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Next Big Thing in Bangladesh: Women & E-Commerce
Currently, there are 63, 915, 000 internet subscribers in Bangladesh according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission [BTRC], and a staggering 60, 037, 000 of them are mobile internet subscribers! During the late 2000s, the internet in Bangladesh saw a boom and the number of internet subscribers has been increasing progressively ever since. To set some context, in October 2015, internet subscribers in Bangladesh were 54.7 million according to BTRC and by October 2016, the number has jumped to a striking 64 million! With help from the state and young entrepreneurs, the tech ecosystem in Bangladesh is on the rise.
In Bangladesh, internet penetration caused a shift in industry dynamics. The emerging digital industry allowed young entrepreneurs to burst into the scene with innovative startup ideas over the last decade.
Female users in digital platforms:
As of September 2016, there are currently 23M Facebook users in Bangladesh according to Facebook. Interestingly, only 21.7% of the total Facebook users in Bangladesh are female. Facebook is the biggest social media platform in Bangladesh and the numbers above reflect the male-female ratio of users in digital platforms here.
It’s perceived to be due to the conservative social circumstances in Bangladesh which persist on this side of the world. Access to computers and the internet for girls across Bangladesh is far from being achieved, as access to education for all children is yet to be attained nationwide. Due to social circumstances, restricted access and discriminatory social norms, women in Bangladesh are making slow progress towards moving digital.
Effective use of the digital network in Bangladesh:
As we zoom in on the active women on digital platforms, there is an interesting pattern: with access to a network of 23 M+ native people just a click away, they started making the best out of it! Facebook-based small businesses, now referred to as “f-commerce”, mushroomed. Small boutiques, makeup and cosmetics shops, tee-shirt stores, and online libraries selling books/stationery emerged. They set up a Facebook page, upload photos of products, place the prices, and take orders online through their page. Relatively more advanced entrepreneurs are collaborating with international platforms such as Shopify and integrating their services into the business.
Why most women are choosing online business over traditional jobs:
In conversation with a few female f-commerce business owners, it surfaced that most of them started this initiative to contribute to household expenses and to take care of their family. However, as they moved forward, it became more about their own independence and self-confidence; about building something on their own. The flexibility of working hours and being able to work from home are definitely strong add-ons to this list. The Internet has definitely become a powerful new tool for women’s empowerment in developing countries like Bangladesh.
Payment integration – A big challenge for online businesses:
Besides the simplified version off-commerce, several bigger initiatives are also taking place. Brands that are ready to invest more, move out of Facebook, and create their own websites. In this entire process, the major obstacle becomes the payment gateway. Until 2008, credit cards were not very widely popular across the nation and most people were not comfortable making payments online. E-Commerce Association Bangladesh [e-cab] states, “According to Bangladesh Bank, payments and transactions by credit cards were nearly Tk11 billion in June 2008; one of the lowest in the world. From 2008, things started to look bright as Bangladesh Bank took various initiatives in this regard including implementation of e-Payment Gateway.”
In 2011, BRAC Bank Limited launched bKash – now supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. bKash enabled users to exchange money via mobile devices in a secure and sophisticated method. Given, above 70% of our population live in rural Bangladesh, bKash made a breakthrough in connecting the rural market with the rest of Bangladesh, making payment processes easier. However, most consumers in Bangladesh are comfortable making payments upfront. A female university student says, “I’m most comfortable paying cash when the delivery arrives. It’s mostly because I am then certain I have received the right goods and there are no mistakes.” This suggests, that while banking services and bKash facilities exist, cash-on-delivery [COD] is still the most effective method of payment in Bangladesh as of now. “Above 80% of our consumers pay COD for purchases through our platform even when we have cash-back offers, discounts or other incentives for them to make payment through mobile or online methods; it’s been quite a challenge.” – Fahim Mashroor, Co-founder & CEO, AjkerDeal.com. In context to women’s role in e-commerce, Mr. Fahim also states, “Approximately 25% of our vendors are female who looks into logistics and distribution besides selling products through our platform.”
New payment gateway integration opened the prospects of a new horizon for many new startups. During 2008-2014, numerous new independent e-commerce platforms opened up. These e-commerce sites started identifying and winning their exclusive niche markets while few international chains started moving in their operation to Bangladesh such as Alibaba.com, FoodPanda, and Daraz. Besides new startups and international chains, many local giants are also going digital. Aarong for example, one of the most loved and celebrated clothing and crafts brands in Bangladesh recently launched its own e-commerce platform while Yellow, a concern of Beximco group has done the same. More and more brands are taking this route and a big chunk of their target group includes the relatively scarce female audience online.
Emerging companies might have already found a way to leverage this opportunity. E-commerce platforms like Bagdoom offer a wide range of products to their consumers, from fashion to electronics, while platforms like Chaldal focus on identifying and championing one niche with the fastest grocery delivery service. Currently, there are 308 e-commerce platforms registered with e-cab, and a majority of these platforms are targeted towards women.
Internet in Bangladesh has brought in a pragmatic change in the economy. Along with effective access to information at our fingertips, it is empowering our women to take charge and leverage this technology for new initiatives and run their own businesses. For a greater population, it means a more convenient lifestyle through e-commerce.


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October 24, 2011
To help build awareness about the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and encourage consumers to embrace better health and nutrition, Sunkist Growers has become a National Strategic Partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Nutrition Communications Network.
As a National Strategic Partner, Sunkist will launch a series of communications efforts in support of the Dietary Guidelines, starting with the message to “Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables.” The message will be promoted in new educational materials launching this Fall, which will be available online at Sunkist.com and will also be distributed to dietitians, consumer groups and at various Sunkist events. In addition, Sunkist will include the message in the October edition of their Sunkist Recipe e-newsletter, which is distributed to more than 73,000 registered subscribers.
"Sunkist is pleased to align itself with the USDA in order to help put the Dietary Guidelines into action and educate consumers on the countless health benefits of including fresh fruits and vegetables with every meal,” said Gina Widjaja, Advertising & Public Relations Manager for Sunkist Growers. “Sunkist has a long heritage of promoting healthy living, making this partnership a natural fit and one we can continue to build upon.”
Following the “Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables” message, the USDA will be rolling out six additional themed messages over the next two years. Future messages will include: Enjoy Your Food, But Eat Less; Drink Water Instead of Sugary Drinks; and Avoid Oversized Portions, among others. Sunkist plans to promote each message to consumers as they are launched using various communication vehicles.
“We’re looking forward to working with the USDA to help consumers apply the Dietary Guidelines to their lives,” said Widjaja. “Together with other leading health organizations and companies, we hope to make an impact on the fight against obesity and help improve the nutrition and health of Americans.”
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The small-screen iPad is our top tablet for 2021, with a refreshed design, top-end power and a portable form factor
Apple is likely working on a foldable iPhone behind closed doors. Here's all we know about it so far.
First it was Samsung phones, now it's Pixel 6. Soon it's all Android 12 handsets
What has Apple added to the third-generation AirPods?
Here's everything you need to know about the redesigned MacBook Pro range, including pricing and key new features
Apple's successor to the 27in iMac is said to be "jumbo"
Would you pick a Pixel?
From new MacBooks to AirPods 3 - here's everything you need to know
Apple's new entry-level tier allows unlimited access to Apple Music via Siri
Its new design features a curved display, hardier construction, fast charging and more
Should you switch your Switch?
Apple it likely to move from Lighting to MagSafe
The iPad 2021 offers double the storage and a faster chipset for the same price
The iPad mini just got a huge upgrade - and a price increase to match
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The popularity of the North East 250 road trip among both business members and tourists continues to grow, just over 18 months since its launch.
Tourism and conference-hosting is arguably one of the key industries most crucial to sustainable economic growth in Scotland and the north-east. It is a notoriously volatile trade, demanding constant innovation. If this key sector is to be successfully grown it will require long-term strategic thinking.
Scotland has played host to a galaxy of Hollywood stars filming their celluloid magic over the years, from Mel Gibson in Braveheart and Ted Danson in Loch Ness through to Daniel Craig in Skyfall and Saoirse Ronan in Mary Queen of Scots.
Visit Scotland recorded a 10% increase of overseas visitors to Scotland in 2018 and with the hope of another good summer, the ‘Outlander Effect’ bringing tourists from around the world and the film release this month of Robert The Bruce at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, at which the In-Person Strand is sponsored by Johnston Carmichael, we hope this upward trend will continue.
A Moray arts festival has been estimated to have generated an £869,000 boost for the local economy.
Outlander fans have snapped up tickets to hear author Diana Gabaldon speak at a stately home that features in the hit TV show.
Outlander fans are being offered the chance to quiz author Diana Gabaldon at a stately home that features in the hit TV show.
A unique bus-turned-cafe, situated on the shores of Aberdeen beach has been given a top tourism award.
Availability of brown tourism signs questioned after Moray business quoted almost £50,000 for just four signs
Transport Scotland has been urged to ensure brown tourist attraction signs are accessible - and affordable - for all businesses.
It comes as no surprise that Skye is one of the top locations to visit in Scotland.
He is known for his chirpy advice - but now lovable cartoon character Donald from Skye has flown the nest to China.
Gaelic could add more than £82 million per year to tourism, Visit Scotland revealed yesterday.
A Deeside tourist attraction has scooped a top award.
Moray Council’s governing administration has backed a tourism tax for the region in an attempt to bolster investment in under-pressure services.
A Moray distillery that lay dormant for more than a decade has now gained five-star approval from Visit Scotland.
Calls are being made for north-east businesses to become more digitally savvy so they can cash in on the tourism boom hitting the UK.
North businessman claims he raised similar idea for circuit – nearly four years before NC500 was launched
It has been hailed as a gamechanger for the holiday trade in the north Highlands.
National tourism bosses have spoken out about the impact large numbers of wind turbines could be having on visitors to Speyside.
A world premiere stage production of a 15th Century Scots poem will be one of the main attractions at a Moray arts extravaganza.
VisitScotland’s chief executive yesterday claimed tourism in the Highlands was “in a very good place” and insisted “Scotland is open all year round”.
An award-winning attraction is hoping to take visitors on a journey into Peterhead’s past with a new audio tour.
A new scheme to create a network of whale-watching spots up and down the west coast could create jobs and boost the economy.
A leading tour operator has warned Highland Council’s controversial parking charges plan could hamper tourism.
Balmedie businessman angered by new AWPR tourist signs that “ignore” the award-winning coastal village
A Balmedie businessman has voiced his anger at tourist signs on the new dual carriageway claiming the village has been “totally ignored”.
A rare blended malt made from whisky from eight Islay distilleries has officially been launched.
A dozen tourism experts from Canada are due to tour Speyside next week in order to sell the region as a holiday destination.
Gardens and estates in Moray are expecting a blossoming start to the summer tourist season with the launch of a flower show.
A glamping bothy which was up for a national award last year has been given retrospective planning permission.
An arts festival on the Moray Firth coast will return later this year to provide a tourism boost to the region.
A special map celebrating Scotland’s connections to the silver screen has been created by a tourism body ahead of Hollywood’s biggest night.
A former north-east railway station which has been transformed into a tourist shop has landed a major accolade.
Tickets for an extravaganza to celebrate whisky from Speyside have been selling in record time.


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FedEx continues bolstering its e-commerce capabilities as it competes with Amazon’s growing proprietary delivery capacity.
The shipping giant has agreed to purchase ShopRunner, an e-commerce platform that directly connects shoppers with more than 100 retailers and brands, for an undisclosed sum. ShopRunner members obtain benefits including free two-day shipping, free returns, exclusive discounts, and seamless checkout. The platform’s data-driven marketing and omnichannel enablement capabilities are also designed to help retailers acquire high-value customers and accelerate digital innovation.
Once the deal is closed, FedEx intends to combine ShopRunner’s pre-purchase offerings with its post-purchase logistics intelligence to enable retailers to attract and engage consumers at scale by providing innovative online shopping experiences. FedEx also anticipates that ShopRunner’s consumer experiences and omnichannel enablement capabilities will help it provide an end-to-end commerce experience.
In April 2020, FedEx partnered with e-commerce platform BigCommerce to give small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) using BigCommerce access to the FedEx portfolio of e-commerce solutions. SMBs on BigCommerce can receive enterprise-like shipping capabilities to provide their customers with a more premium delivery experience.
“The acquisition, once closed, aligns with our continued efforts to create an open, collaborative e-commerce ecosystem that helps merchants deliver seamless experiences for their customers,” said Raj Subramaniam, president and CEO, FedEx Corp. “We are committed to growing the ShopRunner platform and combining it with our global digital and logistics intelligence to create new possibilities in e-commerce.”
“In pursuit of our purpose of creating the future of retail, we have built the foundation of a cross-brand ecosystem to create a simple shopping experience for consumers and to aggregate the scale of our network for our partners’ benefit,” said Sam Yagan, CEO of ShopRunner. “The unparalleled reach and assets of FedEx will accelerate our existing capabilities and align with our goal of creating new products and services that advance a more open, collaborative e-commerce ecosystem.”
Headquartered in Chicago, ShopRunner will operate as a subsidiary of FedEx Services. The companies anticipate the acquisition to close by the end of the calendar year, and it is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.


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£50,000 cognac is spilled
A PLAN to mix the world’s most expensive cocktail has been scrapped — after a clumsy drinker smashed a £50,000 bottle of cognac.
Drinks maestro Salvatore Calabrese was due to pour the £5,050-a-glass concoction using a bottle of Clos de Griffier Vieux.
But a rich businessman who sampled the 234-year-old brandy knocked the bottle off a table.
The gutted bartender said: “We all just froze, then it sunk in. I’ve been heartbroken.”
Judges from Guinness World Records were due to witness Salvatore make his “Old and Wise” cocktail this week at the exclusive Playboy Club in Mayfair, West London.
Salvatore — who has a £1million collection of old spirits — said the bottle wasn’t insured because it had been opened.
He added: “Accidents happen. If I regret anything it is to have left the bottle on the table, but as a fellow connoisseur he wanted to appreciate what he was drinking.”


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Until recently, the Government's response was that the export ban had not been violated.
The museum had until March 20, when the export ban is to be lifted.
On the other hand, only works of art made more than one hundred years ago will carry an export ban.
There was no such export ban in the 1840s.
Throughout the country's previous export bans, local use has always been permitted.
He said the Polish export ban applied to all countries.
Buyers used to come from all over the world until the export ban.
It is important to have an export ban before 2010.
You have talked about support for the export ban.
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Coinbase, the cryptocurrency change, and Pockets service have introduced the launch of its new Pockets App which is able to immediately hyperlink to person’s coinbase account. With the launch, the change added help for XRP, the third largest cryptocurrency by marketcap.
Coinbase’s new pockets app helps XRP with different main cryptocurrencies comparable to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Money (BCH), Ethereum Basic (ETC) and different ERC 20 tokens constructed on Ethereum community. The XRP help replace will quickly be obtainable on iOS and Android apps. As stated;
Coinbase Pockets is the #1 cell crypto pockets and Net three DApp browser. Pockets makes it simple so that you can securely retailer, ship and obtain Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Money (BCH), Ether (ETH), Ether Basic (ETC), Litecoin (LTC), XRP, and Ethereum-based ERC20 tokens.
XRP is gaining much more recognition with the brand new optimistic updates by gamers like Binance and Coinbase. Earlier Binance’s trust wallet introduced to help XRP and likewise enabling the bank card fee to buy all such tokens. Furthermore, XRP can also be listed on Coinbase and Coinbase Professional platforms which allows XRP’s simpler entry to worldwide customers.
In the meanwhile, the third largest cryptocurrency sits on the worth $0.312619, declining a little bit of 0.36 % over the previous 24 hours. Furthermore, the common buying and selling quantity of XRP counts at $12,952,480,229.
Nonetheless, it additionally reported that the Coinbase pockets app additionally helps the XRP testnet aiding builders and energy customers. Moreover, its price to notice that the $100 million funds with Forte Gaming platform is amongst one oblique contribution by Coinbase as a result of the Forte platform is backed by a listing of traders which additionally embrace Coinbase Ventures.
So readers, what’s your view on Coinbase and XRP? share your ideas with us
The submit Coinbase Wallet App Supports XRP With Top Cryptocurrencies appeared first on Latest Ripple (XRP) News & Price Analysis.


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HM Revenue & Customs has unveiled its proposals on reverse VAT charges in relation to carbon trading.
Due to escalating VAT fraud around carbon trading HMRC introduced a zero rate of VAT in July 2009 – while it awaited an EU-wide directive.
The taxman has now unveiled its proposed implementation of a reverse charge on VAT payments on carbon trading. At the same time the zero rate of VAT will be withdrawn.
From 1 November, subject to parliamentary process, it will be the responsiblity of the customer rather than supplier to inform HMRC of VAT payments on carbon emissions, purchased through the EU emissions trading scheme.
The EU-wide directive to provide a reverse option for all member states was adopted in March.
Making Tax Digital will impose significant additional tax compliance costs on small businesses for little or no medium term benefit, tax and small business experts told MPs
MHA MacIntyre Hudson has partnered with cloud accounting software provider Xero ahead of the government’s requirement for digital records
The drive towards a fully digital tax regime is an admirable one, but mandation is simply wrong, according to one of the UK's most senior tax technology practitioners - Paul Aplin
Does Darwin's theory apply to taxation? Colin ponders...


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Export of agricultural products from Crimea in 2022 amounted to 3.5 million US dollars
Export of agricultural products from the Republic of Crimea from January to March 2022 amounted to 3.5 million US dollars. Since the beginning of the year, the regional project «Export of agricultural products» has been completed at 27%.
According to the results of the implementation of the regional project, in 2024 it is planned to export agricultural products worth 15 million US dollars in comparable prices. Since the beginning 2022 of the year, the Republic of Crimea has mainly exported meat products, as well as products of the food and processing industry , the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Crimea reported.
Recall that the regional project in the republic is being implemented as part of the National Project «International Cooperation and Export» aimed at building new economic ties and developing the export of Russian-made goods. National projects initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin started in 2019 year.


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SHAREit, the global gaming, file sharing, and content streaming application, has released an insightful guide highlighting why Ramadan is the perfect time for marketers to connect with their customers through the world of online entertainment. Essential Guide for a Mobile Ramadan 2021 in MENA brings the latest consumer insights, statistics, and fresh perspective together, showcasing the significance of the holy month of Ramadan and why businesses should push for various marketing objectives like launching products, accelerating sales, enhancing brand reputation, or sparking engagement with customers new and old to capitalize on this huge business opportunity.
Karam Malhotra, partner and global vice-president, SHAREit said: “As we adapt to the new normal, today’s Ramadan observer is empowered by mobile to stay connected, shop, share religious content, entertainment and so on. As such, marketers can identify customer motives, understand the reasoning behind them, and plan their campaigns to meet customer expectations and subsequently ensure maximum returns on investment (ROI) with support from a trusted advertising partner.”
As per the guide, digital users in the MENA region spent over 50 per cent of their time consuming online entertainment via apps during Ramadan 2020. There was also twice the number of entertainment app downloads as users looked for more ways to enjoy digital content throughout the Holy Month last year. Grocery and food delivery apps witnessed peak usage, with the latter experiencing a surprising upward trajectory as many sought breakfast meals from their favourite restaurants at home. Furthermore, all MENA region countries spend over four hours using mobile internet daily, 82 per cent of Ramadan shoppers primarily use their smartphones for online shopping, 62 per cent of respondents said they would spend more time on their smartphones this Ramadan, and 56 per cent insisted that they will spend more time playing mobile games. As such, this special period presents marketers with a unique opportunity to not just build their businesses or engage their customer base, but also to develop an emotional connection with your consumers.
“These statistics reaffirm that Ramadan is one of the annual calendar’s biggest and most popular shopping events. Although the ongoing pandemic remains a pressing issue, online markets are certain to continue growing due to the power of digital,” added Karam Malhotra “For regional businesses, it is important for them to identify just how lucrative this particular season can be. It’s universally known that Ramadan takes place over a whole month, yet preparations for consumers begin weeks before and the festivities continue for days and even weeks following its conclusion. Therefore, marketers should target consumers with the right products at the right time to develop their profiles and boost their popularity.”
SHAREit’s guide shed light on what matters most to consumers pre, during, and post-Ramadan, enabling marketers to base their business decisions on consumer trends and ensure all concerned parties benefit in due course. In the weeks prior, four of the most active segments are grocery and delivery, content consumption, decoration, and fashion, while mobile gaming, digital entertainment, food delivery, gifting, and consumer care and fashion are universally popular throughout Ramadan itself. Additionally, food, travel, and leisure are widely considered as most important to consumers post-Ramadan and during Eid. Given the competitive nature of this eventful period, it becomes imperative for brands to understand their audience, reach out and entice them, and ultimately influence them – something accomplishable with support from a capable and reputable advertising partner.
“Reach, relevance, precision, and trust are essential qualities for every advertising partner. At SHAREit, we firmly believe in these same principles, which guide us as we apply our core competencies, present propositions, and deliver different high-impact advertising solutions that support brands with lead generation, online sales, brand awareness, promotions, engagement, app installs, and much more,” said Karam Malhotra.
Malhotra continued: “This winning combination is the formula behind our sustained success here at SHAREit, ensuring we eclipse industry benchmarks and deliver hypergrowth for the brands we work alongside. From increasing conversions to ensuring marketers can better understand consumer journeys, creating audience segments to executing engagement strategies, we can and will deliver substantial growth for every brand we work alongside this Ramadan season.”
As an essential application for consumers and communities that observe Ramadan, SHAREit has a distinguished record in catering to client expectations and providing its users with an all-in-one vernacular content platform. Across the MENA region, one-third of people use SHAREit, translating to a monthly active user base of 72 million. At the same time, SHAREit is the fastest growing media publisher in the Middle East and one of the top 10 most downloaded apps worldwide on Google Play. From a local or regional brand standpoint, these facts not only highlight the influence and impact of SHAREit, but also indicate the potential that businesses can realize this Ramadan with support from SHAREit in an advertising partnership capacity.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ushareit.com/


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With the warm reception and the solid feel of the Windows 7 public beta, most are expecting the new operating system from Microsoft sooner rather than later. Microsoft, however, has remained tight-lipped on any earlier-than-expected release date, even hedging that we may not see it until 2010.
Microsoft has told everyone that Windows 7 may not ship until early 2010, but we’re starting to see signs pointing to a release that will happen sometime this year. Granted, the original date the software giant gave was for 2010, and it would be foolish for the company to promise a new date if it is still unsure if it can deliver.
Even at CES 2009, just when Microsoft announced the Windows 7 public beta, Windows executive Bill Veghte said regarding either a 2009 or 2010 release, “I'm telling them that it could go either way. ... We will ship it when the quality is right, and earlier is always better, but not at the cost of ecosystem support and not at the cost of quality.”
The Inquirer points to a webcast where Microsoft Technical Fellow Mark Russinovich said that Windows 7 would be sent to manufacture three years after Vista did the same, which was in October 2006. Of course, that could be an approximate ballpark date, but it does lend hope for those who really want Windows 7 in time for Christmas.
CNet cites PC industry sources as saying that they have heard that Windows 7 is on track for a holiday release, which is what OEMs want as it would help boost sales of new computers.
It’s hard to see Windows 7 not being ready for consumption for another 10 months. The public beta that some enthusiasts are running as their primary OS is set to expire on August 1, 2009. It would be an all-too-perfect situation if those users would be able to transfer from the beta version to the final version, though expecting Windows 7 to be in a retail box by summer might be a little optimistic.
Still, the evidence is growing. Just last week we saw an early proposal for the free upgrade program for those who purchase a Vista-equipped machine after July 1, 2009.


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Major step up for Apple’s Make in India plan as Indian supplier starts making AirPod parts for export
Apple will start making AirPods in India soon, and also start exporting components that Indian suppliers make. This is a major boost to Apple’s Make In India plan as Apple was facing a challenge to get vital components manufactured outside China.
In a major development that is only going to bolster Apple’s Make in India plan, Apple’s Indian supplier Jabil Circuits will now start manufacturing components that go into the making of the latest AirPods and AirPods Pro and also start exporting them to other countries where wearables are assembled.
Given how Apple has been trying to expand its China Plus One policy and has been tryig to shift the manufacturing of its components to countries outside China, this is a big deal for Apple. Although Apple has been able to shift the manufacturing of most of its iPhones to India, what it has been facing difficulty with, is moving the production of the components that go into an iPhone or any Apple product for that matter, away from China.
China is in a major conundrum as far as the global tech industry is concerned. The US, Japan and the Netherlands are all set to enact the chip sanctions that they have imposed on China, as part of a new trade agreement that was spearheaded by the US. These sanctions will virtually cripple China’s already struggling semiconductor industry, as it won’t be able to produce the latest generation of silicon chips, and neither will China be able to develop the next generation of microprocessors.
With this, India would be able to produce both iPhones and AirPods. According to Bloomberg, Apple is relocating its production base to India as a result of US trade restrictions and COVID-related difficulties in China. Jabil’s Indian subsidiary is an 8,58,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Pune. It employs about 2,500 people across the country.
The news comes nearly two weeks after 14 Chinese Apple suppliers gained preliminary authorisation from the Centre to set up assembly units in India. Luxshare Precision Industry, Sunny Optical Technology Group, Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group, and Shenzhen YUTO Packaging Technology are among them.
Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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o Ongoing Innovations Continue Making Wireless Connectivity More Accessible in Cost-Sensitive Regions -
SAN DIEGO, March 26 -- QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, today announced the success of entry-level handset launches around the world based on QUALCOMM technology. QUALCOMM's Single Chip(TM) (QSC(TM)) products are enabling handsets that lower price barriers and deliver cost-competitive wireless connectivity to markets such as China and India. The continuing expansion of the QSC family will enable lower-cost, full-featured devices to wireless users around the world.
"Huawei believes that developing markets are a very important area of growth for the wireless industry, and we continue to innovate for this segment," said Mr. Guo Ping, president of Huawei Mobile. "QUALCOMM's QSC family plays an important role in our efforts to make wireless affordable to a wider base of users."
"QUALCOMM's innovative wireless technologies have been a key enabler for operators to deliver new, compelling applications and superior services to consumers at affordable prices," said Darryl Green, chief executive officer of Tata Teleservices, Ltd. "Tata Teleservices is committed to supporting QUALCOMM in their efforts to deliver market-leading products for the wireless world based on its innovative Single Chip family of products. The specific initiatives in integrating imaging, graphics, audio and video in a single-chip solution will further empower us to offer high-quality multimedia handsets at affordable costs."
"ZTE invests significant resources and efforts into designing lower-cost, yet very attractive devices for cost-sensitive markets," said Mr. He Shiyou, senior vice president of ZTE. "The high level of integration and numerous benefits that QUALCOMM offers with its QSC products have already led to great success, and it allows us to maintain our leading position in offering very cost-efficient and feature-rich handsets to drive the overall growth of the wireless market."
"QUALCOMM's QSC family utilizes integration to bring mobile communications to new subscribers around the world, and we are very pleased by our success thus far in lowering price points and driving down costs," said Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, chief operating officer of QUALCOMM and president of QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "Our continued innovation and investments will lead to even more cost-efficient devices that offer more benefits of CDMA2000® connectivity to mass markets."
Handsets based on QUALCOMM's QSC6010(TM) single-chip solution have already launched in emerging markets around the world with more launches anticipated throughout the year. The Company's QSC1100(TM) solution, a third-generation QSC product scheduled to sample later this year, is expected to enable even lower-cost CDMA2000 handsets while delivering benefits such as doubled talk time.
Products in the QSC family integrate baseband modem, RF transceiver, power management and system memory into a single chip to reduce the number of discrete components, lower bill-of-materials costs and deliver board-area savings of up to 50 percent. Manufacturers can now offer smaller and sleeker designs at significantly lower price points and benefit from reduced development time for quicker time to market. The latest additions to the QSC family feature support for mobile broadband.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2006 FORTUNE 500® company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the ticker symbol QCOM.
Kira Lee, QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies
Tina Asmar, Corporate Communications
Source: QUALCOMM Incorporated
Web site: http://www.qualcomm.com/


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Walmart’s $14B supply chain moves
With pressures from the amazonian giant, and in preparation for growth, Walmart looks to improve its supply chain network. Looking to increase supply chain capacity through automation, the world’s largest retailer is investing almost $billion in automation technologies, focusing mainly on the US.
In Walmart’s Q4 earnings presentation, CFO Brett Briggs said that the company is at least a year ahead of expectations, thanks to its 2020 revenue increase. Spurred by the potential for further growth, Walmart makes a move on key markets, investing in automation and technology, fulfilment capacity and supply chain.
Briggs stated the company would leverage automation in distribution centres to deliver aisle and department-ready pallets to stores. Expanded eCommerce assortment is expected to shorten shipping time and reduce costs. Existing stores will enjoy improved pickup and delivery capacity, efficiency initiatives and merchandising programs.
“Now is the time to play even more aggressive offence. We're winning, and we intend to keep pushing the ball aggressively down the field. Over the next few years, we're going to step up capital investment, primarily in the US, to improve the customer experience, support growth and drive efficiencies,” said Briggs.
He further stated that the new investments should position Walmart for annual growth in sales and operations profit of at least 4 per cent (the equivalent of a Fortun 100 company.)
“Certainly, we had tailwinds during the year, but we are performing extraordinarily well. This strong performance has allowed us to invest in the future of the business, invest in our associates, and give good returns to shareholders. From a position of great strength, we are now going to accelerate investments in supply chain, technology, automation, and our associates, allowing us to stay ahead of shifts in customer behaviour,” said CEO Doug McMillon on their Q4 2021 Earnings Call
Walmart’s 2020 total revenue tallied up to a pretty $559 billion, an increase of almost 7 per cent from 2019. US eCommerce sales skyrocketed 79 per cent while comparable sales in the US grew 8.6 per cent.
Walmart also announced it would be raising its average wage for associates to above $15 per hour.
- Sustainability 'on slide in automotive industry' - CapgeminiSustainability
- AI tech can stop procurement being too reactive, says AeraTechnology
- Food & drink supply chain human rights 'cause for concern'Sustainability
- Supply chain ESG laws causing mass CEO anxiety, says ProximaSustainability


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What POS Chain To Anticipate In StaFi Protocol
StaFi protocol has been in the business of liberating PoS chains from the chokehold of illiquidity. The DeFi project achieves this through liquid staking, a lucrative staking model.
Several PoS chains have hooked up to StaFi, providing their users with the tempting option of liquid staking. Ethereum 2.0, Polkadot, Binance Smart Chain, and Polygon are some of the chains currently enjoying this service. The DeFi protocol hopes to cover more chains in the coming months.
Possible PoS Chains Coming To StaFi
Staking Finance Protocol’s journey to solving the locked liquidity in PoS chains has been a marvel. The DeFi project has done significantly well in the number of networks covered, but there’s a lot more work to be done.
Multiple POS chains have been mentioned as the next on the list for StaFi. But what are the likely blockchains on the list? You can check them out below:
If there’s one Proof-Of-Stake blockchain on the radar of StaFi, it’s Avalanche. The digital ledger has seen an increase in the number of dapps building on it thanks in part to its support for Ethereum-based apps, its massive throughput, and the incredulous transactional finality of the chain.
Being a PoS chain, Avalanche requires AVAX holders to secure the network by staking the token. As always, block rewards are shared among stakers. To avoid any breach of the blockchain, unstaking can take a while. This is where the input of StaFi will be felt greatly. Those staking AVAX through StaFi can jet out whenever they want by selling off the rAVAX tokens.
With the onboarding of Avalanche on StaFi Protocol, staking AVAX tokens through the DeFi platform ensures stakers get the maximum reward. Delegating staked AVAX to a node can be a double-edged sword, but StaFi’s node operators make it look easy.
With Avalanche getting traction, there’s a likelihood the PoS chain is the next in line for the StaFi liquidity liberation exercise.
This is another PoS chain where the liquid staking solution provided by StaFi will prove helpful. Tezos thrives on innovation and community participation. Yet, it still requires XYZ holders to delegate the tokens to node providers — an infamous part of every PoS chain.
StaFi can improve the efficiency of the Tezos Network by making XYZ staking more enticing for holders. Users won’t be put off by a lockup period or the cost of operating a node — a situation notorious among Proof-Of-Stake blockchains. PoS chains like Tezos use incentives to motivate asset stakers, but it comes to naught if native token holders still feel short-changed by the process.
You can’t talk about proof of stake blockchains without mentioning Cardano. Yet, the liquid staking solution for that network is not in the works till now. With the popularity of Cardano and the great interest in what they are building on that blockchain, the StaFi team will take notice.
The simplicity and elegant user interface design of Near Protocol have endeared it to many. Nothing beats aesthetics, and this blockchain understands that. Yet, Near isn’t just eye candy, it’s a digital ledger hoping to tackle some real-world problems. The blockchain’s support for the creator economy is something that will disrupt the creative industry.
With Near looking to corner a big chunk of the creative industry, you’d expect StaFi to offer a liquid staking solution to the POS chain users. Though the network might have interoperability connections to blockchains liberated by StaFi, the blockchain users should still have a shortcut to accessing liquidity.
It’s certain that more PoS chains are on the StaFi radar. The DeFi protocol has never been one to shy away from more responsibility — a look at the blockchains liberated is enough proof. We believe the PoS chains highlighted in this article should be anticipated in StaFi.
rFIS Product: https://rtoken.stafi.io/rfis
rETH Product: https://app.stafi.io/rETH/staker/info
rDOT Product: https://app.stafi.io/rDOT/staker/index
rKSM Product: https://app.stafi.io/rKSM/staker/index
rATOM Product: https://app.stafi.io/rATOM/staker/index
Telegram Chat: https://t.me/stafi_protocol
Telegram Announcements: https://t.me/stafi_ann


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The topic of value-based care in health and wellness has been making waves for some time. The system, which awards providers based on prevention and health outcomes instead of a traditional fee-for-service model, brings personalization to the forefront of the healthcare relationship.
The value-based care approach received an enormous tailwind with the January 2018 announcement by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JP Morgan Chase of a partnership to form an independent health care company for their combined 1.2 million employees. The intent is to explore a system focused on creating value free from profit-making incentives and constraints.
Value-based care adopts a “Triple Aim” approach of providing better care and better overall health outcomes at lower cost. One of the biggest opportunities is the roughly 70 percent of healthcare costs that are influenced by consumer behaviors, whereby payers and providers are incentivized to help consumers address those behaviors. Helping a patient with a chronic condition such as Type 2 diabetes manage a diet and exercise regimen, for example, can reduce medication intake and long-term costs while also improving the overall wellness for that patient.
Change Healthcare estimates that by 2021, 75 percent of payments in healthcare will have a value-based care component. Making in-roads to a value-based care approach requires providers and payers to establish deeper relationships with the consumer, which is a large part of the reason why the recent announcement triggered such enthusiasm.
Amazon has long been a disruptor in personalizing customer experiences using data and analytics, and there’s genuine excitement to see what transpires when it applies this expertise to the healthcare space. The new partnership will have plenty of company in the race to disrupt the industry with value-based care innovations. Oliver Wyman Health, for instance, anticipates that there is $500 billion opportunity for disruptors to create the best customer experience and become a new “front door” in healthcare.
The Personalization Factor
Mounting interest in value-based care intersects perfectly with both consumers’ rising expectation for personalized experiences and an abundance of smart devices and other technologies that help an always-connected consumer be stewards of their own health. Many smartwatches, for example, provide users with a mobile app dashboard with real-time and aggregate health metrics that we used to only get at a yearly physical, including resting and active heart rate, an activity log, exertion statistics, calorie intake, and sleep patterns. A payer or provider with metrics from a Type 2 diabetic’s smartwatch could use it to customize an exercise plan, send timely reminders, congratulatory notes, or other engagements to help change behavior.
Data drives the consumer expectation for personalization; we provide data with every purchase we make and every online search we conduct, and we expect the companies and brands we do business with to use it to provide us with relevant, timely experiences.
Personalization also works in changing behaviors. In one smoking cessation study, subjects who received tailored health content were more than twice as likely to have abstained from smoking at a 12-week follow-up than subjects who received generalized content. With so much data available through mobile, social, web, email, call centers, and connected devices, the consumer expects payers and providers to know their health history and patterns. Furthermore, consumers have more choices in healthcare than ever before, and the consumerization of healthcare makes it critical to meet these increasing customer expectations for personalization and exceptional service.
An IntelliResponse survey measuring the state of customer service revealed that health insurance tops the list of industries where Americans expect the highest level of customer service accuracy, with 54 percent of respondents selecting health insurance as the most important for accuracy – nearly four times higher than utilities, which ranked second at 14 percent. Additionally, 58 percent of respondents said they would consider switching health insurance if they had a poor online customer service experience.
A Single View of the Healthcare Consumer
The winners in the race to value-based care will be payers and providers who establish the deepest level of understanding and engagement with individual consumers. This approach recognizes claims data and clinical data as just a fraction of data useful to drive insights. In prioritizing behavioral and third-party data, payers and providers must re-imagine every aspect of how they’re engaging with the consumer. The business processes, technology, and delivery models need to all support putting the customer first.
Often, data and engagement silos stand in the way of this goal. Most organizations have multiple engagement systems, and few say that they possess a complete view of the customer from all their available data sources. A solution that links all first-party, second-party, and third-party data sources to create a unified view of the customer is the first step to engage with the customer.
With a single customer view, Redpoint Global clients in the healthcare space are making the transition to value-based care by developing analytic-driven processes and programs. These include tracking patients outside of provider or clinic visits, rolling out multichannel marketing programs, and supporting care selection from a network of personalized services such as home health, social care, transportation, and telemedicine offerings.
Innovations are made possible when you have a single point of control over data, decisions, and interactions. Behavioral data is not only different for every consumer, it’s also defined by constant change. Advanced capabilities that include in-line analytics and machine learning (ML) make it possible to respond to an individual consumer with relevance in the context of those changing behavior patterns. A single point of control ensures that these next-best action recommendations will always be performed in the cadence of the customer.
Payers and providers know that they need to move beyond general population health, and value-based care now provides an extra incentive to develop a deep relationship with each consumer through a personalized experience. Fee-for-services systems and the associated simple segmentation by age, gender, and risk factor fall short of producing the types of outcomes the market now demands.
Value-based care recognizes that we need to get more out of our investments in healthcare given the rising costs and uncertain outcomes. Personalized consumer engagement that accounts for changing behaviors is one of the more effective ways to accomplish the Triple Aim goals of better care, better outcomes, and lower cost.
My colleague Chris Evanguelidi, Director, Enterprise Healthcare Vertical, Redpoint Global, will present a session titled “Use Personalized, Omnichannel Communication to Increase Consumer Engagement” at the World Congress Medicare Marketing & Sales Innovation Summit, March 14-15, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. Join Chris and co-presenter Craig Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Lucerna Health, on Friday, March 15 at 1:30 p.m, or stop by the Redpoint Global booth to learn more.


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After getting off to a strong start yesterday, with both the DAX and CAC 40 trading up at new record highs, European markets lost momentum after firstly the Bank of England, and then the European Central Bank decided to play the Grinch in contrast to the Fed’s Santa and push back on following a similar rate cut outlook, with the DAX finishing the session lower.
While yields in the US managed to finish close to their lows of the day, German yields closed well above their daily lows, helping to pull the euro up towards the 1.1000 level against the US dollar.
The contrast between the ECB’s tone and the Fed’s tone could not have been starker, and yet when you look at the numbers the divergence becomes even more bizarre.
Here we have a situation with the Fed announcing a dovish pivot with Q3 GDP growth of 5% and headline CPI of 3.1%, while the ECB has maintained its hawkish stance when its 2 largest economies are showing a contraction in Q3, and its headline inflation rate is lower.
If anything, the policy stances should be in reverse, especially given the ECB says it is data dependent, which would mean on that basis it really ought to be leaning towards rate cuts in the same way the Fed already is, and yet it isn’t, with Christine Lagarde saying that rate cuts were not discussed.
This stubbornness on rate policy is likely to face further scrutiny today with the latest flash PMI numbers from Germany and France for November which are expected to point to some modest improvement in economic activity but still very much in recession territory.
French manufacturing PMI is expected to edge higher to 43.3, from 42.9, with German manufacturing forecast to improve to 43.2 from 42.6.
Service sector activity is also expected to see a modest improvement as well with France rising to 46 from 45.4 and Germany, 49.8 from 49.6.
The UK economy is faring slightly better which may help explain why the Bank of England was also hawkish yesterday, also keeping rates on hold even as 3 rate setters voted for another 25bps rate hike.
In some respects, one can understand the reticence of the Bank of England to come across as too dovish given that headline inflation is almost double the level of EU inflation, at 4.6%.
In the absence of any formal forward guidance this could simply be the Bank of England’s way of pushing back on market expectations of an imminent rate cut and stopping markets getting ahead of themselves. This is because a weaker pound can slow the disinflation process when it comes to pulling inflation lower and is likely something the central bank will want to avoid. Having 3 hawkish outriders can help keep markets guessing.
Today’s manufacturing PMI is expected to edge up to 47.5, while services is forecast to remain in expansion territory at 51.
US markets also underwent a strong session yesterday, with another record high for the Dow, although it was notable that the Nasdaq 100 struggled to hang onto most of its gains closing well off their intraday highs.
With the recent euphoria showing signs of petering out markets in Asia shifted their focus to the latest Chinese retail sales and industrial production numbers for November, with European markets set to open modestly higher.
The Chinese economy has been giving the impression of some level of improvement if recent economic data is any guide, however the bar remains low in the context of what it might be capable of given that last weekend saw domestic prices slip into deflation. This economic weakness prompted the Chinese central bank to inject support in the form of one year loans into the financial system this morning.
The recent trade and inflation numbers continued to point to evidence of weak demand and disinflation, as the problems in the real estate weigh on the economy as Chinese authorities wrestle with the problems posed by Evergrande and Country Garden.
In October there was a modest improvement in retail sales while industrial production remained steady at 4.6%. Having seen September retail sales end the quarter with a 5.5% gain, October saw a better-than-expected rise of 7.6%, however this number needs to be set in the context of a 0.5% decline in October 2022, when the economy was still in lockdown, so the numbers may well have flattered to deceive.
Chinese consumers do appear to be starting to spend a little more, however as various European luxury brands can attest the products aren’t flying off the shelves.
Today’s November numbers have seen retail sales come in at 10.1%, which fell short of expectations despite the numbers including Chinese Singles Day sales, and weak comparatives given that a lot of China still hadn’t come out of lockdown measures this time last year. Industrial production was better coming in at 6.6% the best performance since February 2022.
EUR/USD – the rebound this week has seen the euro look to retest the November peaks at 1.1015/20, with support now back at the 200-day SMA at 1.0830. A break above 1.1030 has the potential to target the July peaks at 1.1275.
GBP/USD – broken above the 1.2730 area, and the 61.8% retracement of the 1.3140/1.2035 down move. If we can consolidate this move higher, we could see an extension towards the 1.3000 area. Support comes in at the 1.2590 area.
EUR/GBP – slipped back from the 100-day SMA at 0.8640, with support at the 0.8580 area. A move below 0.8580 targets 0.8520.
USD/JPY – having pushed below the 200-day SMA at 142.50 we could see a move towards 140.00. We now have resistance at 146.00 and while below that we could push towards 139.20.
Disclaimer: CMC Markets is an execution-only service provider. The material (whether or not it states any opinions) is for general information purposes only, and does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by CMC Markets or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. The material has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. Although we are not specifically prevented from dealing before providing this material, we do not seek to take advantage of the material prior to its dissemination.


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Taoiseach Brian Cowen will today officially launch a new initiative aimed at creating 300,000 new jobs over the next five years.
It's hoped the 'Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy' plan will create jobs in manufacturing, tourism and trading services, as well as boosting exports from Irish-owned companies.
News of this employment plan comes after more bad news on the jobs front yesterday, with the announcement that 195 jobs are to go at an electronics manufacturing firm in Dublin.
UTC Fire and Security - based in Citywest - told staff that it would be winding down its Irish manufacturing base within the next 13 months.
There was some good news however with the announcement from Tesco that it is opening a new store in Kinnegad in Co. Westmeath - creating 80 new jobs.
The 'Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy' plan will be officially launched by Brian Cowen later today and will be implemented by a new Foreign Trade Council.
It is being billed as the first integrated strategy aimed at promoting overseas trade, tourism and investment.


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FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is going after television: specifically, that bit below the television.
In an op-ed on Re/code, Wheeler outlines his plan to democratize the set-top box market and hopefully save customers some money in the process.
Because consumers don't just pay for the cost of that box once. Cable companies rent them, and a recent Senate inquiry found the average annual fee was $231 per household — or almost $20 billion for cable companies every year.
Wheeler notes the cost of these boxes has climbed 185 percent in the past two decades. In that time, the PC, the tablet and even the relatively new IPTV market have become more and more affordable. (Video via Comcast, Roku)
So abolishing the classic set-top box would be a win for consumers because they'd get more choices based on their devices. Want to use Xbox or Roku? Go for it. (Video via Xbox)
Companies like Apple, which have been trying to break into the TV streaming market for years, could finally get the chance to offer traditional TV access through their own devices. (Video via Apple)
And we'd all get fewer remotes! What's not to love?
Cable industry groups warn it will be expensive to comply with any new FCC mandate.
They criticize a so-called obsolete solution in an age of apps and worry opening up the market to other tech groups could expose customers to more data-gathering. It's very thoughtful of them, actually. (Video via HBO, PlayStation)
Or it could just be that locked-down box is one of the last bits of uncontested territory the cable industry has. If you look at Nielsen's numbers, it's easy to see what big TV is worried it will lose.
This video includes an image from redjar / CC BY SA 2.0.


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BlackBerry Leaving T-Mobile in April, Says Strategies Not "Complementary"
April 2, 2014 12:25 PM
comment(s) - last by
The final day of BlackBerry and T-Mobile's existing contract is April 25, 2014
BlackBerry wasn't too happy with T-Mobile when the carrier launched what seemed like an
in February, so BlackBerry is cutting ties.
According to a BlackBerry
, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company will not renew its contract with T-Mobile when it expires in April.
However, BlackBerry said it will make sure that existing BlackBerry customers with T-Mobile will see continued support and service -- even after the April deadline.
“BlackBerry has had a positive relationship with T-Mobile for many years. Regretfully, at this time, our strategies are not complementary and we must act in the best interest of our BlackBerry customers. We hope to work with T-Mobile again in the future when our business strategies are aligned,” said BlackBerry CEO and Executive Chair, John Chen.
“We are deeply grateful to our loyal BlackBerry customers and will do everything in our power to provide continued support with your existing carrier or ensure a smooth transition to our other carrier partners."
BlackBerry even took a small jab at T-Mobile, saying that long-term BlackBerry users have other carriers to consider for continued support, and showed them where to look if they decide to do so.
The feud between BlackBerry and T-Mobile began in February, when T-Mobile presented a $200 trade-in offer for BlackBerry users that aimed to get them an iPhone for a great price. This led to a lot of fuss from BlackBerry fans and CEO Chen, who called the promotion "inappropriate and ill-conceived."
The campaign that started it all [SOURCE: Android Dissected]
T-Mobile tried to make it right by offering an extra $50 for users who decided to trade-in an old BlackBerry device in favor of a new one like the Z10 or Q10.
However, that extra $50 didn't seem to make much of a difference. The trade-in campaign resulted in
94 percent of old BlackBerry devices being traded
for smartphones made by the company's competitors.
The offer ended in early March, and T-Mobile noted in an internal memo that the promo led to a 15x increase in BlackBerry trade-ins.
BlackBerry really didn't need to lose any extra customers at this time, considering the company is already having major troubles. For instance, last year, BlackBerry had a full year net loss of $5.4 billion USD on revenue of $8.6 billion USD. It's latest operating system and line of devices -- BlackBerry 10 (BB10) -- had largely flopped as well.
To make matters worse, fewer than half as many BlackBerry Enterprise Servers (BES) were in use as there were three years previous, and market capitalization had fallen from $83 billion USD in mid-2008 to a mere $3 billion USD late last year.
Overall, BlackBerry devices represented less than 1 percent of global smartphone shipped in the final quarter of last year.
Just last week, the Canadian mobile company reported revenues of $976 million in Q4 2013, which was down 64 percent from the $2.7 billion it reported in the year-ago quarter. This is also the first time BlackBerry has
had less than $1 billion in quarterly revenue
BlackBerry's loss was $42 million for the quarter, which was down from the $94 million it earned a year previous. BlackBerry still has about $2.7 billion in the bank, but that's down $500 million from what it had last quarter.
The final day of BlackBerry and T-Mobile's existing contract is April 25, 2014.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
4/2/2014 8:48:21 PM
He's busy seeing and experiencing Nokia flip phones. Give him time. He'll get there. Well if there is a Blackberry left by then.
"There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere." -- Isaac Asimov
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text:
In February, Condé Nast announced that Glamour and Self's advertising team would be unified under Glamour publisher Connie Anne Phillips's leadership — following the exit of Self's publisher in November — to better leverage both magazines' combined audiences with marketers. Now, Condé is uniting Glamour and Self even further: On Wednesday, a representative for Glamour confirmed that moving forward, both magazines will share an operations team. The same copy, research, and production departments will serve both brands, and will be led by both Glamour Managing Editor LaToya Valmont and Self Managing Editor Erin Hobday. Both titles also already share a social media team, led by Associate Social Media Director Kenny Thapoung, who was previously at Self.
A rep confirmed that "a handful of positions were eliminated" as a result of this restructure. Fashionista has heard from several sources that seven people were let go on Wednesday. A statement released by Glamour states: "Our mission here is to create a thriving modern media brand that redefines what fulfillment means to American women. Today we announced a reorganization that will streamline the brand through a more forward-thinking structure — one that will give everyone on our staff the opportunity to succeed in our new media landscape."
That's not all the changes at Glamour, either: The magazine's editorial departments are no longer separated by print and digital lines, but rather by content areas (beauty, fashion, entertainment) led by one department head. For example, WWD reports that Jane Keltner de Valle will lead the entire Glamour fashion news team. In addition, editorial and advertising designers will combine into one art department led by Paul Ritter, Glamour's creative director.


text:
Another week, another new Audi.
Ofcom has proposed a cap on the price of 118 directory inquiries at £3.10 for a 90-second call.
Broadband in rural areas such as Highland Perthshire could see new investment after a landmark ruling by the communications regulator.
TalkTalk is the most complained about home broadband and landline provider, while BT and Vodafone drew the most complaints for their mobile services, figures show.
Dundee's gaming industry must be given support to capitalise on the boom in smartphone use.
Ofcom is pressing ahead with plans to force Openreach to become a legally separate company within the BT Group with the aim of providing faster and more reliable broadband across the UK.
Audi’s Q2 was one of the first premium compact SUVs on the market.
Trinity Mirror’s £126.7 million deal to buy a string of titles from Richard Desmond’s media empire will not be referred for an in-depth further investigation, Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.
Ofcom has provisionally concluded that Virgin Media overcharged customers on early termination fees on contracts for its broadband, phone and television services.
TalkTalk is the worst performer for customer service among broadband providers, while Vodafone and Virgin Mobile have turned in below-average scores among mobile companies, an Ofcom survey has found.


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News Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Announced for PS4, PS Vita
posted on 2016-09-13 13:45 EDT
Square Enix announced at the 2016 PlayStation Press Conference on Tuesday that it will release a new Itadaki Street (Fortune Street) game for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The game, titled Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary, is slated for 2017.
The Dragon Quest series is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and the Final Fantasy series will reach its 30th anniversary next year.
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii also created the Itadaki Street board game-style video game series. Several earlier games in the series have featured Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy crossovers. Nintendo released Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Super Mario for Nintendo Wii in North America as Fortune Street in 2011.
Available Now: Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond - Garo Vanishing Line - Juni Taisen: Zodiac War ― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2017 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each ...


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Second Harvest Community Thrift Store is moving forward with a much-anticipated February 2021 opening — and Covid has only shined a dramatic light on the need for its services.
NEXTpittsburgh wrote about the community thrift store in February, just before the pandemic hit. “Covid has definitely extended our timeline, but it never took our momentum,” says Bonnie DeMotte, the store’s executive director. “We believed this was an important project for the community beforehand, but it has now been made critical in the wake of the economic devastation caused by Covid.”
Their funding efforts to raise $2 million to open the Clay Street enterprise are only short $425,000. Contractors cut out three 14-foot storefront windows recently, the roof was replaced and cement for the ADA ramp was poured last week. Construction will wrap up in three months. Next, they will install store fixtures, hire employees and train volunteers.
Second Harvest will sell clothing, furniture and household goods in a 4,000-square-foot retail shop, and will provide residents with a community gathering space. Advocates pushed to build Second Harvest in response to the 2018 closing of the area’s St. Vincent de Paul thrift store.
Though not open yet, Second Harvest is already making a mark in Sharspburg. The organization hosted a Back-to-School tent sale in the parking lot in August, with 125 volunteers helping more than 500 people go home with clothing.
“I told our board, ‘If we can do that with a parking lot in a pandemic, there’s no telling what we will be able to accomplish when our building is ready!’ DeMotte says.
Next month, Second Harvest will launch its “Bring in the Harvest” appeal to raise the remaining $425,000 to reach its fundraising goal. More than 350 residents have already pledged support, along with representatives from 11 different faith communities and several foundations.
Want to help? Donate here.


text:
Published March 28, 2014
BMW Group is expanding again at Greer, investing $1 billion and adding another 800 jobs to build an X7 model and boost the plant’s annual production capacity by 50% to 450,000 vehicles. A new study shows every BMW job spins off three jobs elsewhere in South Carolina.
“This is the fifth expansion since production began 20 years ago and represents another major investment,” Manfred Erlacher, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co., said in a statement announcing the expansion. “The increase in annual capacity, the number of models produced and the number of jobs on-site reinforce the major role BMW is playing in the region’s economic vitality through technological innovation, environmental stewardship and development of a highly skilled workforce.”
Since 1994, the plant has produced more than 2.6 million vehicles.
A new study by the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina shows the BMW Group has a $16.6 billion impact on the state’s economy and supports more than 30,000 jobs statewide. The study shows that for every job created at the plant, “an additional three jobs are created elsewhere in South Carolina through the economic multiplier effect,” the statement said.
Last year, 207,326 vehicles were manufactured in Greer, or about 1,100 every day.
Harold Kruger, a BMW Group Board of Management member for production, said the plant is “an important building block in our international network of 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries today and makes a vital contribution to profitable, globally balanced growth.”


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82% of people think Ormskirk is boring rather than exciting, according to a new report.
As part of the council’s plan to create a marketing strategy for the town a piece of market research was commissioned, which revealed the statistics.
Comprehensive consultations were undertaken with a variety of stakeholders between December 2015 and February 2016 including residents, students, visitors to the town, potential visitors from other towns and other stakeholder organisations and individuals linked to Ormskirk.
A variety of research methods were undertaken which included face-to-face surveys in Ormskirk, Chorley and Wigan, an online survey and focus groups, among others.
Researchers found that 82% believe Ormskirk is boring, 83% perceive the town as functional rather than desirable and 68% feel it is quiet rather than busy.
Concerns raised by stakeholders included traffic congestion, lack of public events and segregation between residents and students, with a feeling that student accommodation is taking over the town.
Ormskirk market was also criticised for offering generic items that appeal only to older people and people said the look, feel and experience of the market lacks vibrancy.
Residents concluded that Ormskirk is a good place to live however and researchers found the town is “perceived as safe and leafy with a good night-time economy, mix of independent retailers and the economic benefits of Edge Hill University were recognised.”
92% of people surveyed also said they were likely to visit Ormskirk again.
A number of recommendations have been made by the consultants as a result of the research findings, all of which have been condensed into a ten point action plan.
This plan includes recommendations that Ormskirk is positioned as a “University Market Town” but councillors are keen to clarify this is not a strapline.
There are also plans to create an Ormskirk website, improve relations with Edge Hill, improve signage and to host two specialist markets a month, such as a farmer’s market.
The history of the town is also set to be brought to the fore, with an Ormskirk heritage trail planned by the community partnership and maps within the town centre are also due to be updated.
The findings are due to be discussed at the cabinet meeting on June 14, when councillors will decide how these findings sit within the adopted Ormskirk town centre strategy.


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Royston Market: Thank You
Thank you Royston traders and shoppers for all your support!
Royston Market would like to thank its traders for continuing to provide exceptional service to the local community in these most difficult of times. With just food being sold at the moment, there has been a significant increase in shoppers to the market over the past two months which has placed traders under considerable pressure. However, they have responded by arriving earlier, taking on additional staff to lend support and where possible, offering delivery services. And a big thank you to shoppers too for observing the social distancing measures that are in place and contributing to such a pleasant atmosphere on market days.
Royston Market, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8am-2pm To keep up to date with the Market News, follow
@RoystonMarket on Facebook


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The annual September event is an opportunity for the card and gift retailer to share its festive strategy and products with its store teams. This was the third year we’ve staged this important gathering in our film studio – which was transformed into a cosy cottage setting, complete with tree, cards, presents and decorations.
The GQC was part of our wider Christmas campaign work for Card Factory, including the development of its “Share More Joy” message, which will feature heavily in store.
“More than 1,100 colleagues from across 40 separate locations joined online,” said Niall Minnery, head of Events. “This interactive event allowed them to share their thoughts and ask question of the senior leaders, who presented from the studio.
“The highlight was a Eurovision-style hook-up with different regions, where store teams shared their reflections of the day.”
Our Film and Animation team created a series of pre-recorded videos for broadcast during the event, which was hosted by Create’s Damon Parkin.


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The web is changing it all
“For the first time ever, cabinet dealers and remodelers of any size can eliminate unnecessary IT costs, enable their salespeople to truly be mobile and streamline their operations for maximum profitability,” says Brent Jackson, President of BreakFront.
“Cabinet dealers have long struggled to simplify operations, eliminate mistakes and help designers close more sales,” said Brent.
Equilibrium (formerly Aurora) solves these challenges with a suite of tools and automated business processes for cabinet dealers, remodelers and contractors. “It’s exciting to see so many dealers make such huge strides forward in their sales process, the way they quote and order, as well as the way owners monitor their business,” said Brent. “For everyone here at BreakFront, this is the culmination of over a decade of research, user input and hard work.”
“It’s amazing to me that I can run my entire operation in the cloud”, said John Anderson, owner of Southern Kitchens who recently signed up for Equilibrium. “I’m a little disappointed that my competition can be up and running so quickly – but the real magic is how we’re tying all this into every business function we have.”
“I already saved $10,000 in hardware upgrades I won’t have to do this year by moving to Equilibrium,” said Tim Holick, owner of Wood Palace Kitchens. “This is going to simplify my life dramatically. Who knows, maybe I can take a decent vacation for once in my life.”
“Our goal is to make cabinet dealers more money,” said Brent. “They way we do that is by enabling them to run leaner than ever before with their systems.”
Dealers can try Equilibrium. All they need is an Internet connection. Cabinet dealers can even use Aurora on an iPad.


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Khloé Kardashian Posts Bikini Photo on Vacation, Tells Haters: 'I Don't Photoshop Palm Trees'
Khloé Kardashian says she doesn't need to edit herself — or the beautiful backdrop of her family vacation
The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, 34, posted a snap on Instagram of herself in a sporty white bikini, which she topped off with a pink robe. In a video of the beach she posed to her Instagram stories, she addressed the “negative people” who seemingly called out the effects on the photo. “People find anything to comment on, especially just negative people,” Kardashian said.
“And a few people said I did horrible Photoshop because the palm trees are slanted. Well honey, I don’t Photoshop palm trees,” she continued, panning over the palm trees to show that they tilt to one side.
“A negative mind will never give you a positive life. Change that mentality and you will change your life,” Kardashian said in another clip.
Kardashian showed off her hard-earned post-pregnancy body in the white swimsuit, which she paired with a flowing robe, statement fringe earrings, square sunglasses and a head scarf. “💚 Forever Thankful For It ALL 💚,” Kardashian captioned the photo shared on her Instagram.
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“I love one-pieces. I think one-pieces can be super-sexy,” she said. “I don’t think you need to show everything for it to be sexy. And now one-pieces [include] high European cuts and I think they’re great and I feel really comfortable in them. So for me I’m always a one-piece girl.”
She added, “But I think if you got it, flaunt it. I wish I was one of those girls who could just walk down in a bikini all the time but I don’t feel comfortable.”
Less than three months after giving birth to True, Kendall Jenner snapped a photo of Kardashian sunbathing in an orange bikini. But the reality star said that her flat tummy in the photo wasn’t all that it seemed to be.
“I’m just seeing that Kendall posted a video of me in a bikini…” Kardashian tweeted. “Thank God she knows her angles LOL cuz I do not look like I did in that video LOL.”
“Laying down is a game changer,” Kardashian added, explaining that lounging time was a rare moment of relaxation. “I had an hour to hang with Kenny while True was napping.”


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What you need to know
- A new Samsung foldable will be a foldable clamshell smartphone.
- The smartphone is expected to have a 6.7-inch main display along with a 1-inch secondary display on the front.
- Samsung's next-generation foldable phone might be launched early next year.
If a new rumor out of South Korea is to be believed, Samsung's next-generation foldable smartphone will have a clamshell form factor, similar to the rumored foldable Motorola Razr. Instead of being a phone/tablet hybrid like the Galaxy Fold, the rumored device will focus on portability.
The device, which may be a successor to the Galaxy Fold, will have a 6.7-inch AMOLED main display that will fold vertically. When folded, the device will have a tiny 1-inch display on the front, which will be used to display "simple information" such as notifications. Thanks to the smaller display, it should be roughly the same size as the Galaxy S10 5G in terms of physical footprint, when it is unfolded. When folded, however, it should be a lot more compact. Certain parts such as the foldable display panel are expected to enter mass production in November this year, while the smartphone itself might arrive sometime in the first half of 2020.
As SamMobile notes, the switch to a clamshell form factor could allow the device to be more affordable compared to the Galaxy Fold, which is priced at $1,980. While Samsung had announced the Galaxy Fold amid much fanfare in February, the foldable smartphone is yet to go on sale.
It was originally slated to go on sale in the U.S. on April 26 but Samsung decided to delay the launch of the phone to fix the screen issues encountered by several tech reviewers. While giving a speech at the Korean Information Display Society last week, Samsung Display Vice President Kim Seong-cheol said that most of the screen issues have been fixed and the Galaxy Fold is "ready to hit the market".
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Nest Secure is discontinued — here's what's going on and why it matters
Nest's home security alarm system is only three years old, and yet its already heading to the Google Graveyard. This announcement is sudden, unexpected, and quite honestly unreasonable on Google's part, as it leaves users and their home safety in limbo.
You probably shouldn't use Apple's MagSafe charger on your Android phone
The science behind wireless charging says not to put anything magnetic close to either side. Apple did the work to make it safe, but chances are other phone makers haven't. Yet.
Samsung delivering an update to the Galaxy S7 isn't a cause for celebration
Samsung just rolled out a security patch to the four-year-old Galaxy S7. While it is good that the phone is getting an update past its guaranteed three-year commitment, the current system of Android updates is broken, and things need to change.
Pair that snazzy Galaxy S20 FE with an awesome case to keep it protected
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S20 FE and the device is sure to turn plenty of heads for the next few months. With stiff competition in the mid-range market, it's clear that Samsung wants to compete and the S20 FE is fantastic. If you're picking one of these awesome new devices up, make sure you pair it with a case to keep it looking awesome.


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The Binance NFT marketplace and the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg teamed up to manufacture and release a limited edition of non-fungible tokens containing digital copies of world-famous paintings. Works by Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, and others will be included in the collection.
NFT Reproductions of Famous Paintings
Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a collaboration with the State Hermitage Museum, one of Russia’s largest museums, to issue NFTs of well-known works of art such as Vincent van Gogh’s Lilac Bush, Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna Litta, Claude Monet’s Corner of the Garden at Montgeron, and Composition VI (Wassily Kandinsky).
The Binance auction will begin at the end of August 2021. The initial NFT copy of each artwork will be stored in the Saint-Petersburg Museum, while the second will be auctioned on the Binance NFT marketplace. The Hermitage will get all of the project’s earnings as part of the agreement.
The museum’s director, Mikhail Piotrovsky, will personally sign each copy, giving the limited edition piece credibility and individuality. The project’s goal is to highlight the State Hermitage’s democratic nature and demonstrate that digitalization will unavoidably be the next step in the field of art collecting.
“New technologies, particularly blockchain, have ushered in a new era in the evolution of the art market, driven by ownership and the assurance of that possession… This is a critical juncture in the evolution of the relationship between person and money, as well as person and thing,” Piotrovsky remarked.
Helen Hai, the CEO of Binance NFT, had this to say about the collaboration:
“Another step toward global digitalization is the recognition of blockchain technology and NFTs by one of the world’s greatest museums. We are grateful for the chance to work with The State Hermitage; together, we are building history.”
The auction will be open to any platform user, according to the notice. Binance’s NFT marketplace will use the same account network as Binance.com, thus prospective consumers will first need to sign up for an account with the exchange.
Virtue Poker, the world’s first fully regulated blockchain-based peer-to-peer poker network, has partnered up with Binance NFT marketplace to create a one-of-a-kind non-fungible token.
The partnership, dubbed “The Phil Ivey Golden Ticket NFT,” will include the first and only Phil Ivey Binance Smart Chain based NFT, as well as an invitation to a Celebrity Poker Tournament featuring NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, Ethereum Co-Founder Joe Lubin, Hollywood actor Vince Vaughn, and YouTube star Mr. Beast.
As previously stated, anyone interested in winning a seat at the poker table can bid in the auction tonight, July 27th, at 12 p.m. UTC.


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Burton is to lose one of its discount stores as the troubled retailer announces the closure of 80 more shops.
Poundworld, in Coopers Square shopping centre, will be closing next week as administrators reveal more closures on top of the 25 announced earlier this week.
The stores will start closing on Friday, July 20, until Sunday, July 22.
Poundworld went into administration last month after failing to cope with rising costs, fewer shoppers and greater competition.
Joint administrator Clare Boardman, from Deloitte, said: "While we remain hopeful that a sale for part, or parts, of the business can still happen, it has not been possible to sell the business as a whole.
"We would like to thank all the employees for their continued support and commitment during this difficult time.
"We are keeping staff appraised of developments as they happen."
Administrators from Deloitte said the decision to close these stores will not impact on the potential sale of the rest of the business.
Two potential deals have fallen through so far, including one from the chain's founder Chris Edwards, who wanted to buy around half of the stores.
In June, Alteri investors, which specialises in buying struggling retailers, also pulled out of talks.
Poundworld can trace its origins back to 1974 and a market stall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
In 2015 Mr Edwards sold the chain to US private equity firm, TPG, which also controls restaurant chain, Prezzo.
In 2016-17 Poundworld reported losses of £17.1 million, which was partly the result of tough competition from rivals including Poundland and Poundstretcher.
Like its rivals, Poundworld imports much of its stock from the Far East, so the sharp fall in the value of the pound after the 2016 Brexit referendum also hit profits.
Shoppers in Burton were surprised to hear that the discount store was leaving the town centre.
Belinda Barnett, from Swadlincote, said: "I've heard, I popped in today. It's not good is it, I live in Swadlincote and I come to Burton once a week on a Friday. I'm quite surprised actually, what they sell for a pound, you'd think they'd do well.
"It's because where ever you go in the country, you'll see loads of empty shops. They say its partly the internet, I don't shop online but I suppose that is the way it's going."
Shopper Clifford Whetton said: "It's all online, it's cheaper and everybody is just always in competition. We occasionally shop online but not a lot. It's a shame really, but it's like a lot of shops in town now, they're nearly all charity shops.
"Fair enough, that's good for charity but I feel like something is going to crack along the line. The internet, I think, should be calmed down a bit. I think it'll come back round to the high street."
Paul Hincks, 37, from Burton, said: "Devastated. I shop there quite a lot. Town's going to be empty soon if it carries on.
"I think it's mainly because of online now but I prefer to come into town. Coming into town you get to meet quite a lot of people that you know."
Jackie Moore said: "I don't really go in there a lot. I don't know why it's closing, we need more shops not shops closing down."
Full list of Poundworld stores closing next week
- Bexley Heath
- Blyth Bb
- Bolton Breightmet Rp
- Burton Upon Trent
- Kings Lynn
- Leeds Crown Point
- Leeds Kirkgate
- Leeds Kirkstall Rd
- Leicester (Bb)
- London Archway
- Merry Hill
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Rotherham Duk
- Seacroft (Leeds)
- Shepherds Bush
- South Shields
- St Albans
- Wood Green
The latest closures follow Tuesday's announcement - meaning a total of 105 stores will be shut - at a total cost of 1,266 jobs.
US private equity firm TPG acquired a majority stake in the business in 2015, but the company called in administrators, Deloitte, in June.
Administrators said discussions are ongoing with various "interested parties" for the remains of the business - including its head office and distribution centre.
Talks will take place in the coming days.
The Poundworld stores closing on July 15:
- North Shields
- Sutton Coalfield
- Manchester Arndale
- Derby West Field
- Nottingham Broadmarsh
- Newcastle Wallsend
- Bradford Ivegate
- Liverpool Bell Vale
As the quest to find a buyer continues, Poundworld also launched a closing down sale last month, despite denying any branches were actually being axed.
It comes after Poundworld founder Chris Edwards said he is now out of the running to rescue the trouble retail giant after "negotiations stalled because his offer fell short of what the administrator hoped to achieve".
Edwards started Poundworld on a Wakefield market stall in 1974 and built it into a leading high street brand, with more than 300 stores across the UK, selling a vast range of products that were all priced at a pound. US private equity firm TPG acquired a majority stake in the business in 2015, but the company called in administrators earlier this month.
A spokesman for the shopworkers' trade union Usdaw said they are providing the support and advice their members require.
Dave Gill, Usdaw national officer, said: "We welcomed Deloitte's initial approach for Poundworld to continue to trade while a buyer for all or part of the business is sought. However, now the second wave of store closures have been announced, it is clear the future of the business looks very bleak.
"We are helping our members find alternative employment with other retailers that recognise Usdaw and we were pleased to secure a promise from Poundland to offer any former Poundworld workers an interview. They are experienced shopworkers who find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own, we urge retailers with vacancies to look at employing ex Poundworld staff."


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Hospital bed and equipment provider Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRC) has acquired Aspen Surgical Products for $400 million to broaden its reach in the North American and European surgical markets, the company said Tuesday.
Aspen Surgical, based in Michigan, manufactures surgical consumer and specialty medical products like scalpels, fluid collection products, wound care dressings and a variety of other operating room disposables and instruments. The company has annual revenue of about $120 million and is expected to add to Hill-Rom’s fiscal year earnings by two cents per share.
Use of disposable medical supplies is on an upswing as facilities adopt stricter infection prevention methods, according to market research from Espicom.
“This acquisition further expands our global portfolio beyond our core franchise with a business that is immediately accretive to earnings per share and adds recurring revenue to our existing surgical platform,” said President and CEO John Greisch.
Hill-Rom’s last acquisition was Volker, a Germany-based maker of hospital bed frames, surfaces and furniture, back in February.
The Batesville, Indiana, company reported third-quarter revenue of $406.5 million, an increase of 5.6 percent from the third quarter of last year, but lowered its outlook for 2012. Shares were up .5 percent at close on Tuesday.
[Photo from jannoon028]


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A research team at Notre Dame University, with funding from the US Department of Energy, has developed the product called “Sun-Believable”, a kind of solar paint that when applied to non-conductive surfaces like glass or plastic can create electricity. The team had been researching new, less expensive ways in creating solar energy other than the more expensive silicon-based solar cells.
Researcher Matthew Genovese began the experiment by coating nanoparticles of titanium dioxide with nanocrystals of cadmium sulfide or cadmium selenide. The compounds absorb photons and when combined with a water-alcohol base create a semi-conductive yellow or brown paste. The team then applied the paste to a conductive glass surface electrode, connected it to a counter-conductive electrode, exposed it to sunlight, and was able to create a small current of energy.
Although there is a long way to go before making this a commercial product, the breakthrough is significant. The team has only achieved a light to energy conversion efficiency of 1%. A typical silicon-based solar cell achieves 10-15% efficiency. However the team feels if they can raise the efficiency of their solar cells to 4-5% the product can be used successfully. The paint is relatively cheap, can be made in any color, and doesn’t require a clean room to manufacture like the silicon cells.