Green Tip for Mobile ‘Prosumer’

I came across an interesting article, which stated that mobile manufactures are trying to provide a platform for delivering web-based content and applications to mobile devices rapidly and cost-effectively - with minimal recoding. Well, this is good news for professional mobile users.
With almost one-third of the U.S. workforce on the road or working from home, the ability to extend enterprise applications and Web content to mobile devices has become a business imperative. Just as client/server and desktop software systems have evolved from native coded environments to open, standards-based systems, so too has the software for mobile devices “grown up” to incorporate the latest advances in web and security standards.
Web developers are influenced by the growing need which is making them to develop and deploy fully interactive mobile web applications with ‘sync & go’ (technology that helps in sharing, viewing, talking, listening and collaborating with other devices with one keystroke ) or wireless capabilities. So no matter where users are, they'll be able to access the information and applications they need to make more effective business decisions in the field without any hassles. Mobile companies are thus in a new era to develop, deploy, and maintain mobile web applications rapidly and with the fastest speed to browse and lowest total cost of ownership as possible with all other main features.
By Rohith R.R

Brushwork By A Geeta

Will Google Succeed in Creating a Cell-Phone Universe?

My take is that Google can do it but it will be a very challenging task.

The latest entrants are software companies that have entered into mobile phone space, specifically - Google and Apple.

Apple obviously came first. The iPhone has been heralded as a wake-up call to the mobile industry long criticized for making anything other than voice phone calls difficult and expensive. More recently is Google, making things really interesting with its Android initiative. Unlike the iPhone, which is a flashy piece of hardware optimized with equally flashy software - Android is Google’s open-source operating system for mobile phones.

Google and its 34 partners in the Open Handset Alliance are betting that together they can reshape the mobile phone industry by offering a free Linux-based mobile phone operating system and software dubbed ‘Android’. Android consists of a fully integrated mobile software stack containing an operating system, middleware, user interface and applications. Google expects the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008.

It's a bit of a pipe dream
Google is not the first company to promise the mobile phone community an easier and more streamlined way to develop new applications.

Microsoft tried to unite the fragmented mobile phone market under Windows Mobile OS, but despite licensing agreements with some 50 phone manufacturers, it shipped around only 10 million-15 million phones during 2007. Nokia tried it too, spearheading the Symbian OS, which has captured more than 70% of the global smart-phone market, according to ABI Research. But developers must pay licensing fees to write for the platform, and ABI expects its market share to fall to almost 40% by 2012. (Symbian operating system is developed by a consortium of handset makers including Nokia and Sony Ericsson. The software is licensed to a number of handset manufacturers and is the No. 1 smartphone operating system for handsets in the world)

Google in a fiercely competitive market
Google has ventured into a fiercely competitive market, going up against Microsoft, which offers a mobile version of its Windows operating system; Symbian, which is owned and backed by industry players, including Nokia and Ericsson. Apple has its own operating system for iPhone.

Microsoft and Symbian's failure to dominate the market is striking. Both have been available for years - Windows Mobile is already on its sixth iteration - but handset manufacturers and network operators have not made either into a standard, for fear of ceding too much value to the standard's owner.

The Google strategy seems to make the environment for Windows Mobile much more challenging. If the plan succeeds, Android could pose a real threat to the existing smartphone operating system vendors. Clearly, this is a threat to Microsoft from the platform side

Not a easy task for Google
Getting consensus on a single operating system is easier said than done, since the companies that have developed these platforms have a vested interest in seeing their solution dominate. Alliances have been formed in the past to promote some standardization, but the problem has always been that the companies involved are reluctant to give up control.

While Google has rallied some of largest companies in the mobile ecosystem including chipmaker Qualcomm; handset makers Samsung Electronics, Motorola, and LG Electronics; and mobile operators T-Mobile, Sprint-Nextel, and Telecom Italia--it is still missing some significant players. For example, U.S. operators Verizon Wireless and AT&T haven't signed on to the alliance, nor has European operator Vodafone. In addition, Nokia is not a party to it.

It truly has to be an ecosystem that has everyone involved. Without AT&T and Verizon Wireless I think it just becomes yet another platform that all developers just have to write

Google is optimistic
Andy Rubin, head of the Android project at Google, hopes that within five years, "hundreds of millions" of Android-based phones will be sold per year. After five years of
effort, Microsoft ships about 20 million phones based on Windows Mobile each year

It is only time which will tell whether we all will be using single platform based mobile or not. Me too like most analysts keep fingers crossed on this. Hey, by the way, where is much talked Google’s phone (GPhone)?

By Shivashankar M.P.

Wheel of Retailing re-invented – Convergence hitting Indian Organized Retailing, specially in Petroleum/ Convenience Formats

I read this feature article in a business paper recently that said “Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum to open over 3,000 outlets this year” Which, given the loss making nature of these government owned oil marketing companies, should come as a surprise. Apparently, they are doing it to raise competitive barriers. But, what interested me more, was their stated intention of raising the contribution from non fuel retailing. IOC apparently currently earns about Rs 200 crore from its non-fuel retail, and hopes to take that up to Rs 3,000 crore per annum in the next few years.
Now, according to me, Non fuel retailing suffers from ‘confused’ positioning between ‘Kirana stores’ and ‘organised’ retail outlets – on the face of it, these outlets offer the ‘convenience’ of shopping/ snacking whenever you stop to fill petrol – and ofcourse, that’s a powerful proposition. But in India, where in any case, there are kirana shops littering the streets – willing to deliver products to your homes at a phone call, at rates that are lower than MRP, and also with a comfort level of very often offering you a ‘monthly account book’ – the proposition falls a little short. Add to it the fact that a) unlike the West, where you get out of your car or two wheeler to fill ‘gas’ yourself, and then its only a few steps to the store to pick up your eggs and bread; in India, you very often do not leave the comfort of your car while the petrol station attendant is filling ‘er up, and so the inertia of getting out to shop is higher; b) very few gas stations if any may have extra space for parking if this behavior were to grow; and c) A bulk of the convenience store merchandize is liquor and tobacco in the West – in India, liquor sales are regulated, and tobacco is maybe the best distributed product category; it really makes you wonder about the robustness of the model.
The ‘powers that be’ seem to agree - "We have some concerns and are not happy with the idea. Oil companies have more important problems to concentrate on such as adulteration and retail automation," said Mr M.S. Srinivasan, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, when asked about Indian Oil's plans to enter non-fuel retailing.
Notwithstanding that, we now hear about the majors in Petrol and Retail tying up to sell a wide range of products, and even services (like insurance!)
This actually nullifies a classical theory on the evolution of retailing formats – the wheel of retailing – the theory shows a cycle of retailers/ retail formats gaining a foothold into a market through productivity and low prices, only over time to lose some of that edge and beginning to move upstream in terms of product mix and customers, only to again later face more competitive problems as the newest round of low price competitors attacks from the bottom – the tide seems to be turning in India as all forms are converging, and there is a real ‘mashup’ of formats.
I think we just have to wait and see which way the wheel turns.

Convenience Retailing – A Venture by Petroleum Majors

Retailing, the idea that is synonymous with the rising Market economy, has led to newer concepts globally. Hypermarkets, discount-retailers, neighborhood stores, convenience stores are new options that retail market is poised to make giant strides. The demand for a superior shopping experiences and the emergence of organized retailing has evolved the concept – Convenience Retailing.

Convenience retailing was brought about by a large number of retailers who have made a significant presence in the segment, an existing customer base, and strategically located sites. The term convenience arose due to the need shown through research that an urban consumer needs to save his precious time and find convenience in shopping for his basic needs. The implementation of this research has certainly paid off; Tesco in UK, which had 200 stores in 2004 have increased their convenience stores to 2,083 in 2007 and are expected to double by 2010.

Now, does it make sense for Petroleum Companies to venture out into the Convenience Retailing industry? Well, the answer can only be “Yes” even with your eyes closed.

Petrol bunks are seen as the highest traffic aggregators and they have outlets in strategic locations. While retail majors like Tesco, Sainsbury, and Carrefour have added motor fuels to their shopping baskets, it would make perfect sense for motor fuel majors to offer provisional retail outlets, laundry, postal services, courier services, fast food along with their services the way Shell, BP, Caltex operate their convenience stores profitably.

Petroleum as an industry is uniquely different in the market scenario. To look at it, the pricing is regulated across competitors, the SOP’s remain the same – a computerized mechanism with Digital Kiosks is the best way possible for ease in management, the demand and supply is directly proportional across players.

On that note, an answer to what really differentiates each of the players from the others is driving maximum traffic to their respective outlets through innovative ways. In countries like the USA, the UK and Japan it is interesting to note that the fuel companies are greatly involved in the social responsibility initiatives. While Valero, ExxonMobil, Shell are very much involved in donating to the society, BP, the environment friendly company is making efforts in finding alternate energy resources. Branding/Re-branding is definitely an exercise witnessed with them.

On a business note, diversification is another way to generate consumers mind share towards fuel stations and retailing is seen as the best option. Having an outlet at a fuel station is considered important in understanding the needs of the customers. When one views the need and empathize with a person who is exhausted after his long day’s work and leaves office with a long list of shopping to catch up with, there are bright chances of him entering the petrol station retail outlets as :

• These stores are the first to open and last to shut down,
• A person can use his petrocard to shop and earn valuable “Petromiles”,
• Music, cappuccino, magazines, cell phone recharge/ electronic recharge, motor oils, ATM’s of leading banks, all under the same roof,
• Mobile trolleys at the fuel outlet which will bring convenience to the doorstep of the car,
• Fuelling of the vehicle in the same premise,
• Other services like inspection of engine oil, oil filter, battery fluid, air filter, lights, leaks available with ease.

Our very own Indian BP (Bharat Petroleum) has brought convenience retailing to India in 2001. Like the rising demand in US, Indian petroleum industry too has reached a point to plunge into the various options to increase customer base. In addition, we can look around to spot a number of petroleum companies introducing Hypermarkets and Convenience stores. The profusion of the companies across various locations makes them easy to introduce a retail outlet with all amenities and with an information network that connects them to get the products that the customers want.

With retail sales acquiring a significant share in the market place, the emerging concepts are certain to stay for a long time to come!!!

Jolsna Rajan

Invest Today, Reap Tomorrow

Bloodshed!!! Carnage amongst the bulls!!!
This was more than enough to wake my Mom from her deep slumber!
“What! Where! Who did it??!! These terrorists, what will they get by killing innocent people”, she screamed.
My dad and I were stumped with this reaction and after observing our nonchalant facial expressions, she was quite horrified. “How can you people just sit gaping at each other, no heart!!?”
“So many people must have died in this, we should be blessed that our family is together” she exclaimed. Only later did we realize that she was referring to the profusely used adjectives “bloodshed”, “carnage” which to her appeared as if it was a grave human tragedy due to a bomb explosion or a terrorist attack!
It was time for the MBA son (Ahem!!) to step in and explain the intricacies of stock market and how the fall in indices affected people as much as a terrorist attack would. This last part, I confess was slightly challenging to explain, as material wealth is nothing but mythya or illusion according to her. Now I understand that mythya doesn’t actually pay your bills or even provide you enough money for a movie and snacks at Garuda.
She can certainly be exempt from misunderstanding the market terminology, however, not the ones who we fondly call, The Analyst.
Schemes like fixed deposits and postal deposits have been around since ages (I still remember being whisked away to the nearest GPO to withdraw matured postal deposits, Ok I confess!! I was bribed with five-star chocolates) but these could only get you 6% returns and that too after a long lock-in period. The market these days is springing up a deluge of opportunities for youngsters to make money in the long run.
As Robert T Kiyosaki points out in his book (Rich Dad Poor Dad), we ought to start building our assets soon in order to make money. It simply is not enough to park your money in the savings account and forget all about it. Inflation and rising rates will make sure that you see very little of these when you most need them.
The stock market, on the other hand, offers various instruments of investments, which, if used with sound financial planning, can create wealth. Mutual funds, ELSS schemes (a kind of mutual fund which aids in your tax planning), equity linked insurance plans are the major options available to the prospective investors. Even the government is taking steps to protect the investors and make the exercise of investment regulated, read IRDA, SEBI etc. The high and mighty in the annals of Parliament are trying to align the policies to suit the growing needs of investing masses. For instance, there have been reports in the media on infrastructure funds being brought under the ambit of tax savings (even though it comes with a lock-in period and the motion is still under consideration). This just displays a growing acceptance of the stock markets by the political class.
Increasing interest of the FIIs in Indian companies has also led to sky rocketing valuations and an appetizing lure of making money.
All this, however, comes with a word of caution! Short term gains without appropriate planning has led to the downfall of many a sorry investor. Being in a profession, which doesn’t leave you with much room for consistent monitoring of the stock market, most of the times we have to rely on the media, advertisements, peers, and news articles for sound investment decisions.
However, I believe in an approach that is highly customized (pretty much like the department I work in!!). First and foremost, we must gauge our requirements and the time frame in which we would require the money. Besides that, we need to consider the risks associated with different equity based instruments. It’s always better to start slow and small and as you start climbing the learning curve, the amounts invested can be increased. A time frame of six months to one year is considered safe for new investors while investing in the equity markets. There again, a strategy which comprises of parking your funds in mutual funds and fixed deposit schemes can be adopted for a sound beginning.
In spite of innumerable examples, there are people who feel short of funds when it comes to investing. And for those who have restricted funds to theirs disposal, invest small, as small as Rs. 500 per month in order to start. This can ensure both a monthly saving as well as decent returns.
So the moral of the story should be, to start investing. That’s it!! (As simple as it may sound, many will still ignore this as just another entry on the blog and for all those people, I can think of a line form an old English number, Times Runnin Baybeah!!…)

Varun Kumar