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Tag: asia

  • HBO Max already has over 4 million subscribers in the US

    HBO Max already has over 4 million subscribers in the US

    HBO Max launched in the United States at the end of May. Today, almost two months later, WarnerMedia parent company AT&T has announced that the streaming service already has over 4 million subscribers.

    Speaking on an earnings call earlier today, AT&T CEO John Stankey revealed to analysts and investors that HBO and HBO Max reached a combined total of 36.3 million subscribers by the end of June.

    Therefore, HBO Max reached its 4.1 million subscriber count in little over a month. The numbers do pale in comparison to the incredible 10 million subscriber count Disney+ achieved in only 24 hours, but the HBO Max feat is impressive nonetheless.

    Roughly 3 million were retail customers while the remaining 1.1 million came from activations through AT&T platforms such as bundle plans. The latter is surprisingly low considering the millions of customers that are eligible for the service.

    WarnerMedia already had 30 million cable customers and HBO Now subscribers that could be moved over to HBO Max at launch. But Stankey revealed the company has had trouble getting people subscribed to cable services over to the service.

    Improving that situation is now an area of focus, the CEO said. The company is also having discussions with Roku and Amazon about getting the streaming service onto their respective Roku TV and Fire TV platforms, which are the two most popular in the US.

    The negotiations aren’t going as smoothly as they could, though. Amazon, in particular, has reportedly taken an “approach of treating HBO Max and its customers differently” than competing services and their respective customers.

    WarnerMedia insists that HBO Max should be launched as an independent app on both Roku and Amazon platforms, but these company want the streaming service integrated into their Channels section like HBO and HBO Now.

    Whatever the outcome, it seems customers will enjoy the service. The amount of time spent inside the HBO Max app is up an impressive 70% compared to HBO Now thanks to the expanded content library.

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  • Giant Phoenix Palassio mall opens in India

    Giant Phoenix Palassio mall opens in India

    Indian developer Phoenix Mills has launched a 1 million sqft mall in Lucknow, called Phoenix Palassio.

    “Phoenix Palassio is the first mall to become operational of the five that we are developing as a part of our ongoing expansion of over 5 million sqft across Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Indore, and Ahmedabad,” said The Phoenix Mills non-executive chairman Atul Ruia. “This expansion will see us double our mall portfolio by 2024.

    The new mall opens as India is gradually emerging from its coronavirus lockdown, meaning many visitors to the property may be entering a mall for the first time in months. With the pandemic in mind, Palassio has launched with minimal contact services, social distancing markers, UV bag screening, sanitized shopping trolleys, multiple convenient hand sanitizer locations and contactless payment points throughout the stores and parking areas.

    “We are confident that as the nation unlocks, rigorous compliance with government guidelines and global best practices in retail will set the tone for the sector’s revival,” said Ruia.

    The mall opened fully leased, with well-known international and local brands taking space, including some who making their debut in Lucknow.

    Despite the high-profile design and launch of the mall, the Phoenix Palassio website states opening hours will be restricted from 9 am to 11 pm during weekdays – closed on weekends.

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  • T-Mobile isn’t the only U.S. carrier with a nationwide 5G network

    T-Mobile isn’t the only U.S. carrier with a nationwide 5G network

    Move over T-Mobile, you’re no longer the only nationwide 5G network in town. AT&T announced Thursday that it has added 5G in 40 more markets; as a result, the country’s second-largest wireless provider now covers 205 million Americans with its 5G signal. Helping AT&T speed up the process so quickly was the launch last month of dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) in parts of Florida and Texas. DSS responds in real-time to demand on AT&T’s network for either 4G LTE or 5G spectrum. Thus the use of the word “Dynamic” in DSS.

    With DSS, the same channel can be employed for 4G and 5G users at the same time. The technology is “traffic-aware” so 4G LTE and 5G resources are allocated based on the makeup of the traffic. Using its 850MHz low-band spectrum, AT&T’s coast-to-coast 5G can be found in 395 markets. T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G uses the carrier’s 600MHz low-band spectrum and can be accessed by 225 million people, 20 million more than AT&T. Besides offering 5G over its low-band spectrum, in limited parts of 35 markets, AT&T’s 5G+ service employs its faster mmWave spectrum.

    On August 7th, AT&T will offer its 5G service to customers of its least expensive unlimited plan at no additional cost. The Unlimited Starter postpaid plan costs $140 for 4 lines ($35 per line/per month). Customers on more expensive unlimited plans already had 5G service. The wireless provider’s prepaid customers will also have access to 5G via the Unlimited Plus plan, which costs $75 per month or $50 with autopay. That service also begins on August 7th.

    Chris Sambar, Executive Vice President of Technology Operations said, “Our strategy of deploying 5G in both sub-6 (5G) and mmWave (5G+) spectrum bands will provide the best mix of speeds, latency and coverage that are needed to enable revolutionary new capabilities to fuel 5G experiences for consumers and businesses. Our competitors are still working to provide that same mix, which for them could take months or even years. What we offer is available to consumers and businesses today, and we’re not slowing down.”

    5G phones that AT&T sells include the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G, the Galaxy S20 series, the Galaxy A71 5G, and the LG V60 ThinQ 5G. The LG Velvet 5G is now available and orders for the Galaxy Z Flip 5G will start shipping on August 7. Customers of AT&T’s Cricket Wireless prepaid brand will be able to activate 5G service on a Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G starting on August 21st.

    While all three major carriers plan on using low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrum to build-out their 5G networks, right now T-Mobile is the only one using mid-band airwaves for 5G thanks to the 2.5GHz spectrum it took control of after closing on the Sprint merger. Keep in mind that the merger was always about obtaining those assets from Sprint. Verizon is focusing on its mmWave spectrum which is why it is taking so long for it to complete. You see, the 600MHz and 850MHz airwaves used by T-Mobile and AT&T respectively, travel farther and penetrate structures better than mmWave spectrum. The latter, though, delivers faster data speeds and can handle larger amounts of traffic than low-band spectrum.

    While mid-band spectrum is rare in the states, all three carriers will take part in an auction of Priority Access Licenses (PALs) for 3.5GHz spectrum that is shared with the Navy in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). However, purchasing a PAL will allow a carrier to have first crack at using the spectrum.

    AT&T also announced today that it spent $1 billion to buy new spectrum that will be used for its 5G network. At the same time, the company said that it lost 151,000 postpaid subscribers during the second quarter. But that figure includes 338,000 subscribers that AT&T counts as a lost subscriber because they didn’t pay their bills. But AT&T continued to deliver service to these accounts during the quarter because of the Keep America Connected Pledge that the wireless firms agreed to in March. Under the pledge, customers who could not pay their bill were not given the boot, late charges were waived, and non-customers had access to a carrier’s mobile hotspot. The Keep America Connected Pledge expired on June 30th, the last day of the third quarter.

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  • Gold prices hit new peak

    Gold prices hit new peak

    Vietnam’s gold prices continued their ascent Thursday to reach a new peak as global rates rose, driven by the latest escalation in U.S.-China tensions.

    State-owned Saigon Jewelry Company sold its popular SJC gold at VND54.2 million ($2,341) per tael of 37.5 grams (1.2 ounces), up 1.3 percent from Wednesday. The country’s largest jewelry company, DOJI, sold at VND53.7 million ($2,319), up 1.6 percent.

    Global rates went up by 0.3 percent to $1,873.97 on Thursday, the highest in nearly nine years, after the U.S. gave China 72 hours to close its consulate in Houston amid accusations of spying. China has vowed to retaliate.

    The fear of missing out “is driving a flood of speculative money into gold, piling on top of January-June’s heavy physical demand,” Bloomberg quoted Adrian Ash, director of research at BullionVault, as saying.

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  • NBA and Titan launch merchandising partnership in the Philippines

    NBA and Titan launch merchandising partnership in the Philippines

    The US National Basketball Association (NBA) has signed a multiyear merchandising partnership with Titanomachy, Philippines’ basketball specialty store.

    Under the partnership, NBA will relaunch its official e-commerce store in the Philippines, which is operated by Titan, next month.

    The online store will offer a wide selection of merchandise from all NBA’s 30 teams, including jerseys, shirts, footwear, headwear, outerwear, accessories and equipment.

    “We look forward to providing passionate Filipino fans with unprecedented access to authentic NBA products through the relaunch of the league’s online store,” said Lesley Rulloda, NBA Asia Associate VP of global merchandising.

    The NBA online store will also feature exclusive collections and products, including the NBA Philippines Tees Collection.

    “Our newly forged partnership with the NBA will enable us to cater to a wider range of Filipino basketball fans and equip them with new ways to express their love for their favorite teams, players and league,” said Mike Ignacio, MD of Titanomachy.

    The NBA Philippines is the league’s 25th branded international e-commerce store.

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  • Volcom to expand stores in China with local partner

    Volcom to expand stores in China with local partner

    California-born board-sports brand Volcom has teamed with China Ting Group to expand its retail network in Mainland China.

    Under a deal signed with Volcom’s parent Authentic Brands Group China Ting Group will be a “pivotal partner” supporting the brand in key markets.

    China Ting Group said it will launch 12 Volcom stores in China by the end of this year.

    “We are bringing Volcom’s board-sports lifestyle to China,” said Jarrod Weber, group president lifestyle, chief brand officer at ABG. “As a brand that is authentically rooted in this culture, Volcom has significant appeal to young consumers around the globe.”

    Volcom opened two new stores last month in the Mixc Mall in Hangzhou and in the Sanya Summer mall in Hainan.

    “We look forward to building a successful, long-term partnership with Authentic Brands Group”, said Ray Ting, vice president, at The China Ting Group. “As America’s first boarding company, Volcom is known throughout the world for innovation and integrity and we’re excited to bring it into the mainstream here in China.”

    Volcom has already built a loyal customer base in China over nearly a decade through channels such as Tmall.com. The brand is now focusing on expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific market.

    Volcom’s regional e-commerce store will be re-launched next year.

    Founded as a clothing company rooted in skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding, Volcom was acquired by Authentic Brands Group from Kering last year.

  • Why Production Monitoring Makes Sense for Your Business

    Why Production Monitoring Makes Sense for Your Business

    Global quality control company HQTS’ Production Monitoring service helps your supply chain be as efficient as possible. Production Monitoring is an end-to-end service for monitoring the production process. It gives customers greater control and insight into the entire manufacturing process with no unwelcome surprises.

    It’s crucial for importers to ensure product quality during production and reduce the incidences of delayed shipping and quality defects.

    The manufacturing process is becoming fragmented with increased outsourcing which represents a bigger challenge for buyers to manage. The goal should be to minimize quality issues at the start of production and have a sound quality process that detects and resolves defects throughout the production process.

    Production Monitoring is different to inspections in that it is employed throughout the entire production process from sample evaluation to loading supervision. It’s a comprehensive way to ensure products adhere to production timelines and meet shipping deadlines offering a full view into the process rather than the general snapshot that comes with inspections.

    It minimizes the risk of delayed shipments by confirming production schedule, monitoring the full manufacturing process from receiving materials to shipping according to quality requirements.

    The service helps to not only ensure products arrive on time, but also cuts out the chance of reworks, renegotiations, or returns. Problems can be solved at a stage when they are still manageable too and Production Monitoring also offers technical support to improve supplier quality management.

    The seven stages of Production Monitoring are Supplier Selection, Product Development, Production Planning, Initial Production, During Production, End of Production, and Shipping.

    HQTS has also recently expanded its offering to include a new During Production Monitoring service. The new service is based on a three-module customisable structure allowing for a more agile approach.

    The Process Monitoring Module includes Warehouse Monitoring, IQC Monitoring, Critical Components Monitoring, Production Line Monitoring, 4M1E Monitoring, and Packaging Process Monitoring.

    The Sampling Inspection Module (DPI) includes Material Sampling inspection, Semi-finished Product Sampling Inspection, On-Site Test, First Article Inspection, Finished Product Sampling Inspection, and Packaging Sampling Inspection.

    The third part is a Follow Up Module which offers an NPI Follow Up and Corrective and Preventive Action.

    HQTS will begin to work directly with suppliers to ensure clients’ quality needs are clearly communicated and met, allowing them to have more control over their production process.

    About HQTS

    HQTS provides quality control inspections, factory audits, supplier evaluations, consumer product testing, production control and management, and quality control consulting throughout greater Asia. Backed by the industry knowledge and experience of nearly 1,500 professionals, in more than 20 countries, HQTS is well-suited to be your partner in quality.

     

  • Vietjet recognized as most impactful Vietnamese brand worldwide

    Vietjet recognized as most impactful Vietnamese brand worldwide

    Vietjet has achieved another major accolade – winning the ‘Vietnam Brand, Global Impact’ award under the PR Newswire Awards 2020 in recognition of its achievement as a trailblazer in expanding its flight network and brand name proven by creative, meaningful and inspiring activities across the globe.

    The prestigious award is judged by a panel comprising international experts and leaders in the communications and public relations industry.

    Speaking at the award ceremony, Vietjet Group’s Vice President Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh said: “With our mission of constantly expanding our flight network across Asia and boosting trade activities globally, Vietjet has been an inspiring ambassador to bring Vietnam to all international friends as well as contribute towards global tourism and economic development. We achieved this thanks to our expanding network with over 200 routes, more than 100 million passengers transported to-date, many large-scale business deals signed with international partners as well as tens of thousands of jobs created in Asia, Europe and America. We are proud that Vietjet, a Vietnamese brand in the aviation industry, has been favored by millions of customers and partners and has truly become the inspiration for the young generation around the world.”

    Vietjet is also one of the few enterprises and only Vietnamese carrier that brings its brand beyond the country’s border to add more value and inspire others in the international market. In Thailand, Vietjet has established Thai Vietjet, leveraging the Vietnamese brand name of Vietjet.  The carrier has extended both the domestic and international flight network with its base in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s largest and busiest airport. The airline has transported more than eight million passengers in Thailand and other countries to famous destinations across the Land of Smiles. It has been welcomed and trusted by the country and people of Thailand.

    The 2020 awards is hosted by PR Newswire, a Cision Ltd. Company which is a leading global provider of news distribution and earned media software and services. It has the world’s largest media distribution network, covering over 300,000 media outlets in more than 170 countries and over 40 languages.

  • BNP Paribas AM Names New APAC Chief

    BNP Paribas AM Names New APAC Chief

    The financial services industry veteran, who joins from rival J.P. Morgan Asset Management, brings a wealth of experience in the investment management industry and deep knowledge of key client segments in the region.

    BNP Paribas Asset Management on Wednesday announced the appointment of Steven Billiet as head of Asia Pacific, with effect from 8 August 2020. He succeeds Ligia Torres, who is retiring from the firm and will return to Europe in August.

    Based in Hong Kong, Billet will be responsible for further accelerating the strategic expansion of BNPP AM’s Asia Pacific business, and will facilitate a more integrated approach to driving growth in the region, the announcement said.

    Billet joined the firm in March as its Asia Pacific head of distribution and will retain these responsibilities alongside his new role. He reports to Sandro Pierri, BNPP AM global head of client group, and locally to Eric Raynaud, head of BNP Paribas in Asia Pacific.

    Billiet was previously chief executive officer for J.P. Morgan Asset Management (Singapore), responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s asset management business in Singapore as well as in South and Southeast Asia and Korea.

    Before joining the firm in January 2014, Billiet spent 19 years with ING, 12 of which in Asia where he held a number of senior roles such as, CEO of Investment Management Asia Pacific (Singapore), CEO of Investment Management Australia, CEO of Investment Management Taiwan and India Country Head of Private Banking and Wealth Management.

    Billiet’s predecessor Torres retired after more than 23 years with BNP Paribas, including seven with BNP Paribas Asset Management.

    During her tenure at the firm, she contributed to significant growth in the region, and played a particularly important role in upholding the firm’s sustainability strategy and enhancing our external visibility on the sustainable investment agenda with our clients, Frédéric Janbon, BNPP AM chief executive officer, said.

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  • 7-Eleven warns of bogus ‘franchisor’ in Cambodia

    7-Eleven warns of bogus ‘franchisor’ in Cambodia

    Convenience-store chain 7-Eleven has warned of a bogus ‘franchisor’ in Cambodia. The company said it received reports that there is an unauthorized party representing itself as 7-Eleven’s master franchisee in the country and attempting to sell outlets.

    The reports promoted the company to issue an announcement confirming that Thailand’s CP All is the sole master franchisee in the market, having the exclusive right to open and operate 7-Eleven stores there.

    Last May, Thailand’s CP Group signed a master franchise agreement to operate the chain in Cambodia. The first store is scheduled to launch in Phnom Penh next year.

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  • Tops unveils new supermarket retail format in Bangkok

    Tops unveils new supermarket retail format in Bangkok

    Bangkok’s Tops Market Westgate has undergone a major renovation designed to position the supermarket as the “most complete premium lifestyle supermarket in Thailand”.

    The revamp features six “magnet” zones introducing more than 40,000 globally sourced products and focused on meeting a broad range of target consumer trends, in a move to match Central Plaza Westgate’s own development plans and ambitions to become a Western Bangkok shopping hub. The zones include a bakery, health food store, international snacks market, a beauty and lifestyle zone, a dine-in section, and a pet accessories store. The renovation also features a farmers’ market.

    “The complete transformation of Tops Market Westgate is part of our strategy to move our business forward to meet changing consumer trends,” said Central Food Retail COO Sujita Phengoun. “We aim to elevate the shopping experience by offering a premium lifestyle supermarket for our customers to enjoy a new experience and have more fun while shopping.

    “Tops Market Westgate is a blueprint store for our premium lifestyle supermarkets in 2020, offering the most complete products and services in Thailand. There are six new zones that will serve as magnets that draw all customer groups. The renovation is in line with the expansion and increased purchasing power of consumers in Western Bangkok, and resonates with Central Westgate’s strategies to expand our customer base in eight provinces, in order to be the number one destination in Western Bangkok.

    Tops Market Westgate also features a fresh-food zone, a parenting zone, a fashion zone and a promotions zone.

  • Apple commits to reach carbon neutrality by latest 2030

    Apple commits to reach carbon neutrality by latest 2030

    Joining the growing list of businesses creating sustainable roadmaps to fuel future growth, technology giant Apple has committed to reaching carbon neutrality in its supply chain and production by 2030.

    Apple is already carbon neutral in its global corporate operations, but with this commitment, Apple will be removing 75 percent of its total carbon footprint while offsetting the remaining 25 percent with carbon removal solutions.

    “Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

    “Climate action can be the foundation for a new era of innovative potential, job creation, and durable economic growth. With our commitment to carbon neutrality, we hope to be a ripple in the pond that creates a much larger change.”

    Moving forward, Apple will lower its emissions through a number of initiatives, including a low carbon product design, investments in expanding energy efficiency, a continued focus on utilizing renewable energy, process, and material innovations, and the removal of carbon emissions.

    “We’re proud of our environmental journey and the ambitious roadmap we have set for the future,” said Apple’s VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives Lisa Jackson.

    The shift will be supported by Apple’s $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which focuses on addressing education, economic equality, and criminal justice reform.

    “Systemic racism and climate change are not separate issues, and they will not abide by separate solutions,” Jackson said.

    “We have a generational opportunity to help build a greener and more just economy, one where we develop whole new industries in the pursuit of giving the next generation a planet worth calling home.”

    Apple’s ten-year commitment mirrors that of many of its contemporaries, with Microsoft announcing in January not only would it be carbon negative by 2030, but it would retroactively remove all carbon it had emitted since the business’ founding in 1975 by 2050.

    Swedish furniture firm Ikea, as well, is looking to become climate positive, or carbon-neutral, by 2030. The end goal is for all Ikea products to become 100 percent circular, using renewables and recycled materials.

    “That means we will reduce more greenhouse gas emissions than our value chain emits while growing the Ikea business,” Ikea said.

    “Our responsibility stretches across the entire value chain of our business: from the materials we use, manufacturing and transporting of products, our stores, customer travel and home deliveries, product use in customers’ homes and product end-of-life.

    “By taking a scientific approach and working together with our partners, suppliers, and customers around the world, we will make it happen!”

    And just last week, global retail marketplace and tech business Amazon announced a partnership with the We Mean Business coalition to further the Climate Pledge – an Amazon co-founder.

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  • Spotify rolls out video podcasts to free and premium users worldwide

    Spotify rolls out video podcasts to free and premium users worldwide

    Podcasts are a thing for several years now, but they only recently blow up. Spotify and other music streaming services are pushing out lots of features related to podcasts, including the option to see the actual podcasters, while listening to them.

    Spotify revealed that it’s now rolling out a new video podcast feature with select podcasts, which will allow both free and premium users to listen to or watch these podcasts. Spotify also highlighted some of the podcasts that will benefit from video integration: Book of Basketball 2.0, Fantasy Footballers, The Misfits Podcast, H3 Podcast, The Morning Toast, Higher Learning with Van Lathan & Rachel Lindsay, and The Rooster Teeth Podcast.

    Regardless of whether you’re using an Android or iOS device, you can watch podcasts by pressing the play icon that usually appears on compatible podcasts. They should start automatically and sync almost immediately with the audio feed.

    The option to download the audio on your phone so that you can listen to your favorite podcasts on the go will remain available. Keep in mind that the video feature will only roll out in countries where podcasts are supported.

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  • DBS Inks Digital Trade Financing Partnership

    DBS Inks Digital Trade Financing Partnership

    The bank will work with industry cloud software provider Infor to integrate digital trade financing capabilities into global supply chains.

    Under the partnership, the two sides will use innovative supplier financing tools, as well as Infor’s rich physical and financial supply chain data to bring new opportunities to fund suppliers and help reduce supply chain risk and friction, DBS said in a statement on Thursday.

    The first program under the partnership provides a faster and more cost-efficient digital trade financing to suppliers in an apparel company’s supply chain ecosystem, which comprises mostly small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The next program, planned for late 2020, aims to improve the pre-shipment finance by using supply chain data as the primary conduit to assess risk and creditworthiness.

    Infor’s Nexus platform has more than 68,000 businesses, including market leaders in aerospace, healthcare delivery, automotive suppliers, industrial distributors, as well as global banks, retailers, hotel brands, luxury brands, and more.

    Our collaboration with Infor enables greater transparency into complex supply chains and provides insights into the transaction patterns between an anchor and its ecosystem of suppliers, DBS’ Sriram Muthukrishnan said about the partnership.

    The bank’s group head of trade product management noted that quicker and more cost-efficient financing to suppliers provided earlier in the cycle, as compared to conventional post-shipment supplier financing programs, is especially relevant today, given the environment characterized by prolonged trade disruptions and tighter credit lines, where optimal working capital management is key to survival.

  • Standard Chartered to Pilot Crypto Custody Solution

    Standard Chartered to Pilot Crypto Custody Solution

    The bank’s ventures and innovation platform is reportedly building a crypto custody offering for the institutional market, with a pilot planned for later this year.

    SC Ventures developing a venture to meet the demands of institutional investors for an end-to-end institutional-grade custodian of digital assets, which meets regulatory standards, Alex Manson its Singapore-based global head, told Coindesk earlier this week.

    The custodial solution will be based in the U.K., but will be open to clients from around the world, Manson said, noting interest from 20 institutions.

    Manson highlighted the opportunity to kick-start the institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies by providing the fundamental market infrastructure. He told the blockchain news portal that solutions currently available lack the security required to secure millions of dollars in digital assets, and lack function segregation.

    Complementing its custodial initiative, SC Ventures participated in an oversubscribed $17 million Series A funding round for Metaco, which runs an institutional operating system for digital assets.

    German-based security technology company Giesecke+Devrient led the round, which also saw participation from Zürcher Kantonalbank and venture capital firm Investiere, as well as all existing strategic shareholders Swisscom, SICPA, Avaloq Ventures, and Swiss Post.

    The funds will be used to fuel the next phase of the company’s growth in sales, product, and partnerships, and broaden its presence in the U.S., Southeast Asia, and Western Europe, the announcement last week said.