Month: October 2012

I agree with Tri’s and Daniel’s blogs, regarding BlackBerry’s precarious position in North America where Apple’s iPhone and Android phones are increasingly dominant. Although RIM faces intense competition, I believe it is not too late if they deliver a superior product.  In a category driven more by user design and user experience, BlackBerry must find a point of difference beyond security, BBM, and its physical QWERTY keyboards.

RIM has been criticized for its failure to keep pace with innovations from its rivals, undelivered promises, inconsistent marketing campaigns, and unclear platforms upon which to build and rally behind.

All hopes rest on the BlackBerry 10 smartphones promised to provide a ground-breaking next-generation smartphone user experience. In addition, RIM has hired advisers to leverage the BlackBerry platform through partnerships, licensing opportunities and strategic business model alternatives. I agree that BlackBerry can tout on its strengths including its durability compared to its competition. As well, they can continue leveraging on their solid security features that most corporations choose because of data encryption and compression.

I believe BlackBerry has a chance to turn the company around as indicated above and in the predictions outlined here by Forbes. Look at the video below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19315461

Articles:

http://business.time.com/2012/06/25/blackberry-bankers-rim-edges-closer-to-sale/#ixzz28Gbx7qvk

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/blackberry-makers-outlook-brightens-but-risks-remain-analysts-273365

http://newyork.newsday.com/business/technology/rim-s-future-hangs-on-blackberry-10-success-experts-say-1.4051976

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/03/rim-going-out-of-business_n_1400838.html

http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=83945

http://www.pcworld.com/article/242168/gloomy_outlook_for_future_of_blackberry.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/flatlining-user-base-spells-end-of-rims-growth-story/article4562338/

Tim’s blog commented on Carlsberg and their distribution strategy in Thailand. I definitely agree that Carlsberg, one of the world’s premium beer brands, is taking the right steps to gain brand perception and its share in this market through a joint venture with Singha Corporation.

Combining Singha’s strong market portfolio in Thailand with Carlsberg’s international premium brands further strengthens Carlsberg’s position in Asian markets. As part of the partnership, Singha will also benefit through the launch of its brands through Carlsberg’s international networks. Thus, a win-win situation for both solid companies while at the same time allowing Carlsberg to compete with Heineken which had a 4.3 percent brand share in Thailand last year.

Thailand’s market offers solid prospects for growth, strengthened by a growing economy that has proved to be resilient to the global recession, expanding populations, and rising disposable income levels. Thailand is one Southeast Asian country where Carlsberg has a negligible footprint so tapping into this country that boasts a population of over 67 million is a viable strategy.

The Thai market represents a great opportunity to build Carlsberg’s brand recognition and exploit growth options in the Asian markets.

Articles for further reading:

http://www.fdbusiness.com/2012/09/carlsberg-group-forms-strategic-partnership-in-thailand/

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f1fd5db8-093f-11e2-a5a9-00144feabdc0.html#axzz28BB5JL1Y

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/389717/20121001/carlsberg-singha-deal-partnership-thailand.htm

After reading Dabir’s and Peter’s blogs about fuel-efficient vehicles, I decided to look into the cost-benefit analysis of these vehicles further. Supply and demand, gas prices, greenhouse gas emission concerns and other factors ultimately shift hybrid market flows.

Expensive rare-earth metals used in hybrid engines drive up costs. However, automakers are now moving towards redesigning their motors to make them more cost efficient. Previously, Toyota’s Prius Hybrid compared to an equivalent conventional car cost the consumer $6,000 more whereas now the difference is $2,500.

Fuel prices and fuel-efficient cars go hand in hand. In 2011, when gas prices soared, so did buyer appetite and prices for fuel-efficient cars. According to Edmund’s analysis, the payback time or break-even point shortens only if gas prices remain high. Referring to the Toyota Camry in the table below, If Buyer 1 purchases a Hybrid (25K) and Buyer 2 purchases a standard (21K); Buyer 1 pays an ‘opportunity cost’ to own a hybrid as the $4k invested ($25k – $21k) takes at least six years to break even.

Although I too support the environment, the amount of money spent on hybrids does not support my investment.

Articles for further reading:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/economic-impact-of-hybrid-cars2.htm

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michellekrebs/2012/02/28/with-gas-prices-rising-should-you-buy-a-hybrid-or-ev/

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/car-hybrid-gas,5754.html