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EC makes new charges against Intel

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:54:50 +0200

The EC competition authorities have added fresh charges to their long-running complaint against Intel. In a letter to Intel, the EC said that the new charges are that:

Intel gave computer retailer MediaMarkt substantial rebates for it selling only Intel-based PCs.
Intel paid a manufacturer to delay introducing an AMD range of processors
Intel gave rebates to the same manufacturer for buying all its laptop processors from Intel.

An EC statement says that the new evidence "reinforces the commission's preliminary view that Intel has infringed EU treaty rules on abuse of a dominant position with the aim of excluding its main rival." The US news site Marketwatch quotes David Balto, an antitrust attorney in Washington, and a former Federal Trade Commission policy director, who said: "The complaint documents how Intel has used handcuffs to force manufacturers to use more costly and less efficient products."Intel has eight weeks to reply and can ask for a hearing. If found guilty as charged, Intel may be ordered to alter its behaviour, or pay a fine up to 10 per cent of its $30bn+ revenues. Intel CEO Paul Otellini has said that the worst that can happen is that Intel will have to 'write a cheque'. Intel's lawyer has accused the EC of selective use of evidence.However Japan and Korea have already found Intel guilty of anti-competitive practices, and both the US Federal Trade Commission and the State of New York are also carrying out investigations into Intel's alleged anti-competitive prices.The EC's new charges were announced July 17, on the eve of Intel's 40th birthday. The company was incorporated on July 18th 1968. The information from:www.electronics-in-china.com

EU, UK Clamping Down On Mobile Content S...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:53:38 +0200

EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva reported that a EU-wide investigation into 500 sites offering mobile content found that 80 percent of them needed to be checked further for “suspected breaches of EU consumer laws,” more worrying as 50 percent of them were targeted at children and teens. The breaches range from the more mundane to the serious—including unclear pricing or hidden charges, or not making it clear that consumers were signing up for a subscription service, rather than a one-off purchase. So what next? The EU is apparently going to work with a country’s authorities to hunt out as many rouge sites as they can and ask them to clarify or correct any problems. If they don’t, the site may be fined or shut down. The EU study found that ringtones make up 29 percent of the overall mobile content market in Europe, and valued it in 2007 at around 691 million euros. . Separately in the UK, the country’s premium rate telephone services regulator PhonePayPlus is also cracking down on errant mobile content sellers. Starting immediately, any subscription service that doesn’t allow a consumer to stop easily and quickly will be shut down and not allowed to operate. More proposals to be implemented later this year will try to regulate mobile spam and ensure that consumers get fewer unwanted messages. The regulator puts the 2007/8 mobile premium content market worth at £460 million (US$921 million) . The information from:www.electronics-in-china.com

NFC payments to hit $75 billion in 2013

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:52:52 +0200

The gross transaction value of payments made via NFC contactless technology will exceed $75 billion in 2013 according to telecommunications analysis firm Juniper Research Ltd. (Basingstoke, England). There is a significant opportunity for NFC mobile payment services, chips, phones and supporting services as the market reaches its tipping point over the 2011 to 2013 period, according to Juniper. The firm said NFC would turn the mobile phone into an electronic wallet used for relatively low value purchases such as refreshments, tickets and food. "NFC will achieve traction initially in developed countries and regions, with Japan already leading the way with FeliCa-enabled phones. North America, Western Europe and countries such as Korea, Singapore and Australia are likely to see service take-up," said Howard Wilcox of Juniper, in a statement. In 2009 will limited numbers of NFC devices will be shipped but the market will begin to ramp up from 2010 onwards and by 2013 about 20 percent of mobile phones will possess NFC capability, Juniper asserted. The annual transaction value is set to grow by a factor of five between 2011 and 2013 and the top three regions — Far East & China, North America and Western Europe — will represent nearly 90 percent of the $75 billion annual market in 2013. The information from:www.electronics-in-china.com

Platinum outlook comfortably above $2000...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:51:55 +0200

The Fortis metals monthly says the outlook for platinum is comfortably above $2,000/ounce on new investment demand, higher capital costs stemming from power generators and a looming Cosatu strike in South Africa.The Fortis/VM Group said in its monthly metals report more mining companies were likely to follow Eastern Platinum in installing their own diesel power generators that will add to their capital costs and could involve "new problems" given the high cost of crude oil.Another factor that could support the platinum price in the near term is the fact that South Africa's umbrella trade union Cosatu has called for a general strike on 6 August to protest against job cuts linked to the power crisis in the country.Platinum did not receive the same price support as palladium during June, partly due to concerns over demand growth as diesel vehicles now have an obvious disadvantage compared to gasoline vehicles. This comes as the diesel price is now at a significant premium to gasoline which could lead to a steady fall in diesel passenger car sales in the longer term, said the report.Fortis said supply-side concerns stemming from South Africa's power situation have taken a back seat amidst macro economic concerns, but they have not disappeared. If a power supply crunch is averted in August, the medium term outlook still appears grim.Taking a longer view, platinum will continue to remain well supported for the rest of the year due to the ongoing difficulties facing PGM producers in South Africa.Although both platinum and palladium are at risk of a downturn in the global economy since they are heavily dependent on automobile sales and jewellery demand, platinum prices will likely remain strong as long as Eskom runs the risk of being unable to meet growing power demand.Fortis is of the view that even if Eskom secured the $45bn financing required to build new power stations, the long-term outlook for electricity in South Africa remains bleak for at least the next five years. The information from:www.fashion-accouterment.com

Richemont reports 13 percent sales incre...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:50:53 +0200

Sales for luxury goods company Richemont increased 13 percent in actual exchange rates (20 percent on a constant exchange rate basis) in the first three months of its current fiscal year, including a slight increase in sales in the Americas.

According to an interim management statement released on Wednesday by the Geneva-based company, sales from April to June for its Jewellery Maisons group—which includes the Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels brands—increased 16 percent for the period (25 percent on a constant exchange rate basis), rising from about $1 billion in 2007 to about $1.2 billion in 2008.

Sales for Richemont's watchmakers—which include A. Lange and Sohne, Baume and Mercier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin—increased 13 percent for the period (19 percent on a constant exchange rate basis) to about $658 million, from $582 million in 2007.

When broken down by region, sales figures for the Americas show a 6 percent increase (20 percent on a constant exchange rate basis).

Despite a sluggish Japanese economy, the Asia-Pacific region, buoyed by strong growth in Hong Kong and China, posted the greatest sales gains for the period, jumping 21 percent (35 percent on a constant exchange rate basis), from about $461 million in 2007 to about $559 million in 2008.

In May, Richemont announced details of a restructuring proposal that would separate the group into two entities: a luxury business headquartered in Switzerland and a separate investment vehicle.

According to the statement released on Wednesday, the company is not releasing any further information about the restructuring at this time. The information from:www.fashion-accouterment.com

Silver industry to launch consumer-marke...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:49:52 +0200

The Silver Institute has announced plans for a marketing initiative to increase awareness and encourage consumer purchases of sterling silver jewelry.

Dubbed "The Silver Marketing Initiative" (SMI), the program will educate consumers and the trade press on sterling silver and be a source of marketing information and product news on the metal.

"The consensus of our executive committee is that the time is right to introduce an industry-supported marketing program in the U.S., with the initial focus being on silver jewelry," Silver Institute Executive Director Michael DiRienzo said in a media release.

Marketing and management services firm Michael Barlerin Associates has been appointed as the consultant to the Silver Institute in the development and rollout of the SMI.

"In light of what has been happening to the price of the other noble metals, now is definitely the time for silver jewelry," Barlerin said in the release. "I am also gratified by the response I have already received from key members of the jewelry trade when I told them that SMI was to be launched, and I look forward to discussing mutual opportunities at the JA Show in New York City later this month." The information from:www.fashion-accouterment.com

Apple iPhone 3G unlocked already

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:48:51 +0200

A group from Brazil has managed to unlock Apple's iPhone 3G handset just days after its release.The unlocked iPhone is displayed and demonstrated in an online video on a Portuguese-language news blog.An unlocked iPhone can be used with any Sim card and service provider.IPhone user Bruno MacMasi said in an interview with Gizmodo that the unlocking process involved modifying the Sim hardware so that the International Mobile Subscriber Identity can be overwritten and removed from the original network.A similar process was used to unlock the original iPhone last year.Separately, a group of researchers known as the iPhone Devteam has released the first 'jailbreak' software releases for the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 2.0 software update.The 'jailbreak' term refers to the process of removing the software controls which prohibit users from installing software outside of the iPhone App Store. The group, which has asked not to be linked to directly for bandwidth purposes, is currently offering a software utility which automatically performs the jailbreak process.Unlocked and modified handsets have been an issue ever since Apple first released the iPhone. Users initially were eager to remove the strict controls over installing software and run the handset with other carriers.While the iPhone App Store has allowed for the distribution of third-party applications, there remains a dedicated group of users wishing to run older third-party applications and software which have not been approved for the Store.Apple has attempted to remain relatively neutral on the matter. The company said that, while the jailbreak processes will void the warranty and possibly cause damage to the phone when new updates are installed, no special efforts will be made to deliberately disable or 'brick' hacked iPhones.The information from:www.1topsupplier.com

Wild's increased aseptic ability enables...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:47:38 +0200

Wild has increased its volume capacity for aseptic cold filling for its beverage flavour systems, saying that it can now meet customer requirements for preservative-free mixes even in peak season. Aseptic cold filling is a technology that allows product to be supplied without preservatives to avoid microbiological contamination. It involves separate sterilisation of the product, bottles or cartons, and their closures. The sterilised product is then packaged in a sealed-off sterile environment and the container sealed under aseptic conditions. The German ingredients firm has had aseptic capabilities since 2002 for its flavour systems – that is, semi-finished beverage mixes to which the manufacturer need only add water, sugar and acid. But it has recently added a new aseptic filling line at its plant in Heidelberg; while the company would not disclose what the new capacity is, a spokesperson told FoodNavigator.com that it can now fulfil order requests even between April and August – that is, the warmer season when there tends to be more consumption of beverages. The development is significant since there is a major drive in the industry to meet consumer preferences for products that do not contain preservatives. Mintel’s Global New Products Database lists 2755 new launches in Europe in the last three years of beverage products claiming to be preservative-free. Brands launching preservative-free drinks recently include Los Lunis in Spain, Ockakoya Kyasenok in Russia, San Benedetto in Italy, Almata’s Biopom in France, and Red Bull Simply Cola in Hungary. The spokesperson for Wild said that in the past, flavour systems carried some preservatives so as to give higher microbial safety if the customer wanted to use the container several times. While these small amounts of preservatives did not have to be labelled on the finished product, it was not possible to label the products as being ‘preservative-free’. But because of its aseptic technology use, Wild has found that the addition of preservatives is not necessary for the most part. “If the customer does not ask for a preservative to be added, we do not add it – neither in development nor in production,” said the spokesperson. He added that the developments by Wild are mirrored by developments on the part of its customers over the last 10 to 15 years, which improve microbial safety at their end. For instance, discussions with customers revealed that some are using aseptic technology to take the ingredient mix out of the container, some are keeping the mix in cold storage, and some have expanded their operations to such an extent that they now use the whole container in one go. The customers are still able to re-use the containers without compromising safety, according to Wild. The information from:www.china-food-wholesaler.com

Reebok to make Monopoly shoes

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:46:33 +0200

Toy maker Hasbro Inc. and shoemaker Reebok have teamed up to make a new line of sneakers inspired by the classic board game Monopoly.The shoes feature designs that draw from Monopoly, a 70-year-old board game produced by Parker Brothers, a division of Pawtucket, R.I.-based Hasbro. The game is so named because players try to monopolize ownership of properties and railroads, allowing them to charge “rent” from other players when their game pieces land on the properties.The shoes will be made in sizes for toddlers to adults at prices that range from $40 to $80.Babies ‘R’ Us adds exclusive products Toy retailer Toys “R” Us Inc. said it will offer an exclusive line of baby products and apparel at its Babies “R” Us stores, created by Amy Coe.The 300-piece collection, in stores this month, includes infant furniture, bedding sets, diaper bags, apparel and other products. Coe previously designed a line of children’s bedding and other products for discount retailer Target Corp.Gerald L. Storch, company chairman and chief executive, said in an interview that the line was created in order to put a contemporary spin on baby products with Coe’s bright and modern-looking designs.The information from:www.allforinfant.com

PepsiCo, Starbucks to distribute Tazo Te...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:45:13 +0200

PepsiCo and Starbucks, already partners in a deal to sell bottled Frappucinos, are turning their attention to bottled tea. The two companies plan to give the Tazo brand greater exposure and expand distribution, as sales of ready-to-drink teas grow. Tazo bottled iced tea and juice teas are now sold in Starbucks and other outlets. Starting in mid-October, the bottled teas will be made available nationwide through the PepsiCo bottling system. Under the new deal, Starbucks Corp., PepsiCo Inc. and Unilever will make and sell Tazo drinks, taking advantage of a distribution partnership that was established earlier to sell Lipton ready-to-drink teas. "I think it's a big deal," Beverage Digest editor John Sicher said. "Initially it won't represent a lot of volume, but Tazo is a good brand and will be a good addition to the portfolio." Sales of ready-to-drink teas grew 6.6 percent in the year ended in July, significantly slower than the double-digit growth in the three years before that, according to The Nielsen Co. Sicher said sales of ready-to-drink teas grew more slowly so far this year than last primarily because of the easing in consumer spending, and that tea sales would rebound sharply when the economy improves. Sales of bottled teas give a much-needed boost to PepsiCo's domestic drinks business as U.S. consumers buy fewer soft drinks. Tazo teas, made in Portland, Ore., are seen as a premium product and more healthy by some consumers, Sicher said. PepsiCo and its bigger U.S. drinks rival, The Coca-Cola Co., compete for growth in energy drinks, juices and teas to appeal to health-conscious consumers who want to avoid soft drinks. The Tazo deal follows Coca-Cola's purchase of a 40 percent stake in organic tea maker Honest Tea. Coke paid $43 million for the stake in February, and has the option to buy the rest of the company after three years. Coca-Cola also sells Nestea. Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo and Seattle-based Starbucks have been partners since 1994 when they made a deal to distribute Starbucks' bottled Frappucino, Doubleshot espresso and other bottled drinks.The information from:www.china-food-wholesaler.com

Middleton Doll posts loss, misses stock...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:44:17 +0200

Middleton Doll Co. Inc. said Thursday that it did not have enough funds available to redeem outstanding preferred stock by the required redemption date of July 1, and that it is still seeking financing alternatives to address the issue, including a potential merger or sale.Waukesha-based Middleton Doll, a marketer of consumer products, including collectible dolls, reported that it lost $722,000, or 19 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2008, compared with net losses of $748,000, or 20 cents per share, the year before. Net sales of the consumer products division were $2.6 million, up from $2.3 million a year ago.Middleton Doll -- which has a second operating segment, a real estate investment trust that it is liquidating to finance the redemption of preferred stock -- said consumer products sales grew because the introduction of new clock styles and home decor products generated increased orders for two spring promotional rollouts. The orders offset lower sales by dealers and individual store owners because of the slow economy, said Sal Bando, Middleton Doll's president and CEO.For the six months ended June 30, the company's net loss was $1.5 million, or 40 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $1.6 million, or 42 cents per share, the year before. Consumer products sales increased to $5.1 million from $4.4 million.The information from:www.allforinfant.com

Verizon mistakenly leaks upcoming cell p...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:43:08 +0200

A fuzzy image of a Verizon slide discussing the company's mobile email service shows that the carrier plans to launch several new handsets over the next few months, all of which will support its Mobile Email application. The unannounced Motorola VU30 Rapture appears to be the next to launch, on September 9th, followed by the Samsung U440, LG VX8360, Motorola V6c, and Nokia 7205 later in the year.Verizon's Mobile Email application allows users to access their web-based email directly from their cell phone, with free alerts for incoming mail.The information from:www.electronics-in-china.com

Selecting Safe & Healthful Seafood

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:42:04 +0200

“When chosen carefully, fish is an excellent source of protein, with much less fat and cholesterol than lean meat.”Facts about fishby Linda Knittel

Q. How healthful is fish?

A. Fish is a great source of lean protein and one of the best ways to get a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids, those good fats that protect your heart, support your brain, and keep your cells healthy. However, since our oceans and rivers are not as clean as they once were, not all fish is equally healthy. The tips in this article will help you make safe and healthful seafood choices.

Q. Should I buy wild fish or farmed fish?

A. This is a complex question. The demand for seafood has encouraged many fisheries to catch more fish than our waters can sustainably produce, resulting in diminishing fish stocks and damage to the ecosystem. For that reason, fish farming seems a logical solution. However, not all farmed fish are thought to be healthy. For example, farmed salmon has been shown to contain chemical pollutants. On the other hand, farm-raised trout, catfish, shrimp, striped bass, sturgeon, Artic char, and flounder are healthy and sustainable choices. To help you make educated choices, ask your seafood supplier where the fish came from and how it was caught.

Q. How do I select seafood?

A. When chosen carefully, fish is an excellent source of protein, with much less fat and cholesterol than lean meat. Plus, fish is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease, lower high cholesterol, ease arthritis, and improve mood. Follow these tips when shopping for fish:

Look for the “Seafood Safe” label, which indicates that the item is tested regularly for PCBs and mercury and that it meets quality-assurance guidelines for that species. Visit www.seafoodsafe.com for a list of participating fish distributors.
Know that fish high on the food chain such as swordfish, shark, tuna, king mackerel, and lobster may contain higher levels of contaminants. Limit eating canned tuna to once a month.
If you are not sure about a fish don’t eat it.

Q. What looks good?

When buying fish, choose firm, shiny flesh that will spring back when touched.
Fish should have only a mild smell, like seawater, but not a strong fishy odor.
Shellfish, such as oysters, clams, and mussels, must be alive when purchased.
Lobsters and crabs should be alive or frozen when purchased.
Shrimp are usually frozen and often precooked. Look for a full shell and firm meat.
Frozen fish is a good choice, as freezing keeps water inside fish tissues, thus preserving juices and maximizing flavor and texture when cooked. Frozen fish should be somewhat shiny and have no white freezer-burn spots.

The information from:www.china-food-wholesaler.com

Polo Ralph Lauren to launch shopping by...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:40:32 +0200

Is the tech-savvy fashionista ready to shop by mobile phone? Polo Ralph Lauren Corp hopes so.Polo is the first luxury retailer to launch a mobile commerce site, hoping to stay ahead of a trend that is making its way from Asia to the United States, said David Lauren, senior vice president of advertising and son of designer and Chief Executive Ralph Lauren.Using phones to buy items such as train tickets or products in vending machines is commonplace in Japan, but the trend has yet to catch on in the United States. "We recognize that in America this is going after somebody who is more comfortable with technology," Lauren told Reuters. "The truth is that in other countries, it's becoming a part of their culture. The trend is coming, and as a fashion company it's very important to identify trends and get ahead of them."While early adopters of new technologies are often young, Lauren said the move is not aimed at a specific age group."This is about someone who's interested in our brand and interested in technology, and wherever the two meet, that's what's appropriate," Lauren said.Polo, with its higher-end customers, has used cautious inventory management to outperform other apparel makers that have been hurt by a deteriorating U.S. economy. The apparel maker will begin placing special codes in print ads, mailings and store windows along with its sponsorship of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, which begins later this month.Shoppers can download special software to camera-phones to scan the codes and be directed to a phone-friendly version of a Ralph Lauren website, where they can shop, watch tennis videos and read company content.Lauren declined to say how much the company invested in the new technology or its anticipated sales impact.Cell phones with preinstalled code-readers should come to market within a year, Lauren said. The information from:www.electronics-in-china.com

Mattel seeks nearly $2B in fight over Br...

uebtoosui — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:39:33 +0200

A lawyer for Mattel Inc. says the maker of pouty-lipped Bratz dolls owes Mattel nearly $2 billion for stealing its conceptual drawings for the urban-influenced toys. Mattel attorney John Quinn made the claim Wednesday during closing arguments in the damages phase of a federal copyright infringement lawsuit.

The jury ruled last month in the first phase of the trial that the designer of MGA Entertainment Inc.’s Bratz dolls, Carter Bryant, came up with the Bratz concept while working for Mattel.

The jury also found that the Los Angeles-based MGA aided in the breach of contract and its chief executive officer, Isaac Larian, played a role in the deal. The information from:www.allforinfant.com