Industry Report Store Blogs

Friday, 13 June 2014

Starbucks to offer wireless phone charging in the US

Starbucks plans to install Powermat's wireless charging stations at its coffee stores across the US. After a small pilot run with these "Powermat Spots" — small circles that are seamlessly implanted in tables and counters — the larger rollout will kick off within Starbucks and Teavana locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Eventually the charging stations will make their way to the company's coffee and tea shops nationwide. "2014 will be focused mainly on the west coast, but 2015 will see expansions to major metropolises across the United States," said Powermat President Daniel Schreiber. On average, each store should receive 10 or more Powermat Spots.

"Devices will come out with compatible technology, and we'll see an industry that's been hamstrung a bit with standards issues and conflicting implementations coalesce a common ground," Schreiber said. If you don't own a supported device, you'll be able to purchase a tiny, inexpensive receiver "ring" that plugs into your phone and lets you toss it onto the pad for recharging. (Schreiber wouldn't reveal whether Starbucks plans to sell these directly.)

During the early trials in Boston and San Jose, Schreiber said people typically used the Powermat Spots for an average of 15 minutes — not quite topping off the battery, but giving them enough of a boost to get them to their next destination. Battery technology isn't evolving at the same rate as the processor in your smartphone. And one reason for the gains we've seen is obvious; the huge displays on many phones result in more space for a battery.

"The way we interact with power today is unchanged since the time of Thomas Edison," Schreiber said, returning to the overall goals of wireless charging. What Powermat and Starbucks have managed to do, according to him, is help customers move beyond "sticking two pieces of metal into a hole in the wall." They've created "something invisible and part of the furniture in the most literal sense of the word."

Source: The Verge

The increasing adoption of wireless power technology across a wide range of applications is one of the major trends witnessed in the Global Wireless Chargers market, which is set for a massive 55% annual growth to 2018. Wireless chargers enable mobile devices to charge without making physical contact with the charging surface, providing a much more convenient experience for consumers.

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Thursday, 12 June 2014

Automotive heads-up displays: Coming to a car near you?

Head-up displays, once confined to sports cars and luxury vehicles, are starting to penetrate the mass market and this is reflected in the forecast CAGR of 44%. By 2020, sales of heads-up displays are set to hit 9 million, up from 500,000 this year.

Audi, BMW, Lexus and Cadillac account for most of the models sold with head-up units within the U.S. Mercedes-Benz who previously did not embrace heads-up displays is expected to make them available on its C-class and S-class models this year.

With demand growing, top suppliers are viewing heads-up technology as a must-have. Nippon Seiki, Harman, Denso, Continental, Visteon, Bosch, Panasonic, Delphi and other suppliers are marketing head-up displays, but all are struggling to solve some nagging technology problems. Head-up displays require specially treated windshields, bulky optical equipment is needed to produce the image, and the optics box generates considerable heat.

Suppliers are solving those problems gradually with each new generation of equipment.

During the Detroit auto show, Panasonic unveiled a head-up unit that produces an image 16 inches wide by 6 inches high. That's roughly twice the size of most current head-up images.

Panasonic and other suppliers are racing to develop larger head-up images for "augmented reality" displays. Some possible uses might include highlighted lane markings in bad weather, visual warning symbols for road obstructions and turn-by-turn arrows.

It is yet to be clear whether heads-up displays will make it to the mass market, but with constant technological advancements and a continuous focus on safety - there may well be a heads-up display in your next car.

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Paminder Mayon

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Tuesday, 10 June 2014

How will the new rules on UK mortgages impact buyers

Consumers and banks alike both want the same result – mortgage approval.

With the number of first time buyers and current homeowners looking to move the introduction of new the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) regulations have impacted the number of mortgage approvals. Strict regulations have been placed to emphasise mortgage affordability. Borrowers are now required to provide evidence on their income and spending habits and undertake stress tests to gauge their ability to pay under different interest rates and income scenarios.

This tighter affordability criteria may halt the mortgage lending activity in the UK and take an effect on buyer confidence and could possibly increase delayed and rejected applications.

Several elements are hovering over the mortgage market such as soaring housing prices however, on a positive note the governments Help to Buy Scheme is expected to provide momentum and support new home building.

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Timetric in association with the Industry Report Store

Gurveer Vasir
Marketing ExecutiveT: +44 (0) 203 220 0806
E: gurveer.vasir@uk.timetric.com
W: www.timetric.com

Philanthropy has grown in stature in recent years with famous faces such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Angelina Jolie all donating large sums of money to charitable causes.

The US and Europe account for 60% of the world’s HNWIs - the philanthropic involvement of HNWIs in these regions is well established and has a long history behind it. However, developing markets are recording growth in their HNWI populations. China and India account for a significant number of HNWIs, many of which are focused on wealth accumulation rather than giving it away.

The changing dynamics of the global philanthropic sector are a primary concern for wealth managers. It is expected that philanthropy service offerings will form a core sector in the private banking sector in the years to come. This will require wealth management firms to be more transparent and understand the point of view of philanthropists as well as actively engaging in the sector to attain the trust of their clients.

Many HNWIs in the lower wealth bands are teaming up for philanthropic purposes. These modern approaches to philanthropy are transforming it into a more organized and impact-oriented sector, enabling wealth management firms to strengthen their relationships with clients.

Philanthropy in the Western economies generally revolves around donations of large amounts of money and time towards charity. These two parameters also play an important role in the emerging Asian philanthropic sector.

If you would like more information on this subject please visit our website or email us at marketing@timetric.com.

Timetric in association with Industry Report Store:
Industry Report Store is one of the world’s most comprehensive libraries of market intelligence, with the perfect report for every business need at every budget. Business information is paramount for companies seeking to stay ahead amid challenging economic conditions and intense competition. Contact us today to take advantage of our premium intelligence insights and keep up with your industry competitors.

Ettyenne Guimaraes
Marketing Executive

T: +44 (0) 203 220 0806
E: ettyenne.guimaraes@uk.timetric.com

W: www.timetric.com

Friday, 6 June 2014

The robots are coming

Who would have thought we'd ever see the day that robots will exist in the human world, interacting with us on a daily basis. But with rapid advancements in technology, that day is closer than ever.

Japanese telecom Softbank and its CEO Masayoshi Son have never been afraid to push the boundaries, and have now presented their latest invention, a robot that recognises human emotions.

It's not quite I,Robot yet but one thing for sure, it is certainly a step towards that direction!

Presented at a press conference this week in Japan, it's called ‘Pepper’ and uses technology acquired from the French robotics company Aldebaran.

Aldebaran CEO Bruno Maisonnier credited Son for believing in its vision, saying robots that can recognise human emotion will change the way we live and communicate - and this is a big step towards getting bots into daily lives, at least if you live in Japan. The robots will debut at two stores in their customer service capacity, but Softbank is planning to put them on sale to the public next year, priced around $2,000.

Pepper can communicate through emotion, speech or body language and it's equipped with both mics and proximity sensors. Inside, it will be possible to install apps and upgrade the unit's functionality, the plan being to make Pepper far smarter than when you first bought it. It already understands 4,500 Japanese words, but perhaps more impressively, Pepper can apparently read into the tone used to understand its master's disposition. Maisonnier claims this will be the start of a robot revolution that rivals the rollout of the PC and Smartphone. According to him, "With Pepper, the future begins today."

Source: Engadget

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Thursday, 5 June 2014

E-Cigarettes: What are the facts?

The E-cigarette Market is currently a highly debated topic, and with forecasted annual growth of 31% there are enormous opportunities within this sector.

So what are the facts?

Researchers are still unsure how effective e-cigarettes are as a quitting aid in comparison to other therapies such as nicotine patches.

One recent study at the University of Catania found that 9% of a sample of 300 smokers had quit after 12 months, using e-cigarettes as an aid.

In the UK, 25% of all quit attempts are made using e-cigarettes, making it the most popular quitting aid.

The UK's medicines regulatory body MHRA therefore believes that e-cigarettes could help save 57,000 lives in the UK over the next decade.

The consumers in North America and the affluent countries in Europe are becoming increasingly health conscious, and they want the market to reflect their needs. E-cigarettes might not be a proven health tool yet, but many are choosing to view them as such. From 2016 they are going to be classed as medicines instead of consumer products if plans go ahead, making the market a battleground for companies endeavouring to capitalise on this consumer trend. Over one million people in the UK alone use e-cigarettes, and some analysts are predicting that the e-cigarette market will be worth more than the traditional cigarette market, currently over £400bn a year, in just ten years. Most cigarette company are recognising the change, and that the association with ‘health’ means big profit potential. With massive superstores like Sainsburys and Tesco Express bringing the product to a wider market, it’s fairly safe to say that 2014 and is going to see a massive increase in the common use of e-cigarettes.

Companies are now competing to be the leading brand in the market, with some such as Nicolites going the further step by launching ‘energy boosting’ e-cigs which are enriched, similar to energy drinks, to give the consumer a stimulating rush when inhaled. Alongside this come warnings from those who say we do not have enough statistics about the long-term side effects in order to actively encourage the use of e-cigarettes. Others worry that children as young as seven will start to use them recreationally, especially if they are allowed to be advertised as glamorous, harkening back to original days of cigarette marketing in the 1920s. Many countries including Brazil, Austria and Belgium has banned e-cigarettes entirely, with Michael Bloomberg controversially changing the e-cigarette legislation in New York before finishing his term as Mayor. The EU faces a potential ban if several countries within the union decide to vote against it, but despite all these challenges the market still looks set to grow.

Contact us now to find out more about this report.

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Wednesday, 4 June 2014

Rekorderlig looks to hit big with as it jumps on the world cup campaign bandwagon

Rekorderlig’s new campaign looks to hit big as it jumps on the world cup bandwagon

FMCG manufacturers all round are looking to use the world cup as an opportunity this year, with many running competitions, big campaigns and tweaking packaging designs accordingly to join the ‘buzz’ surrounding the tournament.

Rekorderlig is the next on board stating there is “huge sales opportunity” over the coming months as the World Cup kicks off and their rivals such as Koppaberg and Bulmers opt to avoid the barrage of activity from beer brewers.

The new £2.7m “Spirit of Summer” campaign is launching next month across cinemas, VOD, out of home and print as well as a range of other mediums. Experiential will also play a key part through pop-ups, allowing people to sample Scandinavian style food, music and the recently launched Apple and Guava cider.

While much of Rekorderlig’s efforts will focus on wooing 18-to-25 year-old wine and RTD drinkers, Rekorderlig plans to extend the brand to older beer drinkers in high-end pubs and clubs across the country. Gareth Whittle, chief executive explains, “More than half of our growth has come from spirits, wines and RTDs [since launching in 2009]. We’re not trying to steal share from other ciders and instead we’re looking at how we can continue to grow outside the category and appeal to other drinkers who wouldn’t normally consider a flavoured cider.”

Cider has become an increasingly competitive market over recent years. The Industry Report Store provides the tools and research you need to learn, compete, minimise risks and identify opportunities in the market.

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