The Taiwanese HTC opens new front in the war of patents that Apple opposes including the system developed by Google Android. The number two mobile phone in Asia filed a complaint against Apple in the U.S. yesterday, before a court of Delaware, and is putting together a file with the U.S. International Trade Commission. HTC believes that the iPhone, iPod and Mac computers violent nine patents that Google has given use to its partner in Taiwan last week. "HTC will continue to protect their patented inventions against counterfeit Apple," warned Grace Lei, the legal adviser to HTC.
The Cupertino company immediately responded: "We think competition is healthy, but competitors must create their own original technology, rather than stealing ours," said Kristin Huguet, spokeswoman for Apple.Apple has already launched similar legal offensive to defend its patents, accusing the manufacturers of phones running Android, including HTC and Samsung, have copied its iPhone.
This new legal battle occurs in the middle of dispute between Apple and Samsung in several courts around the world. The South Korean giant has had to suspend sales of its new Galaxy Tab tablet in Australia and Germany following a complaint filed by Apple that accuses him of having copied the design for the iPad. Samsung also attacked Apple patent on the use of telecommunications. According to local press, the South Korean was about to launch a tablet on Windows, the operating system from Microsoft, to reduce its dependence vis-à-vis the Android system.
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A work of art? A scupture? A monument? Attraction? Orbit wants it all at once. Red steel tower rising slowly in the sky Olympic Park East London thanks to the play of the cranes that circumvent the laws of gravity and set pieces that weigh less than 2.5 tonnes each. The London Olympics, which begin July 27, 2012, wanted their icon. It is made of red steel. That's at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889 as the Eiffel Tower was built …
Nestled between the Olympic Stadium and the swimming pool, the work designed by Anish Kapoor, a British artist of Indian origin, will be the symbol of the London Games. The artist, whose recent work Monumenta at the Grand Palais in Paris, has conquered the public, could build this new project with Lakshmi Mittal, the chairman of ArcelorMittal.The steel giant from an original way and in the circle of second-tier sponsors of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Cost of the adventure: 16 million pounds (about 18 million euros) for Arcelor Mittal, London, adding 3 million pounds.
A unique perspective
On site, a dozen people work to build, despite the often strong wind blowing from the Thames estuary, the giant Meccano imposes no engineer would have imagined. The sculpture, made of red tubular steel elements, already stands at over 80 meters high and it must reach 115 meters. It will weigh 1,400 tons. When everything is finished, an elevator will climb onto a platform boldly eccentric.The energetic can go down via a silver staircase winding around the tower.
The tower would house a restaurant and she will, when the Games are over, a unique perspective on the new district of east London that is emerging today. As the streets that Jack the Ripper haunted past are still among the poorest in London. The Olympics will enable a large-scale urban renewal. New life for London's East End which is the symbol of steel.
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Jul
16
The world champion loves yogurt tracks. Especially when it comes to change its scope of activity or distribution channels. In 2002, he landed in cosmetics. Eight years later, he experimented with home delivery and "customization" of its Evian bottled water. With Danone Activia Bar-based, it pushes even further the "brand stretching" (extension of its brands), which it is Champion with the various versions of its flagship product (to be paid to drink …).
Here, the yogurt came directly from the factory-Littry Danone Molay, Normandy. They are served in pots of 80, 150 or 250 g. You can buy classic or glazed, with a score of "toppings" (fruits, chocolate chips, cereal …). Two other outlets are also tested in Paris, a kiosk at the Galeries Lafayette and a "corner" in a pasta bar eighteenth arrondissement, Nooyi."These pilots are aimed at developing a new range of commercial catering, says Alain Gauthron, Director of Professional Danone, a subsidiary of Danone France Fresh Products. We give ourselves a year and a dozen stores to test the concept. "
A separate activity
In Rosny 2, one of the busiest shopping centers in France, where its competitors are called Haagen Dazs, Paul and Pomme de Pain, the Danone Bar displays relatively accessible price (from 2.20 euros the potty ). "If it works, we can replicate this type of situation in other shopping centers," predicts Alain Gauthron.
The facts are simple. If the yogurt has found its place in canteens or in hospitals, it has less popular at the restaurant where only one in eight integrates its meal. Yet the French are among the largest consumers of yogurt."When outside, the consumer wants a different experience than it may have at home," said Alain Gauthron, including frozen yogurt are less calories than ice cream.
The idea of yogurt bars comes from Spain, home of Daniel Carasso. On the occasion of 90 years the group in 2009, "Danone casa" was born in Barcelona, both museum and store. Eight shops have followed.
In France, the starting point is different. "This will not only be a vector image, but a new activity, says Alain Gauthron. The whole business model is to build. "Shops or corners, own stores or franchises, Danone is given time to develop his concept. He bets first on its brand. "When we say Danone, everyone thinks of the yogurt.It is a very important asset when starting from scratch, "says Alain Gauthron.
The idea was matured by the "innovation incubator" Danone's Fresh Produce, a team of researchers, engineers, marketing specialists working on projects with two, three or four years. Then, a "lab" (test) was set up size. This is the "method Danone" to deploy new concepts.
"The project of the PS does not the road." The essayist Alain Minc does not beat around the bush to try the program of the Socialist Party should he win the presidential election in 2012.
In addition to his friendship with Martine Aubry, Alain Minc believes that this project is "totally unsuited to the economic situation." "This is a project that was modern in 1981!, Says in an interview with the daily Le Parisien / Today in France. Youth employment is the world of yesterday. We can not, with the blade of the debt so close to our neck, having a Keynesian program. " The essayist and remember that "debt represents 80% of our gross domestic product. 20% is what he had to do to end the crisis. The remaining 60% are the result of thirty years of accumulated cowardice, left and right wing. "
Alain Minc goes even further in his indictment.He said a victory for the Socialist Party in 2012 would be penalized by financial markets. "The application of the socialist project would lose to France's 'AAA'," says Alain Minc. If for now the rating agencies have confirmed the rating of the country, it could be questioned if France did not take more drastic measures to reduce its deficit.
Lagarde IMF: "A decisive push Sarkozy"
Among the various proposals of the PS, Alain Minc attacks the merger of the income tax and social contribution no fax cash advance. It considers the measure "extremely devastating for the middle class. I have long been convinced that all European countries should increase VAT by 2%. It will not escape, "said he.
Another topic discussed: compensation of top managers.While Nicolas Sarkozy and François Fillon supported the measure to overtax Xavier Bertrand and Jean-Francois Cope was cautious, Alain Minc "tearing his hair" when he sees the boss of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, will reach 10 million euros for fiscal 2010. "The selfishness of the ruling classes should encourage them to be more moderate in terms of pay. I persist and sign: we must know to practice self-regulation, "says he.
On the euro, Alain Minc said the German attitude to save Greece "intelligently selfish." "If Germany was up to the Deutschmark, it would be in recession," said he.
Finally, he welcomed the appointment of Christine Lagarde to head the International Monetary Fund."It's miraculous! Obviously there was a decisive push to Sarkozy, "he enthuses.
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Remote loosen a person trapped in an elevator, detect anomalies before the user being aware of the malfunction, reprogram a remote device according to business needs … Otis is launching its "Elite Service" in test last year: 23,000 units are already equipped in the world, including 1200 in France.
With this kind of innovation, the U.S. manufacturer of elevators installed in 200 countries to strengthen its position as world leader. "We are number one in front of Schindler and Kone and ThyssenKrupp are elbow to elbow, said Bruno Grob, President of the Africa, Northern Europe and East Otis.Our market share for new lifts to 25% and we ensure the maintenance of 1.7 million units. "
The company, which also sells escalators and automatic doors, completed last year a turnover close to EUR 8.4 billion, down 2% compared to 2009. "The crisis we have suffered in the United States or in countries of southern Europe such as Spain, Greece and Portugal," says Bruno Grob. However, profit before tax increased by 5% to almost $ 2.6 billion. Listed subsidiary of Wall Street United Technologies Corporation (Carrier air conditioning, aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney …), Otis does not disclose a target for the current year.
France, a key market
The company did not, however, interest in resting on its laurels, as the business evolves lifts at high speeds.In recent years, China has become the world's largest market for new aircraft. "Over 600,000 sales worldwide this year, 400,000 will be in China, ahead Bruno Grob. We are also a number there and expect to install 75,000 units this year. "The Middle Kingdom is already generating just under 10% of the sales group based in Connecticut.
The United States remains however the most important country for Otis (20% of sales) for the maintenance market is active. A few weeks ago, the brand was chosen to manage the fleet of 68 elevators in the Empire State Building in New York. A contract of $ 80 million. Fortunately, since the fall of residential real estate, sales of new equipment were down 50% in the U.S..
France is also a key country for the group, which owns a factory that employs 600 full lifts people Gien, a component in Argenteuil site and the European distribution center for spare parts at Roissy. The subsidiary hex weighs quite heavy in the accounts: in 2010, it achieved a turnover of 1.16 billion euros. Good health in recent years is fueled by law SAE, which provided a first tranche of work before the end of 2010 to improve the safety of elevators.
So many reasons why our countrymen are so well represented at the head of the company. "The current president, Didier Michaud-Daniel is French and one of its ten most important contributors, six are French," said Bruno Grob.
No more Nokia. The world's number one telephone on Tuesday released an alert on its results. The restructuring announcements in recent months have failed to rectify the accounts.
The turnover of its phone division will be "substantially" lower than the initial forecast of between 6.1 and 6.6 billion euros for the second quarter. Volumes and average selling prices of the phones are below expectations. The operating margin will be, too, much lower than the previously announced range (6 to 9%). It could be "close to the equilibrium point (zero), predicted the group. For the record, the Apple flirts with 42%.
Nokia also believes "it is more appropriate to provide annual targets for 2011."Leaving the field of speculations open: Would it be so bad? However, the group plans to provide quarterly forecasts and annual targets "when circumstances permit."
"The strategic transition periods are difficult," Elop justified. Called into action last September, the former Microsoft, the first foreigner to head the Finnish group, failed to stem the loss of market share in the group. After an initial phase, punctuated by an overhaul of management and a mea culpa General Company for recognizing the delay in smartphones, the first steps have been taken No teletrack payday loans. No effect yet.
Four years late
Nokia announced it would abandon its gradual Symbian operating system for the Microsoft Windows phone.However, "the first Nokia product with Windows Phone to be launched in the fourth quarter," Stephen Elop said Tuesday. Not only does it arrive on the market a year after the first Windows phone, but in addition, this system has, so far, not met with great commercial success. In announcing the alliance, Nokia and Microsoft, Google's boss had also joked, "Two turkeys will not make an eagle." This does not Nokia to build on this progress to return to the smartphone market. It is also imperative to send back the average selling price of its phones to stop the erosion of margins.
Since joining Nokia, Stephen Elop has been repeatedly stressed the need to change strategy. The Group's business challenges are no secret to anyone.This revised outlook 2011 has been very badly received by the markets which saw a further sign of wavering in management. On Tuesday, the stock has lost 17.53% to 4.75 euros. Since 2007 and the arrival of the iPhone on the market, it sold 83%.
Despite his cheerful voice, that the bitterness that prevails. After 17 years of work to earn temporary caps in many societies, Sylvie Trouillet displays its ras-le-bol without wearing gloves. "The interim, it became a battle every day," she plague. The latest figures from job center, which show an improvement of temporary employment from 14% in one year, let this marble forties. His only concern: "The precarious status of the Interim," which in her opinion, rises to a crescendo.This observation led him to create the National Association of long-term acting (Anild), to defend the rights of these workers.
Unemployed since the beginning of the year except for a mission of "technical secretary" of three weeks in an estate agency that winter, the executive assistant training roundly on a sector that "has profoundly deteriorated over last twenty years. " After two CDI punctuated redundancies, first in a shoe wholesaler, then to a company renovating the building, she pushed for the first time the door of a temporary agency in 1994. She is 26 years."At the time, there was no support or unemployment benefits, it should work right away." In the process, she landed her first mission at France Telecom: a post of Assistant Director of site Val de Fontenay, near Paris.
From 1990 to 2001, "a blessed time of the gods"
Nestle to Air France, through the Savings Bank, EDF, the National Federation of jewelers, etc.. The missions are linked together, "often of long duration, three to six months." "The phone rang regularly," recalls she, calling the period from early 1990 until 2001, "blessed by the gods." Throughout the experiments, "I climbed the ladder from secretary to become commercial or sténodacylo framework," adds Sylvia proudly."With the interim, my salary has also increased from the minimum wage paid to 3,000 euros per month," connects the daughter of butchers, who then receives the temporary work as a springboard. Claiming a status of "interim career, by choice," she does not think in this context, to move towards a CDD or CDI.
But in 2001, the "gods" are less forgiving. The "changeover" to mark the beginning of a Sylvie "period of uncertainty" in the chain of missions pay day advance. "Suddenly, with this first crisis, the candidates have poured into the agencies," in which "human relations" were, she said, reduced to a trickle. "The agencies were no longer account for our luggage to our versatility and experience as before, she does most valued our résumé," Sylvie annoyed. "We proposed missions under-qualified, sometimes without regard to our training.And if they refused, we were told that there were thirty people behind. "Consequence of the crisis that followed the bursting of the dotcom bubble, pushing companies to drastically reduce their costs and staffing. For Sylvie, agencies, anxious to maintain their contracts with their corporate partners, then stopped "selling" their acting properly.
The Interim, "an unemployed sleep"
And according to him, the situation has further deteriorated since the last crisis. A real gap has widened particularly between "acting, which is not entitled to RTT, or tickets to restaurants" and "owner" analysis does."Once, a colleague told me anyway, an interim president, is an unemployed worker to sleep!" Without the assurance of finding work every time, like many self-employed Sylvie concedes that his private and social life has taken a hit: "I'm single, childless, and have not taken a vacation since 1982," she whispered.
In 2005, while unemployment and "free allocation", Sylvia suffers a period of great distress. "The phone rang again I was a nervous wreck.Sometimes I had to settle for a glass of milk and a biscuit a day. "It will take the opportunity of a mission at Carrefour to put an end to this rough patch and regain morale.
With Anild its association founded in January with a friend acting, Sylvie hopes to "raise awareness among agencies, public opinion and government" in the evolution of temporary work, especially for the 2012 presidential election. Only fifteen members have so far joined its ranks. Although many in comparison "of more than 800,000 temporary" that make up the market. But she said many people have already made contact. Besides his commitment, Sylvie is looking for work. Meanwhile, as always, that "the phone rings."
On Wednesday, red dominates the financial markets of the Asia-Pacific. No big worry, however, the observed declines are not so high that early in the week. The downward trend continues and background, like the Nikkei, which fell by 0.42% at 9437.04 points and the broader Topix index, which bends from 0.17% to 817.80 points. The crisis of European debt remains in the minds of investors even if the concerns seem to fade a little. Last night, Wall Street ended the session down slightly too.
In China, same atmosphere. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong dropped 0.55% to 22,604.76 points. Note that the action of the Swiss giant Glencore commodities showed a decline of 2.8% for its first day of listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, following its introduction to the London Stock Exchange where he finished in small decline. In Shanghai, the CSI yields more timidly 0.13% to 3022.36 points.India and its main BSE index down 0.50% to 17,921.56 points. And in Singapore, the Straits Times down 0.39% at 3100.90 points.
In Australia, the red is darker: the S & P / ASX retrograde from 0.90% to 4587 points. Its neighbor New Zealand succeeds him to climb into the green, clawing 0.14% to 3564.44 points.
The decline in oil, profit taking
Oil prices were trending lower Wednesday in electronic trading in Asia, due to a decline in energy demand in the U.S. and profit taking, analysts said. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery yielded 57 cents to 99.02 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for delivery the same abandoned 82 cents to 111.71 dollars."Investors seem to take their profits at the approach of a long weekend in the U.S. market," said Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, referring to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday the United States.
Each has experienced: it is always extremely difficult to move from average to a respectable level of excellence, whether you are a pianist or a tennis player. The same is true for nations attain the status of "rich country" is not a foregone conclusion. Even when recording a growth of 10% per annum, and for three decades, which has enabled the Chinese to multiply their individual standard of living in a little over a generation.
Economic development is certainly not an exact science, but the trees do not ascend to heaven. Even in the jungle of state capitalism. There is no example in history where the growing disheveled inflected not only from a certain stage.By examining the career of some forty countries since the Second World War, Barry Eichengreen, Donghyun Kwanho Shin Park and discovered that the expansion slows inexorably past the threshold of 16,740 dollars to the GDP (gross domestic product) per capita. Anxious to establish historical comparisons, the three economists have reduced all data in constant currency (dollars at 2005 prices). Their study is published by the NBER (When Fast Growing Economies Slow Down: International Evidence and Implications for China).
This law, the French and their European neighbors have suffered in the early 1970s. In France, 1973 has been the hinge, GDP individual having reached 16,904 dollars. Over the past seven years – the reign of De Gaulle and Pompidou – per capita growth was galloping at a rate of 4.6%.She fell to 2.2% during the seven-year following that of Valery Giscard d'Estaing, a decrease of 2.4% of scheme. The United States had known since 1968 a reversal of the same nature and magnitude slightly higher (2.5%, according to calculations by three economists).
This break in France coincided with the first oil shock, which our countrymen seem to have still not delivered. Since then, it has ceased to lament the state of "crisis". The French have not realized that they had recently experienced a "golden age a quarter century of rapid growth inaugurated by the Marshall Plan and the postwar recovery," said Barry Eichengreen and his two confreres . Fourastie what John called the "Thirty Glorious Years".
China has a number of vulnerabilities
The scenario is in reality always the same: the reconstruction periods are marked by exceptional productivity gains.They do not constitute a sustainable standard. Farmworkers become industrial country imports the new technologies which increase its effectiveness. But once this revenue exhausted, we must innovate and find other vectors of prosperity. Furthermore the threshold of 16,740 dollars, all three economists put forward another concept: things become more difficult when a country obtains a level equivalent to 57% of GDP in the most advanced economy, one that portrays "on the technological frontier "(the United States in this case).
For its part, China still seems quite distant from these two criteria, especially the second (the Chinese GDP was only 19.7% that of the U.S. in 2007). But should it maintain its annual rate of 10%, it would affect the level of fateful 16,740 dollars per capita in 2014. The danger zone is reached in just three years.Barry Eichengreen prognostic so that "a significant slowdown in Chinese growth is imminent."
It is even more positive that China presents to him a number of vulnerabilities, making the course more difficult to cross than others. The observation of the forty countries studied shows that the transition is particularly difficult for a country to an authoritarian political regime, the industrial workforce is over 20% of the workforce and has a weak currency. Korea offers the previous "one centered on manufacturing exports and helped by an undervalued currency, with a consequent sharp fall in its expansion in the 1990s, culminating in the 1997 financial crisis.
Brazil is a land of opportunity
The study envisages a significant shift for China's annual growth would average between 6.1% and 7% over the decade, and would fall another notch (5% to 6.2% between 2021 and 2030 ). Barry Eichengreen believes that "Chinese authorities are convinced that a slowdown will intervene." Beijing seems sincere when he sets a target of 7% annual growth for the five-year plan 2011-2015.
The new emphasis on domestic demand and services, instead of all bet on the industry and export, is designed to circumvent the curse that threatens the country catch up. Many of them never get out of the "middle income trap" (around 16,500 dollars) for lack of a successful transformation.What they think the French have managed to "obtain the status of high-income countries" and since 1973 the GDP per capita has more than doubled. However, this is not the case in Latin America, said Barry Eichengreen. "Brazil is a country of the future and will remain" in the words attributed to General de Gaulle in the 1960s.
The day after a jump of 2.46% which allowed the Cac 40 to exceed the 4000 points, the index should take a break this Thursday, though the trend remains positive: last night Wall Street ended sharply higher and highest in three years, supported by the technology sector, and this morning, Asian markets are doing well. Around 8:40, the Cac idnices futures advance of 0.64%.
Side currency, the euro continues to rise inexorably. This morning, it still takes 0.32% and 1.4568 dollar rating, a level not seen since December 2009. The next resistance is at $ 1.46. On the commodity front, oil flies: the classes were still on the upside this morning, boosted by gains on Wall Street the previous day. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for June delivery took 53 cents to 111.98 dollars.That of Brent North Sea crude for June delivery gained 38 cents to 124.23 dollars. Wednesday, the price of a barrel of oil jumped more than three dollars in New York, under the effect of an unexpected fall in stocks of petroleum products in the United States and a sharp weakening of the dollar.
On Thursday, the economic program, we will now German Ifo barometer at 10 am, followed very investors.United States, the traditional weekly claims for unemployment benefits fall to 14.30, then 16 hours, the composite indicator of economic activity will be unveiled in March, and the figure very important activity in the region Philadelphia in April.
Sodexo more optimistic
Side values, it was discovered this morning that Sodexo has revised upwards its forecast for annual revenue: the world's second largest catering, Compass now thought behind achieving organic growth for 2010-2011 to around 4.5 % so far it expects a growth of 3 to 4%.
Publicis publishes this morning an organic growth of 6.5% over this period to 1.286 billion euros, against 3.1 in the first quarter of 2010 and the chairman of Publicis, Maurice Lévy anticipates that 2011 will be "good or very good. "
The wine and spirits group Remy Cointreau said Thursday sales for its fiscal year 2010-2011 (ending March) up 12.4% to 908 million euros, with demand still buoyant for its cognacs, particularly in Asia.
Last night was revealed turnover of Accor hotel group has seen its business grow by 5.8% in the first quarter and remains confident in the continued recovery in the hotel cycle in 2011. Turnover totaled 1.354 billion euros in first quarter (+5.5% organic) with respect to 1 payday loans in one hour.359 billion provided by Reuters.
Plastic Omnium, whose sales grew more than 36% in the first quarter, estimates that its activity should remain good in the second quarter due to continued strong global automotive production.
The builder Beneteau yachts engaged in a development plan, has reduced its operating loss in the first half of 2010/11 and expects a 62% jump in net throughout the year.
APRR, whose activity increased by 4.1% in the first quarter, expects a less favorable trend in the second quarter mainly due to higher fuel prices could influence car traffic and weight heavy.
Annual revenues of Remy Cointreau and quarterly results from Plastic Omnium are still awaited.
Alstom builds a joint venture in China
The French group Alstom and China's Shanghai Electric together through the creation of a joint venture their boilers from coal, creating the market leader.
Eiffage debt is not a concern, said in an interview with Les Echos published on Thursday the chief delegate of the construction group and concessions, but stressed that the objective was to reduce the debt 300 to 400,000,000 for each of the years 2011 and 2012.
Safran will hold a general meeting at 10 am during which shareholders must appoint Jean-Paul Herteman a second term and appoint the CEO, while Vivendi will be held at 10:30.Jean-Bernard Levy, "Vivendi saw a major turning point" means the Chief Executive has explained to Le Figaro in an interview the group's strategic direction.
That of Schneider Electric is at 15 hours. Yesterday the group reported turnover up 26.5% in the first quarter to 4.94 billion euros and confirmed its objectives of growth and profit for the year 2011. According to its chief executive Jean-Pascal Tricoire, interviewed by Le Figaro, there are no talks with U.S. giant Tyco. Bouygues finally start his own at 15:30.
Meanwhile, technology stocks, widely acclaimed yesterday, should still be viewed on Thursday. The record results from Intel, the giant high-tech, support the entire sector in the world.
The Director General of the transatlantic exchange operator NYSE Euronext, Duncan Niederauer, on Wednesday defended its proposed merger with Deutsche Börse, the finding most relevant to the strategic plan a takeover by Nasdaq and the ICE documentation of decommissioning.
After-hours trading, we take note of the quarterly results from Michelin, Boiron and BioMérieux.