The European Commission has approved Microsoft’s $8.5 billion attainment of Skype.  The integration of Skype is an important tactic in Microsoft’s strategy towards competing with the smartphone giants.  Although Microsoft already has Windows Live, which is similar to Skype, the Skype service is more accessible.  Skype enables communications between various phone and computer types.  What this merger allows Microsoft to do is possibly “sell more digital advertising and offer more popular business conferencing tools” (4).

In order to compete with Google’s Android and the Apple iPhone, Microsoft would be wise to capitalize on Skype’s popularity to improve its brand image.  By changing how it is perceived, Microsoft should be able to position itself closer to its rivals

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/eu-approves-85-billion-microsoft-skype-deal/article2194815/

A new position is in the social networking world as Keek Inc. has launched Keek.com: “a YouTube and Twitter hybrid [which allows users to] send out a 36-second short video message (or “keek”) easily captured on web cameras and smartphones to people in their network,” (1).  Recently, this new start-up company attained “$5.5-million in financing” (1).  It is aimed towards younger people that are less than 24 years old.

Although it’s not the first social network to accommodate video, Keek may be able to position itself as the major player in its segment due to its uniqueness.  The short time limit is what differentiates Keek.  Someday, Keek could find itself near the top of the social networking world.  However, it is inevitable that other social network giants (such as Facebook and Twitter) will look to emulate the concept of video statuses.  That is why it is vital that Keek establishes its position in social networking now, and continues its differentiation focus strategy.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/digital-culture/trending-tech/macro-updates-is-there-room-for-long-form-in-social-media/article2193386/

Because of an increase in grain supplies and a lowering of demand, food prices are expected to decrease worldwide according to the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).  This is nothing new however as the FAO’s “global food price index fell 2 per cent in September from August as cereal crops outlook improved,” (3).  As a result of the “global economic slowdown,” there is less demand for food (9).  The second factor of the foreseen price decrease is the global cereal supply predicted to be “7 million tonnes up” (19).

This information is concerning because the global grain supply increase has lowered the supplier power of grain farms in the food industry.  Consequently, individual companies (assuming homogenous products) can (in theory) substitute suppliers to reduce costs.  Unfortunately, the ability to substitute suppliers could raise competition between farms.  If a supplier utilizes predatory pricing, less efficient farms could go out of business.  In the big picture, the closing of many suppliers situated in a particular country could have the effect of lowering the perceived quality of life in a country, due to the lowering of the country’s GDP.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/food-prices-on-downward-trend-fao/article2192760/
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It will be unavoidable.  It is the advertising for the Chevrolet Volt (an electric hybrid car), Sonic (the subcompact), and Orlando(the family crossover).  With media exposure totaling “almost 50 per cent larger” than last year’s Cruze, Chevrolet is to establishing its position as a ““progressive, global, human” brand” with these three vehicles (4, 5).   Its television ads are swift and full of vitality.  Additionally, the home page of YouTube inCanadawill be taken over by Chevrolet tomorrow.  There, it will stream the day-long event at Toronto’s Dundas Squarepromoting the three car

Despite these efforts to claim a stake of the car market, I see the three new vehicles being lumped in with the competition because each car will be facing intense competition.  The Volt is competing with the cheaper Nissan Leaf.  The Sonic, although subcompacts have increased in sales, will be battling with Ford,Toyota, and Nissan among others.  Along with every other car manufacturer, theOrlandowill be trying to take a segment of the crossover market.  If its innovations such as the Volt do manage to overpower the competition, however, Chevrolet might just be “Driving the world forward” (5).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/the-biggest-launch-in-chevrolets-history/article2189671/