Archive for the ‘technology’ Category

Orange launches into the low-cost counter for Free

July 29, 2011 - 8:24 am Comments Off

After Bouygues Telecom and SFR, it is the turn of France Telecom to engage in the battle of the low-cost mobile phone with a new brand, Sosh. The announcement, made in conjunction with the presentation of interim results of the group, aims to address "the intensity of competition" and prepare "the arrival of the mobile Free," according to the admission of the CEO France Telecom, Stéphane Richard.

Sosh will mark "all digital", only sold on the Internet. If have to wait until September for details and more particularly the rates, Stéphane Richard said it would be a "soft offer, without commitment," which will decline "two kinds of attractive packages in price ", available with and without mobile terminal.Sosh, whose name is "a nod to the term" social network ", wants to build on social networks and user communities, said Stéphane Richard. It offers a low-cost but not low value. "

With this brand, France Telecom follows the lead of its competitors. SFR was the first to lead the way in June 2010 with its "economic advantage". The operator proposed a package on average 10 to 20% cheaper if the customer subscribing or purchasing retaining also his mobile. A year later, at the launch packages "Square", SFR explained that 15% of subscriptions were dry, that is to say without a telephone.

In early July, Bouygues Telecom has taken a step forward in the world of low-cost brand by launching the first low cost of a large operator.The two packages of "B & You" (our editions of July 5) are attractive, for example, 24.9 euros per month for calls, SMS, MMS and unlimited Wi-Fi 24/24, but that a terminal it is associated.

Reduce subsidies

The recent popularity of telecommunications operators for low-cost offers several origins and first of all the expected arrival of Free, renowned for its ability to break the established codes. Whereas in 2012, its competitors are afraid to see him land in October 2011, with rates very low, just like what he has done over the Internet, with the first offers to 29.99 euros. There is also growing competition from virtual operators (MVNO).Finally, the increase in the price of the terminals has also forced the operators to review their business model.

Until now, to lure new customers or retain old, operators put forward the phones heavily subsidized. But the development of smartphones has changed the situation, with the arrival on the market for phones with more than 600 euros 149 euros … sold by subscription.

If operators and manufacturers refuse to disclose the sale price of "professional" and therefore the exact amount of the grant, it is the secret that the cost of acquiring new customers is a clear tendency to increase.The development offers low-cost in telephony, which are essentially free subscription offers mobile, could however not be sufficient to reverse the trend.

Consumers, especially the French are, by the admission of Stéphane Richard, very attached to offers of renewal.

Faurecia is reviewing all its objectives on the rise

July 26, 2011 - 1:04 pm Comments Off

Faurecia exceeds its own goals. The automotive supplier announced Tuesday an operating profit (EBIT) up 57% to 340 million euros, giving a margin of 4.2% against 3.2% a year earlier. Net income group share jumped from 82% to 185.8 million euros. The specialist for exhaust systems and car seats, including the manufacturer PSA holds 57.4% stake, has also made the period a consolidated turnover of 8.15 billion euros in the first six months of year, an increase of 19.4%.

"With the strong growth recorded by the group in the first half and improved profitability, Faurecia is now a year ahead of its business plan 2010-2014 presented in June 2010", said the equipment in a statement.

Massive investments outside Europe

In this context, the overall objectives of the group are revised upwards.Faurecia, which estimates that growth "should remain strong in the second half in all regions", is a consolidated revenue of between 15.7 and 15.9 billion euros, against 14.8-15300000000 expected so far, an increase of 13.8% to 15.2% over 2010. Incidentally, the group refines upwards its target of operating profit in the range from 620 to 650 million euros, against a previous range from 580 to 640 million.

Yann Delabrière, CEO of Faurecia, said Tuesday during a presentation to analysts that commodities do not constitute a risk to the second half.

To achieve these results, Faurecia is at 450 million its investment objective for this year, against an initial assumption of 350 million.The effort will be concentrated in low-cost countries where investments will increase by 89% against 16% for countries where the cost base is higher. During the presentation of its strategic plan in June 2010, the OEM had also set a goal of doubling the share of sales outside Europe that carries 42% within five years, against 23% in 2009. In the first half, the share of sales generated outside of Europe had already reached 34%. Yann Delabrière announced that the share of sales outside Europe should strive for 50% of the objectives of the new plan in 2015 to be unveiled in November.

The stock market punishes

In a presentation to analysts, Faurecia said to expect in 2011 a new record in terms of new contracts expected between 13 and 14 billion euros, against 13.1 billion in 2010.According to Yann Delabrière, the group would continue to study small acquisitions to strengthen its technology portfolio, but the priority of the moment was clear to organic growth.

"The results are in line with consensus," said JP Morgan Cazenove soberly in a note. "The EBIT forecast is revised up slightly, but remains in line with consensus, while the increase in investment spending reduces the cash flow outlook," says the broker. Indeed, Faurecia has revised down to 100 million euros its forecast net cash flow in 2011, against 200 million euros expected so far.

It is this last point that holds the attention of investors on Tuesday at the Paris Bourse. In early trade, the title Faurecia drops 1.55% to 29.87 euros in a market up 0.55%.

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Triple expansion plan to calm markets

July 23, 2011 - 4:12 pm Comments Off

EU leaders Thursday night put on the table a series of measures to help Greece, but also to convince that there is solidarity in the euro area payday advance lender.

Save Greece

Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank on Thursday. Photo credits: Georges Gobet / AFP

Fillon wants to tax companies that pay too bosses

June 18, 2011 - 12:20 pm Comments Off

Overtax businesses too generous with their leaders. The idea was launched by Prime Minister Francois Fillon in an interview published Saturday in Nice Matin: "With the government, I think about a device that is to overtax the companies issuing exorbitant fees."

The head of government is responding to the proposal of Xavier Bertrand, Minister of Labour and Employment, to "tax" or "frame" the "extravagant salaries." It lampooned in an interview published Thursday by Les Echos code of conduct drawn up on the subject of big salaries. "Write a code of conduct is good. The enforcement is better, "he said. Considering that some large companies did not comply with these principles, the Minister has threatened to legislate on the issue.

Shocked by some earnings

In Nice Matin, François Fillon rejects such an approach in trying to punish companies through a tax rather than the bosses through a ceiling unsurpassable. If it says "shocked" by some remuneration of senior executives, the Prime Minister "not [believe] not the regulation of wages for some totally disconnected from economic reality of the business and wage negotiations." However, he called the companies to regulate themselves. If they do not, the government will make decisions, he added.

The salaries of officers of the CAC 40 rose 19% in 2010 compared to 2011 according to a study of the expansion. Their average salary was 4.2 million.And increases do not always correspond to performance industrial markets.

No revaluation of the minimum wage

François Fillon said in the same interview in Nice morning that there would be no boost given to the minimum wage at its next revaluation. "Today, it would be an economic mistake. This will overwrite the hierarchy of wages and would drive up labor costs and thus unemployment, "he justified.

François Fillon has argued that "before 2000, the labor cost of products manufactured in France was on average 15% cheaper than in Germany."However, "since the 35 hours, this advantage was lost in some sectors such as agriculture and services, we are overtaking Germany," he said.

According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the next automatic adjustment of minimum wage-price inflation when the achieved 2% since the previous revaluation, "could take place" in August.

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Wall Street resumes

June 8, 2011 - 1:08 am Comments Off

U.S. stock markets open up on Tuesday. The Dow Jones advance of 0.32% at 12,126 points, the Standard & Poor's 500 and NASDAQ 100 respectively go up by 0.43% to 1292 points and 2713 points to 0.39%. On Monday, Wall Street has ended sharply lower. Markets are always hampered by bad macroeconomic indicators published U.S. these days who are fears of slowing growth overseas and the crisis of public finances in euro area continues to produce their effects.

Operators have very few indicators to follow this week to get a clearer picture of the economic situation. To 21 hours, however, U.S. investors will read the digits of consumer credit.U.S. carriers like their European counterparts, should be particularly attentive to developments in the crisis of public finances in Europe. Aurel BGC specialists also worry about the constraints of increasingly heavy burden on U.S. banks that ultimately risk, according to them to make them more restrictive in the distribution of credits. The real estate sector, already in bad shape for many years could suffer. The U.S. Treasury Secretary argues in favor of new rules to all U.S. financial world. It aims in particular the derivatives market.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro is rising against the greenback at 1.4666 dollar.The dollar is under increasing pressure since the announcement late last week to disappointing figures on the labor market in the U.S., where the economy has created three times fewer jobs than expected in May, and where unemployment rate went up against all odds. And the oil markets, a barrel of losing 25 cents in New York at 98.76 dollars while that of Brent North Sea fell by 41 cents to 114.07 dollars in the morning. Investors await a meeting of OPEC in Vienna tomorrow could decide to increase production.

The side of values, the paper group American International Paper (30.88% to 4.15 dollars) on Monday launched after the close of Wall Street, a hostile takeover bid for rival Temple-Inland for $ 3.3 billion in cash. International Paper has 30.6 dollars per share for 108.3 million shares floating.This represents a premium of 44% over the course of Monday afternoon, which was 21.21 dollars. Temple-Inland said that its board of directors rejected the offer of International Paper "after careful consideration" because it "grossly undervalues ​​Temple-Inland and is not in the interest of its shareholders" .

Apple Monday unveiled two new versions of its operating system Mac OS and IOS, and the novelty icloud should still be surrounded by very Bourse.

Sales of General Motors (+0.76% to 28.78 dollars) in China in May decreased by 2.7% over the same month last year, according to an AFP calculation based on Figures released Tuesday by the American manufacturer. The first global car market, GM has passed 190,674 vehicles. The group emphasizes that its sales in China for the first five months of 2011 reached a record of 1.079 million units.In 2010, General Motors was up 2.35 million vehicles in the Chinese market.

Also in the automotive industry, Ford Motor (1.87% to 14.17 dollars) is preparing to announce ambitious production targets, setting aims to sell 8 million vehicles a year by the middle the current decade, said on Tuesday the New York Times. The group, which currently produces 5.3 million vehicles per year, ranking it among the major automotive.In 2011, the global leader Toyota has sold 8.42 million vehicles.

The U.S. company RSA Security said Monday evening that information in connection with its products, recovered during a cyberattack, had served in another cyber attack against the defense group Lockheed Martin (-0.12% to 77.29 dollars), and proposed to replace its equipment.

The French group Mersen (ex-Carbone Lorraine), specializing in high performance components for industry, today announced a cooperation agreement "long term" with the U.S. manufacturer of glass and advanced ceramics Corning.

Walt Disney Studios (0.66% to 39.66 dollars) would consider dismissing 250 employees, or 5% of their staff around the world, especially at company headquarters in California (West), said Monday U.S. media specialist.

The British oil group BP (0.93% to 44.35 dollars), listed on Wall Street has informed the co-shareholders of its Russian joint venture TNK-BP that it might sell shares in it at Russian oil giant public Rosneft to boost its proposed alliance with the latter, says the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

Portugal's new prime minister wants to calm markets

June 6, 2011 - 8:32 am Comments Off

The Portuguese prime minister resigned, the socialist Jose Socrates, was not reappointed after the parliamentary elections held Sunday. The President of the Social Democratic Party, Pedro Passos Coelho is now leading the country, winning 105 seats of the 230 elected members of Parliament against a backdrop of record abstention to 41.2%. Shortly after the results, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Pedro Passos Coelho wanted to reassure its creditors. He said Sunday night that his country would not be "a burden" for them, promising to "do everything" to "honor the commitments" of the Portuguese State. "We will do our best to honor the agreement between the Portuguese State, the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to regain market confidence," he added.And to avoid political instability, the leader said he would form "as soon as possible" a "majority government headed by the DSP (…) with the CDS-PP, the minority party the right.

Analysts estimate that the net result of the election will be welcomed by investors, who had deserted the Portuguese debt market in recent months. In addition, the government will now hands free to discuss with the EU and the IMF to implement the bailout of 78 billion negotiated by the government resigned in exchange for a program of fiscal discipline and reforms economic over three years.The future government, which could become operational in late June or early July, will help reduce the government deficit of 9.1% of GDP last year to 5.9% this year and drop to 3% by 2013 .

The election comes as Greece, she received a new support plan in exchange for increased rigor in Athens. This second program of aid could exceed 100 billion euros are to believe the German newspaper Der Spiegel on Monday, and would aim to keep the country who still could not borrow in the medium and long term contracts, on a drip until 'in 2014.

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Google goes on the offensive in mobile payments

May 28, 2011 - 8:20 pm Comments Off

It is a revolution as important as the emergence of the credit card there are more than thirty years! Within a few months, the mobile phone will be used to pay for purchases, store loyalty points, get discounts … It is a certainty, while Google announced yesterday the launch of its electronic wallet from that Google Wallet been to San Francisco and New York.

Mobile payments, we talk a long time. Japan had taken a step ahead. European operators will all work. The French have even launched last year in Nice with success, and Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, has promised that 9 other cities would quickly adopt it. But the announcement of Google reshuffles the cards and give a real boost. For three reasons.

First, its strike force.It is a global leader enters the market with other global giants MasterCard and Citibank, bank side, Ingenico payment terminals and telecom operator like Sprint. He wants to generalize his service in 20 U.S. cities by the end of the year. And already negotiate with major European operators to launch in Europe next year. Second, to pay with his mobile, it is that traders are also equipped with readers. Now Google will subsidize the market by financing the equipment traders.

Thirdly, Google goes far beyond the mere payment: the Google Wallet is a real vacuum services: it helps make couponing, store loyalty points and activate automatically. "It's awesome in terms of promise and customer value creation.Mobile payment alone is not profitable, what counts is the whole ecosystem of services around, "said Stéphane Dubreuil, director of the firm Sia Council.

Specifically, Google knows, thanks to Google Search, a search engine, you went 20 times on the Internet sites of course. He knows with Google Maps that you walk near a golf shop. He can with Google Wallet send you a promotion that will make you enter the store. Then you will pay and store your loyalty points. "There is a side Big Brother, which can be a hazard if struck public opinion, but the attractiveness and ease of product should forget that aspect," said Virginia Laz, associate director at Bryan Garnier.

The delay of Apple

This is the first time a giant web between and walk-in retail."Google returns to the brick and mortar and will potentially be able to receive a commission on all transactions in the physical world. It's huge! , "Says Stéphane Dubreuil.

The arrival of Google, if it gives a boost to mobile payments, is also dangerously compete others. From yesterday, eBay and its payment subsidiary PayPal, which represents 20% of traffic off the credit card payments over the Internet, filed suit against Google, accusing it of stealing trade secrets, especially in recruiting one of its leaders.

Apple, far behind mobile payments, is obligated to respond. Even if the future iPhone 5 allows to make payment, their model risk is still very closed to show its limitations.

Mobile Internet weighs 1.2 billion euros

May 20, 2011 - 11:40 am Comments Off

Launched in 2007, the iPhone gave the kickoff of the mobile Internet revolution. The proliferation of smartphones and the launch of the free operating system from Google, Android, did the rest. Today, 37.2% of French people equipped with mobile use their phone to access the Internet. And their uses have an economic impact, the French Association of Mobile Multimedia (AFMM) sought to evaluate.

According to a study conducted on its behalf by Solucom, the mobile market has reached a business volume of 1.2 billion euros in France, in 2010. The share generated by the distribution of digital content and services on mobiles, produced by publishers from the Internet, mobile operators, $ 800 million. In addition, there are 300 million euros investment in application development and mobile services.Finally, mobile advertising and direct marketing accounted for 130 million euros in revenue.

This market should grow by +50% over three years, says the study, to 1.9 billion euros at end 2013. "The market for content distribution and mobile services is already fairly mature. But business investment in the mobile, for the promotion and customer relationship services, will experience sustained growth in double digits, "explains Isabelle Chapis, Associate Director of Solucom. "In parallel, the number of smartphones will continue to grow," said Frank Abihssira, president of the AFMM.

"In this market, several economic models and cohabiting relationships are balanced between publishers and operators, says Franck Abihssira. We have created an ecosystem that creates value and jobs. "According Solucom, 10,000 jobs are directly related to the mobile.1500 others should be created in the next three years, an increase of 25%. "The jobs are highly skilled, high value, in engineering, but also design, ergonomics, marketing and sales," says Isabelle Chapis.

Market consolidation

The study estimates 500 the number of companies that make up this market. They are young: more than half are under five years of existence, fifty less than a year. They are also rather small: 70% of businesses have fewer than 50 employees. Unsurprisingly, 80% of players polled by Solucom anticipate a change in their capital by the end of 2013. An asset for potential targets of consolidation movements: 80% of companies operating in the mobile are profitable.

Finally, the sector should benefit from the emergence of shelves and connected televisions."The mobile sector is being opened to irrigate all the digital industry as a tool for authentication, payment and personalization," Isabelle Chapis analysis.

Cac 40 bosses best paid 24%

April 27, 2011 - 6:20 am Comments Off

The ousted leader of the Michelin and Danone takes top spot in 2011 salaries of bosses Cac 40 prepared by Les Echos. Michel Rollier has received compensation of 4.5 million euros for 2010. Frank Riboud, head of Danone, he pocketed 4.4 million euros last year and takes the second spot on the podium, followed by the CEO of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, who won 3.9 million euros in total compensation. In total, the Cac 40 bosses have affected more than 98.3 million euros in compensation. The average CEO salaries Cac 40 amounted to 2.46 million per officer, up 24% compared to 2009.

The first of the three managers sponsored by Michelin also holds the record for pay increases: salary soared 505%.This increase is directly related to the rise of the findings of Michel Rollier as not receiving a fixed salary but only secured a bonus based on the results of the giant tires.

This peculiarity makes his annual compensation very volatile from one year to another, as in the previous ranking, published in 2010 and based on total compensation patterns in 2009, the envelope of Michel Rollier displayed in downturn 303% compared to the one he had seen in 2008. He then pocketed 743,000 euros, which was then the lowest pay of executives within the Cac 40. This end up filing returns this year to the CEO of STMicroelectronics, Carlo Bozotti, with 903,000 euros.Penultimate winners of 2011, the CEO of Renault shows a total compensation of 1.2 million, unchanged from last year: Carlos Ghosn has in fact waived his variable compensation following the fiasco caused by the false case of espionage.

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Debt Crisis: Madrid hopes to avoid contagion

April 9, 2011 - 1:12 pm Comments Off

Spain calmly observes the release of financial assistance to its neighbor Portuguese. The Economy Minister Elena Salgado has ruled out any risk of contagion. The facts give him reason for now: the Spanish treasury was placed yesterday, four billion euros good for three years from 3.601%, a decrease compared to the issue of March 3.

Two new reasons for this positive market reaction. "On one hand, the European Union now knows how to respond to financial crises of its members, analysis Giada Giani, an expert on Southeast Europe at Citigroup. Moreover, Spain has implemented reforms that Portugal is just beginning to discuss on the labor market, fiscal policy and the banking sector. "

For Brussels, "Spain is facing significant challenges, but it is on track to meet its objectives."It would be "totally inappropriate to compare Portugal to Spain," said Secretary General of OECD, Angel Gurria.

"Spain has done much to reassure the markets, but has yet to take action on reforming the labor market," Jean-Claude Trichet shade no faxing 1 hour payday loans.

The position of savings banks also remains fragile. In 2010, Madrid has injected 11 billion euros in "cajas", the latter have sought additional 6.5 billion in March. But ratings agency Moody's believes that they will be provisioned and 50 billion euros to ensure their viability.

"Spain has done much to reassure the markets, but has yet to take action on reforming the labor market …" Jean-Claude Trichet shade situation Savings Bank also remains fragile.In 2010, Madrid has injected 11 billion euros in "cajas", the latter have sought additional 6.5 billion in March. But ratings agency Moody's believes that they will be provisioned and 50 billion euros to ensure their viability.

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