Brand Index: Blackberry’s new model failed to stem its brand decline August 13, 2013 THERE was a spike for BlackBerry on Twitter on Monday with 41 per cent of the UK Twitter population exposed to messages about the brand. They were of course hearing the news that the mobile phone manufacturer is setting up a committee to explore potential business model options, including selling off the company. So what [...]
Hon Hai’s second quarter profit tops forecasts but margins tough August 13, 2013 TAIWAN’S Hon Hai Precision Industry is trying to reduce its reliance on Apple, it said yesterday, and is turning its focus to businesses ranging from software development to e-commerce. Hon Hai said its net profit rose 35 per cent to T$16.98bn (£366.7m) last quarter from a year earlier. Margins are still under pressure, however. The [...]
BlackBerry to explore strategic options – including a possible sale August 12, 2013 BlackBerry has said announced that its board has formed a special committee to explore its strategic alternatives to enhance value and increase scale – including the possibility of a sale (release). Rumours that the phone company was to go private have been circulating for month, and shares jumped last week after sources reportedly said the [...]
South Koreans concerned over Samsung ruling August 5, 2013 THE SOUTH Korean government yesterday expressed concerns about the decision by the United States to overrule a sales ban of some Apple models. The Obama administration vetoed a US trade panel’s ban on the import and sale of some older iPhones and iPads, reversing a ruling that had favoured South Korea’s Samsung Electronics over Apple [...]
Obama reverses import ban on Apple products August 4, 2013 THE Obama administration has overturned a US trade panel’s ban on the sale of some older iPhones and iPads, reversing a ruling that had favoured Samsung Electronics over Apple in their long-running patent battles. The US International Trade Commission in June banned the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and [...]
iPhone discounts help Apple in battle for smartphone market July 28, 2013 APPLE is regaining ground in the battle for control of the UK smartphone market after cutting the cost of its iPhone 4, according to research released today. Kantar Worldpanel ComTech found that almost a third of British purchasers chose products running Apple’s iOS software in the three months to June 2013, up five per [...]
Why we musn’t fear the rise of emerging market state-backed champions July 28, 2013 WHAT do Airbus, Michelin, Hyundai, NEC, Samsung, Singapore Airlines, Volkswagen, and LG have in common? They all started life as national champions, companies supported by the state while their countries emerged from the ravages of war. Although advanced economies have rightly shifted away from the model, the achievements of these firms in the global marketplace [...]
Battle of the online giants: Why Facebook continues to surprise its many critics July 25, 2013 BEFORE Facebook surprised the market with a 53 per cent rise in second quarter revenues to $1.8bn (£1.2bn), the social network had had a wretched few months. It was forced to admit it hands data to the US National Security Agency – stirring up privacy concerns. In May, Nissan and Nationwide pulled ads after they [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 24 July 2013 July 23, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Ex-HSBC banker in frame for RBS job Mark McCombe, a veteran banker with 20 years experience at HSBC, has emerged as the leading external candidate to be the next chief executive of RBS according to people close to the process. Mr McCombe, a Briton who has spent the past year running the Asian [...]
Imagination Tech slumps July 23, 2013 SHARES in microchip designer Imagination Technologies tumbled more than 11 per cent to 250.7p yesterday on fears that its growth could be slowing. Imagination Tech has lost out to Arm as a key supplier for Samsung’s new Exynos 5 Octa chip, which prompted investors to dump the stock. But analysts at Numis said the share [...]