Hans' Blog

Blackberry has just announced that RIM will offer free voice calls through WIFI with BBM. They will initiate this service in the new Blackberry 10 that will be coming out in the near future. With the new addition of free voice calls through WIFI, BBM will be able to offer another service that is causing certain users from switching to the growing android market or iPhones. BBM has always been the point of difference  that is allowing RIM to stay competitive against other phones.

In my opinion, this is a smart choice for Blackberry as it tries to use Blackberry 10 in order to regain its customers. With this new service, Blackberry will be able to come out of their recent depression caused by the expansion of smartphones. However, Blackberry will soon fall short again, in my opinion, because of app developers that will create alternate versions of this service on smartphones and iPhones. Only time will tell if Blackberry will become a lead competitor in this industry again.

References : http://www.thestar.com/living/technology/article/1288154–rim-offers-free-voice-calls-over-wi-fi-with-bbm

This article stuck me because of all the changes that Translink is making to its system. Another change will be initiated started January 2013 when Translink raise the price of transiting from a minimum of $2.25 for adults to $2.75 for adults that are travelling one zone.

With this, monthly fare cards with also rise. As a UBC student, I personally do not have to purchase these fare cards because of the UPass; however I can see this as being a problem for many other transiting people. Back in beginning of 2010, monthly fare cards were only at $99 until it changed to $110 in April 2010. This price stayed like that until this recent change where fare cards will now be $124. Throughout these years, there is a 25% increase in price. Translink stated that they are increasing the prices because of the level of inflation; however, I do not believe that inflation can go up to 25%.

In my opinion, the most just way for Translink is to quickly constructing fare gates and have it begin to function. The new Compass card will allow consumers to pay for the distance that they travel, rather than zones that they travel between. As of now, a person travelling from Vancouver to Burnaby by crossing one bridge pays more than a person travelling from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove because of zones differences. By initiating the Compass Card, all problems will be solved and there will be a fair way in allocating prices for each passenger.

Reference : http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/11/13/bc-translink-fare-increase.html

Entering the popular TV show, Shark Tank, an entrepreneur is seeking an investment for their product or service in return for equity in their company. Last week, a talented entrepreneur entered the Shark Tank, seeking an initial investment of $90000 in return for 5% of his company. He entered with a product called Platetopper, with its main goal to securely acts as a plate topper using suctioning techniques. His product got the interest of the sharks, with two of the sharks offering $1,000,000 for 25% equity in the company, allowing his company to have a valuation of $4,000,000. However, after hearing these offers, he readjust his adjusted value to $750,000 for 5% equity, initiating a value of $15 million for his company. His arrogance annoyed the sharks, causing them to opt out of the business.

In my opinion, a successful entrepreneur has to be smart. To avoid similar problems, that entrepreneur should not have been too greedy and accept the offers that he could have gotten. By pushing away offers and being arrogant, he lost all the offers that he could have gotten. Even though an entrepreneur should take risks, they need to know when it is a good time to halt those risks and be satisfied with their earnings.

Reference : http://www.examiner.com/article/san-francisco-inventor-of-platetopper-scoops-up-shark-tank-funding