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- Takeout beverages with new deposit fee for recyclable cups
- Amendment will be soon after taking necessary measures
Modernization impact in takeout policy
Raising modernization hugely relied on the takeaway policy of foods, snacks, and beverages from fast-food chain restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. In South Korea, recent statistics exhibited a huge increase in takeaway culture.
- Takeaway cups – 595% increase in 11 years (2007 to 2018)
- Fast-food chain restaurants – 872% increase in 10 years (2008 to 2018)
Meanwhile, recycling waste reduced from 37% to 5% in 9 years (2009 to 2018). The lack of awareness on recyclable materials and fast-changing routine habits ended up in recyclable materials mixing with the incinerated waste. Unfortunately increasing the greenhouse gases causing air pollution.
New act to save and recycle the resources
Ministry of Environment, South Korea decided to revise the act on the promotion of saving and recycling of resources. The revised recycling waste law, passed on June 2 confirmed the “deposit fee for recyclable takeout cups.” The returned recyclable cups will be benefited from the refund of the deposit fee.
The scheme “new deposit fee and recyclable cup” would increase the recycling waste rate and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions with huge annual savings.
Trailing measures and revised recycle act
- Financial support for the recyclable cup collecting business
- Management center to monitor the deposit fee
- New policies to process waste more safely
The new revised recycle act highly affects daily lives in terms of money as well as the new process of returning recyclable cups to the seller. However, this act is mandatory for the goal of a better world for the new generation by saving resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Amendment of ‘new deposit fee’ act
Standardization of deposit fee is under process. Soon, the Govt. of South Korea will set the price based on the manufacturing costs, policies, and nationwide consultations.


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Hankook Tire named #1 online tire brand following Tyres & Accessories research
- Hankook Tire’s online presence ahead of top 18 tire brands achieving 100% ranking
- Facebook social network is still #1 with 2.934 billion users
Daventry, UK, November 4, 2022 - Tyres & Accessories, the leading English-language tire trade publication in Europe, in conjunction with brand monitoring agency BrandMentions, have published the findings of their analysis of the impact of social media and price comparison on the tire business.
The findings put Hankook Tire at the top of the table where the brand’s online impact and the interaction of followers activating the highest number of shares was much stronger than other tire brands. Hankook Tire’s most recent online activities include promoting the iON range of EV tires and the partnership with Formula E.
Managing Director of Hankook Tyre UK Chang Yool Han said, “Hankook recognizes the value of investing in social media to support both the trade and the consumer and are continually developing our online platforms.”
A summary of the results for Hankook Tire are as follows: Mentions: 562, Interactions/1000: 4.1, Reach/1000: 3900, Shares: 347, Likes/1000: 3.6, Raw Score: 263778.57, Ranking percentage: 100%
Source: BrandMentions; T&A research October 2022
Back in 2011, when the first investigation was conducted, there were only four social media networks that dominated the online market ranked as follows: #1 Facebook, #2 YouTube, #3 Twitter and #4 Myspace with Facebooks users totalling 750 million. Now in 2022 the number of social networks has increased to 15 networks. Facebook and YouTube are still at #1 and #2 respectively, followed by #3 WhatsApp and #4 Instagram. Facebook now has 2.934 billion users.

domain: news


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🥛 Bull & Bear Cases for ERC-4337
- Writer Milk Man
- March 7, 2023
- •5 Min Read
GM. This is Milk Road, the crypto newsletter that’s here for you like your closest friend. We’ll meet you at 3am with the shovel. #WeSawNothing
Here’s what we got for ya today:
- Wtf is ERC-4337?
- Kraken is opening a crypto bank
- Amazon is launching an NFT marketplace
- Yuga nets $16.5M on Twelvefolds auction
Today's edition is brought to you by Franken Run, the Milk Man is currently smashing buttons playing this game.
WTF IS ERC-4337 & WHY DOES IT MATTER?
There’s a new buzzword in crypto…. ERC-4337. And no, that’s not a new Star Wars character.
It’s a new Ethereum upgrade that went live earlier this month. Today we’re gonna tell you everything you need to know and why everyone has been talking about it.
First… What is it? ERC-4337 introduces something called Account Abstraction, which allows Ethereum wallets to operate as smart contracts.
Still hazy? Here’s what it enables:
- Recovering lost private keys. There’s a new “social recovery system” where designated users have the ability to restore access to a wallet, should someone lose their private keys
- Securing wallets without a seed phrase. Users can enable 2FA and biometrics (fingerprint or facial scan) to protect their wallets. Sayonara to those 12-word seed phrases
- Carrying out automated payments and setting time-based spending limits (i.e. you can set monthly spending limits on a wallet)
- Sending gasless transactions. Decentralized applications can “sponsor” gas fees (aka cover the costs) to make things cheaper and simpler for their customers
Why does it matter? The upgrade enables a lot of the same features a bank offers, without needing to trust a bank.
By merging crypto wallets with smart contracts, Account Abstraction makes for more secure and efficient transactions, ultimately making crypto more user-friendly.
Plus, it makes some of the previously “impossible” stuff (like wallet recovery, seedless wallets, etc.) possible.
So, what happens next? We asked our good friend Kofi his thoughts. He’s a crypto wiz and a lot smarter than us, and he gave us two potential outcomes - a bullish one and a bearish one….
Bullish Case: This is awesome. Wallets that use ERC-4337 will be so much better than the wallets we have today:
- No more seed phrases since you can use other authentication methods
- Much easier wallet recovery methods
- Ability to sponsor gasless transactions
Simply put, there’s just a lot more stuff that's possible when your wallet is also a smart contract.
More possibilities → More cool sh*t being built → More new users getting onboarded
Bearish Case: There’s too much complex terminology like account abstraction, paymasters, bundlers, etc., that will make it hard to build products that regular people will like and understand.
You can throw “smart” in front of anything you want.... Smart contracts, smart wallets, smart accounts. That doesn’t mean it will make the user any smarter. What we need are simple, dumbed-down concepts to get major crypto adoption off the ground.
Most people are on the bullish side of ERC-4337, but we'll have to wait and see if it actually leads us to the promised land of a billion new crypto users.
COMPETE FOR A RARE NFT WITH FRANKEN RUN
The NFT market is as stale as 2-week old chips.
Everyone does the same boring reveals with the same static mint mechanics.
No one is innovating.
But today, I want to talk about a brand that just launched a skill-based NFT reveal game. The game is called Franken Run.
Franken Run, created by FrankenDAO, is a free game where you can play to earn a more valuable NFT, only if you hold a Franken Monster NFT.
The game is based in the browser where you run away from the most evil doctor on the blockchain, Dr. ETHvil (boo).
The further you run the better chance you have to get a rare NFT.
And, the prize pool for top scores is $1,000 in cash!
The competition ends March 31st
Don’t regret missing out on a rare NFT.
Click the button below.
KRAKEN IS OPENING A CRYPTO BANK
Everyone make room, there’s a new crypto bank coming soon - Kraken Bank. That’s right, the 3rd largest crypto exchange is launching its own bank.
Kraken’s Chief Legal Officer went on The Scoop podcast yesterday to talk about it. Not only did he give the inside scoop, but he added some m’fing sprinkles too.
Here’s everything you need to know:
- Kraken Bank will be a Wyoming-based crypto bank
- Kraken is the first ever crypto company to get an SPDI banking charter. Sounds like something you get after a wild weekend in Vegas, but it stands for a Special Purpose Depository Institution (aka they’ve got the Wyoming regulatory stamp of approval)
- It’s “on track to launch very soon.” Services will first roll out to existing U.S. Kraken clients
- The bank plans to offer digital assets custody, staking services, wire transfers, and mobile banking apps to its customers
This is big because crypto just lost its biggest bank: Silvergate. Silvergate had all the biggest crypto companies as clients and processed ~80% of all funds that flowed into and out of the crypto markets.
Many were wondering how crypto would survive without Silvergate. Now, Kraken Bank is looking to step up and fill the void.
This could be a genius move, but we all know there’s one thing that can take the Kraken down…
Davy Jones Gary Gensler.
The head of the SEC recently forced Kraken to shut down its staking service and pay $30M in fines.
Now we’ll have to wait and see if Kraken Bank gets unleashed or faces the same result.
AMAZON IS LAUNCHING AN NFT MARKETPLACE
Jeff Bezos has gone from launching rockets to launching NFT marketplaces.
Yesterday, Amazon announced they will unveil their new NFT marketplace on April 24th. The marketplace will initially feature 15 NFT collections and will only be available to U.S. customers.
It's also rumored that Amazon will give customers the ability to buy NFTs tied to real-world assets. For example, the Milk Man will be able to buy fashion-oriented NFTs tied to the dope Kirkland sweatpants he orders from Amazon. (it's called fashion, look it up)
You’ll be able to access the marketplace through a tab on Amazon’s website called “Amazon digital marketplace”. NFTs can only be bought using an Amazon account & using a credit card.
So, what’s the big deal? Amazon is the 5th largest company in the world with a $970B market cap (bigger than any other company that has entered the NFT space).
They have over 300m active users and 58% of them are between the ages of 25-44. The perfect age for an NFT degen…
And check it out. Last year, Prime Day did $12b in revenue. That’s 50% of the entire NFT market’s trading volume for all of last year.
The hope is Amazon’s new marketplace will onboard millions of users to NFTs. But after similar flops from Coinbase, Gamestop, and others… time will tell.
YUGA LABS NETS $16.5M IN TWELVEFOLD AUCTION
It’s official… The auction for Yuga Labs’ new Bitcoin-based NFT collection is over. Kaput. Finito. Done.
This is big for 3 reasons:
- The creators of Bored Apes netted ~$16.5M on the auction
- It’s Yuga’s first NFT collection to launch on the Bitcoin blockchain
- The auction had more controversy than a game of Monopoly with the in-laws
Which is why we decided to try something different today to cover it all…
Introducing Milk Road News - a new offering where we’ll go deeper on specific topics on MilkRoad.com. Get the full scoop on Yuga’s Twelvefold auction drama here.
MILK & COOKIES
Mastercard partners with ByBit to launch a new crypto debit card. It will let users make payments and withdraw cash using cryptocurrency holdings.
Snoop Dogg announces his new web3 company - Shiller. It’s a “live broadcast platform” that aims to combine web3 tech with real-time live-streaming content.
Alameda is suing Grayscale over $9B locked in Bitcoin Trust Shares. Alameda claims it has billions in locked investments that are being “improperly withheld from its customers.” One bankrupt company suing another one, go figure.
That's a wrap for today. Stay thirsty & see ya next time! If you want more, be sure to follow our Twitter (@MilkRoadDaily)
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Good Samaritan starts #NikesForNurses campaign
When Ajón Crump’s cousin Danielle’s birthday was coming up, Danielle said she needed a new pair of sneakers. Danielle is a nurse in Florida on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and wanted shoes that would keep her running during a marathon shift at the hospital.
Crump bought her cousin a gift card to pick out a new pair of sneakers but thought about all of the other nurses with the same problem.
Low on supplies? We’re regularly updating our list of retailers that are still selling household essentials, including toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
That’s when the #NikesForNurses campaign started.
Since creating the GoFundMe on April 14, Crump has been taking donations and shipping out brand new sneakers to nurses all over the country. Crump’s initial goal was raising $1,500 to help out 20 nurses, but because of the high response rate, she was able to increase the goal to $15,000 to help out around 200 nurses.
After ordering the sneakers to her house, Crump inserts a personal thank you card to the recipient.
“It’s the first time I’ve been so passionate about a campaign since running for high school class president,” Crump told Complex. “Its success will determine how much more I can do for people.”
Crump has been buying the Nike Winflo 5 for nurses because she can personally vouch for their comfort. Crump had first purchased them for her walks — she says she walks 10 to 15 miles per week — and she was very particular about the fit.
“There is certainly no shortage of nurses who could use a new pair of sneakers, so the demand will be there, and I plan on working hard to supply as much as I can,” Crump said to Complex. “I have some truly incredible stories.”
If you enjoyed this article, you might also likereading about these Afghan girls who are building ventilators out of used car parts.
More from In The Know:
Architects design “city-forest” for 20,000 people
Achieve the ultimate glow with this holographic peel-off mask
Wayfair is currently having three epic sales at once with up to 70 percent off
This vacuum blender is the upgrade your counter needs — and it’s on sale
The post Good Samaritan starts #NikesForNurses campaign appeared first on In The Know.


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With the election resulting in no majority government, plans of a coalition still undecided, and turned away voters demanding a re-run, the UK is currently in political upheaval. However, amongst national debt and pressure for electoral reform, there is one unaddressed issue that may have made a small difference.
Image accounts for a large part of how we interpret people. As the three main party leaders are plastered across television, newspapers and the internet – one must question to what extent the way they have dressed and carried themselves, has made a difference to public opinion.
This election’s live television debates made history in the UK as the first ever. This idea came from the U.S. However, the impact politics has had on fashion over there has been to a much larger degree since Michelle Obama.
The three UK party leaders have had little window for creativity in their outfits. In the second debate, Conservative leader David Cameron daringly swapped his original blue tie for a purple one. However, Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, took this one step further by opting for a bright orange tie in the third debate.
Fashion icons the three of them may not exactly be, but the main focus has been on the leaders’ wives. Cameron’s wife, Samantha, arguably has had a head start n the style stakes, as the creative director of Smythson, a fashionable Bond Street stationer. Then there is lawyer, Miriam González Durántez, Nick Clegg’s other half, and ex-PR, charity campaigner, and Gordon Brown’s wife, Sarah Brown.
One event that had outfit choices heavily scrutinised, was the accompaniment of the leaders by their wives last Thursday as they went to the polls. The wives had their last opportunity to become as stylish and influential as First Lady, Michelle Obama.
David Hellqvist, author of the Fashion in Politics blog, said: “Politics in general has, for good and bad, become involved with celebrity. I think it seems very important for the public, but how important it really is, is a different matter. Whether Sam Cam wears Marks and Spencers isn’t really going to affect the politics.
“But the defence is, if in some way this increases the general interest in politics, then that is no bad thing.”
Mrs Brown has been continuously criticised recently for her choice of clothing, including her decision to team red wedge shoes with dark tights. On accompanying her husband to the polls, she wore a pale blue top and navy blue skirt, which certainly didn’t make an impression on the media. And Samantha Cameron had another factor to consider whilst getting dressed that morning, her baby bump.
It isn’t just the TV debates that we have taken from the US. It seems that since the US have become fascinated by style icon, Michelle Obama, the UK fashion stakes have also risen, and there is a lot more focus on fashion in politics.
Fashion and politics are definitely forming an increasingly close relationship. With Boris Johnson on the cover of Elle magazine late last year, the election was also covered in women’s magazines, such as Glamour. And the recent London fashion week saw heavy involvement from politics.
So, whilst the UK has no definitive leader, it also has no clear winner in the style polls either. However, it is safe to say that fashion is reaching out and getting more people interested in politics, which can only be a good thing.Tweet


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BlackBerry and Microsoft Teams
BlackBerry recently announced a partnership with Microsoft Teams to help governments and large organizations manage crisis events. The BlackBerry AtHoc system provides organizations with end-to-end crisis communication capabilities.
BlackBerry’s critical event platform now integrates with Microsoft’s real-time collaboration platform. The partnership provides a boost to BlackBerry’s status as a leader in secure communications.
Remote worker security opportunity
BlackBerry has an opportunity in the current global environment to ramp up revenue in its Spark security solutions group. The pandemic forced people to work from home in the past seven months, and it appears the trend will continue, even beyond COVID-19.
Corporations ranging from leading tech giants to financial institutions say they will shift to hybrid systems, where people split their work time between home and the office. Microsoft recently said it will allow employees to work from home 50% of the time. Some other firms are going 100% remote.
The situation presents security challenges for businesses of all sizes. In an office environment, it is easy for the firm to control internet security, since everyone is using company hardware.
In the work-from-home environment, however, people are accessing the company’s systems and communicating with clients using a wide range of devices and service providers. The bring-your-own-device trend was already in place ahead of the crisis, but it is likely to expand in the new era of remote work.
5G and IoT impact BlackBerry stock
BlackBerry is a leader in providing secure connections in the Internet of Things (IoT) world. the IoT industry hasn’t ballooned as quickly as anticipated, but that could change.
The expansion of 5G networks will enhance the ability of wireless data collection for homes and businesses. The safe transfer of the data from the device to the storage location is critical, and BlackBerry is positioned well to play a major role across a wide variety of industries.
Should you buy BlackBerry stock?
BlackBerry trades near $6.75 per share. The stock started 2020 around $8.50 and was at $17 in early 2018 when hype around IoT hit a high point. Long-term watchers of the stock remember the glory days when BlackBerry dominated the smartphone market and traded above $100 per share.
BlackBerry has a large portfolio of great security products and solutions, including its QNX group that has its software installed in 175 million vehicles, and the Spark business that delivers security to assist companies with remote workers.
However, the company continues to disappoint investors on revenue and earnings.
The 2019 acquisition of Cylance for $1.4 billion positioned BlackBerry to be the planet’s leading AI cybersecurity company. Unfortunately, the deal hasn’t delivered the anticipated revenue boost, but better days could be on the horizon.
Things should improve across the board in 2021, especially in the the Spark division, which is seeing demand improve for “work-from-anywhere” solutions. The auto industry should also have a stronger 2021, as the industry normalizes.
I wouldn’t back up the truck, but patient investors might want to consider a small position in BlackBerry stock near this level. The tide could finally turn next year for BlackBerry and its investors.


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Implement global alcohol industry commitments to expand and increase efforts on:
- reducing underage drinking
- strengthening and expanding market codes of practice
- providing consumer information and responsible product innovation
- reducing drink driving
- enlisting the support of retailers to reduce harmful drinking.
Twelve leading beer, wine, and spirits companies that form the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), and four of the leading global internet platforms, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and YouTube, have formed a unique partnership to deliver better safeguarding measures for online alcohol advertising.


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Photos: Huge new MedMen marijuana factory near Reno on opening day
MedMen Marijuana Facility had a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour in Reno, Nevada on April 11, 2018.
Photos by Andy Barron, RGJ
Weed is changing America:Hear our new podcast, the Potcast, on 4-20 (yes, on purpose) From USA Today Network
More:MedMen opens large, state-of-the-art cannabis factory near Reno
More:Blue Moon's brewer launching marijuana-infused 'beer'


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Gold, diamond necklaces and other jewels were looted in the early morning raid at Joyalukkas in Forest Gate.
The men used a sledgehammer and crowbar to make a hole at the rear of the shop and spent more than three hours inside on 10 July.
Police believe another two men acted as lookouts.
The Met Police said they were looking for a total of eight suspects in connection with the robbery.
CCTV footage released by Scotland Yard shows two men inside the shop, one who is wearing a bright pink hoodie drawn up around his face as he pulls jewellery out of drawers before stuffing it into a rucksack.
Another suspect is seen outside the jewellers wearing a black coat and the third is wearing a T-shirt and shorts.
Det Ch Insp Andy Pallett, of Newham CID, said: “This was a meticulously planned and audacious raid on a jewellery shop with £1.8m of items stolen.
“While we think it only took the suspects around 20 minutes to make the hole, it must have been noisy work and we would appeal for anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious to contact us.”


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On-demand photography startup Snappr has announced the closing of a $2.5 million seed funding round led by a combination of Silicon Valley and local venture capital firms, with the funds set to help accelerate the startup’s expansion across the US.
Participating in the investment round was Google Maps cofounder Lars Rasmussen, US seed accelerator Y Combinator, and Justin Waldron, cofounder of US-based game developer Zynga, as well as Australian investors Airtree Ventures and former Aristocrat CEO, Jamie Odell.
According to the startup, the amount raised exceeded the set target for the round, and has potential to grow further as the business generates more interest from both US and Australian strategic investors.
Marking the second round for Snappr this year after it wrapped up an initial $1.1 million round earlier on, the fresh funding will go towards helping the startup expand its footprint across the US.
Snappr announced that it was expanding to the US in February this year, with the opening of a San Francisco office and US$120,000 backing from Y Combinator.
Fufilling a long term goal for the startup since launching mid last year, the startup also announced at the time the launch of an updated version of its platform, which would be released exclusively into the US.
Aiming to mend the “fragmented” photography industry, the Snappr platform provides a simple way for customers to book a photoshoot. The platform matches customers with suitable photographers, while its sibling photo analyser tool is able to rate a user’s LinkedIn profile using image recognition and machine learning.
The startup added that the seed funding will also be used to build out the Snappr platform, with plans to release a new photo analysis tool for “dating photos” in the near future.
Snappr’s cofounder and CEO, Matt Schiller, said he was looking forward to the startup’s continued international growth.
“We are very excited about the amazing names who have decided to back our mission of making stunning professional photography accessible for everyone”, he said.
This week also saw Sydney-based gaming startup Gamurs close a $3.5 million investment round led by Aura Funds Management.
Targeting the electronic sports, or esports, industry, which is predicted to grow to $1.23 billion by 2019, the startup began as an online esports media platform providing content and social-media like connection services for players worldwide.
Cofounded by Riad Chikhani, an avid gamer himself, last year saw the startup acquire media site Dot Esports, merging the platform with the existing Gamurs content together under the Dot Esports brand.
The connection service arm was then split into a separate platform, TeamFind, a space where players of popular esports titles such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends are able to connect to form a team.
In addition to launching a data arm which hosts stats and player information from the competitive esports tournaments of each game, Gamurs also partnered with social betting app Puntaa to develop a regulated esports betting platform, Skrilla.
Chikani told the AFR that the funds will be used to bolster the startup’s media coverage and expand its offerings internationally, a move which will follow alongside the growing esports scene.
“The market has seen rapid growth and every year the projections are well below what actually happens,” said Chikani.
“The basic eSports games like League of Legends, Counter Strike and Dota are starting to hit their maximum viewership, but more game publishers are focusing on bringing an eSports side to the games they’re developing.
“More fans will be created organically because the games they love will become eSports titles and we think there will be between 700-800 million viewers in the next few years.”
With the aim of hitting 10 million monthly active users by the end of next year, Gamurs currently boasts 2.7 million monthly active users across its platforms.
Marking its second investment this month, Blackbird Ventures has also announced its funding of Auckland-based net promoter score (NPS) startup AskNicely.
Launched in 2014 by Aaron Ward and John Ballinger, AskNicely’s SaaS platform allows businesses to collect customer feedback, including retention, reviews and referrals, in real time, reflecting the feedback as a total score out of 100.
Speaking about the investment, Black Ventures’ Community head Joel Connolly said the firm, which scouts out its own NPS score each year, was impressed by AskNicely’s product, which pushes companies to check their NPS on a regular basis.
“If you boil it all down, the definition of business is a set of happy, repeat customers. Without that, there is nothing. It’s simply too expensive and inefficient to keep acquiring new customers to replace old ones. And NPS is a single number that gives you a sense of how you are tracking towards that goal,” he said.
“The problem with NPS is that most companies measure it once or twice a year and put it in a slide deck for the board meeting. Nothing is actually done about it.”
“[It’s] the mission of AskNicely to help companies listen and take action on feedback that led us to believe a software platform of great, durable quality can be built.”
Image: Snappr San Francisco Team. Source: Supplied.
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- Michigan GOP Senate hopeful reminds government is the ‘servant’
- Christmas, by Congress: Members mull a 15-cent tax on trees
- U.S. unemployment falls to five-year low of 7 percent; 203K jobs added
- World mourns Nelson Mandela and celebrates his life; burial set for Dec. 15
- Bill O’Reilly reminds: Nelson Mandela ‘was a communist’
- John Boehner says GOP should support gay candidates: ‘I do’
- Grass-Whopper: Pan-fried cricket burgers go over big in New York City
- CDC sees measles spike and ‘failure to vaccinate’
- Ex-Secret Service agent seeking Md. seat: Everyone’s a ‘de facto criminal’ now
- New prosthetic hand technology lets amputees feel again
Independent voices from the The Washington Times Communities
Topic - Rich Templeton
Texas Instruments Inc. is buying National Semiconductor for $6.5 billion in a marriage of two of the world's premier makers of analog chips, which are widely used in electronics to transform signals such as sound into digital form that computers can understand.
Chip-maker Texas Instruments Inc. said Monday that third-quarter income soared 60 percent as it continued to satisfy pent-up demand after the recession, but the company expects things to cool down for the rest of the year, as consumer demand is tepid.
CEO Rich Templeton said the pleasant surprise stemmed from improving demand for most of the company's products, leading him to believe that the company is moving beyond a downturn that undercut its financial performance for most of last year.
TI's CEO Rich Templeton said the combined companies' sales team will be 10 times bigger than National Semiconductor's current sales force.


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Mercedes-Benz S-Class Pullman: $1 Million Luxury Car
Automaker Daimler is seeking to revitalize its luxury Mercedes-Benz brand by rolling out a new $1 million S-Class Pullman in 2015. Reminiscent of the famous 600 Pullman—“The Grand Mercedes” once used to ferry celebrities, world leaders, and popes—the new vehicle is meant to challenge rivals BMW and Audi in the increasingly crowded luxury car market. It also will help burnish Mercedes’s upmarket cred at a time when it’s churning out cheaper vehicles for the U.S. market.
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San Diego, CA, August 29, 2017 –(PR.com)– Ecwid, a leading e-commerce platform that enables anyone to sell anywhere at any time, today announced it has partnered with NCR to offer restaurants and retailers a unique, integrated online-offline ordering solution.
85% of customers expect a seamless experience across their online and offline shopping experiences. The integrated Ecwid e-commerce and NCR Silver point of sale solution enables restaurant owners and retailers to bring their business anywhere — online, offline, in-person and on their mobile device. A consumer can order online and then pick up their order in-store. Orders placed online, in-person or via the mobile app are automatically synchronized between the online store and brick and mortar locations. Retailers can also monitor inventory levels between their online and offline sales channels to ensure seamless omnichannel commerce.
With Ecwid and NCR Silver, restaurants and retailers can:
— Take their business anywhere, accept orders online and in-person to increase sales
— Synchronize order and inventory data across online and offline channels — making it easier to manage their business
— Accept payments online, in-person and on the go
— Receive orders through a custom-branded native iOS and Android mobile app from customers no matter where they are
— Have access to a personal concierge who will help with building their online store
“Ecwid is excited to partner with NCR, a leader in point-of-sale solutions,” said Jim O’Hara, Ecwid president. “Together our integrated solution will help businesses grow through many sales channels while saving time with complete online-offline synchronization.”
Learn more at www.ecwid.com/ncr.
Ecwid offers small businesses the most comprehensive and flexible e-commerce platform for selling anywhere at any time, online, on mobile, social or in person. Headquartered in Encinitas, CA, Ecwid has over 1.5 million customers in 175+ countries, and is available in 50+ languages. For more information, visit www.ecwid.com, follow us on Twitter @ecwid, or like us on Facebook.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.
Contact via Email
Read the full story here: http://www.pr.com/press-release/727196
Press Release Distributed by PR.com


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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) will commence next month. Considered to be one of the most significant tech conferences of the year, MWC will feature all the heavy-hitters in the tech industry: Google, Amazon, Apple, Samsung, LG, and so on. Samsung has had a successful year in the tech industry with its smartphone marathon, and the hype over the Samsung Galaxy S3 has many Android lovers asking the question, “When will Samsung introduce its Galaxy S4?”. The question is never one of if, but of when. After all, the Galaxy collection has sold 100 million smartphones to date. If Samsung can continue its successful line and continue to maintain and grow the hype surrounding its products, it will do so gladly.
Earlier this week, JK Shin, head of Samsung’s mobile division, said that while the Galaxy Note 8 (an eight-inch version of Samsung’s ten-inch Galaxy Note tablet) will appear at next month’s conference, the Galaxy S4 will not appear at MWC. While Android fans may be disappointed, there is no reason to be. Samsung has other plans for one of its hottest-selling smartphones of 2014.
All the great tech companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and even Samsung and Microsoft, often hold their best announcements for self-sponsored events. In an announcement event that each company schedules, it is allowed to take all the time it needs to introduce its products and attract media attention without competing with other companies. When Google prepared to introduce the Nexus 7, Google had a special Google I/O event. The Apple Corporation always has a media announcement that it publishes at Apple.com whenever a major announcement is made by the Cupertino, California company. Apple has led the way in smartphone and tablet sales for a long time, but companies have also started to imitate Apple’s special announcements. In the same way that Apple makes no announcements until it sets an official date, other major tech companies have started to take the hint and “follow the leader.”
Think about how the grandeur of Samsung’s announcement would be affected if Samsung were to reveal such a major announcement at MWC. In an atmosphere of competition, where companies are aware of consumer interest and competition between themselves, how does a company stand out if it makes announcements around the same time as other companies? Each manufacturer wants to find a way to set itself apart from the rest of the pack. The way to do that is to plan ideal times for company announcements. If enough hype is created, consumers will purchase smartphones and tablets.
We still know very little about the Galaxy S4, but we do know that the device will probably have either a 4.99 or 5-inch display (most likely a 5-inch display, due to the new full HD displays that will set the tone for standard smartphones this year), have a 13-megapixel camera, and feature Android’s newest operating system, 5.0 (known as “Key Lime Pie”). In addition, it will have a 1.8Ghz octal-core processor (Exynos, 8 cores), 4G LTE, wireless charging, and a micro-SD card slot. This Samsung wonder to behold will be released in April.


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After a year of consultation, Victoria’s Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) final report on its hardship inquiry was tabled in State Parliament on Tuesday. It looked at how energy retailers support consumers who experience difficulties paying their bills.
The report, “Supporting customers, avoiding labels”, proposes a new framework for hardship in Victoria and focuses on the scope of assistance offered by retailers, delivery of customer assistance, monitoring and reporting.
The ESC work has highlighted the complexity and challenge of identifying and then providing timely assistance to consumers who genuinely need support to manage their energy bills. Ultimately, hardship and affordability issues are a shared responsibility between industry, the government (which provides concessions) and consumer and welfare groups, who can help with better targeting of support.
The ESC is now looking at designing and revising regulatory instruments, such as new interim payment plan performance indicators, a consumer energy code on payment difficulties, new industry guidelines, revising disconnection operating procedures and Guaranteed Service Levels.
The framework is set to be implemented on 1 July 2017. From now until then, there is still a comprehensive amount of consultation to be undertaken with the Commission, government, industry and consumer groups to go through the practical implementation to transition to the proposed framework.
The stated purpose of the new framework is to assist customers experiencing difficulty to avoid long-term debt, repay debt that accrues, while, wherever possible, maintaining access to power.
In making the case for a new framework, the ESC has argued that the previous hardship programs have been “too often, and increasingly so, hardship programs simply provide a stepping stone towards disconnection rather than an avenue away from it”.
It points to the most recent available data for 2013-14 which showed 58,503 customers were disconnected for non-payment of energy bills[i].
Disconnection remains an option of last resort for energy companies and when considering the disconnections for customers on instalment plans and those experiencing multiple disconnections within two years (which are used as indicators of those in financial difficulty) these have trended down[ii].
The ESC acknowledged this in its report, but also commented that the fall in the number of customers who had multiple disconnections over two years that they are able to arrange an instalment plan to avoid future disconnection.
To meet the Government’s policy expectation of “wherever possible, energy consumers remain connected to supply, and that disconnection of customers is only used as a measure of last resort”, the ESC framework involves:
The scope of assistance is outlined in the report and shown here:
The ESC points to the addition of two new protections for consumers under its framework, specifically automatically putting consumers onto a payment plan and the use of prepayment plans in the final stage as “an ultimate safety net”.
The ESC believes a retailer should be able to consider disconnecting a consumer if:
The final report has set out an implementation roadmap for the framework which is shown below:
The political landscape in WA offers different visions for the best way to obtain a reliable, secure and cost-effective energy system. The WA Liberal’s recently unveiled “New Energy Jobs plan” is head turning for the numbers included and the aggressive move towards renewables. We look at the policy and what it might mean for key stakeholders.
Send an email with your question or comment, and include your name and a short message and we'll get back to you shortly.


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Economists have warned that this will reduce consumer spending and the overall economy at a time when new cases of coronavirus are exploding, particularly in the densely populated south and west, and are forcing some authorities in those regions to close again activities or to suspend reopenings.
“The road ahead for the consumer seems a bit hazy and uncertain to say the least,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York. “July spending faces headwinds from states that are retreating due to the second wave of coronaviruses. Spending for the month of August is questionable, as these additional unemployment checks of $ 600 per week stop at the end of July.
Retail sales rose 7.5% last month after jumping 18.2% in May, the biggest gain since the government started following the series in 1992. Economists polled by Reuters expected retail sales to grow 5% in June.
Retail sales rebounded as businesses resumed operations after being closed in mid-March to slow the spread of respiratory disease. Retail sales in June were boosted by an 8.2% increase in auto dealer revenues. Consumers increased their spending on furniture, clothing, electronics and appliances, hobbies, musical instruments and bookstores. Restaurant and bar receipts increased 20.0%.
But online and mail-order retail sales fell 2.4%. Sales also fell in building materials and grocery stores.
Wall Street stocks were trading less because of concerns over the explosion of coronavirus cases. The dollar slipped against a basket of currencies. The prices of the US Treasury have gone up.
Excluding autos, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales rose 5.6% in June after increasing 10.1% in May. These so-called core retail sales most closely match the consumer spending component of the gross domestic product report.
FILE PHOTO: People line up outside the Kentucky Career Center before it opens to find help with their unemployment claims in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, June 18, 2020. REUTERS / Bryan Woolston
The rebound in basic retail sales did not change expectations. Consumer spending collapsed in the second quarter. However, it put spending on a higher growth path for the third quarter.
Economists expect consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, to decline at an annualized rate of 35% in the April to June quarter. This could lead to a drop in GDP of around 31% over this period. The economy contracted at a rate of 5% in the quarter from January to March, the largest contraction since the great recession of 2007-2009.
“Activity declined in May and June, albeit at lower levels than before the pandemic,” said Michael Feroli, chief economist at JPMorgan in New York. “More recently, several high-frequency indicators suggest that May and June were the easiest months, and that the resurgence of COVID-19 cases leads to a slowdown in activity gains in July.”
The Labor Ministry said on Thursday that 1.30 million people had applied for unemployment benefits during the week ending July 11, down 10,000 from the previous period. Economists had forecast 1,250 million requests last week.
The weekly jobless claims report, the most recent data on the health of the economy, showed large increases in California, Georgia, Florida and Washington State, which are experiencing a large increase in cases of COVID-19.
Claims for the first time peaked at a historic 6.867 million in late March. They remain about double their highest point during the great recession of 2007-2009. Including a government-funded program, 2.23 million people filed claims last week.
The number of people receiving benefits after the first week of assistance fell by 422,000 to 17.338 million in the week ending July 4. These so-called continuous requests, which are reported one week late, reached a record 24.912 million in early May.
In the last week of June, 32 million people received unemployment checks from all programs, 433,005 fewer than the previous week. According to economists, this figure, reported with a two-week lag, offered a more accurate reading of the labor market.
Economists say unemployment remains uncomfortably high due to a second wave of layoffs, which could intensify as COVID-19 infections lower demand and increase bankruptcies, particularly in the retail sector. American Airlines announced Wednesday that it is sending 25,000 notices of potential departures to front-line workers.
“The data probably underestimates the true state of the job market,” said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economics in Holland, Pennsylvania. “Companies are starting to warn that there may be major layoffs in the coming months. “
Report by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci
Our standards:Principles of the Thomson Reuters Trust.


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National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have commenced discussions on how to deploy existing technical competencies and other resources by the two institutions to improve agro allied-industries development targets, climate change mitigations and smart solar irrigation aimed at dry-season farming.
The trio of the Minister of Agriculture & Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of State, Hon. Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi and the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu who held the meeting in Abuja yesterday 6th November, 2023 agreed that the nascent collaboration between NASENI and Agric Ministry was aimed at enhancing the focus and deliverables toward achievement of the Renewed Hope Agenda by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
The Minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari gave insight to some of the essentials in the 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda of the government, saying that about six of the eight socio-economic recovery programmes have the starting points in their achievements rooted in the success of the Agricultural sector, his ministry.
Therefore, the Minister commended Halilu, EVC of NASENI and his team for having agriculture as one of the Agency’s target areas to work. “I won’t be tired of saying that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given my Ministry the responsibility to carry out one of the important programmes in the 8-point Renewed Hope agenda, which is food security and five others.” he said.
During the visit, Halilu was received not only by Senator Abubakar Kyari and the Minister of State, but all the directors in the Ministry were present at the meeting. Halilu said the Agency was ready to collaborate with the Ministry to boost agriculture and also achieve food security through technology adaptation and transfers.
Addressing the Ministry’s top government functionaries, Halilu explained that NASENI’s technical manpower, technologies and also international partners were ready to work in ensuring that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in food production, food processing and exports.
Part of the efforts in actualizing this goal, he disclosed, is the on-going NASENI Scheme to refurbish about 50,000 broken tractors across the country under the presidential initiative, aimed at bringing back the culture of large cultivation of lands for farming.
According to him, the management of NASENI has secured both local and international technical partners to work with the Agency to mass-produce Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for spraying of insecticides over vast farm locations, sustain afforestation, introduce solar-powered water irrigation to increase wet and dry season farming yields, cold chain food processing and agro-allied value chain additions for preservation and processing of foods in commercial quantities and exports.
Halilu said the collaboration plans with Agric Ministry includes crop traceability, rice straw project, mitigation of climate change through scientific and technological researches or innovations by NASENI to increase food production, value addition and ensue Nigeria’s dependence on food imports reduce significantly.
“We are embarking on development activities in agriculture from production to commercialization. The key thing is how we can add value to our farm produce or raw materials before they are consumed or before exporting them out of our country.
“Also, as for foreign technologies brought into our country, we are seeking the cooperation and collaboration of the Ministry to transfer, domesticate and commercialize such technologies. In a nutshell, this is why we are here” Halilu stated.
The EVC said since assuming office, he has been receiving a lot of requests in terms of how NASENI could add value around agriculture from production all the way to the market.
He disclosed that a recent outing by the Agency at the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in China attracted about $6 billion dollars’ investment and about 40 per cent of the monies will be channeled to agriculture.
As his remark on the significance of the meeting, the Minister of State expressed appreciation of the visit by NASENI’s EVC and his team, describing the move as progressive and patriotic.
He said the time to put an end to inter-ministerial competition and rivalry is now, rather, synergy and collaboration amongst government institutions should become the new culture and orientation.
He underscored the earlier statement by Senator Kyari that one of the Federal Government’s current priorities is food security.
Therefore, he called for alignments with the Agric Ministry’s focus not only by NASENI but other Agencies with related functions in order to actualize the Government’s intentions to alleviate poverty, create jobs and tackle all other socio-economic ills in Nigeria society.
Imperative of Upholding Nigeria’s Telecoms Lifeline
By Ikemesit Effiong
It is neither profound nor insightful to state that Nigeria is living through a near-unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.
Core inflation touched 33.2% in March with food inflation now an eye-watering 40% – the highest in post-1999 democratic Nigerian history.
It may sound a bit apocalyptic but we are heading towards our all-time high of 47.6% recorded in January 1996.
We have already burst past March 1996’s reading of 31.7%. In a note on future inflationary trends in Nigeria, Aaron O’Neill at Statista made two salient points: our inflation has been higher than the African average for more than a decade now and a significant decrease is unlikely for quite some time.
The International Monetary Fund’s expectation that annual inflation this year will average out at 22.96% is increasingly looking a tad too optimistic.
The bigger challenge though, in his view, is our inflation’s unsteadiness. Food inflation is now at levels not seen since August 2005.
Plantain prices have increased by 129%, rice by 98%, onion prices by 97%, bread by 71% and beans by 64% – between January 2023 and January 2024 alone according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
An inflation rate that is all over the place is usually a sign of an economy that is huffing and puffing, causing prices to fluctuate, and unemployment and poverty to increase.
Nigeria’s economy – a mixed economy where state participation in economic life is higher than most free-market economies – is not entirely in bad shape.
More than half of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generated by the services sector – chiefly telecommunications and finances, typically a feature of advanced economies.
Notwithstanding, the private sector is teetering.
The Financial Times reports that Nigerian Breweries (NB), which is part-owned by Heineken, has increased prices three times this year.
“So dire is the economic distress in Africa’s most populous nation that the brewer’s chief executive, Hans Essaadi, complained on an investor call that “customers can no longer afford Goldberg, a cheap and well-loved lager,” the London-based publication highlighted this as illustrative of the travails of some of the country’s biggest corporates.
Fixed foreign currency-denominated costs, import restrictions, uncertain policy-setting, a weak Naira and insecurity in many operating areas have forced most like NB to raise prices; some like Procter & Gamble to quit manufacturing in-country or others like GSK and Bayer to contract third parties to distribute their products.
There is one sector, however, that has seen little action in this direction.
The Imperative of Telecom Tariff Revision
At the nexus of connectivity and commerce, the telecommunications industry in Nigeria plays a dual role: as an economic engine and a societal enabler.
The sector’s investment profile in the country stood at $75.6 billion as of 2021, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Nigeria’s 221.7 million active voice subscriptions and 160.2 million data subscriptions now support a substantial 14% of GDP.
The country’s rising teledensity is such a critical linchpin for economic growth and infrastructural development that any disruptions exact a heavy price.
A 2021 SBM Intelligence survey found that 53% of respondents were “very” negatively impacted by an NCC-mandated shutdown of telecom services in the North-West due to regional security operations.
Moreover, the sector stands as a significant employer, empowering millions of Nigerians with opportunities for livelihood and advancement.
As such, the industry’s health is not merely a matter of corporate profit margins but a national imperative intertwined with the fabric of its progress.
Central to the sustenance of any industry is a conducive economic environment that allows for sustainable growth and innovation.
However, the existing regulatory framework, which shackles tariff adjustments, undermines this fundamental principle.
While other sectors have adeptly responded to economic fluctuations by revising prices, the telecom industry remains bound by regulatory constraints, impeding its ability to adapt to changing market dynamics.
A Perfect Storm: Challenges Hinder Growth
While Nigeria’s four Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) relentlessly strive for service excellence through consistent network upgrades, their efforts are stymied by environmental and infrastructural obstacles.
Frequent fibre optic cable cuts due to road construction and vandalism; multiple taxation, coupled with the ever-present challenge of acquiring rights-of-way including charges related thereto, act as significant impediments.
These issues, further compounded by exploitative rent-seeking practices, have long plagued the industry, defying resolution despite concerted efforts.
These challenges are not lost on key stakeholders like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Ministry of Communication, Innovation & Digital Economy, and a well-informed consortium of governmental and media entities.
MNOs have proactively engaged through media platforms, highlighting these issues and advocating for urgent government intervention.
The industry’s push for Critical Infrastructure Protection for ICT/Telecommunications and the reduction of exorbitant right-of-way (RoW) charges exemplify this proactive approach. Katsina, Nasarawa and Zamfara now lead the country in eliminating RoW charges but much of the country remains an operational nightmare for MNOs.
The Unsustainable Squeeze: Rising Costs, Stagnant Tariffs
Despite the advent of GSM technology 23 years ago, a disquieting public perception persists – that of consistently poor Quality of Service (QoS).
While this perception may have elements of truth, it’s crucial to recognise the mitigating factors beyond the control of the operators.
Economic hardship has led to an exponential increase in the cost of all consumer goods and services, with a glaring exception: telecommunication services.
The reason? Price regulation by the NCC.
This price stagnation stands in stark contrast to the reality faced by MNOs.
The industry is heavily reliant on foreign exchange (FX) for crucial equipment and services.
Most telecommunication equipment are imported with the absence of local alternatives as there are primarily four to five core manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and none is situated in Nigeria, or even Africa.
The depreciation of the Naira has significantly inflated operational costs, further straining already tight profit margins. It is unsustainable to expect ever-increasing network investments in the face of frozen tariffs.
The Current State of Play
Nigeria’s approach to setting tariffs in the telecommunications sector has evolved through a combination of regulatory frameworks, market dynamics, and economic considerations.
During the industry’s transformation in the early 2000s with the issuance of licenses to private operators, tariff regulation was crucial in ensuring consumer protection and promoting fair competition.
The NCC implemented tariff guidelines to prevent anti-competitive practices and safeguard consumers from excessive charges. Tariff regulation also aimed to balance the interests of consumers with the need for MNOs to generate revenue for network expansion and improvement.
For an industry in its infancy striving to offer Nigerians access to new forms of technology and communications, it was necessary to guide pricing to enhance market adoption.
Competition added extra pressure on prices, a wealth of choices ultimately benefiting the consumer. Through it all, the margins were sufficient to incentivise operators to carry out the most extensive investment rollout in Nigerian history.
The market is more mature now and the booming economy of the 2000s is a fading memory.
Mobile phone, and broadband penetration are now at over 100 and 40% respectively, while the entire country is practically covered by 3G and 2G.
The digital economy with the immense success of content creators, e-commerce, software education, financial inclusion, cross-border freelancing and social connectedness has been built on the back of the telecom industry’s investment priorities.
The cost of providing existing services, the competitiveness required to sustain the continued rollout of 4G and eventually 5G technology and wider market dynamics have meant the current tariff structure is less a cushion for customers and more a shackle for operators.
The Path Forward: Rethinking Tariffs
In advocating for tariff revision, it is imperative to contextualise the industry’s plight within the broader narrative of economic sustainability and national progress.
Urgent measures must be taken to safeguard an industry that serves as a catalyst for economic growth and societal empowerment.
Tariff revision is not merely a corporate prerogative but a strategic imperative essential for the industry’s survival and a calculated investment in Nigeria’s future.
The additional revenue generated will directly translate into network infrastructure upgrades and modernisation. This translates to tangible benefits for all stakeholders.
A conducive regulatory environment is important in fostering the telecom industry’s resilience and vitality. Responsible government policies that prioritise infrastructure protection and investment incentives are indispensable in fortifying the industry’s foundations. Moreover, enhancing the operating environment for telecoms is not only in the national interest but also a catalyst for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) essential for sustainable growth.
Many may argue that reviewing tariffs at a time of stagnant wages, decreasing investments and rising prices is unreasonable but ensuring the long-term viability of a critical industry requires a collaborative effort. Regulators need to consider a data-driven and transparent tariff review that reflects the economic realities faced by the sector.
Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Vice-Chairman rightly told the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in February that customers expect excellent quality of service and operators will be held accountable for poor service delivery. Indeed, customers deserve the best possible service, and operators, going by the billions of dollars in present and future investment commitments, appear dedicated to delivering it.
A sustainable and well-regulated telecoms sector is the cornerstone of achieving this shared vision. It starts with rethinking how much operators are allowed to charge their clients.
Effiong is a legal practitioner, Partner and Head of Research at and Chairman of the Technology Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law.
Samsung Returns to Top of The Smartphone Market – Industry tracker
Samsung regained its position as the top smartphone seller, wresting back the lead from Apple as Chinese rivals close the gap on both market leaders, industry tracker International Data Corporation (IDC) reported Monday.
South Korea-based Samsung overtook Apple as worldwide smartphone shipments grew nearly 8 percent in the first quarter of this year to 289.4 million, IDC said, citing its preliminary data.
It was the third consecutive quarter of growth in the global smartphone market, signalling that a recovery from a slump in the sector is underway, according to IDC.
IDC Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers team vice president Ryan Reith expected top smartphone companies to gain share and small brands to struggle for position as recovery progresses.
Samsung shipped 60.1 million smartphones in the first quarter of this year, claiming nearly 21 percent of the market, according to IDC figures.
Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, garnering just over 17 percent of the market in the same period, IDC reported.
Apple smartphone shipments were down 9.6 percent in a quarter-over-quarter comparison, while Samsung shipments slipped less than one percent, according to the market tracker.
Meanwhile, China-based Xiaomi saw shipments grow about 33 percent to 40.8 million and Transsion about 85 percent to 28.5 million, taking third and fourth positions in the overall smartphone market, IDC reported.
“While Apple managed to capture the top spot at the end of 2023, Samsung successfully reasserted itself as the leading smartphone provider in the first quarter,” Reith said.
IDC expects Samsung and Apple to maintain their hold on the high end of the smartphone market while Chinese competitors seek to expand sales, according to Reith.
Nabila Popal, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team, said: “There is a shift in power among the Top 5 companies, which will likely continue as market players adjust their strategies in a post-recovery world.
“Xiaomi is coming back strong from the large declines experienced over the past two years and Transsion is becoming a stable presence in the Top 5 with aggressive growth in international markets.”
SHELT System Integration Launches “SHELT SI” in Nigeria
SHELT, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its new business unit in Nigeria, SHELT System Integration (SHELT SI).
With a solid reputation built over six years of serving the nation’s financial, telecom, and government sectors, SHELT is now expanding its offerings to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation. The new business unit will operate under Cyber Immune Limited, a SHELT subsidiary in Nigeria.
SHELT SI emerges as a vital addition to SHELT’s portfolio, providing customers in Nigeria with trusted and unbiased expertise to design and implement cutting-edge, resilient, secure, and scalable solutions.
SHELT SI will forge strategic partnerships with global leaders to provide Networking and Cloud Management Solutions, Security Solutions, Collaboration Solutions, Managed services, Communication services, and IT Professional services while attracting top talent in Nigeria.
When asked about this milestone in SHELT’s growth, Mr. Youssef Abillama, Managing Partner of SHELT Global Limited, said: “We have full confidence in Nigeria and its commitment to digitization. SHELT is well positioned to be the technology partner of choice and trusted advisor to our customers in every step of their digitization journey.”
Mr. Walid Bou Abssi, Country Manager of SHELT Cyber Immune Limited, commented: “I am immensely proud of the launch of SHELT SI in Nigeria. This expansion underscores our dedication to empowering the nation’s digital evolution.
With SHELT SI, we are committed to providing unparalleled service to our clients, offering an unmatched value proposition driving innovation and resilience in Nigeria’s cybersecurity and network infrastructure space.”
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Microsoft China Software Sales Up 109% In 2010 Fiscal Year
Michel van der Bel, chief operating officer of Microsoft Greater China, has revealed that the company's software retail sales on the Chinese mainland increased by 109% year-on-year in the 2010 fiscal year ended June 2010.
He revealed the statistics at Microsoft China's recent cooperate partner conference. At the same time, he committed that Microsoft will continue to increase investments in the Chinese market and about USD142 million will be invested in the Chinese software outsourcing market.
According to local media reports, the statistics provided by the company show that Microsoft China's hardware sales increased by 41% year-on-year in the 2010 fiscal year; its channels increased by 154% year-on-year; its enterprise resource planning performance increased by 33% year-on-year; and its solutions increased by 33% year-on-year. In addition, it gained over 2,500 new channel partners during the 2010 fiscal year.
The launch of Windows 7 operating system is reportedly the major driver for the growth of Microsoft in the 2010 fiscal year. However, due to the financial crisis, its sales were affected by clients' reduction of investments in the information technology sector.


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As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we want to spotlight K-beauty products – a broad term referring to cosmetics from Korea. Clean beauty is all the rage now. I distinctly recall the moment the term “clean beauty” launched a thriving $7 billion industry. A retailer shared their frustration about how all the “free from – ” claims on personal care products often left consumers bewildered and uncertain. That retailer simplified the messaging and reshaped the beauty industry. The remarkable ascent of clean beauty is a testament to the ever-growing demand for healthier options and increased transparency among consumers. But the origins of clean beauty can be traced back to the skin health practices deeply rooted in the lifestyle trends of the Asia Pacific region, particularly in Korea. The K-beauty phenomenon has received significant recognition, with Korean innovations ranging from facial masks to BB and CC creams, and even products made with unconventional ingredients – like snail serums – capturing attention and receiving celebrity endorsements. But are they healthier? The answer is yes! In 2018, EWG published an analysis of 352 K-beauty serums and essences. Using the Skin Deep® database, researchers found that these products resulted in an average Skin Deep product rating of 3.3 on a scale from 1 to 10 – where 1 denotes the lowest hazard rating and 10 represents the highest hazard rating. Building on this analysis, we recently revisited K-beauty with popular brands including COSRX, Etude House, Dr. Jart+ and Some by Mi. Skin Deep now includes product ratings for 113 K-beauty products sold in the United States.
EWG VERIFIED® K-beauty productsA number of K-beauty brands also meet EWG’s stringent ingredient and transparency requirements to earn the EWG VERIFIED® mark. These products must not use substances on our unacceptable list and also must meet restrictions for chemicals used in formulations. And they must fully disclose the chemicals that make up their fragrance mixtures. Some of the EWG VERIFIED K-Beauty brands include Buddate, Cicago, Ecolline, Isoi, iUNIK, Rovectin, Sonreve, Urang, Varuza, Wellia and Whamisa. In 2023, K-beauty products now have an average product safety score of 2.9, an improvement of half a point compared to 2018. These products also outperform the average safety rating of all skincare products sold in the U.S., which stands at 3.6. Similarly, the mean product safety ratings for K-beauty and other skincare products in the United States are 3 and 4 respectively. A one-point differential may seem inconsequential, but it is important to recognize that these small improvements can make a significant difference in overall health, when you consider the cumulative impact of using these various skincare products over a lifetime. But it is also important not to generalize all K-beauty products as being healthy. In 2018, the Korean government banned the sale of 13 cosmetic products found to contain unsafe levels of antimony, a toxic heavy metal. And, an analysis of K-beauty products in Skin Deep showed 7 percent and 4 percent of products received red ratings in 2018 and 2023 respectively. Despite these ratings, it is very encouraging to see that K-beauty products have become healthier over the last 5 years.
How to find K-beauty productsConsumers looking for K-beauty products can search EWG’s Skin Deep database and the Healthy Living app. You can also look for the EWG VERIFIED mark on personal care products to know they meet our highest standards for health and transparency. As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the spotlight on K-beauty products serves as a reminder of the profound significance of the clean beauty movement. EWG is committed to prioritizing well-being and healthy living. A healthier today means a better tomorrow.


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Coffee giant Starbucks is finally launching its first bottled Frappuccinos made with oat milk. The new ready-to-drink Starbucks Frapuccino with Oatmilk beverages will be available in two indulgent flavors: Caramel Waffle Cookie and Dark Chocolate Brownie.
“Starbucks has been a leader in the ready-to-drink coffee category since 1994 and we continue to focus on beverage innovation with the highest quality coffee and ingredients,” Chanda Beppu, Vice President of Channel Development Americas at Starbucks, said in a statement. “This year, we’re excited to provide customers with their favorite ready-to-drink Starbucks beverages in new flavors and formats, like Starbucks Cold & Crafted on Tap and the new Starbucks Frappuccino with Oatmilk.”
In addition to the new oat milk Frappuccinos, Starbucks is releasing bottled cold brew made with oat milk in a dark chocolate flavor—all of which are expected to hit retailers, grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations by the end of the year. The oat milk Frappuccinos and oat milk cold brew will be rolling out alongside Baya Energy, Starbucks’ first energy drink line available in Mango Guava, Raspberry Lime, and Pineapple Passionfruit flavors.
Starbucks gets into oat milk
The coffee giant developed the new dairy-free bottled Frappuccinos after finding success with oat milk at its 9,000 US stores. In March 2021, the chain added Oatly’s oat milk to its national menu after testing the environmentally friendly vegan milk at 1,300 locations in the Midwest. Starbucks added oat milk as a choice, alongside almond, coconut, and soy milk, and featured it as part of the Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Oatmilk Espresso which combines brown sugar and cinnamon, and is then topped off with oat milk. In combination with other factors, the popularity of the beverage led to some Starbucks locations to experience shortages of oat milk by April.
While ready-to-drink oat milk Frappuccinos are a first for Starbucks, the chain’s packaged goods arm has been exploring the dairy-free space for a few years. In 2019, Starbucks made its first foray into dairy-free bottled Frappuccinos with two flavors, vanilla and mocha, made with almond milk instead of dairy.
In August 2021, Starbucks launched a new vegan creamer inspired by fall’s most popular beverage. The Pumpkin Spice Flavored Non-Dairy Creamer was made to taste just like the PSL and utilized a blend of almond and oat milk to deliver the same creaminess without any dairy products. Unfortunately, its in-store PSL—despite being reformulated for European markets—continued to contain dairy at its US locations for the 2021 season.
Starbucks must drop vegan surcharge to meet climate goals
Starbucks aims to slash its carbon footprint—the main driver of which is dairy—by 50 percent by 2030 and is leaning on plant-based milks, particularly oat milk, as a way to help it reach its climate goals. A 2018 Oxford University study showed that oat milk is a more climate-friendly option as it produces one-third of the carbon emissions of large-scale dairy while using 80-percent less land and 90-percent less water.
In the United Kingdom, Starbucks recently dropped its plant-based milk upcharge at all 1,000 locations to remove cost barriers to making climate-friendly choices. However, activists argue that making this move a system-wide policy that applies to all of its more than 32,000 global locations would make the biggest impact.
In the United States, nonprofit Switch4Good—founded by Olympian advocate Dotsie Bausch—is taking Starbucks to task with an open letter to CEO Kevin R. Johnson and Global Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer Dennis Brockman. Published this week in the coffee chain’s home newspaper The Seattle Times, the letter—which is undersigned by 22 doctors, athletes, and other dairy-free advocates—asks Starbucks to drop extra charges on dairy-free substitutes globally, pointing to factors such as ending dietary racism and promoting environmentally friendly choices as reasons for the change.
The open letter comes after Swtich4Good’s recent Justice Cup campaign, which pointed out that vegan milk upcharges are disproportionately and unfairly paid by people of color, the majority of whom are lactose intolerant. While a link between the Justice Cup campaign and Starbucks UK’s new policy is not confirmed, the campaign went live right before Starbucks dropped its vegan milk surcharge in the UK.
For more about dairy-free at Starbucks, read:
10 (Mouthwatering) Vegan Frappuccinos at StarbucksStarbucks’ First-Ever Vegan Holiday Drink Is Inspired by Sugar Cookies
Starbucks Is Testing Vegan Whipped Cream Made From Lentils


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According to survey respondents, the most common reasons for disliking celebrity ads were confusion about the product, perception of the ad as boring, and dislike of the celebrity. All of those issues are important for companies to take into account when they sign up celebrities to endorse their products.
The first two issues likely occur because the company gets lazy--it has already signed a celebrity endorser, and so it expects smooth sailing from there. The last issue, however, is out of a company's hands, and is one of the reasons that signing a celebrity spokesperson can be a huge liability.
Not surprisingly, Ace Metrix found that the celebrity with the most negative impact on ads was Tiger Woods--likely owing to his scandal last year. Such misbehavior by a spokesperson can spell disaster for an ad campaign, and that's probably why Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade, and Gillette all ditched Woods and attempted to distance themselves from him when the scandal broke.
Building a Noncelebrity Campaign
Building this type of campaign can be difficult, because the company starts with no dedicated fan base. However, at the same time this type of campaign offers a lot more flexibility, because companies are free to do what they wish--they don't have to conform to the image or style of a celebrity to keep the campaign believable.
Relatively unknown model Carly Foulkes replaced celebrity endorser Catherine Zeta-Jones as T-Mobile's spokesperson in 2010. According to Jack McKee, Ace Metrix's vice president of sales and marketing, T-Mobile's "T-Mobile Girl" campaign has been surprisingly successful, considering its nature. McKee says that comparison ads are usually better in terms of communication, but aren't generally as likeable as other types of ads. The "T-Mobile Girl," however, seems to be an exception.


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The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova (CCI of RM) and the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) invite mass media representatives to the most anticipated event of the local economic society - “Moldovan Business Gala”, which will be held on June 25, 2021, at 17.00, in the Capitoles Park, 13a, Melestiu Str.
The “Moldovan Business Gala” is the award ceremony for the winners of the contests “Trademark of the Year” and “Quality Achievement Award”.
The purpose of the event is to support and encourage companies that contribute to the prosperity of the domestic economy by implementing international quality management standards, offering the most qualitative brands of products and services.
The “Moldovan Business Gala” will be attended by: the host of the event Sergiu Harea, President of the CCI of the Republic of Moldova and the Director General of AGEPI, Viorel Iustin; President of the Republic of Moldova - Maia Sandu; Interim Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova - Aureliu Ciocoi; Mihai Chirica, Mayor of Iași, Romania; Ionel Constantin, President of CCI Vaslui; etc.
This year, due to the conditions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the event will be held in a small circle, in compliance with all epidemiological rules.
The press will have access to the event based on the journalist’s card.
Please confirm your attendance at the event by Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the e-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.org.


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21 Oct 2013
Nigeria is a job search engine richer. It's called JobMe (JobMe.com.ng
) and it's free for jobseekers, recruiters and businesses wanting to promote themselves.
Adedoyin Adedeji, co-founder of JobMe Nigeria
, said the portal aggregates "more than 30 Nigerian job sites and hundreds of new jobs post


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Withings is adding the Aura sleep system to its line of scales, baby monitors and activity trackers. The $299 device tracks your movements and your environment, and then uses sound and lighting to improve your sleep. Read more »
I spent the last few days playing with the voice controlled Honeywell Thermostat (just the voice control, not the temperature control stuff) and learned a few things about how one might want to use voice for the smart home. Read more »
Heapsylon, the company that’s making sensor-packed smart clothing, has signed a deal to sell its smart socks alongside Vivobarefoot shoes. This is a good-sized retail opportunity for the startup. Read more »
Next week the internet of things will star at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Ahead of all the hubbub my guest, Chester Pipkin, the CEO of Belkin and I discuss what we’re going to see. Read more »
As the courts get closer to an opinion on the net neutrality case, many wonder how the current FCC chairman Tom Wheeler will handle the issue. Read more »
The holidays were great for Amazon and lousy for UPS. The two are linked and are a good illustration of two problems we’ll face more often as the web meets the real world. Read more »
Hey cord cutters! Are you searching for a holiday yule log to brighten your Christmas morning and maybe warm up your New Year’s Eve? I checked out the options and wish I could get these in 4K. Read more »
ARM server maker Calxeda has hit the skids after raising more than $100 million. The company said it will restructure but news reports have the firm shutting down. Read more »
Forget Zigbee and Z-wave, here’s a startup that wants to make Bluetooth the mesh networking protocol of choice for the smart home. But can Bluetooth deliver a mesh? Read more »
With more people carrying smartphones with high definition cameras and fast connections, ResolutionTube has raised a seed round to turn those handsets into a powerful collaboration tool out in the field. Read more »
The company behind many popular cable home automation systems is opening up to outside devices and developers. For now, a limited number of devices work with iControl’s OpenHome Partner Program, but it’s a start. Read more »
As the internet giants and telecommunications providers collide, their business models are adapting. The next big battle ground may play out in how we buy gigabit broadband. Read more »
Getting from the current petascale supercomputers to the exascale machines is proving to be pretty rough. But research into low-power, on-chip photonics might help supercomputers hit that elusive exascale goal. Read more »
The connected home has some kinks, but Kevin and I discuss how to solve some of them. We also chat with a CEO who has built a connected office to learn how he did it. Read more »
Philips has come up with a slim LED light bulb design that eliminates the heavy heat sink associated with today’s LED bulbs. Could this design tweak lead to a cost improvement that helps drive LED adoption? Read more »
Avago Technologies has agreed to buy LSI Corp. for $11.15 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $6.6 billion. The deal will add LSI’s enterprise storage capabilities to Avago’s networking and industrial businesses. As the data center consolidates and becomes more virtualized the chip industry is reacting with more integration. This deal can be seen as an extension of that trend.
Intel has purchased the wireless assets of Mindspeed Technologies in an effort to get the radio technology it needs to serve the telecommunications market. Read more »
The mix of younger doctors and new gesture-based or wearable technology means that BYOD will soon become a trend in the operating room. Read more »
First it was rumors of Google building ARM-based servers, and now a post on the blog dedicated to Facebook’s HipHop Virtual Machine for PHP
code notes how its translation engine plays a “crucial in our efforts to get hhvm running on ARM processors.” Indeed if Facebook wants to implement ARM-based cores it will have to ensure its hhvm code runs on top of them. Facebook has floated the idea of other architectures for years, testing Tilera chips and also deploying a board design that makes it easy to swap out processors. It’s really only a matter of time before we see a lot of ARM in places only x86 used to be.
Does the internet of things need a Google-like search engine? The creators of UK startup Umbrellium think so, and have launched Thingful so people can share their devices and data those devices produce with others. Read more »
A report says Google is building its own ARM-based custom server chips. This rumor has surfaced a few times in the last few years, but now the economics and technology are right for it to happen. Read more »
Good news for the iPhone-toting If This Then That lovers out there. The service has added a native iOS location tracking channel, which means you can make recipes based on where you are (or rather where your phone is). So you can get the weather of a city you are traveling to when you land, or tell your WeMo, Hue or SmartThings-enabled lights to come on when you get home. IFTTT also has a FourSquare channel for those who might want to use location but don’t have an iPhone. It’s just a wee bit less automated.
Mocana, a company that provides security for enterprise computing and is branching out into securing connected devices, has scored a $15 million round of funding led by GE Ventures. Existing investors Shasta Ventures, Southern Cross Venture Partners, Symantec and Trident Capital also participated in the round. Getting GE as a strategic investors is a coup for the company as GE is heavily investing in the internet of things on the corporate side. Mocana’s cryptography engines are in five of the top seven Android handset makers and inside devices from Panasonic and Honeywell.
Connected home hubs are hot right now, but which one should you buy? I tried four and here’s how they compare. Read more »
AT&T plans to charge $70 a month for its gigabit service in Austin if users agree to let AT&T track their searches. This is a relatively new model for an ISP, although it has been tried elsewhere. Read more »
As AT&T preps its fiber to the home launch in austin, we offer a lowdown on the technologies it plans to use to eventually deliver a gigabit. Read more »
Thanks to a UBS note from Monday we now have some good data on broadband usage at Time Warner Cable. The investment bank issued a note saying that TWC’s CEO-designate Rob Marcus said online viewing is up (although not a replacement for pay TV), and is increasing the demand for broadband. That demand is up 40 percent year over year with an average consumption of 50 GB per month and a median of 20 GB per month. That’s driving the introduction of faster tiers, although TWC will keep usage caps at the low end to appeal to more price-sensitive subscribers.
Everything you need to to know about the updates to Bluetooth as it relates to the internet of things, plus a few gifts for those far more fortunate await you on this week’s podcast. Read more »
Qualcomm has handed its AllJoyn protocol for the internet of things over to the Linux Foundation in hopes of establishing a universal standard. The effort has legs, but still has a ways to go. Read more »
Managed DNS provider Dyn is trying to grow after raising $38 million last year. To manage that growth it has hired its first chief financial officer, Tim O’Toole. Read more »
Since the start of 2012, home automation startups have raised $468M across 56 deals. Surprisingly, most of those have not been the recent flurry of smaller rounds for SmartThings ($12.5 million), Zonoff ($3.8 million) or Revolv ($4 million), but from companies like Alarm.com ($136 million) and Nest ($80 million) raising really large rounds. Check out the CB Insights story for a nifty chart!
Yesterday I wrote about Intel’s great big telecommunications market takeover plan, and on Wednesday the chip giant unleashed a networking chip that can offer some pretty intense competition for the network processors from the established vendors. Highland Forest is the third generation of Intel’s networking processors and can process up to 255 million packets per second. Rose Schooler, a VP and GM in Intel’s Data Center Group, says Intel currently has 17 pilots in the telecommunications space with seven of those being public today.
Bluetooth is getting a software update that will make it friendlier for connected devices including room for IPv6 support and the ability to act as a hub, instead of only as a peripheral. Read more »
Wouldn’t it be cool to use any handset to control your TV or to share media around your home? A deal to put Qualcomm’s AllJoyn protocol on LG Smart TVs brings that reality closer. Read more »
It’s been a while since 1996, so Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Greg Walden, chairman of the Communications Subcommittee, said Tuesday that it’s time to rewrite the Communications Act. The plan is to start generating hearings, white papers and the discussions necessary to start this process in 2015. This is a law that governs how communications infrastructure operates, and has its roots in railroad legislation from the 1800s. Since we’re moving beyond the dial-up modems of ’96 and into gigabit connections, an update makes sense. For those who want to follow the legislative action there’s a hashtag (#commsactupdate). Of course.
Intel’s mobile ambitions aren’t focused solely on the smartphone — it wants Intel inside the gear running telco networks. The chip giant sees a $16 billion opportunity in the networking and communications gear business. Read more »
Netflix said it would be the first customer of a new European internet exchange in New York. The news covers two trends — the growth of the European exchange model and the launch of an effort to bring that model to U.S. shores. Read more »
The holidays are here, and in this week’s podcast we talk about how to connect your tree, build a water sensor and stop people like me from unwrapping their gifts early and in secret. Read more »
Buying connected devices or bringing the internet of things into your home doesn’t have to be a daunting process. Here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way. Read more »


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01:52 PM - June 16, 2015 by Steve_OS
The Nissan GT-R was revealed yesterday, as part of the upcoming Driveclub RPM Expansion Pack, scheduled to arrive later this month. Today the team has revealed the Dodge Challenger SRT8 will be making its way to the pack, check out the trailer here. 3 more cars will be revealed during the week.
The RPM Expansion Pack will feature a total of 5 cars, 11 events and 5 PlayStation Trophies.


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Seattle’s Historic Fireboat Lights no Fire of Future Possibilities
Posted: June 20, 2013 | By: Jack Broom [Seattle Times]
After failing to attract a viable offer in a 10-day online auction earlier this year, Seattle’s 1927-vintage fireboat Alki faces an uncertain future: Will a wealthy individual or organization step forward to purchase the historic boat, possibly at a second auction in August?
Or could the 123-foot vessel, once billed as the “world’s largest fireboat,” be on its way to becoming — as one local boatyard owner fears — “the next Kalakala.”
to read more.
Ed Note: In the July issue of Sea, we wrote about Alki being purchased at auction — Fire(Boat) Sale, p. 8 — but between writing the piece and going to press, the buyer backed out.


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Digital TV News: Microelectronics Technology Inc.
MaxLinear Ku-band downconverter IC selected by MTI for Sky Q wideband LNBs
Sep 20, 2017 – MaxLinear (NYSE: MXL) has announced that a chip in its MxL80x RF downconverter family has been selected by Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) for a new wideband LNB that will ship to customers of Sky UK to enable its innovative Sky Q services.
News categories: MaxLinear, Microelectronics Technology Inc., Will Torgerson, Eugene Wu, Digital TV, LNB, Satellite, Semiconductor, UK
Entropic, MTI satellite Channel Stacking Switch deployed in the Middle East
Mar 10, 2014 – Entropic (Nasdaq:ENTR) and MTI have announced that a DBS operator in the Middle East has deployed MTI's 4x4, Quad SCR DBS ODU LNB product, based on Entropic's Channel Stacking Switch silicon.
News categories: Entropic, MTI, Eugene Wu, Al Servati, LNB, Middle-East, Satellite, Semiconductor
Entropic Communications Channel Stacking Switch Chosen By MTI For Italy
Jul 26, 2010 – Entropic Communications (Nasdaq:ENTR) has announced that its Channel Stacking Switch (CSS) technology has been selected by MTI to power its LNB offering, the AK541-XT2, currently being deployed by a major Italian satellite service provider.
News categories: Entropic Communications, Microelectronics Technology Inc, Italy, LNB, Satellite, Semiconductor
- Wicket Labs adds $1.9m of extra funding
- NENT Group to launch Viaplay in Iceland on April 1st
- TV antenna usage in US broadband households up 25% in 2019
- Coronavirus expected to add 5% to global VOD subscriptions in 2020
- COVID-19 response to bolster cloud gaming revenues
- iQIYI to launch service experience Testing Stations across Asia
- Switch Media's server-side ad insertion integrated with SpringServe's ad platform
- Verimatrix VCAS pre-integrated with Broadcom's Android TV platform
- Sinclair Broadcast adopts Qligent Vision Compliance Monitoring and Analysis
- Comscore reports surge in U.S. in-home data usage
- Limelight adds serverless computing to its edge services platform
- Disney+ rolls out in Europe
- TV panel shipments decreased 3.5% M-o-M in February
- Connected TV landscape is shifting away from paid subscriptions
- Eros partners with NBCUniversal to launch Eros Now Prime
- Asia Pacific to add 45 million pay TV subscribers over next 5 years
- RDK now on more than 60 million devices
- Disney+ on UK Samsung Smart TVs from 24th March
- COVID-19 to have significant effect on the semiconductor market
- TV3 Group launches Go3 OTT service with Atende Software