The Stiel Report

China UnionPay Said To Be Launching Square-Like Card-Acceptance Device

Editor — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:14:30 +0000

China UnionPay, China’s national card network, soon may launch a mobile card-acceptance device similar to the one Square and other companies have launched in the U.S., according to media reports.

The only three true job interview questions

Editor — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:36:32 +0000

The only three true job interview questions are:
1. Can you do the job?
2. Will you love the job?
3. Can we tolerate working with you?

That’s it. Those three.

Coinstar, Starbucks testing automated coffee kiosks

Editor — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:19:24 +0000

In partnership with Seattle’s Best Coffee, an independently operated brand within the Starbucks portfolio, Starbucks and Bellevue-based self-service kiosk vendor Coinstar have teamed up to test an automated coffee machine that accepts payment cards.

PayPal Prepaid Announces Exclusive Partner

Editor — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:52:15 +0000

NetSpend Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: NTSP) announced it will be the “exclusive program and distribution manager and processor” for PayPal’s new PrePaid MasterCard product. The issuer for the new PayPal PrePaid MasterCard product is The Bancorp Bank, a subsidiary of publicly-traded Bancorp Inc.

On the credit card side, apparently no impact on the GE Capital-issued the PayPal credit card.

$5 Gallon Gas by Summer?

Editor — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:09:50 +0000

The Los Angeles Times reports today the American national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has rose above $3.50 a gallon on just three occasions, but it has never happened this early in the year. Analysts say it’s likely a sign that price at the pump will rise to some of the highest levels ever seen later this year.

"Early February crude oil prices are higher than they’ve ever been on similar calendar dates through the years, and the price of crude sets the standard for gasoline prices," Kloza said in the LA Times, later adding, "We’ve lost a number of refineries in the last six months [to permanent closure. Some of those refineries represented the key to a smooth spring transition from winter-to-spring gasoline."

Some cities, like Los Angeles and New York, are already closing in on $4 a gallon, said Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com.

Oil prices remained at historically high levels on Monday, rising $2.23 to $100.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That’s 18% higher over a year ago. In London, oil rose 48 cents to $117.79 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe Exchange.

Apple puts independent auditor on factory working conditions

Editor — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:48:13 +0000

Apple has requested to the Fair Labor Association (FLA) to conduct special voluntary audits of its final assembly suppliers, including Foxconn’s factories in Shenzen and Chengdu, China. A special team of labor rights experts will be led by FLA president Auret van Heerden. Inspections started Monday at the Foxconn City factory in Shenzen. Other Apple suppliers, including Quanta and Pegatron, may undergo similar inspections in the spring. Apple has said more than 90 percent of Apple’s product assembly will be reviewed through the process.

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46% of phones NFC-enabled by 2016

Editor — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:59:02 +0000

A new report just released by MarketResearch.com is predicting that approximately 46% of all mobile phones will be NFC-enabled by 2016. That’s up from just 5% in 2011.

U.S. banks have issued over a million Visa EMV chip cards

Editor — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:01:16 +0000

Visa Inc. reported this week that U.S. banks have issued more than 1 million Visa chip cards compliant with the EMV standard. Visa also introduced new EMV processing services to help hold onto card issuers who want to reduce their own investments in chip technology.

Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility expected to get approval

Editor — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:10:55 +0000

The WSJ reports the U.S. Justice Department will approve Google’s bid to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, as soon as next week. According to other published accounts, European regulators are expected to make their decision by Monday. The Wall Street Journal reports that regulators remain concerned about the huge portfolio of patents Google will gain from the deal. The DOJ will closely monitor the company to ensure that the company licenses them to competitors on fair terms.

Quote of the Day: “Marketing is dead”

Editor — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:55:28 +0000

"Marketing is dead," Saatchi & Saatchi worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts said in his opening keynote speech at MIDEM’s Visionary Monday in Cannes (home to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity). "We have got a much higher calling now. Your role is not to market stuff at people, but to create a movement. You’ve got to create a movement and inspire people to join your movement, whether that’s an artist or a venue…We’ve moved from interruption to interaction."