IoT: Wired Wirelessly

Did you realize? Your mobile phone is soon becoming the universal remote control of the Internet of Things. You are wired wirelessly and connected while mobile. Technology is magic, agree? So to conclude, you are mired in technology and the only way out is embrace it wholeheartedly!

The Internet of Things (IoT) is beginning to grow significantly, as consumers, businesses, and governments recognize the benefit of connecting inert devices to the internet.
And, LYCOS, the company we have been following seems to be a part of this big growing market. The company’s press release last week indicates an IoT product coming out soon. As always, LYCOS never disappoints its customers, partners and investors.

New startups and large corporations that are eager to be a part of what could be a huge market, and all sorts of enabling products and technologies, are all jumping into the burst of activity and creativity that is getting entrepreneurs, VCs and the press equally excited.

As the BusinessInsider states,
The Internet of Things will be the largest device market in the world. By 2019 it will be more than double the size of the smartphone, PC, tablet, connected car, and the wearable market combined.

The IoT will result in $1.7 trillion in value added to the global economy in 2019. This includes hardware, software, installation costs, management services, and economic value added from realized IoT efficiencies.

Device shipments will reach 6.7 billion in 2019 for a five-year CAGR of 61%. Revenue from hardware sales will be only $50 billion or 8% of the total revenue from IoT-specific efforts, as software makers and infrastructure companies will earn the lion’s share.

The main benefit of growth in the IoT will be increased efficiency and lower costs. The IoT promises increased efficiency within the home, city, and workplace by giving control to the user. However, many are hesitant to use devices as security problems are still an issue.

The IoT lacks a common set of standards and technologies that would allow for compatibility and ease-of-use. There are currently few standards (or regulations) for what is needed to run an IoT device. Consortia that group together global industrial, tech, and electronics companies are involved in an effort to standardize the IoT and solve the most pressing security concerns.

Internet of Things developer tools and products are now available. Apple, for instance, has released HealthKit and HomeKit developer tools as part of its latest operating-system upgrade, and Google acquired Nest to catalyze the development of an Internet of Things platform and applications.

Demand for the first generation of Internet of Things products (fitness bands, smart watches, and smart thermostats, for instance) will increase as component technologies evolve and their costs decline.

 

Global presence of Ybrant Digital

Ybrant Digital – One of the leading Indian digital marketing company with significant global presence.

– Ybratn digital offers multi-channel platform with proprietary technology to reach consumers across different screens (net, mobile, video, social media) & across countries including faster growing emerging markets such as Latin America, Israel, India, China and Australia.

– Made 12 corporate investments over the last six years to achieve wider market penetration in terms of        product & reach.

– Generates over 1.5 billion searches and 34 billion impressions per month to service 150+ agencies & brands of over 2000+ advertisers and 6000+publishers across 140 countries.

– Owner of premium brands like Lycos, Gamesville, Tripod and Angelfire

– Ybrant also emerged as a player of relevance for three of the top five publisher networks and three of the top five advertising agencies globally.

– Ybrant Digital partnered through advertising agencies with blue chip advertisers and publisher networks including MTV, Yahoo, Samsung, Facebook, MSN, Viacom, Amex, Mastercard, Maruti Suzuki, Bharati Airtel,Sony India, Coco Cola, Star India, Vodafone, Reliance Communications, Samsung Electronics, Lenovo, ING, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Titan, Unilever, P&G, Mazda, Hyundai Motors, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, LIC, HP, Telstra and ITC.

 

World Bank forecast lower economic growth for China

The World Bank cut its economic growth forecasts for the East Asia and Pacific region on Monday and said there was a risk the slowdown in China could worsen and last longer than many analysts have forecast.Unlike the rest of the region, China is experiencing a double whammy — the growth slowdown is driven by weaker exports as well as domestic demand, in particular investment growth.The World Bank, like many economists, still expects China to have a soft landing as seen from the bank’s revised 7.7 percent growth forecast for this year and 8.1 percent for next year.The World Bank released its latest East Asia and Pacific Data Monitor, warning China’s that slowdown could accelerate.In the report, the international lender said that ambitious investment plans announced by several local governments in China could face funding constraints. The World Bank said the central government was unlikely to come up with a major fiscal stimulus package as policymakers were concerned about a rebound in home prices and a possible reversal of hot money flows.Nevertheless, the bank expects growth in China to pick up in 2013, helped by monetary policy measures introduced earlier this year and an acceleration of central government investment spending.The World Bank had earlier this year forecast 8.2 percent GDP growth for China in 2012 and 8.6 percent in 2013.For the region as a whole, the World Bank now expects developing East Asia to grow by 7.2 percent this year and 7.6 percent in 2013, down from earlier estimates of 7.6 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively. This is the slowest growth rate in the Asia Pacific region since 2001. It’s even slower than the peak of the financial crisis in 2009.The World Bank last week cut its 2012 growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.8 percent from 5.2 percent, and lowered its outlook for Latin America to 3 percent from the previous 3.5 to 4 percent, citing the global economic slowdown.Economic projections for EAP (East Asia and Pacific) are surrounded by considerable uncertainties, and a variety of risks continue to loom over the global and regional economy.

 

World’s most popular country – Germany: BBC Survey

Europe’s largest economy, Germany, which has been criticized for not doing enough to help struggling euro zone countries, has topped a poll as the world’s most popular country.The survey, carried out for the BBC, polled 26,000 people in 25 countries and asked them to rate 16 countries and the European Union as a whole on whether their influence on the world was mainly positive or negative.Germany came out on top, with 59 percent of survey participants giving it a positive rating. The country moved up three percentage points from its 2012 position. It displaced Japan, which saw its positive rating fall from 58 percent last year to 51 percent, going from first to fourth place.The most negatively perceived country was Iran, with only 15 percent of respondents giving it a positive rating. Pakistan and North Korea also received low ratings.Germany’s increased popularity was helped by positive reviews from people in Spain, France, Ghana and Australia. But in debt-laden Greece a majority of people polled gave Germany negative ratings.Other countries that saw a boost ratings included the UK, which climbed to No. 3 in the table following its hosting of the 2012 Olympics.China and India proved less popular, however. After improving for a number of years, their ratings fell sharply this year. China sank to the ninth position, with 42 percent of the respondents giving it a positive rating. India was ranked No. 12, with 35 percent of those polled saying their perception of the country was negative, while 34 percent viewed it positively.

 

India’s Food Security Bill(FSB) – too much expensive

India’s plan to give millions cheap food will cost more than its forecast of Rs 1.3 trillion (USD 23.8 billion) a year and will accelerate inflation, a leading adviser on food issues for the government said in an interview.The bill aims to provide subsidized wheat and rice to 70 percent of the 1.2 billion people in India, home to 25 percent of the world’s hungry poor, according to a UN agency, despite being one of the biggest producers of food supplies.The Congress party, which leads the coalition government, is pushing to pass the National food Security Bill before elections, which are due by May 2014.But the government’s own estimates say the bill would increase India’s annual food subsidy by 45 percent, threatening to add to an already hefty fiscal deficit. Critics say it is little more than an attempt to divert attention from corruption scandals involving the government. Calculation is that (Rs 1.25 trillion) is front-end subsidy. There are many costs that have not been counted.Food Minister KV Thomas has said the bill could cost Rs 1.2-1.3 trillion a year. The budget for the current year ending March 31, 2014 sets aside Rs 900 billion as the bill still awaits passage by parliament. Gulati, who advises the government on prices to pay farmers for their crops, said large-scale state grain purchases to meet commitments under the bill would lead to higher inflation.

 

Food Bill quandary in Indian Parliament

The government which introduced amendments to the landmark Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha could not get it passed as opposition stalled proceedings in the House over killing of Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan and other issues.Food Minister K V Thomas moved amendments to the National Food Security Bill, which was originally introduced in Parliament in December 2011, but no discussion on it could take place as the Opposition-led by BJP persisted with protest over Sarabjit Singh’s death.The cause was also not helped as other members raised issued like Chinese incursion and coalgate scam, forcing adjournment of the House for the day without passage of the measure.Major changes in this bill include doing away with priority and general classifications of beneficiaries and providing uniform allocation of 5 kg food grains (per person) at fixed rate of of Rs 3 (rice), Rs 2 (wheat) and Rs 1 (coarse grains) per kg to 67 per cent of the country’s population. Protection to 2.43 crore poorest of poor families under the Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) to supply of 35 kg food grains per month per family would continue.That apart, nutritional support to pregnant women without limitation are among other changes proposed in the Bill. At the proposed coverage of entitlement, total estimated annual foodgrains requirement is 61.23 million tonnes and is likely to cost the exchequer Rs 1,24,724 crore.

 

Digital Advertising accrues, Briton tops.

Advertising spending on the internet jumped 12.5 percent in Britain last year, defying a flagging economy as companies battled to reach consumers spending more time on smartphones and tablet computers.The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) announced through a study conducted by PwC showed spending on online advertising reached 5.42 billion pounds in 2012.The study, which used data from companies that had provided information the previous year, said internet ad spending rose 607 million pounds on 2011, with some 323 million pounds due to an increase in mobile advertising.Britain has led the way in moving advertising from traditional areas like newspapers and radio to the internet. A high take up of broadband and the rise of smartphones and tablet computers which allow users to access the internet on the go have helped the shift.

With around two-thirds of Britons owning a smartphone as of December 2012, mobile advertising now accounts for almost 10 percent of all digital ad spending, compared with about 1 percent in 2009.Video advertising grew 46 percent to 160 million pounds, accounting for 12 percent of online and mobile display in 2012.Demand for mobile ads is likely to increase after auctions for next-generation 4G airwaves earlier this year, which are set to deliver speeds more than five times faster than 3G services. These services will make downloading high-resolution video easier and enable better multi-tasking on the latest smartphones and tablets.The consumer goods sector overtook the finance sector as the biggest spender on digital display advertising – accounting for almost 16 percent of display ad spend in 2012.

 

BRICS bank!!!!!

In a major move aimed at reforming the global financial architecture, the BRICS finance ministers today agreed on the setting up of a development bank to fund infrastructure and development projects in the five-nation grouping of emerging powers.The agreement came after weeks of negotiations among the five emerging economies in a move aimed at changing the rules of governance in global governance, especially the Bretton Woods institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.Senior Indian negotiators have said that the BRICS bank initiative will be cleared at the level of the heads of government when the summit adopts the report of the finance ministers. Issues including capital, membership and governance still dog the BRICS bank over which a final document may get ready by next year. Still it may take years before it finally gets going.The BRICS bank can also borrow from other banks to pitch in with the much-needed capital. The BRICS bank will focus on funding infrastructure and development projects in the BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries in a direct challenge to the way the World Bank and IMF do their business.However, Indian negotiators are also conscious of the fact that issues like capital, membership and governance are yet to be thrashed but before the summit can put a seal of approval on launching the BRICS bank.

 

Swiss govt’s progress on illicit wealth

Facing demands from India and other countries for banking details of persons with alleged black money in Switzerland, the European nation has proposed new rules for combating money laundering and mandating extra due diligence by banks before accepting clients’ money.Switzerland’s Federal Council, the country’s top-most policy making body, has proposed that these norms would be put through an extensive consultation process till June 15.

The proposals come within days of Switzerland promising deepening of dialogue with India on administrative assistance and exchange of information about suspected illicit wealth stashed by Indians in the Swiss banks.At the same time, Switzerland’s finance ministry has also made it clear that it would not entertain any banking information requests that are based on stolen or illegally obtained account details, while it has also refused to consider any fishing expedition for Swiss bank details.In its latest proposals, the Federal Council said it has adopted two consultation drafts – one for implementation of the revised international recommendations on combating money-laundering and terrorist-financing, and the second for putting in place and extended due diligence requirements should prevent untaxed assets from being accepted by financial intermediaries in Switzerland.India is probing alleged stashing of untaxed funds in certain Swiss banks. The country has not got details of such funds directly from Switzerland and it is said that these details found their way to India after certain account details were stolen electronically by a third party.

 

IIM’s among top B-Schools ever

Despite hundreds of B-schools opening doors across India, the premier Indian Institutes of Managements or IIMs continue to be the most coveted. In an environment where many lesser known private B-schools are facing closure and even new IIMs are struggling to attract faculty and build infrastructure, the top 20 B-schools are reinforcing their position in the popularity charts. Down the years, IIMs have been the top pick for almost all aspiring B-school candidate.

And now, in the latest study, the MBA rankings list compiled by C-fore research, for the academic year 2012, the Indian Institute of Managements or IIMs lead the race, with the top 10 spots going to IIM-Ahmedabad, followed by IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Calcutta, IIM-Lucknow, XLRI Jamshedpur, IIM-Kozikhode.IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, SP Jain Mumbai and FMS Delhi. This year’s surprise has been IMI, delhi which moved up to the 7th place from 15th last year, because of its strong faculty base.While IIM-A is the top choice for Finance and Marketing, IIM-C is most popular for IT and Operations and for those looking to pursue HR, XLRI is a firm favourite. While, IIM-B emerged number 1 in terms of publication in international journals, revenue form management programmes and affiliations to foreign B-schools, IIM-A takes the top spot in terms of revenue from consultancy and incubating startups.In terms of intellectual capital, placements and employer satisfaction, too…there’s no beating IIM-A. However, IIM-bangalore is the strongest in its infrastructure among all schools.Salary structures are also seeing a distinct change…with the gap between averages salaries being paid to graduates from older and newer IIMs narrowing. In 2012, the average salary offered to an IIM-A graduate was 16.4 lakh per annum and the same for IIM-Ranchi was 13 lakhs. But the seven newer IIMs are fighting a tough battle with their older peers. The new and younger IIMs are finding it tough to attract faculty and build infrastructure and have also not found much favour with top companies such as Mckinsey and Boston Consulting who continue to make a beeline for the older IIMs during the placement season.