Toronto’s Keek, a short video “status updates”

As the title has suggested, Keek is an upcoming video version of twitter. In Scottish, it means “to peep surreptitiously”. Three Toronto-based companies are investing into a software which allows the public to record a maximum of 36-second video response.

Following is a simple SWOT diagram analyzing the appearance of Keek in the market:

Looking forward to seeing how the market responses when Keek is being introduced 6 months later!

Wall Street Journal Video – Is the End Near for Kodak?
Kodak borrows $160M, stock plunges 

Kodak is having trouble to keep up with the digitization trend in the world. Failing to earn any revenue for 4 years and drawing down the credit line to $160 million, Kodak’s stock value plummeted as low as 54 cents on September 30, 2011. Having lose half of the value, Kodak hired a finance restructuring law firm, Jones Day, to revise future plan such as selling patents and announce bankruptcy as the last straw.

For Kodak’s future growth, we should refer to the 3 main questions which we have discussed in class:

1) How do we leverage their opportunies?
As smart phones are also a trend nowadays, I suggest Kodak to have business corporation with major phone supplier such as Google Inc, or Apple Inc. and generate healthy partnership.

2) How do we minimize their risks?
Try balance the deficit within the company by selling patents first, and there is also redefining the target market and products in order to catch up with the digitization world

3) What technologies should we consider?
Phone apps, multi-functional camera, higher quality digital camera

Further readings: Poison Pill  

“Canada’s patent problem is that it doesn’t seem to know it has one,” commented Jameson Berkow, a Technology reporter in the Financial Post Online Newspaper.

The Rights and Rents report indicated that China had an apparent growth of 56% patent applications between 1995 and 2005, while Canada only had 7% growth in the same period. The lack of initiatives will result in the disappearance of Canadian-made products in the global market as we lose the competitiveness and uniqueness.

This is an excellent place for Business Technology Management to kick in and manage this issue as a part of businesses. Implementing its strength in organizing patent applications through electronic copies will allow Canada Entrepreneurs to grow in sync with the acceleration of innovation and avoid the intellectual property wars like Apple and Samsung. In short, regulating the laws for patents will save companies time and prevent them copying ideas from others.

Reference:
Canada’s Patent Problem  

McDonalds, Subway, Starbucks, and Tim Hortons(Timmy); They are all massive fast food chain and the factor of cheap cost makes them all appealing to customers.

Yet, what are the Points of Different in Timmy in order to stand out from other national brands and reach up to 1.7 million “Likes” on Facebook?

A campaign, “True Stories” was established 15 years ago by the marketing team in Timmy originally for customers to share their appreciation to the brand. In present, this campaign is being valued as connecting to the customers and creating customers’ loyalty. “Authentic”, “treating customers with friendship and sharing our intimate stories” are the feedback to Timmy after the campaign. Thus, letting your customers know you care about them is what makes Tim Hortons distinguish itself from other brands for 41 years.

Reference:
Tim Hortons Found Brand Truth Early