E-Commerce Times
http://www.ecommercetimes.com
E-Commerce Times: the E-Business and Technology Super Siteen-usCopyright 20092010-02-09T21:29:36-08:00ECT News NetworkECT News NetworkE-Commerce Times: the E-Business and Technology Super Sitehourly12010-02-09T21:29:36-08:00E-Commerce Timeshttp://www.ecommercetimes.com/images/rss/ect_100x36.jpg
http://www.ecommercetimes.com
Google Bends a Little Toward Nexus One Customers
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69305.html
Google has cut the early termination fee of its Nexus One smartphone from $350 to $150. It has also introduced customer support for the ordering and shipping processes. However, these moves are not as expansive as some users would like. For one thing, T-Mobile's early termination fee, which is separate from Google's ETF, reportedly would still apply.Erika Morphy2010-02-09T12:08:46-08:00Wireless
Google has cut the early termination fee of its Nexus One smartphone from $350 to $150. It has also introduced customer support for the ordering and shipping processes. However, these moves are not as expansive as some users would like. For one thing, T-Mobile's early termination fee, which is separate from Google's ETF, reportedly would still apply. As for the customer support line, it should also be available for technical support -- especially in light of the early glitches some customers experienced with the phone, said 4SmartPhone CEO Patrick Gilbert.
]]>2010-02-09T12:08:46-08:002010-02-09T15:42:56-08:00Understanding the Pre-Shopping ROBO Mentality
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69295.html
The term "ROBO" -- Research Online, Buy Offline -- was coined by Yahoo to describe the growing number of consumers who research online but buy offline. Online "pre-shopping" has become a common activity prior to a variety of purchases. According to Forrester, online research will influence $1 trillion in offline sales by 2012.Carl Prindle2010-02-09T05:00:00-08:00E-Commerce
The term "ROBO" -- Research Online, Buy Offline -- was coined by Yahoo to describe the growing number of consumers who research online but buy offline. Online "pre-shopping" has become a common activity prior to a variety of purchases. According to Forrester, online research will influence $1 trillion in offline sales by 2012, making it imperative that retailers understand the full impact that their online presence -- as well as those of their competitors -- may have on consumer in-store behavior.
]]>2010-02-09T05:00:00-08:002010-02-09T12:50:26-08:00Does 'Nimble' Pricing Suggest iPad Won't Move?
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69302.html
Apple surprised some company watchers with its relatively low price points for the iPad, and it appears prepared to go even lower, if necessary. It will be flexible about pricing if consumer demand for the device does not shape up as expected, according to a note from Credit Suisse reported in <i>The Wall Street Journal</i>.Erika Morphy2010-02-09T08:52:42-08:00Business
Apple surprised some company watchers with its relatively low price points for the iPad, and it appears prepared to go even lower, if necessary. It will be flexible about pricing if consumer demand for the device does not shape up as expected, according to a note from Credit Suisse reported in The Wall Street Journal. That was the take-away from a recent meeting between Credit Suisse analysts and Apple officials, according to analyst Bill Shope.
]]>2010-02-09T08:52:42-08:002010-02-09T08:52:32-08:00The Year of the Customer: Balancing Service and Efficiency
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69300.html
The big question as we move through 2010 may be, "What does the future hold?" But really, the past year will give us a clearer glimpse into the future than any crystal ball possibly could. 2010 is the year of the customer. December 31st, 2009, marked the end of one of the toughest years companies have faced in decades.Dan Yalon2010-02-09T05:00:00-08:00Trends
The big question as we move through 2010 may be, "What does the future hold?" But really, the past year will give us a clearer glimpse into the future than any crystal ball possibly could. 2010 is the year of the customer. December 31st, 2009, marked the end of one of the toughest years companies have faced in decades, both in terms of the challenges of a major economic downturn, and a major shift in how companies interact with their customers -- the customers who are increasingly more demanding and can change providers easily.
]]>2010-02-09T05:00:00-08:002010-02-09T15:50:06-08:00China Plays Up Hacker Crackdown
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69293.html
Two Monday technology stories, both involving China: Call them the yin and yang of that country's attempts to repair its image following Google's recent hacking allegations and the search giant's subsequent threats to end its business dealings in the country. Chinese police are trumpeting their shutdown of a major hacker training Web site and three related arrests.Renay San Miguel2010-02-08T12:10:25-08:00Controversies
Two Monday technology stories, both involving China: Call them the yin and yang of that country's attempts to repair its image following Google's recent hacking allegations and the search giant's subsequent threats to end its business dealings in the country. Chinese police are trumpeting their shutdown of a major hacker training Web site and three related arrests. However, on the same day, Google claimed that the logo of a copycat Web site based in China looks a little too much like its now-familiar brand and wants something done about it.
]]>2010-02-08T12:10:25-08:002010-02-08T13:17:27-08:00Report: iPad Will Propel Tablets Into Mainstream Use
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69296.html
The tablet computer market will see 50 million units shipped in 2014, according to a new In-Stat report -- and if Apple plays its cards right, a significant portion of them could be iPads. In-Stat took several factors into account as it made its calculations, said Jim McGregor, analyst and report author.Erika Morphy2010-02-08T14:44:03-08:00Computers
The tablet computer market will see 50 million units shipped in 2014, according to a new In-Stat report -- and if Apple plays its cards right, a significant portion of them could be iPads. In-Stat took several factors into account as it made its calculations, said Jim McGregor, analyst and report author. "Right now, Apple can build these devices for $400 and still make a profit off of them. But the cost will eventually come down -- and so will the price for consumers."
]]>2010-02-08T14:44:03-08:002010-02-08T15:52:04-08:00Airlines Set Flight Path for Better Customer Experience
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69289.html
The commercial airline business -- ever sensitive to booms ands busts -- is struggling to maintain traffic in the short run while also trying to build a customer base for the future. Rather than compete on price and schedule alone, airlines are moving away from a mass marketing and commodity approach to sales promotion. Instead, a greater focus on customer relations is emerging.John K. Higgins2010-02-08T05:00:00-08:00Travel
The commercial airline business -- ever sensitive to booms ands busts -- is struggling to maintain traffic in the short run while also trying to build a customer base for the future. Rather than compete on price and schedule alone, airlines are moving away from a mass marketing and commodity approach to sales promotion. Instead, a greater focus on customer relations is emerging. Airlines appear willing to invest in technologies designed to improve the customer experience.
]]>2010-02-08T05:00:00-08:002010-02-05T16:31:50-08:00Ripping the Wrong Page From Apple's E-Playbook
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69287.html
On January 27, a major speech took place: No, it was not the State of the Union address, but Steve Jobs' announcement of the release of the iPad. The iPad has already started to change the landscape of digital publishing: After a short battle, Amazon was forced to capitulate to a new deal with Macmillan, one of the six largest publishers; on Friday, Hachette started to make noise too.Andrea Belz2010-02-08T05:00:00-08:00Publishing
On January 27, a major speech took place: No, it was not the State of the Union address, but Steve Jobs' announcement of the release of the iPad. The iPad has already started to change the landscape of digital publishing: After a few days of a public battle, Amazon was forced to capitulate to a new deal with Macmillan, one of the six largest publishers; on Friday, Hachette started to make noise too. Previously, Amazon set the prices -- typically a default of $9.99. This scheme lost money for the e-tailer but promoted the sales of the Kindle reader.
]]>2010-02-08T05:00:00-08:002010-02-08T14:44:46-08:00Which IT Skills Are Pulling Big Bucks?
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69286.html
David Foote is CEO and chief research officer, as well as cofounder, at Foote Partners of Vero Beach, Fla. David closely tracks the hiring and human resources trends across the IT landscape. He'll share his findings of where the recession has taken IT hiring and where the recovery will shape up. We'll also look at what skills are going to be in demand and which ones are not.Dana Gardner2010-02-07T05:00:00-08:00Enterprise IT
David Foote is CEO and chief research officer, as well as cofounder, at Foote Partners of Vero Beach, Fla. David closely tracks the hiring and human resources trends across the IT landscape. He'll share his findings of where the recession has taken IT hiring and where the recovery will shape up. We'll also look at what skills are going to be in demand and which ones are not. David will help those in IT, or those seeking to enter IT, identify where the new job opportunities lie.
]]>2010-02-07T05:00:00-08:002010-02-05T15:16:19-08:00For Privacy Advocates, Facebook's 'Next Best Thing' Doesn't Cut It
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69291.html
Just over two years ago now, Facebook began deploying a behavioral tracking service it called "Beacon," which automatically enabled the tracking of Facebook users' behavior but shared that data with advertising partners. It wasn't an "opt-in" service by anyone's definition, and after Facebook took down most of the service, customers filed a class-action suit against the social network.Scott M. Fulton, III2010-02-06T05:00:00-08:00Law
Just over two years ago now, Facebook began deploying a behavioral tracking service it called "Beacon," which automatically enabled the tracking of Facebook users' behavior but shared that data with advertising partners. It wasn't an "opt-in" service by anyone's definition, and after Facebook took down most of the service, customers filed a class-action suit against the social network. In a proposed settlement last September, Facebook is opting to use its own money -- some $9.5 million -- to establish a fund for the creation of a Web safety foundation.
]]>2010-02-06T05:00:00-08:002010-02-06T13:35:21-08:00Hachette Joins E-Book Dogpile
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/69283.html
Apple's new iPad may look like a thin, fragile piece of hardware, but it's apparently strong enough for publishing houses to use as a powerful wedge against Amazon in their negotiations over e-book pricing. Hachette Group became the latest publisher to announce it was going to move to the "agency" relationship with retailers, which would result in a higher pricing structure.Renay San Miguel2010-02-05T13:23:53-08:00Publishing
Apple's new iPad may look like a thin, fragile piece of hardware, but it's apparently strong enough for publishing houses to use as a powerful wedge against Amazon in their negotiations over e-book pricing. Hachette Group became the latest publisher to announce it was going to move to the "agency" relationship with retailers, which would result in a higher pricing structure -- possibly in a tiered range of $12.99 to $14.99 for its e-books. The Mediabistro blog GalleyCat published a memo late Thursday from Hachette Books Group CEO David Young in which he detailed the reasons for the move.
]]>2010-02-05T13:23:53-08:002010-02-08T21:14:34-08:00
Google has cut the early termination fee of its Nexus One smartphone from $350 to $150. It has also introduced customer support for the ordering and shipping processes. However, these moves are not as expansive as some users would like. For one thing, T-Mobile's early termination fee, which is separate from Google's ETF, reportedly would still apply. As for the customer support line, it should also be available for technical support -- especially in light of the early glitches some customers experienced with the phone, said 4SmartPhone CEO Patrick Gilbert.
]]>
The term "ROBO" -- Research Online, Buy Offline -- was coined by Yahoo to describe the growing number of consumers who research online but buy offline. Online "pre-shopping" has become a common activity prior to a variety of purchases. According to Forrester, online research will influence $1 trillion in offline sales by 2012, making it imperative that retailers understand the full impact that their online presence -- as well as those of their competitors -- may have on consumer in-store behavior.
]]>
Apple surprised some company watchers with its relatively low price points for the iPad, and it appears prepared to go even lower, if necessary. It will be flexible about pricing if consumer demand for the device does not shape up as expected, according to a note from Credit Suisse reported in The Wall Street Journal. That was the take-away from a recent meeting between Credit Suisse analysts and Apple officials, according to analyst Bill Shope.
]]>
The big question as we move through 2010 may be, "What does the future hold?" But really, the past year will give us a clearer glimpse into the future than any crystal ball possibly could. 2010 is the year of the customer. December 31st, 2009, marked the end of one of the toughest years companies have faced in decades, both in terms of the challenges of a major economic downturn, and a major shift in how companies interact with their customers -- the customers who are increasingly more demanding and can change providers easily.
]]>
Two Monday technology stories, both involving China: Call them the yin and yang of that country's attempts to repair its image following Google's recent hacking allegations and the search giant's subsequent threats to end its business dealings in the country. Chinese police are trumpeting their shutdown of a major hacker training Web site and three related arrests. However, on the same day, Google claimed that the logo of a copycat Web site based in China looks a little too much like its now-familiar brand and wants something done about it.
]]>
The tablet computer market will see 50 million units shipped in 2014, according to a new In-Stat report -- and if Apple plays its cards right, a significant portion of them could be iPads. In-Stat took several factors into account as it made its calculations, said Jim McGregor, analyst and report author. "Right now, Apple can build these devices for $400 and still make a profit off of them. But the cost will eventually come down -- and so will the price for consumers."
]]>
The commercial airline business -- ever sensitive to booms ands busts -- is struggling to maintain traffic in the short run while also trying to build a customer base for the future. Rather than compete on price and schedule alone, airlines are moving away from a mass marketing and commodity approach to sales promotion. Instead, a greater focus on customer relations is emerging. Airlines appear willing to invest in technologies designed to improve the customer experience.
]]>
On January 27, a major speech took place: No, it was not the State of the Union address, but Steve Jobs' announcement of the release of the iPad. The iPad has already started to change the landscape of digital publishing: After a few days of a public battle, Amazon was forced to capitulate to a new deal with Macmillan, one of the six largest publishers; on Friday, Hachette started to make noise too. Previously, Amazon set the prices -- typically a default of $9.99. This scheme lost money for the e-tailer but promoted the sales of the Kindle reader.
]]>
David Foote is CEO and chief research officer, as well as cofounder, at Foote Partners of Vero Beach, Fla. David closely tracks the hiring and human resources trends across the IT landscape. He'll share his findings of where the recession has taken IT hiring and where the recovery will shape up. We'll also look at what skills are going to be in demand and which ones are not. David will help those in IT, or those seeking to enter IT, identify where the new job opportunities lie.
]]>
Just over two years ago now, Facebook began deploying a behavioral tracking service it called "Beacon," which automatically enabled the tracking of Facebook users' behavior but shared that data with advertising partners. It wasn't an "opt-in" service by anyone's definition, and after Facebook took down most of the service, customers filed a class-action suit against the social network. In a proposed settlement last September, Facebook is opting to use its own money -- some $9.5 million -- to establish a fund for the creation of a Web safety foundation.
]]>
Apple's new iPad may look like a thin, fragile piece of hardware, but it's apparently strong enough for publishing houses to use as a powerful wedge against Amazon in their negotiations over e-book pricing. Hachette Group became the latest publisher to announce it was going to move to the "agency" relationship with retailers, which would result in a higher pricing structure -- possibly in a tiered range of $12.99 to $14.99 for its e-books. The Mediabistro blog GalleyCat published a memo late Thursday from Hachette Books Group CEO David Young in which he detailed the reasons for the move.
]]>