InterDigital employees from its King of Prussia, Pennsylvania site will be losing their jobs in the next few weeks. The communication corporation announced Monday that further layoffs have to be made due to the current restructuring of the company, and that at least 100 employees should expect to be released. The company says that these job cuts will translate to around $33 million of savings.
The layoffs are related to the company’s plans to have some changes in their SlimChip business. InterDigital will no longer develop and produce new chips and will focus on those they have already developed, by securing intellectual property licenses for them. Surely this move will be able to help the company through its financial struggles, but what happens to the 100 jobless folks who will definitely experience their own crises?
April 19, 2009
100 InterDigital Employees to Lose Jobs
Jonas Brothers Set to Rule the World
After being nominated at the Grammy® Awards and reaching platinum for sales of their albums, the Jonas Brothers have recently finalized the details of their upcoming world tour titled “The Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009.” The show will kick off at June 20 in the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The trio will then head out to 44 North American cities throughout the United States and Canada before going worldwide.
The world tour will include performances in sold-out arenas in the most popular cities in the world such as London’s Wembley Arena, Paris’ Zenith Arena and the Palacio De Deportes in Madrid. American Idol Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks is also set to tour with the band.
April 18, 2009
China Unicom: What Recession?
Business analysts and economists alike have shared their thoughts on the ongoing global financial crisis, and some have said that China is or will be the least affected country in the world. If anything, the country and its local businesses might even experience growth during the recession. To prove this point one just has to look at China Unicom, China’s smallest telecommunications provider, and how much profit it made in 2008—a whopping $4.9 billion.
The Beijing-based companies released a statement on Tuesday that their 2008 profit rose 58 percent by the end of 2008. The company gained profits amounting to 33.9 billion yuan (almost $5 billion) compared to 2007’s 21.4 billion yuan. Does this fact truly serve as proof that China will not at all experience the hardships of its western counterparts or is the jump in profit just a one-off?
More YouTube Videos Yanked
Google’s current inability to secure a licensing deal with Warner Music is causing yet more problems for YouTube users. Because of possible copyright infringement YouTube videos which include Warner-licensed songs are constantly being removed from the site. Even homemade versions of these copyrighted songs are being taken off of the site. The biggest loser in this dispute is of course the users.
YouTube’s motto encourages users to broadcast themselves, but surely this would be difficult if we have to constantly be conscious of the music we have or include in our videos. Some users would choose not to post their videos online if they knew that there was a possibility it would be removed anyway. Google is again showing its stubborn side and its time that they come up with an amicable solution before users begin complaining yet again.
April 17, 2009
Verizon’s New Business Ringback Tones
Verizon Wireless has flexed its muscle again in the wireless communication market by introducing a brand new service for its customers. The telecommunications giant has began marketing an innovative and simple way to change ringback tones while promoting the company’s image.
Ringback tones are what people hear whenever they call someone. Unless the person you’re calling has a ringback tone on his mobile then you would be hearing the regular ringing every time you call. Verizon has come up with a commendable idea of changing these ringback tones to whatever message businesses may want to relay to its callers.
It may be announcements, advertisements, or even current promotions; it is fully customizable and companies can put in whatever ringback tone they’d like. It may look like a good idea on paper but some might argue that this is nothing different from IVR messages announced whenever one calls the customer service department of any company—something most customers could live without.
A Rock and a Doll added to Wrestlemania 25
April 5 will be a historic date for the World Wrestling Entertainment® as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their most popular pay-per-view event. Wrestlemania 25 will be held at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas and fans from 24 countries around the world are expected to attend the event.
The main events of the show include WWE Champion Triple H defending his title against Randy Orton while the World Heavyweight Championship will be up for grabs in a triple threat match involving champ Edge, John Cena and The Big Show. Aside from the exciting matches the WWE also announced recently that both five-time Grammy® nominated rapper Kid Rock and Nicole Sherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls will be performing that same night. Fans will not only see great fights but will also be treated to a night of good music.
April 16, 2009
Tenet Merges Two Hospitals
Hospital management company Tenet Healthcare Corp. announced their intentions to merge North Shore Medical Center and Florida Medical Center. The merger of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based FMC and Miami-based NSMC will be effective June 1. Meanwhile both hospitals will continue operations throughout the entire transition period. On a positive note for employees of both hospitals, Tenet said that they do not see a need to reduce services at either of the hospitals.
The merger will be beneficial for Tenet as they will be able to integrate back-office operations for both hospitals. At the same time, doctors of both units will be able to work with patients of both hospitals, creating a unified physician credentialing initiative.
Booze for Park Goers
After securing an alcohol permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, popular theme park Six Flags Over Texas will begin selling beer to its customers starting this Saturday. Park officials say that they only intend to sell beer and that customers are only allowed to drink the booze in specific areas of the park. People are not allowed to roam around with a cup of beer in their hand.
Some see this as a controversial move as theme parks are usually catered for kids and exposure to alcohol may not be beneficial for them. Another thing is the increased risk of accidents within the park as people get intoxicated. Will other amusement parks follow in these footsteps and if so, what implications can we expect from this legalization?
April 15, 2009
LifePoint Restructures Upper Management
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. has begun making moves to respond to the current uncertainty of the market. The company has decided that the best way to do so is to restructure the company, and to have the changes begin from the very top. Former LifePoint Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David M. Dill has been reassigned as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Taking his place is current Vice President and Treasurer of Tenet Healthcare, Jeffrey Sherman. The two men will report to Lifepoint’s President and Chief Executive Officer, William F. Carpenter III.
Both Dill’s internal mastery and Sherman’s external experience will be vital for the corporation’s overall operations as they attempt to maneuver themselves through the troubled economic market.
Radio Reporter Stabbed to Death
George Weber, age 47, was found dead in his apartment by New York City Police in the morning of March 22. Police reported that they discovered the hands and feet of his lifeless body were bound by duct tape. An autopsy found that the former reporter died of multiple stab wounds to the neck, head, arms and torso.
A sixteen-year-old youth named John Katehis confessed to the murder and said that he had met Weber online and agreed to receive a fee for his services. The teen was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and second degree murder.
George Weber was part of the ABC Radio Network and served as a reporter for famous radio programs such as “Curtis and Kuby.”