crime management workings, supporting all retailers during these challenging trading and crime conditions.
The Brighton and Hove BCRP have launched a secure messenging service for its members through BlackBerry Messenger Enterprise.
A suspected acide attack has caused fear in a busy shopping street in Notting Hill.
Businesses in Maidstone have recently voted in favour of developing a Business Improvement District (BID) for the town centre and with crime and safety identified as key concerns the Business Crime Partnership MaidSafe will driving the business plan forward.
Young shoplifters get off scot free
Members of the North East Retail Crime Partnership can now share real time crime information of incidents and offenders in a secure and effective way thanks to the recent launch of SentrySIS.
Ensure businesses are aware of the recent voucher scams that are targeting the elderly.
Parnterships Against Business Crime in Staffordshire (PABCIS) have found a new homewithin The Resolution Centre at Staffordshire Police.
Greater Change was launched by Alex McCallion in Oxford and is focused around helping homeless people achieve a long term change in their lives which could help them get off the streets.
Brighton & Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) welcomes its 500th member, Sainsbury’s Preston Road, making it the largest BCRP in the UK.
Calls for tougher sentences on shoplifters.


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When Tecno introduces a new smartphone in the market, there are more than five reasons why one shouldn’t ignore it. First, known for its unique technology and specifications, Tecno never fails to disappoint. Furthermore, whenever a Tecno mobile phone is launched in the market, it tends to create a level of excitement among tech freaks.
The Camon 19 Mondrian, the latest smartphone of Tecno, is the World’s first colour-changing phone. Enough said, no? Such Indian phones are definitely set to change how people look at the smartphone industry in the country.
Here are the five reasons why you shouldn’t ignore the Camon 19 Mondrian –
- World’s first colour-changing smartphone
Owning something unique and first in the World is a matter of pride. The Camon 19 Mondrian is a device where technology meets art. So basically, it has a multi-colour polychromatic photo isomer technology to change the colour of the back panel as soon as the sunlight falls on it. It definitely will attract all the eyes around you.
Read More: Latest Germany News
- Mesmerising display
With a 1080×2460 Full High Definition Display on a 6.8-inch dot-in display, it’s time to immerse truly. Now, watching your favourite movie or television show becomes more engaging and dynamic. Not only for entertainment but even if you are attending an online meeting or performing a formal task, this is the apt screen size.
- Smoothly smooth
The Camon 19 Mondrian, one of the latest tecno mobile phone, offers an unbelievable smooth experience. Packed with a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate, you are in for a silky experience as each touch feels magic here. Interestingly, it has an auto mode which gives you an option to choose the refresh rate as per the requirement.
- Huge battery
A single charge a day keeps the charger away! Loaded with a massive 5000mAh battery, this smartphone ensures your entire day is sorted. Imagine juicing up the smartphone in just 74 minutes. Isn’t that crazy? Also, this huge battery provides up to 37days of longer stand-by backup and 57Hours of Calling time.
- 5g enabled
Out of all the upcoming 5g phones that you have been witnessing on the internet, this definitely will catch your attention. This is because, along with the 5g technology, it has a lot to offer. From the most interesting back panel to a mesmerising display, you name it, and it has it. However, as the government of India has announced that the 5g network technology will be launched this month, it is the best time to invest in a 5g enabled device.
The list can surely go on. When it comes to cameras, it has the industry’s first smartphone in which a 64MP Triple Camera comes loaded with an RGBW+(G+P) sensor that takes your photography to another level. Now, specifically, it has a 64MP+50MP+2MP spectacular OIS Triple Rear Camera and a 32MP selfie camera.
It is very significant to invest where you are guaranteed valuable returns. So even though this smartphone has a lot to offer, it will indeed be offered at an affordable price.


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Ford’s Mercury brand has launched an education-oriented online game, hoping to show that gas guzzling and SUV are no longer synonymous.
The load screen “Mercury Mariner MyDrive Game” highlights each hybrid feature on the car and how it aids drivers. The game itself aims to train drivers to take advantage of gas saving features in the eco-friendly SUV.
Game players win points for “driving” the Mariner Hybrid through a variety of ordinary situations, such as dropping a letter off at the post office or taking a child to school. “Tips” for play tell users they should engage in behavior — driving at consistent speeds and decelerating smoothly, for example — that would get them better gas mileage if they were actually operating the vehicle. Between game levels and during game play, the company highlights characteristics of the hybrid technology. When the user accelerates after a stop sign, for example, the game indicates when the vehicle would be running on electric power, and when it would be using gasoline.
In conjunction with its online activities, the carmaker will also host a series of experiential marketing efforts called Ford Hybrid Experience events. The series of fuel economy clinics will take place in major markets with the first one in Dearborn, Mich. in October. Events will be held for existing owners of Ford hybrid vehicles and prospective buyers.
Marketing for the Mariner got a lift in July when the Sierra Club gave the hybrid SUV recognition for its eco-conscious performance.
Header bidding is a programmatic technique that allows publishers to offer their inventory through multiple ad exchanges before they serve up ads from their ad server.
YouTube is said to be preparing new non-video features that will allow content creators to interact with their viewers through photos, text posts, links and polls.
Few digital terms are as dirty as clickbait. It's the scourge of the web, and Facebook recently announced a News Feed update aimed at reducing the prevalence of clickbait headlines on its service.
The website of National Public Radio (NPR), npr.org, receives upwards of 30 million unique visitors each month, but as of next Tuesday, ... read more


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By Echo Wang
NEW YORK: Stevanato
Group S.p.A., an Italian maker of glass vials for COVID-19 vaccines
and other healthcare products, raised $672 million in a downsized initial public offering on Thursday.
Stevanato said in a statement it priced 32 million shares at $21 per share, compared to its previous plan of 40 million shares at indicated price range of $21 to $24. The IPO values Stevanato at $6.3 billion.
Founded by billionaire Sergio Stevanato, the Padua-based company started in 1949 as Soffieria Stella, a specialty glass manufacturer that was the precursor to the medical packaging company.
Stevanato provides glass vials and syringes to approximately 90% of currently marketed vaccine programs, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
The company started its international expansion in 2015 after the purchase of a primary packaging company in Slovakia.
Stevanato will list on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol "STVN
" on Friday.


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SALT LAKE CITY — In the eyes of one airline, the president of the United States might have qualified for coal in his stocking.
What's happening: Air New Zealand recently unveiled its new holiday ad and people are laughing at the way it pokes fun of the Trump administration and world leaders.
- According to Fortune, the ad is centered around a worldwide summit of kids on Santa’s naughty list.
- America’s representative seems vaguely familiar. Perhaps it’s the Make America Great Again-style hat.
- At the summit, they exchange ideas on how to be less naughty in hopes that they can be moved over to the nice list, per Mashable.
Watch the ad below:
In the video, the American boy pushes past the other delegates exiting the airplane. Fortune noted that this is likely a reference to the 2017 NATO summit when Trump allegedly shoved aside Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic so he could get to the front of a group photo.
- Later on in the ad, he doesn’t help the other children solve the issue at hand, per Fortune.
- “I have to say I’m not naughty at all,” he says. “In fact, I’m the nicest person I know.”
The other kid representatives laugh at his remark.
“I didn’t expect that reaction,” the American child says. “But that’s OK.”
- According to The Huffington Post, the scene is a blatant reference to the president’s U.N. speech back in September.
But the ad does have a happy ending. Mashable reported the rest of the kid representatives are able to make enough pledges and promises to eat more vegetables and reduce hair pulling that they make it onto Santa’s nice list.


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Land Rover says a bakkie version of its new Defender is “technically possible” although it’s not something the firm has planned.
According to Autocar, an unnamed official at the Whitley-based firm said building a bakkie on the new Defender’s D7x unibody platform was “technically possible”.
However, the report suggested Land Rover didn’t see a market for a high-end pick-up (did someone mention the Mercedes-Benz X-Class?).
Autocar added unless the British firm could build such a vehicle in “much larger quantities and at lower prices” than it is currently able to, it would simply become a “distraction” from the new Defender SUV range.
In September 2019, a “senior source” within the Jaguar Land Rover group told an Australian publication plans for the Defender range to again include a pick-up had been abandoned.
Ryan has spent most of his career in online media, writing about everything from sport to politics and other forms of crime. But his true passion – reignited by a 1971 Austin Mini Mk3 still tucked lifeless in a dark corner of his garage – is of the automotive variety.


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GABORONE, Botswana — Faced with declining demand for its diamonds, Botswana, Africa’s top producer of the gems, is recording modest success in its attempts to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on the minerals.
Demand for the gems has been reducing over the years, a situation that has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic—which also severely affected the tourism sector, the country’s second-biggest revenue earner.
The latest figures from Statistics Botswana for January indicate that Botswana’s total export value rose by 43.7 percent—approximately $239,800 from $548,890 recorded for December 2020 to $788,690 during the month under review.
Exports from non-diamonds—mainly machinery and electrical equipment, salt and soda, gold, and other goods—reached $42,589.
Although the January exports figures suggest an increase in the value of diamond exports, authorities are worried that heavy reliance on the gems is not sustainable.
It is for this reason that manufacturers in the country are now aggressively seeking export markets.
Apart from the pandemic igniting manufacturers’ appetite for export, the recent African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has also spurred the enthusiasm.
Botswana Export Manufacturers Association is also eyeing the American, Asian and European markets.
Mmantlha Sankoloba, chief executive of Botswana Export Manufacturers Association, is optimistic that Botswana’s products are ready to compete globally, as the search for an alternative export revenue earner goes on.
“The facts around Botswana’s product quality status are often misconstrued and linked to (perceived) inferiority,” Sankoloba told Zenger News.
“The potential for Botswana manufactured products to perform well in other markets is quite impressive,” she said.
Secret Kalahari director Johannes Visagie, whose company Donkey Milk Industries is already exporting donkey milk products to the U.S., shared his views.
“COVID-19 has dealt a deadly blow to small businesses in Botswana, and the only way out is to look for markets outside of Botswana,” Visagie told Zenger News.
“Our products are high-end, and we are looking for niche markets. Customers value donkey milk for its high cosmetic properties,” he said.
Visagie is yet to establish exactly how much product his company can export per annum, but he is soon rolling out an aggressive advertising campaign.
“It is too soon to establish trends because we are still very new in the market,” he said.
“The aim is to have enough variants of products with good marketing to reach $1 million turnover per annum. We have only two products on Amazon. We have just added another six to make eight.”
He intends to spend $16,445 to upgrade their marketing level on Amazon from “silver” to “platinum” to give his milk products better visibility on the retail giant’s platform.
Another celebrated exporter from the country is the Botswana Vaccine Institute Limited, which manufactures animal vaccines exported to the Southern Africa Development Community, West and East Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Other exporting success stories include Chrolide Exide Botswana, a battery manufacturing company exporting to South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Angola.
Under tourism products, Botswana exports aluminum boats manufactured by Aliboats to South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Europe.
Francistown Knitters exports school wear, corporate wear, security wear, industrial and sportswear to Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Though these companies and many others are making headway to capture foreign markets, others have found the going tough.
Otsile Moje, the owner of Euclea Crispa Limited, a company manufacturing sanitary pads, said he lost more than $185,000 setting up a factory that was to supply both local and export market.
Moje bemoaned the lack of support to local manufacturers before seeking markets outside the borders.
“Botswana manufacturers are competing on an uneven playing ground,” Moje told Zenger News, noting that the government has allowed substandard products to dominate the local market.
Sankoloba said although the minerals sector has dominated Botswana’s economy over the past years, with efforts to diversify the economy, certain products have shown tremendous potential.
“The furniture sector is a great example of a product to pick from. We have a very organized yet competitive furniture sector in Botswana, producing a range of products from household, school to office furniture.”
Sankoloba said the local market is small—Botswana’s population is around 2.3 million—and cannot sustain the desire for growth, hence an endless search for new markets.
“We have established great working relations with foreign counterparts from across Africa, U.S., Europe, and Asia,” she said.
Recently Botswana Export Manufacturers Association signed a collaboration agreement with Indian Importers Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
Last year Bank of Botswana governor Moses Pelaelo announced that the economy’s export potential has shrunk over the past five years, as a proportion of the GDP, as uncertainties have enveloped the diamond trade.
In February, he challenged the business community to rally behind the Bank of Botswana’s expansionary monetary and fiscal policies to boost prospects for economic recovery.
“The redesign of industrial and trade policies to promote exports, the transition towards the digital economy, greater financial inclusion and broader participation by all segments of society in productive economic activities, should result in fast-tracking the recovery, as well as enhancing economic resilience and moving the economy to a high-income status,” said Pelaelo, while launching a monetary policy in Gaborone.
The government is also bolstering the export initiative.
The former minister of finance, Thapelo Matsheka, while presenting the country’s 2021/22 fiscal year proposal in February, said the promotion of export-led growth requires improved competitiveness and productivity, focusing on reducing the costs of domestic production and removing trade barriers.
“Hence, competitiveness will be the overriding criteria to gauge all government policies and measures. For export-led growth to be achieved, the criteria must be applied systematically to the review of all government decisions and all major policy frameworks, systems, and procedures in the economic, labor, and social areas,” said Matsheka.
(Edited by Kipchumba Some and Amrita Das. Map by Urvashi Makwana)
The post Botswana Searches For ‘New Diamonds’ To Diversify Economy appeared first on Zenger News.


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Anyone interested in being a part of The Great Cloth Diaper Change effort to be in the Guinness Book of World Records is invited to contact Tammy’s Baby Shoppe in Manteca. To get the link to the site where one can sign up online, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org or drop by the store located at 127 North Main Street just behind the parking lot of Manteca Bedquarters in downtown Manteca. Or call (209) 239-5537.
Deadline for sign-ups at Tammy’s Baby Shoppe is “until we get 30 people,” said Willie Holland who owns the store with wife, Tammy.
The event will be held to coincide with Earth Day celebrations worldwide and will take place Saturday, April 21, with activities starting at 9 a.m. The Manteca store is one of many sited worldwide where participants will take part in the Great Cloth Diaper Change all at the same time.
The purpose of the diaper-change event is “to help save the environment,” Willie Holland said.
The program to be held prior to the actual changing of the diapers will include showing the video of last year’s event, with former Manteca Police public information officer Rex Osborne reprising his role as last year’s emcee.


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Cabela’s, the retail chain specializing in hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities that gamers are too busy pushing buttons to participate in, has been releasing their Big Game Hunter series since the late-90s. Armed with a trailer decked out in the finest of faux hunting parephenalia and foliage, they came by GamesRadar headquarters today to show off their latest installment in this popular series as well as the new title under the Cabela’s umbrella, Survival: Shadows of Katmai.
Survival intends to broaden its horizons outside of their typical hunter audience by focusing on story and different aspects of gameplay besides shooting wild animals. With a plane crash landing into a trailer made up to look like a forest, Cabela’s is emphasizing the leap that Survival will take beyond their stable of already solid hunting games.
Check out the photos and be on the lookout America. The Cabela’s Trailer of Huntin’ & Shootin’ Survival Fun (a title we made up ourselves) is slated to roll across the country to give those of us with itchy trigger fingers and a hankering for digital venison a chance to try out both games. Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2012 will be released September 27, 2011 while Cabela’s Survival: Shadows of Katmai will be out November 1, 2011.
Above: The crashed plane ties directly into the beginning of Survival, which includes non-hunting gameplay like flying one of them
Above: Both titles will take advantage of the Top Shot Elite peripheral that was originally designed for Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011
Above: A wild Lizzie Cuevas appears while Mike and Charlie rustle up some lunch
Aug 4, 2011


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The wait is over. After weeks of rumors and speculation, Skype has confirmed it will partner with Verizon to bring a Skype app to a range of Verizon-powered smartphones, including the BlackBerry Curve and the BlackBerry Storm. For anyone unfamiliar, Skype allows for calls over the Internet rather than through traditional phone lines – and therefore avoids phone bills and mobile minutes.
According to Skype, this new app will run on Verizon's 3G service, and not just on Wi-Fi, which means the app will be more easily accessible on the fly. Expected roll-out date? Next month.
Of course, a 3G-enabled Skype app is meant to be coming to the Apple iPhone, too, but Skype has been vague on the release date. (iPhone owners can currently only access Skype through a Wi-Fi connection.) As Kevin J. O'Brien writes today in the New York Times, service providers are traditionally cagey about green-lighting Skype apps:
[M]any operators still block its calls, prohibit its customers from downloading Skype’s software or outlaw the use of VOIP [voice over Interner protocol] service in standard sales contracts. Some are imposing fees to undermine Skype’s attraction. In Germany, customers of T-Mobile can place calls using Skype, but only if they pay an extra €10, or $13.80, per month. At Vodafone in Germany, the extra charge is €5 per month.
The Verizon deal could be an exception. The Skype 3G app will allow free and unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls. Well, maybe free is the wrong word – you'll still be sucking up your data plan when you use the Skype app. (Better opt for the unlimited data package before downloading Skype.) So how big of a deal is this Skype announcement?
There's nothing inherently historic about Skype being available on phones -- it's on the iPhone (albeit over Wi-Fi only right now) and I first used the service on a Windows Mobile handset years ago. (Only briefly, though -- it taxed the phone to the breaking point, and voice quality was pretty miserable.) But a major carrier such as Verizon not only grudgingly permitting Skype but buddying up with it as a selling point for its phones is an interesting twist.
Indeed. Drop us a line with your thoughts, either in the comments section or on Twitter.
Editor's Note: AT&T does offer a handful of VoIP applications for various 3G and 2G and Wi-Fi-equipped devices. The 3G Skype app for the iPhone, however, has not yet been released.


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Earlier this week, Valve officially announced Counter-Strike 2, which will offer tons of graphical and gameplay updates for fans of the company's tactical multiplayer shooter series, Most likely as a result of that announcement, the current major game in the series, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is setting a new surge in players.
The game, which was already among the most popular titles on Valve's Steam service, reached a new concurrent online player record this weekend. According to SteamDB, 1,519,457 players were online at one point playing the game on Sunday. That number is also the second-highest concurrent player number for a single game on Steam ever. However, it's unlikely CS:GO will reach the highest number, which was hit by PUBG: Battlegrounds over five years ago with over 3.2 million players at once.
However, it's possible that the number of players in CS:GO will continue to rise as we get closer to the official release date of Counter-Strike 2. It will be a free update for CS:GO and will use Valve's Source 2 engine for a ton of improvements in visuals, textures, gameplay and more. A limited number of CS:GO players have been invited to check out Counter-Strike 2 ahead of its public release.
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Adidas rolls out "unforgettable swims" digital/social campaign in the UK.
AOL content chief Arianna Huffington adds Healthy Living and Industry sector channels, starting with energy.
Budweiser casts Bud United Presents: The Big Time branded entertainment global reality TV show on Facebook and Renren.
Donald Trump is (surprise!) not running for president.
Facebook fans in Israel name daughter "Like."
Fendi catwalk show cancelled in South Korea following anti-fur protests.
Google borrows $3 billion in first bond offer.
HBO uses sensory exploration to promote Game of Thrones.
Ikea keeps sustainability top of mind.
IMF's disgraced head Dominique Strauss-Kahn is being held without bail at NYC's Rikers Island jail.
Marks & Spencer bra billboards offend in the UK.
Microsoft's Bing gets more social with Facebook.
NASDAQ could abandon New York for London.
NBA post-Kobe gay awareness gets boost as Phoenix Suns president Rick Welts comes out.
NBC unveils first fall programming lineup under Comcast ownership.
Netflix streaming service to add Miramax movies.
New York aims to become America's top digital city.
Primedia prepares for new owner and to leave KKR after 22 years.
Sam's Club promotes health services offering to small businesses.
Versace expands into children's wear.
Volkswagen incorporates iPad holder in concept car.
& the UK is poised to announce world's most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions policy.


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The new name for miiCard, the identity company creating trust online. It's been almost five years since we started our journey to create trust online.
Last month I had the privilege of attending the ID2020 summit at the United Nations in New York. Having been focused on identity within financial services for the last year or so it has been a while since I was at a more general identity event. ID2020 reinforced for me the increasing importance of identity and the Perfect Storm we have seen building over the last six months.
2015 was quite a year for fintech and identity - with both receiving a huge amount of attention and coming together in a very exciting way. Looking back on this convergence, a discussion at Ctrl-Shift's Personal Information Economy event last month described it as "the perfect storm" in the wider digital economy.
Online identity is one of the most important issues in today’s global economy. This was the dominant theme at FinTechWeek this month where I gave an update to the industy on what is now being described as Identity 3.0. Whether the discussion was around cyber risk, fraud or blockchain, almost every conversation referenced identity.
The online identity, verification and trust space seems to be accelerating at light speed, and it’s hard to even write this short update without fearing that it will be outdated by the time you read it. So moments like these are important to take stock of what’s happening around us and how our original vision is being validated every day.
Here's the latest online identity news stories from around the world. This installation spans April through to June, 2015 and includes more than 50 articles relating to trust, identity, fraud and various government initiatives working to solve what is quickly becoming one of the biggest challenges in our global, digital economy - proving you are who you say you are in a purely online environment.
Empowering citizens with secure and trusted online identities is high on the priority list for many countries throughout the globe and we are really pleased to see the collaboration of government and enterprise taking off in many of the countries we operate.


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|By PR Newswire||
|February 24, 2014 06:06 PM EST||
DAYTON, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Mazda has been building quality vehicles for decades that give car shoppers a complete lineup of all the popular vehicle types. At Matt Castrucci Mazda, car shoppers can expect to find a great selection of affordable SUVs, sedans, hatchbacks, minivans and even convertibles in Dayton, OH. The versatile lineup of new 2014 Mazda models at Matt Castrucci Mazda also delivers incredible fuel efficiency and performance. Whether a car shopper is looking for a new vehicle for the family or a fuel-efficient car for commuting to work and back, they will find what they need at Matt Castrucci Mazda.
The new 2014 Mazda3 in Dayton, OH provides consumers with an extremely fuel-efficient car that also delivers amazing performance behind the wheel. The 2014 Mazda3's premium interior and its available 2.5-liter SKYACTIV®-G engine gives drivers 184 horsepower and up to 39 miles per gallon on the highway.
Car shoppers searching for a new SUV in Dayton, OH can choose from either the compact 2014 Mazda CX-5 SUV or the larger 2014 Mazda CX-9. Both Mazda SUV's give buyers everything they are looking for in a new SUV; versatility, passenger and cargo space, performance, fuel efficiency and all-weather driving capabilities.
Car shoppers searching for the perfect vehicle are finding everything they need in the new 2014 Mazda model lineup. Matt Castrucci Mazda, a Mazda dealership in Dayton, OH stocks all of the newest 2014 Mazda models and a large selection of affordable used Mazda's on its car lot. Consumers who would like to learn more about any of the new 2014 Mazda models in Dayton, OH can contact a knowledgeable sales professional at Matt Castrucci Mazda by calling 877-321-5043 or by visiting their website at www.mattcastruccimazda.com.
Media Contact: Todd Williams, Matt Castrucci Mazda, 877-321-5043, [email protected]
News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com
SOURCE Matt Castrucci Mazda
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Shoe retailer Russell & Bromley has appointed IPG Mediabrands’ new digital shop Reprise to handle digital marketing.
The search for a digital agency partner, run through Creativebrief, began in March 2017. At the time, Campaign reported that the retailer, whose shoes are a favourite of Theresa May, was looking for an agency to help grow its ecommerce business.
Russell & Bromley launched an ecommerce website in December 2012 that was created by Venda. The brand, whose first shop opened in 1880, is still controlled by the Bromley family.
Reprise will work on all paid search, SEO, paid social, website and programmatic advertising activity. The agency takes over the account from 4Ps Marketing.
Neither Russell & Bromley nor IPG Mediabrands responded to requests for comment.
The win is the first major piece of UK business secured by Reprise since it was launched earlier this year as a full-service digital and performance marketing agency.
The network, which has 2,400 employees globally across 71 offices in 42 countries, incorporates Ansible’s mobile, technology and user experience capabilities and Society’s creative and content assets.
Reprise is led globally by chief executive Tim Ringel and chief operating officer Craig Ellis.
Speaking to Campaign Asia-Pacific at the time of the launch, Ringel said: “We’re elevating the conversation from ‘Give me $100m and I’ll buy media for you’ to ‘Let’s look at what you actually want to achieve long term with digital’.
“This is what the clients of the future need to answer. By combining the different agencies, we can now actually provide a seamless digital consumer experience.”


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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into Amazon.com Inc.’s proposed acquisition of iRobot Corp. for $1.7 billion.
The investigation was disclosed by iRobot in a regulatory filing that became public today.
Nasdaq-listed iRobot develops the popular Roomba line of robot vacuums. It also sells robot mops under the Braava brand, as well as a number of other products including air purifiers. The company’s robots can avoid obstacles, clean under furniture and automatically recharge their batteries.
Consumers have bought more than 40 million Roomba systems since iRobot first introduced the product line in 2002. Last quarter, iRobot generated revenues of $255.4 million, $225 million of which was attributed to its flagship Roomba business. The company shipped a total of 766,000 Roomba systems and 99,000 robot mops during the quarter.
According to the regulatory filing released by iRobot today, the FTC on Monday requested that both Amazon and iRobot provide “additional information and documentary materials” about the proposed acquisition. The agency made the request in connection with an antitrust review of the deal. The filing stated that Amazon and iRobot both expect to promptly respond to the request as well as “work cooperatively” with the FTC.
FTC investigations into such deals reportedly take up to a year. After an investigation concludes, the agency can file a lawsuit to block an acquisition or request that the companies involved in the transaction make concessions. The FTC can also opt to allow a transaction to close in accordance with the original acquisition terms.
The launch of the FTC probe into the proposed acquisition of iRobot comes a few months after the agency filed a lawsuit to block Meta Platforms Inc.’s purchase of Within Unlimited Inc., a Los Angeles-based virtual reality application developer. Meta agreed to buy the company earlier this year in a deal reportedly valued at $400 million.
If it receives regulatory approval, Amazon’s proposed acquisition of iRobot will position the company as one of the leading players in the home robotics market. Amazon already has a presence in that market with Astro, an Alexa-equipped residential robot introduced last year. The company also competes in the broader smart home market with its Echo and Ring connected device portfolios.
The proposed purchase of Roomba is one of two robotics-related acquisitions that Amazon has announced in recent quarters. Earlier this month, the online retail and cloud computing giant inked a deal to buy Belgium-based machinery maker Cloostermans-Huwaert NV. Cloostermans designs and manufactures systems such as warehouse robots.
Amazon has deployed more than 520,000 warehouse robots throughout its supply chain over the past decade, the company disclosed in conjunction with the Cloostermans acquisition. The acquisition will support Amazon’s warehouse automation efforts. Potentially, Cloostermans’ robot design and manufacturing expertise could also benefit Amazon’s home robotics business.
Amazon is one of several major tech firms working to establish a bigger presence in the robotics market. Google LLC parent Alphabet Inc. in July launched a new venture, Intrinsic, that focuses on making industrial robots easier and more affordable to use. Nvidia Corp., in turn, today debuted a new computing module optimized to power autonomous machines that require the ability to run onboard artificial intelligence software.


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- Wealth PMS (50L+)
Consumer Price Inflation for November 2015 came in at a 1 year high of 5.41%, riding largely on the back of high food inflation. Here’s the situation in graphs:
As you can see the index last year was FLAT between September 2014 and March 2015.
The current year’s index is sloping upwards.
That means if the current index slope is maintained we will easily see the gap widen between the previous year and this one. And that means: higher inflation.
At the rate we are going, 6% could just about happen next month!
With over 40% increase in the price of pulses this year,food inflation is now the highest in a year, at 6%. But a lot of other items are going up too – Housing, transport, Education, Personal care, and Household Items.
While the headline numbers are still under 6%, but inflation numbers are now moving up for both rural and urban areas.
If you eliminated Foods and Fuel, then the CPI change will be reflecting what is ‘secondary’ inflation – since the prices of food and fuel are volatile. (Think of a restaurant menu versus the cost of onions – inflation in the former is more “permanent” than the second which is transient)
Core CPI had been under 4% recently and has inched up to 4.42%. This however is too small to be a worry.
Things aren’t good in the inflation area, since the rupee has depreciated (and it’s over Rs. 67 to a dollar today!). This will impact our costs of imports and create inflationary issues here (as we are a net importer).
Food inflation is a worry indeed, but looking at the situation it’s not such a bad deal even at 6% food inflation.
The real problem is: how much worse will December be? It’s likely to spike to 6% or more, even if prices stabilize now. That will create a headline issue – because analysts will forget about the lower base formed last year, and read into it the thing people are scared about : That RBI will not drop rates anymore.
That should already be the base case – we are unlikely to see any further rate cuts from RBI till February.
This inflation number is bad, but in the big picture, this is not significant, as we are still under the 6% limit that RBI has to keep inflation within. If there is no reason to expect another rate cut, then this number is of no significance; it will not move the needle in either direction.


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Alongside updates for the iWork apps
for iCloud, OS X and iOS, Apple on Tuesday released version 7.0.3 (for Mavericks) and 6.1.3 (for Mountain Lion) of its Safari browser
. The new release, which only had two betas
released to developers before going final, adds enhanced push notification settings and direct support for some new top-level domains (which could previously only be accessed through a search). The update also addresses a few credit card autofill and security issues.
In prior versions of Safari that supported website push notifications, users were asked once if they wanted to allow such notices. The update allows users to easily disable all incoming push attempts temporarily or permanently, as well as fixing an issue that could block push notices that users wanted.
The latest Safari now directly supports websites using the new top-level domains, such as .club, .guru, .photography and some 700 more. Now, clicking on or typing in such URLs will take users directly to the sites rather than initiating a search. Finally, the new release brings bug fixes, including issues with credit card autofill and websites loading before users have finished a search term in the address field, as well as further security fixes.
Mountain Lion and Mavericks users (10.8 and 10.9, respectively) will see the updated Safari in Software Update. It will also shortly available for direct download from Apple's support website.


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Google News organizes what's happening to help you learn more about the stories that matter to you and the world.
Get the Google News app, available for both Android and IOS.
Glimpse is a monthly newsletter that surfaces rapidly growing trends: companies, products, industries, and styles.
The trends are identified by tracking nearly every word and phrase across search, media, shopping, and social websites, then surfacing those that show rapid growth.
Glimpse is a newsletter highlighting rapidly growing trends. We analyze hundreds of millions of consumer behavior signals from across the web to surface the most important and fastest growing trends that are under the radar.
Year in Search 2017 is data on the most searched for topics on Google from 2017.
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Volkswagen India ready to localize upcoming hatchback UP!
Subscribe to NewsletterPlease fill your name and email ID to get our daily auto news mailer.
The Indian unit of the Germany based leading car maker Volkswagen AG has reportedly started the localization of their upcoming small hatchback UP! in the Indian market. The Europe’s largest car maker is looking forward to achieve higher localization content in the manufacturing of this popular compact hatchback, so that it can be priced competitively against rivals in the country.
The speculations of the launch of this car have been doing rounds in the Indian market for more than a year now. However, the speculation got confirmed early this year when a test mule of the UP! model spotted testing on the Indian roads. However, the German parent of the company is yet to take a final call on the launch of this car in the Indian market.
Volkswagen UP! model is currently being sold in petrol and electric versions. The 1.0L engine of the car is available in two power output options including a 59 Bhp and a 74 Bhp variant. The highly efficient engines of the car are available in both five speed manual and a semi-automatic gearbox.
- Tata Nano expected to be introduced with power steering
- Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki to increase prices from 2014
- Honda to continue excellent performance in 2014
- Mercedes-Benz AMG cars gaining popularity in India
- Sales of Hyundai Grand i10 cross 33000 units in three months
- Next generation Honda City: A truly stylish sedan
- Mercedes-Benz set to hike prices in January 2014
- Tata Nano declared as Most Trusted Brand in India Study 2013
02 December 2013, 12:21 IST by CarTrade Editorial Team
As 2013 is coming to an end, many car makers would want to forget the dismal performance of this year in terms of sales and profit levels. In the passenger car segment, many companies failed to...
02 December 2013, 12:45 IST by CarTrade Editorial Team
In a shocking news that sent ripples across the American film fraternity, it was leant that Paul Walker has passed way in a car accident that occurred in Southern California. Reportedly, the actor...
04 December 2013, 11:55 IST by CarTrade Editorial Team
As the 2014 Auto Expo is fast approaching, the Indian car market is abuzz with presumptions about models that will be on display at the upcoming motor show. Major car companies like Maruti Suzuki,...
05 December 2013, 12:22 IST by CarTrade Editorial Team
According to recent reports, Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) will increase price of its entire line-up from January first week in 2014. This is mainly to counter the booming inflation and...


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With yesterday’s big reveal of Valve’s upcoming PC gaming portable Steam Deck, no doubt some scalpers are already salivating at the thought of hoarding these bad boys and selling them at exorbitant prices. It seems Valve is aware of this, and have taken measures against scalpers who are aiming to buy multiple units!
- Related Reading: Steam Deck Tech Specs, Full Unit Layout Revealed
In the official Steam Store page featuring the Steam Deck, the FAQ at the bottom of the page mentions that people who want to reserve a unit must at least 48 hours (two days) old, be in good standing, and have made a purchase on Steam prior to June 2021!
Are there any restrictions on users that can reserve the Steam Deck?
Your Steam account must be in a valid country. Additionally for the first 48 hours of reservation availability your account must be in good standing, and have made a purchase on Steam prior to June 2021.
In addition to that, Valve has even included a statement on how they are aware of unauthorized resellers, which explains the harder-than-usual reservation process.
Why is my account not able to place a reservation until Sunday?
We are aware of potential unauthorized resellers, and as an additional safeguard to ensure a fair ordering process, we’ve added a requirement that the reserver has made a purchase on Steam prior to June 2021 for the first 48 hours of reservation availability.
There is also a reservation fee which Valve says will give them “a clearer signal of intent to purchase, which gives us better data to balance supply chain, inventory, and regional distribution leading up to launch.”
Will this completely stop scalpers? Probably not, but this is a good step in making sure that those who do reserve and buy the Steam Deck are actual gamers, and not just in it to profit greatly from other people.
Pre-orders for the device are set to live later today, with the release of the unit set for December 2021.


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Higher Images Launches “Reputation Builder Plus” Online Reputation Management Program for Businesses
Higher Images, an award-winning digital marketing firm in Pittsburgh, has launched an online reputation management product called Reputation Builder Plus. This program allows companies and individuals to maintain control of their online and offline brand while helping consumers choose the purchases that match their needs.
Every day, invested consumers write thousands of online reviews, and many of these reviews are paired with a star-ranking system. The Reputation Builder Plus program offers businesses a way to review and boost their SEO, their online reputation, and their branding initiatives.
Data provided by Higher Images’ Digital HI technology shows that more than 8 out of 10 people trust online reviews as much as the opinions received from friends or family members. Three quarters of those looking for products rely on positive online reviews to determine if a business is trustworthy and are likely to make immediate purchases based on 4- or 5-starred reviews.
“Properly managing your online reputation leads to increased sales and a positive view of your brand. Reputation Builder Plus is a proactive system that reinforces a company’s positive image and products through reputation management. Businesses can generate and then manage reviews while enjoying a boost in online visibility during product searches,” said Bryan Thornberg, President of Higher Images. “In the past, companies’ revenues were often tied directly to word-of-mouth marketing. Now, they are greatly impacted by online reviews, which show up on the first page of a Google search and are often accompanied by a starred rating that can immediately influence consumers’ purchasing decisions,” he said.
Companies who want to help protect and manage their reputation using Reputation Builder Plus should contact Higher Images at 412-203-1996 or at www.higherimages.com.


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Indians have been known for their gold investments, especially around festive time like Diwali or the Akshay Tritiya which just passed. With gold prices continuing its downward journey and prices falling as much as 10% in last one year, the important question is it a worthwhile buy right now? It is considered to be financially prudent to buy when the prices are lower and sell on higher prices. However inflation being such a strong catalyst impacting gold prices, gauging the possible return at least over the medium term is absolutely necessary before you commit any cash to the yellow metal. For example if you bought gold last Akshaya Tritiya, you already lost over 10% on your investment in a year.
In the recent past gold prices have peaked out in 2012, around the Rs 33,000/10 gm mark. Since then though the prices have found support at $1200/oz after slipping to 4-year low of $1130. But perhaps the bottom is not in place yet. Gold prices are closely linked with the gold crude prices and the overall inflation outlook. As a result any significant uptick in the prices is directly proportional to these two aspects. Another crucial aspect is the international linkage. The US Fed policy, the employment levels in US and the interest rate outlook all have a strong bearing on where the prices are headed going forward. This is primarily because global gold prices are denominated in dollar terms. Any potential rate hike in US could immediately lead to prices crumbling like a pack of cards.
So then the question remains what should you do? Experts say that cash is still king but even if you make investment in gold, the jewellery route will be the least effective in terms of return on investment. However the Indian Govt has announced several measures to boost gold investment like low interest sovereign bonds, the Gold Monetisation scheme and many such. These no doubt would be more profitable compared to ETFs or even jewelleries.
However given the global uncertainty, perhaps it is best to commit only a portion of your net investment kitty into gold at the current moment. The expectation is the long-term return profile may see significant improvement as more clarity emerges on the stance taken by the US Central Bank.


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The first edition of SiGMA Americas will be held between the 14th and 17th of June, together with the biggest betting event in Brazil, the Brazilian iGaming Summit. The event will be attended by the biggest players in the betting industry in Latin America, as well as major representatives of the segment worldwide.
Latin America is showing incredible promise in the global games industry, with growing opportunities attracting the attention of companies. With regulated markets experiencing rapid growth and new potential emerging markets, SiGMA Americas strategically planned its first event to connect its extensive network in the West with leading suppliers, operators and affiliates in Latin America.
Access the SiGMA Americas website and see how this will be a unique opportunity to explore the growth prospects of the gaming industry in the region.https://youtu.be/Lo_GoYFEyi8
SiGMA Americas – Brazil: a great market to be explored
A great opportunity arises in Latin America, Brazil – the largest and most populous country in the region. Even though the rules for retail and internet casino activities are still being evaluated by the Senate, everything indicates that the online gaming sector is destined to expand until it reaches the BRL 2.6 billion mark in the next 5 years. Check out some data about the sector in the country:
- In 2018, Brazil’s Ministry of Economy embarked on a 4-year plan to create a competitive market for online and land-based sports betting. The plan builds alongside a federal law passed the same year that recognized fixed-odds betting as a legitimate lottery activity.
- In February 2022, lawmakers passed a new bill, with the Chamber of Deputies voting in favor of regulating online and retail gaming – thus setting the framework for the potential launch of a new regulated market. The bill still needs to pass the Senate before it can be signed into law.
- Up to 31 land-based casino resorts were authorized as of Feb. 23, with additional licenses offered for riverboats and cruise ships.
- According to the 2022 survey by Statistica, football is the most popular sport among Brazilian gamblers, followed by basketball, eSports and poker – while MMA completes the top 5.
The merger of the Brazilian iGaming Summit with the SiGMA Group
The SiGMA Group recently announced the purchase of the Brazil iGaming Summit (BiS), the largest conference focused on the betting market in Latin America. This acquisition will help consolidate its existing portfolio of businesses, as well as establish a notable presence in this exciting developing market.
Given that there are now opportunities for in-person events without Covid restrictions, this is the most conducive time to scale up business in emerging markets. In the last nine years there has been organic and steady growth in the market.
As a result, the SiGMA Group was asked – by numerous operators, suppliers and affiliates – to expand into promising markets, such as Africa, Asia and Latin America. Because of this, it was decided to jointly hold SiGMA Americas and BiS – events that will provide an unparalleled experience in Latin America.


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Siyata Mobile Inc. (TSX-V:SIM | OTCQX: SYATF) is filling an important space in the Push-to-Talk wireless industry, writes Jeff Kagan in U.S. publication, RCR Wireless News. PTT market is on a rebound both for the business marketplace and the rapidly growing FirstNet marketplace.
As an industry analyst Jeff has been following the industry for over 30 years and is a RCR Wireless News Columnist, Consultant and Bestselling Author.
Please find below an excerpt and link to the full article below.
The PTT space has millions of blue collar workers and first responders that don’t need or want a fancy Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. Instead they are looking for a basic, rugged device, that is Android, has hard keys and supports PoC as well as other applications.
Siyata Mobile saw the hole in the marketplace. They saw the need for PTT services. This is needed for commercial fleets, first responders, police, busses, military, trains, taxis, oil, gas, mining and many other businesses.
Push-To-talk is a wireless service needed by many different industries and sectors. And this time, PTT by Siyata Mobile is digital, not analog. Plus, it’s a Google Android smartphone. This combines Android with PTT.


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The German publisher Axel Springer has bought a stake in the U.S. media company Thrillist, Fortune has reported. The move comes just days after Axel Springer bought Business Insider for $343 million.
Thrillist, a lifestyles website geared toward Millennial men, additionally raised money from Oak Investment Partners and SBNY for a total of $54 million in new funding. As part of a corporate reorganization, Thrillist is also separating its media business and its e-commerce business JackThreads into two separate companies.
Thrillist attracts 15 million unique visitors per month to Thrillist.com and 80 million visitors per month across its digital, social and mobile platforms, according to the company.


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Italy’s antitrust authority has fined US tech giants Amazon and Apple a complete of greater than EUR 200 million (kind of Rs. 1,675 crore) for alleged anti-competitive cooperation within the sale of Apple and Beats merchandise.
Contractual provisions of a 2018 settlement between the firms intended simplest decided on resellers have been allowed to promote Apple and Beats merchandise on Amazon, the contest watchdog mentioned, including that this used to be in violation of European Union laws.
The authority imposed a fantastic of EUR 68.7 million (kind of Rs. 575 crore) on Amazon and EUR 134.5 million (kind of Rs. 1,130 crore) on Apple, ordering the firms to finish the constraints to provide outlets of authentic Apple and Beats merchandise get right of entry to to Amazon in a non-discriminatory approach.
Apple denied any wrongdoing and mentioned it plans to enchantment in opposition to the fantastic.
“To make sure our shoppers acquire authentic merchandise, we paintings intently with our reseller companions and feature devoted groups of professionals all over the world who paintings with regulation enforcement, customs and traders to make sure simplest authentic Apple merchandise are being offered,” it mentioned.
An Amazon consultant may just no longer be reached for instant remark.
© Thomson Reuters 2021


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Apple's Siri fuels boom in voice technology
Call it the "Siri effect." With Apple expected to unveil on Wednesday a new iPhone with added capabilities for Siri, its voice-activated digital assistant, industry experts say two factors are driving an explosion of voice-enabled services in smartphones, televisions, cars and other consumer products.
One is technological, as increasingly sophisticated software taps into vast amounts of data processing power over the Internet, to augment the computer chips inside a phone or other gadget. The other is based on the popular appeal of Siri and its rivals, boosted by an extensive Apple ad campaign with celebrities Samuel L. Jackson, Zooey Deschanel and Martin Scorsese.
A number of tech companies - including Google, Microsoft and IBM - are working on voice technology. But "Apple's introduction of Siri, combined with their marketing, has really had an impact in creating consumer expectations," said industry analyst Dan Miller of Opus Research.
And as more consumers see what the technology can do - even if imperfectly and not all the time - their expectations are fueling demand that's forcing product manufacturers to embrace the technology, said Mike Thompson of Nuance Communications, a leading supplier of voice-computing tools to other companies including Apple, Ford and Samsung.
"We've been steadily growing for a number of years, as speech functionality on devices has been improving. But we've recently crossed a threshold of consumer awareness," said Thompson, an executive vice president at Massachusetts-based Nuance, which makes software that helps computers recognize voice commands, parse them into tasks or processes, and convert digital results into human-like speech.
In recent years, Google has introduced voice-activated navigation, search and translation apps based on technology that it developed internally and through acquisitions. But with the debut of Apple's Siri last year, the tech rivals are now engaged in a high-profile voice-technology arms race.
Some analysts say Google regained the lead this summer when it added more voice capabilities to the Android mobile software that powers smartphones made by several iPhone competitors. But Apple has touted new features in the latest upgrade of its mobile software, which will power the new iPhone 5. According to Apple, Siri will soon be able to launch applications and use services like OpenTable to make a restaurant reservation with voice commands.
Microsoft has also added voice capabilities to its smartphone software as it vies for a share of the mobile market now dominated by Apple and Android. In addition, Microsoft has introduced voice commands for its Bing search engine and Xbox entertainment console.
Meanwhile, Ford and other automakers are incorporating voice technology into navigation systems, climate systems and music players, while Samsung, LG and Panasonic are shipping television sets with voice controls.
Younger motorists want their cars to do more than provide transportation, according to Ford executive Sheryl Connelly, whose company has worked with Nuance and Microsoft. Internet connectivity allows motorists to send messages and get information, she said during a talk sponsored by Silicon Valley's Churchill Club, while voice controls can "simplify those interactions" so drivers don't get distracted.
Voice controls are becoming so common that car companies must decide whether to let their systems interact with the gadgets motorists carry in their pockets, Miller said. Apple has announced it's working with General Motors and others to build a Siri voice-command button into car steering wheels.
Not far in the future, some experts foresee other voice-activated appliances and home systems that control thermostats and alarms. Already available are programs that use a person's unique voiceprint to determine if he or she is a gadget's rightful owner, and thus authorized to access data or make online purchases.
Even Siri's fans will concede that today's voice systems are far from perfect: Internet connections can be lost. Programs stumble on unusual phrases or figures of speech, and they generally can't offer more than pre-programmed quips in response to abstract questions like, "What's the meaning of life?"
Today's voice technology works better within limited areas, such as automated call-center programs that can recognize questions and provide answers relevant to a specific company or industry - rather than confronting a much wider range of queries like Siri does. But experts also say the expanded use of voice services will provide even more data that engineers can use to improve the way computers recognize and respond to spoken commands.
At the Churchill Club event, veteran computer scientist Ronald Kaplan compared the evolution of voice technology to the speech development of a child.
Talking with computers was once as limited as speaking to a toddler, said Kaplan, who worked on voice technology at Xerox PARC and Microsoft before joining Nuance. Today it's more like talking with a 5- or 6-year-old, he added, and "the conversation is getting kind of interesting."
(c)2012 San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)
Distributed by MCT Information Services


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E- cigarettes and vaping are being sold as healthier and more attractive options to smoking to younger Australians, which may be a cause for a new emerging concern, for their safety as a switch is still under question.
The new generation is getting hooked to vaping and candy flavored e- cigarettes, with 13% having already tried it. According to a new report by the Cancer Council Australia, e- cigarettes contain unchecked ingredients that can impact lungs and increase the risk of heart disease and cancer.
E-cigarettes and vaping are the new trends that has caught Australian youth. Widespread use of it is found among Australian school goers. They were initially advertised as safer for consumption, but in the light of the news of children dying and being hospitalized in USA, due to their use, the Cancer Council Australia is warning the public against its use.
“We know that the tobacco industry is what we call ‘re-emergent’ in Australia and are heavily marketing these products as a reduced-risk product. E-cigarettes are not a reduced-risk product. We don’t have enough evidence to say e-cigarettes are safe, or safer [than tobacco smoking]. We know that even in healthy young people, the use of e-cigarettes can impair blood vessel function. The news about vaping and the use of e-cigarettes is getting worse every day,” said Cancer Council Australia, Tobacco Issues Committee chair, Libby Jardine.
There have been serious calls for action and regulation to check their increasing use and promotions worldwide. Chicago attorney, Ken Moll, has been leading a billion-dollar class action lawsuit against the leading e-cigarette company in the US, Juul, for marketing nicotine to people age under 18. “It’s alarming there was a 900 per cent increase in high school usage of e-cigarettes between 2011 in 2015,” Mr. Moll said.


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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is set to update the tax brackets for the year 2024, reflecting the customary annual adjustments for inflation. These adjustments, which are closely tied to the consumer price index that gauges the cost of household goods and services, serve to alleviate the tax burden that could arise due to inflation.
The previous year saw tax brackets escalate by an unusual 7%, a direct response to the highest inflation rates in over four decades. This year, with inflation rates somewhat easing, the tax bracket increase is expected to be around 5.4%, according to predictions by tax experts like Steve Grodnitzky of Bloomberg Tax. The intent behind these adjustments is to curb "bracket creep," a phenomenon where taxpayers are nudged into higher tax brackets solely due to inflation, not because of an actual increase in their standard of living.
Such bracket adjustments mean that taxpayers may enjoy more of their income being taxed at a lower rate. For example, if the single filer’s lower bracket limit was $22,000 in 2023, this limit is estimated to rise to about $23,200 for 2024, potentially resulting in tax savings for individuals. These forthcoming changes are a part of the IRS's ongoing efforts to ensure that taxes accurately reflect economic conditions and provide some measure of relief to taxpayers.


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Keeping in view that the prices of locally produced automobiles have soared past the affordability of a common man, the government announced a handful of initiatives for the automobile sector in budget 2021-22 aimed at curbing car prices.
While unveiling the federal budget on Friday, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin announced tax exemptions for cars having an engine capacity of 850cc.
“Rising car prices in the country have irked the common man hence federal excise duty and value added tax on locally produced cars, having engine capacities of up to 850cc, have been abolished,” said Tarin.
In addition, the government also decreased the sales tax rate on such cars from 17% to 12.5%.
He was of the view that these measures would enable people from the lower and middle class to buy their own automobiles.
“The automobile sector contributes immensely to the development of the country and the national treasury besides providing employment to millions of people,” he said.
Despite being a relatively smaller segment, the automobile sector of the country has recorded rapid growth over the past few years, said the finance minister.
To lend support to this sector, the government has decided to exempt completely built up (CBU) units of cars of up to 850cc from customs duty and regulatory duty.
Moreover, vehicle manufacturers will also be exempted from advance customs duty as the government moves to streamline the tariff structure.
"These are excellent incentives and they will surely benefit customers,” said Pak Suzuki Motor Company official spokesperson Shafiq Ahmed Shaikh in comments to the Express Tribune. “We appreciate the government for announcing incentives for the consumers of the automobile sector.”
Automobile sector expert Mashhood Khan said that minimising the cost of doing business was the main challenge for an auto part manufacturer (APM).
Reduction in sales tax on cars of engine capacities of 850cc and below will improve demand and enhance capacity utilisation of APMs, he said. This initiative in particular will generate jobs in the auto sector, he added.
Arif Habib Limited analyst Arsalan Hanif termed the budget materially positive for the automobile sector as the government decreased sales tax from 17% to 12.5% and abolished 2.5% federal excise duty (FED) on cars of lower engine capacity.
To support new players and loss making companies, the government has also reduced turnover tax from 1.5% to 1.25%.
During the budget speech, Tarin also announced measures for electric vehicles, saying that the government was encouraging the use and manufacturing of electric vehicles to reduce dependence on petrol, provide affordable transport to the general public and mitigate the environmental impact.
To accomplish these goals, massive tax relief measures were announced for electric vehicles including tax exemption on import of completely knocked down (CKD) kits for local manufacturing of electric vehicles.
Moreover, the rate of sales tax on locally manufactured electric vehicles was brought down from 17% to 1% in addition to elimination of value added tax on imported electric cars. The government also waived federal excise duty on electric vehicles.
Hanif highlighted that tax reduction and exemption on electric vehicles will promote a fuel efficient and greener economy.


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Best Buy has been testing reinstating car audio installation at many stores in Minneapolis. Additionally, some stores in Houston have reopened their car audio installation bays, said industry members.
Two Best Buy locations in the Minneapolis area confirmed they are now offering car audio installation services. One said the installation department has been open for a month.
Three industry members also said that Houston was another test market but we were unable to get beyond the phone menu when calling Houston Best Buy stores.
A car audio specialist in Houston, said that a local Best Buy resumed car audio installation about three weeks ago. The specialist, however, said he had seen no fall off in his business, which has been strong for the past 2 1/2 months.
With Best Buy’s newly reinstated car audio installation service, customers are not allowed to wait in the store’s waiting area. They are met outside to check in their car and then the car is wiped down before and after the installer works on it, said one Minneapolis location.
Best Buy did not respond to our inquiries.


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A Gloucestershire pharmacy chain which owns Badham Mobility turned over more than £17m in its latest financial year as it took on new shops and geared up for further growth.
Badham Pharmacy Ltd, a family-run business which owns a total of 20 stores, was helped by its mobility dealership to achieve a reasonable sales growth of 3% and operating profits of nearly £840,000, up from £710,000 in 2015/16.
The company’s latest annual report shows that the firm now owns 17 pharmacies across Gloucestershire and one in Bristol. It was not clear how much of the revenue was generated by Badham Mobility.
The group acquired two pharmacy outlets in Gloucester during the year and dispensed nearly 1.8m items.
The directors’ report noted that the impact of cuts in NHS funding continued to depress its gross margin profit, although there was a slight improvement on the previous year.
Meanwhile, wages and salaries as a percentage of turnover have remained consistent.
In August 2018, managing director, Peter Badham, said the company intends to grow through acquisitions and relocations.
Its pharmacy business has aimed to increase profitability by leveraging its buying power and supply chain networks.
Badham Mobility launched in 2007 and relocated in 2013 to a fresh showroom inside a medical centre in Cheltenham.
The level access showroom stocks the usual mobility products, including scooters, wheelchairs, accessories, walking aids, commodes and recliner chairs.
The parent group now employs nearly 200 staff across its 20 pharmacies and mobility aids centre. Badham’s aim is to become the largest independent chain of pharmacies.
Image credit: Badham Pharmacy Ltd


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In the near future, users of the Microsoft Teams collaboration service will not be bored in virtual meetings. This week, the software giant unveiled the Games for Work app, which will become part of Teams and give users of the service access to classic Windows games like Klondike Solitaire and Minesweeper.
The developers believe that the mentioned innovation will help employees unite in the team and increase their own efficiency. “Games are a unique way to foster creativity, collaboration, and communication, and we can’t wait to see how the Games for Windows app in Microsoft Teams improves productivity and strengthens connections in the workplace.”said a Microsoft spokesman.
According to the available data, all games available in Teams do not contain advertising content, and from 2 to 250 people can interact with them. With Minesweeper, for example, users can not only play alone, but also watch others doing it or suggest further steps. Other games offer similar features, including cooperative play and the ability to compete against each other.
The Games for Windows app will soon be available to all Teams users on Education and Enterprise plans. The developers plan to expand the list of games available in the application in 2023.


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Attribution: There is an updated article on the AAAS website (American Association for the Advancement of Science) The article is current -- March 31, 2020 and written by David Grimm. The gist is -- there have been a few pets that have tested positive for COVID-19 -- likely getting it from their human. But the… Continue reading Should Pets Be Tested for Coronavirus?
Smart Hemp CBD's parent company (Iron Star Ventures, LLC) has just launched a new pet products website. Check it out at https://www.akcpetproducts.com/ The products sourced for pet owners are unique -- and in many cases, handcrafted. They include genuine baltic amber collars (naturally helping prevent flea and tick issues); handmade, heavy cotton chew toys; a… Continue reading Announcing: Sister Website
These are trying times for people the world-over. Everyone's thinking about how to keep their families safe from a virus no one's ever been exposed to ... making it a dangerous health issue for people to think about. Businesses are facing challenges they never expected to deal with. People are losing their jobs (hopefully only… Continue reading Pets and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
There was once a cartoon where the main character said "the holidays don't just sneak up on you, they just jump right out at you". There are variations of this but no question, the holidays are upon us. Three things... FIRST... Pet Holidays for the rest of the year... While November is about done, here… Continue reading ‘Tis the Season
This CBD Smart Minutes video expands on the topic of CBD for pets vs. using a CBD product made for people. Look for ingredients. Ask the seller questions if you have any. Don't try to adjust dosing directions from a human-based CBD if you don't know how. Look for pet CBD to give you the… Continue reading VIDEO: Pet vs. Human CBD – Part 2


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Facebook Inc has sought to invest over $1 billion to support content creators through the end of 2022, the social media giant said Wednesday.
The aim of the company is to compete with platforms like TikTok and YouTube for the attention of top social media personalities and to stay ahead of the game.
The investments will include bonus programs to pay creators who hit certain milestones on its apps, including photo-sharing network Instagram, and fund users to produce content, Facebook said.
On Facebook, video creators and online gamers will receive a monthly bonus if they hit milestones for earnings Stars.
Stars milestones are a form of digital tipping that fans can use to pay their favorite creators during live-streamed videos.
Instagram's bonus programs will include incentives to use Reels - its copycat TikTok feature that showcases short-form video clips.
Creators will earn money based on how their Reels videos perform, the company said.
Instagram says ut wants to be be a great social media platform that is 'more than just pictures' according to its head.
However, long-time users of the platform reiterated that it is lost at the moment with:
- Reels (Which are Tiktoks)
- IGTV (Long-form videos like YouTube)
- Guides (A version of Pinterest)
- Stories (Which were taken and perfected from Snapchat)
- Then the Shop feature (Lowkey amazon feature)
It is unclear if the tech giant will someday find ways to consolidate all these half-finished features, or if they will continue adapting.
At this current state, it seems like Facebook Inc wallet to court creators as rival social media platforms are wooing top influencers with millions of fans.
TikTok has committed to spending $2 billion to support creators over three years, while Snap Inc's Snapchat previously paid creators a total of $1 million per day to post popular short-form videos on its service.
Technology is ever-changing and social media is constantly adapting, it is no surprise that both Facebook and Instagram are dedicated to staying on top of the game.
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HP and UPS are developing what they say is an industry first: secure electronic delivery of paper documents via the Internet. The new project is designed to appeal to corporations enticed by the speed and cost-effective nature of online messaging but wary of the trade-off in security.
"The natural combination of these smart products--seamlessly integrated paper-based information and electronic messaging--is the closest you can get today to safe and immediate document delivery," said Dale Hayes, vice president of electronic commerce marketing for UPS, in a statement.
The two companies will eventually market a solution comprised of two parts: UPS Document Exchange, which offers tracking and delivery of digital documents, and the HP 9100C Digital Sender, which sends physical documents over the Internet.
The goal is to replace overnight delivery of paper documents and augment existing email and faxing, the firms said.
The companies cite research by Intelliquest, which found that 35 percent of the overnight delivery market will migrate to Internet-based solutions by 2001.
"It just makes good business sense for us to market two of our revolutionary products to help customers with one of today's greatest business challenges: simplified communications," said John Stedman, senior vice president of HP's appliance and scanner business unit, in a statement.


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Tankoa Yachts provides detail on new custom division
The Italian shipyard has provided further details on the changes that are to take place at the company…
Following on from Tankoa’s big announcement about its new custom division at the Monaco Yacht Show, the Italian shipyard has provided further details on the changes that are to take place at the company. Since its conception 10 years ago, the shipyard has focused primarily on the construction of semi-custom superyachts, of which it has now completed three (69.3m Suerte, 49.9m Vertige and 72m Solo).
The success of the three semi-custom builds and the shipyard’s exposure during both the Monaco Yacht Show and Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show has reportedly resulted in new interest, with numerous reported requests for fully custom projects between 55 and 100m coming from owners and brokers. As a result, Tankoa has officially announced that there is to be a dedicated full-custom business unit at the facility in La Spezia.
“We really want to position ourselves as a competitor to Northern European shipyards, rather than Italian shipyards,” said Euro Contenti, CEO of Tankoa Yachts. The opening of Tankoa’s La Spezia facility, additionally the shipyard will also see a considerable restructuring in order to ensure that the custom team is able to provide the same one-to-one service seen on the semi-custom side of the shipyard.
Tankoa has stated that custom orders will be voluntarily limited to one project per annum in order to guarantee the best service and delivery expectations.
In addition to this significant new offering, Tankoa has provided further detail on three of its 50m series (sisterships to M/Y Vertige), which are currently under construction at the facility in La Spezia. The yachts have indeed begun as speculative projects, which the shipyard has stated lends credence to its financial stability.
“Building on spec represents a major investment, even for a financially strong, debt-free shipyard, but it makes strategic sense by reducing the delivery time,” says Edoardo Ratto, general manager at Tankoa. “Many owners are not interested in the first six to eight months it takes to build the hull and superstructure, but they do want to be involved in the layout and interior décor, and in the choice of features and equipment, which can be decided when the metal work is already well advanced.”
As of mid-September, the second hull of the 50m series, named Elettra, is currently proceeding with superstructure fairing, which is almost completed. The 50m superyacht has now had thermal and acoustic insulation and all engine room equipment is installed.
Hull number three is reportedly well under construction and will be moved to the outfitting shed in late December this year, where work will begin early 2019 for her delivery in May 2020. Hull four will then follow closely behind, with delivery scheduled for November 2020.
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Results For "Xiaomi"
12 News Found
Outdoor Media Integrated COO Naresh Bhandari takes sabbatical
In OOH News By Bhawana Anand - November 04, 2020
The OOH honcho plans to take a break to fulfil his personal commitments
Xiaomi takes on OnePlus in OOH, twitter battlefield
In OOH News By M4G Bureau - June 05, 2019
Xiaomi has strategically placed its hoarding announcing the launch of its new smartphone right next to the OnePlus 7 campaign with a clever jibe
Xiaomi India gives creative mandate to Lowe Lintas
In OOH News By M4G Bureau - January 05, 2018
The agency has been appointed with a vision to build the long lasting brand recognition; the account is going to be handled by the Bengaluru division of the agency
Xiaomi dials into OOH again to reassert its brand presence
In Campaigns By M4G Bureau - December 26, 2017
The campaign, executed by OOH specialist agency OMI, has been rolled out for a 30-day period, using a mid of large and short formats that include billboards, bus shelters, gantries, Metro pillar media, wall wraps, etc.


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Poland not to lose on U.S. tariffs
"Poland will not lose on U.S. tariffs as our exports to the United States is marginal and our market will not feel it, but it will be felt by the European market," Emilewicz said.
However, the minister added that "this (tariffs) is the destruction of a consensus that has been in force for many years in the field of trade."
"This is a serious problem. We support the European Commission. We also expressed concern that this is the destruction of a certain consensus that has been in force for many years in the field of trade and that it is against the principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)," said the minister.
Noting that the European Commission is considering a complaint to the WTO, she added that equivalent measures are being considered that would reduce imports redirected from other countries covered by U.S. duties.
"We are warning against this," said the minister, called on the U.S. for a more serious approach towards Europe to avoid "going back to 19th century trade wars." ■


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Samsung partners Silver Springs to network LED street lights
March 17, 2016
Korean company Samsung Electronics is working with Silver Spring Networks to develop networked LED street lighting, helping cut costs and simplify connected lighting componentry for luminaire manufacturers. The announcement was made at this week’s Light + Building show in Frankfurt.
The partnership aims to accelerate the road to smart cities for municipalities, utilities, transportation departments and other outdoor lighting network operators. Networked LED public lighting systems deliver significant energy and operational savings, helping cities, utilities and other entities establish a broad network canopy that can also be used for smart city and IoT applications, such as traffic and parking management, environmental sensing and citizen safety.
“Samsung and Silver Spring Networks share a common vision for the IoT,” said Jacob Tarn, executive vice president at Samsung Electronics. “Large-scale outdoor lighting networks offer a viable path to smarter cities and safer communities, and provide a solid foundation for future internet of things applications. Samsung and Silver Spring will leverage open standards to provide a simple, scalable and highly efficient long-term path for connecting internet of things devices.”
The joint smart street light system will be designed to enable luminaire manufacturers to take advantage of a pre-integrated networked photocell with auto-configuration and management capabilities, lowering costs and simplifying the system for users. The collaboration will enable capabilities such as wiring multiple sensors to a single driver, dynamic override commands, and advanced management of configuration files and firmware images across large-scale lighting networks.
It will build on California-based Silver Spring’s IPv6- based Gen5 wireless networking platform and SLV6 smart city management software, and the Samsung SLM smart lighting module that powers its SLP smart lighting platform. SLM is an all-in-one lighting application-specific wireless and wired connectivity module that can be embedded into a sensor bus for smart cities and other IoT environments. It supports both wired and wireless communications protocols, including Dali and Bluetooth, to help operators seamlessly connect to various sensor networks and smart devices. It enables smart lighting luminaires to act as nodes for diverse smart lighting environments.
“We are pleased to partner with an industry leader like Samsung to help advance the outdoor lighting, smart cities and broader IoT markets,” said Brandon Davito, vice president at Silver Spring Networks. “We are committed to delivering standards-based solutions that simplify the roll out of smart lighting networks and unlock clear economic benefits for our customers.”


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The New Market in Computer Capacity
New online exchanges aim to turn computer capacity into a globally traded commodity. Already there's a new crop of startup companies called "cloud brokerages."
What's the Latest Development?
Imagine buying time on a computer in Ireland or Indiana the same way you'd bid for an antique on eBay. That's how a new crop of startup companies called "cloud brokerages" plans to change the way companies buy and sell computing capacity. New online exchanges would turn computer time into a globally traded commodity.
What's the Big Idea?
Instead of buying computers, companies can now run websites or software by leasing time at data centers run by vendors like Amazon or Microsoft. The idea behind cloud brokerages is to take the efficiency of cloud computing a step further by creating a global marketplace where computing capacity can be bought and sold at auction.
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Swipe right. Match. Meet over coffee or set up a call.
No, we aren't talking about Tinder. Introducing Shapr, a free app that helps people with synergistic professional goals and skill sets easily meet and collaborate.
A completely unexpected discovery beneath the ice.
- Scientists find remains of a tardigrade and crustaceans in a deep, frozen Antarctic lake.
- The creatures' origin is unknown, and further study is ongoing.
- Biology speaks up about Antarctica's history.
She met mere mortals with and without the Vatican's approval.
- For centuries, the Virgin Mary has appeared to the faithful, requesting devotion and promising comfort.
- These maps show the geography of Marian apparitions – the handful approved by the Vatican, and many others.
- Historically, Europe is where most apparitions have been reported, but the U.S. is pretty fertile ground too.
It's one factor that can help explain the religiosity gap.
- Sociologists have long observed a gap between the religiosity of men and women.
- A recent study used data from several national surveys to compare religiosity, risk-taking preferences and demographic information among more than 20,000 American adolescents.
- The results suggest that risk-taking preferences might partly explain the gender differences in religiosity.
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Sprint has just released its earnings report for the first quarter of this year, and the results are quite mixed. With regards to financial losses, it appears that the fourth biggest wireless carrier in the United States continues its struggles, registering a loss in the amount of $554 million (or $0.14 a share) on revenue of $8.07 billion. Compared to how the company did during the first quarter of 2015 when it posted a loss of $224 million (or $0.06 a share) on revenue of $8.28 billion, it certainly is not an improvement.
Still, in terms of postpaid wireless subscribers, Sprint managed to gain some, welcoming 22,000 new sign ups. Mobile network service providers generally view postpaid wireless subscribers (users who pay for wireless service at the end of every month) as more valuable than other types of customers because they have better credit and typically spend more. The 22,000 new customers that Sprint had added in the first three months of the year may not be much, but considering the volume of customers the industry leaders lost during the recently concluded quarter (Verizon Wireless lost 8,000 postpaid wireless subscribers, AT&T lost a staggering 363,000), Sprint’s numbers are definitely not bad. It can not compare to the 877,000 new customers that T-Mobile gained though, and easily failed to reach the 200,000 projected by various industry watchers.
According to Marcelo Claure, the chief executive officer of Sprint, it is imperative that the company do some fine tuning with regards to its finances and operations, if it wants to post some improvement in the next few quarters. Claure specifically mentioned the need for establishing a faster and better network, as well as an expanded retail channel and better overall spending habits.
Per tests conducted by Nielsen Mobile Performance Data and RootMetrics, Sprint actually offers faster 4G LTE download speeds, but only in specific areas where it has already completed its roll out of its LTE Plus service. When it comes to its finances, the wireless carrier has already started a comprehensive cost cutting initiative, managing to slash $1.5 billion in spending in the past half year, with more cuts in the months to come. Of course, cost cutting efforts will not be nearly enough -- Sprint will have to shore up its revenues too. This is where an expanded retail channel plays a huge part. According to Claure, the wireless carrier currently has plans to join forces with Carphone Warehouse (based in the United Kingdom) to have its wireless services made available in 2,500 more retail outlets in the next couple of years.
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given the trade tensions between China and the United States, one would have thought that Apple would have its new Mac Pro manufactured elsewhere than in China, but Apple seems to have other projects.
For months, trade relations between the United States and China have been deteriorating. This is a worrying situation for Chinese and American companies working together, such as Apple.
Faced with pressure from President Trump, Apple had made several concessions and invested in jobs in the United States. Although rumor has it that the Californian firm could withdraw part of its production from China, Apple could still count on its Chinese partners to manufacture its new Mac Pro. In any case, this is what the Wall Street Journal reports, citing anonymous sources.
It is not only the fact that Apple decides to have its computers made in China that calls out, but rather that it transfers one of its productions to American soil for the benefit of China. Production of the Mac Pro was to take place in factories in Texas.
According to the American newspaper, Apple would have chosen the Taiwanese supplier Quanta Computer to assemble its devices in China, near Shangha.
Although the Mac Pro represent only a tiny fraction of Apple's productions, this decision should certainly go back to Donald Trump who is trying to force American companies to produce in the United States. One can imagine that the decision of Apple does not please the American President, this one should besides make it known.