Mediaboss Marketing

Oh man. Google just used the word Glasshole while explaining some of the dos and donts of using Google Glass:

DONTS:

Be creepy or rude (aka, a Glasshole). Respect others and if they have questions about Glass dont get snappy. Be polite and explain what Glass does and remember, a quick demo can go a long way. In places where cell phone cameras arent allowed, the same rules will apply to Glass. If youre asked to turn your phone off, turn Glass off as well. Breaking the rules or being rude will not get businesses excited about Glass and will ruin it for other Explorers.

The above explanation appears on Googles press site for Glass, where it was spotted by TechCrunch.

Glasshole has been around for a while Startup L. Jackson appears to have coined it on Twitter in October 2012 but Im not sure Google has embraced the term itself before, at least not publicly.

Still, Googles definition may be a little narrower than whats commonly accepted. Someone who ignores the outside world in favor of a face computer might also qualify, though Google does shun this behavior elsewhere in its Donts section:

Glass-out. Glass was built for short bursts of information and interactions that allow you to quickly get back to doing the other things you love. If you find yourself staring off into the prism for long periods of time youre probably looking pretty weird to the people around you. So dont read War and Peace on Glass. Things like that are better done on bigger screens.

If you really dont like Google Glass as a concept, you might describe anyone whos spent $1,500 on the still-unfinished product as a Glasshole, but we can understand Google not subscribing to such a loose definition. Accepting that not all Glass Explorers use their cyberpowers with tact is a fine start.

See the article here:
Google's Official Word: Don't Be a Glasshole

PRESS RELEASE: comdirect: pre-tax profit of EUR 80.0m - 2.83 million customers - dividend proposal of 36 cents per share

DGAP-News: comdirect bank AG / Key word(s): Final Results/Dividend comdirect: pre-tax profit of EUR 80.0m - 2.83 million customers - dividend proposal of 36 cents per share

19.02.2014 / 07:30

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comdirect: pre-tax profit of EUR 80.0m - 2.83 million customers - dividend proposal of 36 cents per share

Quickborn/Frankfurt/Main, 19 February 2014. The comdirect group has outperformed its profit target for 2013 that was raised to EUR 75m in October by 7%. Pre-tax profit stands at EUR 80.0m (previous year: EUR 93.5m). '2013 stands for our consistent strategic progress, a very good result and strong growth,' says Dr. Thorsten Reitmeyer, CEO of comdirect bank AG. '2014 is set to build on this and we intend to inspire and convince even more customers to take control of their own financial decisions, with comdirect as the ideal partner,' adds Reitmeyer.

The comdirect group generated total income of EUR 339.9m in financial year 2013. This is a rise of 3% on the previous year's high figure (EUR 329.5m) and is primarily due to greater activity on the part of customers in securities trading. The corresponding sharp increase in net commission income of 12% to EUR 188.3m (previous year: EUR 167.7m) more than compensated for the market-related decrease in net interest income. Net interest income after provisions fell by 6% to EUR 137.2m (previous year: EUR 146.6m). The rise in administrative expenses of 10% to EUR 259.9m (previous year: EUR 235.9m) reflects the comdirect group's spending on growth.

The shareholders are set to participate appropriately in comdirect's positive development: a dividend of 36 cents per share (previous year: 44 cents) will be proposed to the annual general meeting. The total distribution therefore stands at EUR 50.8m. This corresponds to a dividend payout ratio of 84%. EUR 9.7m is to be transferred to retained earnings in order to strengthen equity with a view to further growth.

The total number of customers in the comdirect group increased last year to 2.83 million and total assets under management climbed to a new record level of EUR 55.05bn (year-end 2012: EUR 48.85bn) over the same period. In addition to price effects, customer net fund inflows of EUR 2.4bn contributed to this growth.

In the B2C business line (comdirect bank AG) the number of customers increased in 2013 by 107 thousand to 1.82 million. Assets under management rose from EUR 27.91bn to EUR 31.89bn. Up by 142 thousand, the number of current account customers exceeded the one million mark and climbed to 1.04 million. The number of Tagesgeld PLUS ('daily money plus') accounts increased by 117 thousand to 1.46 million and the number of custody accounts by 34 thousand to 840 thousand.

See the rest here:
PRESS RELEASE: comdirect: pre-tax profit of EUR 80.0m - 2.83 million customers - dividend proposal of 36 cents per share

PRESS RELEASE: Intershop reports licensing revenues up 20% in financial year 2013

DGAP-News: Intershop Communications AG / Key word(s): Final Results Intershop reports licensing revenues up 20% in financial year 2013

19.02.2014 / 08:08

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- Licensing revenues grew by 105% in fourth quarter and by 20% during full financial year

- Total net revenues up 3% to EUR 53.6 million

- High investments in marketing and sales reflected in EBIT of EUR -3.2 million

Jena, 19 February 2014 - Intershop Communications AG (ISIN: DE000A0EPUH1), the leading independent provider of innovative omni-channel commerce solutions, reports net revenues of EUR 53.6 million (previous year: EUR 51.8 million) for its financial year 2013 based on preliminary figures. The 3% rise was mainly driven by the exceptionally strong performance in the fourth quarter, which saw licensing revenues, in particular, increasing by 105% compared to the prior-year period. Net revenues of EUR 15.0 million meant that the fourth quarter 2013 was Intershop's best quarter since the second quarter of 2001 (previous year: EUR 13.1 million). In contrast, the business trend during the first nine months of the financial year 2013 remained subdued both on the consulting and on the licensing side. The fourth-quarter surge in revenues and profits was not sufficient to offset the losses generated during the first nine months. The resulting negative EBIT of EUR 3.2 million mainly reflects the clearly higher investments in marketing and sales.

CFO Ludwig Lutter said: 'The fourth quarter brought numerous new customers and revenues at record level, demonstrating that we are on a good track in the competitive market for omni-channel commerce solutions. While our intensified marketing and sales efforts involve high costs, they will be justified by our enhanced market profile and increasing market share.'

The consulting business remained the single biggest revenue contributor, even though it declined by 9% to EUR 25.8 million, mainly on account of lower revenues from a number of major customers. Licensing revenues were up 20% to EUR 6.3 million thanks to the strong fourth quarter. A positive development is also reported for other revenues; the full service-service business, in particular, grew by 72% to EUR 8.7 million in 2013. Online marketing revenues rose by 2% to EUR 4.4 million. In contrast, maintenance revenues declined by 6% to EUR 8.3 million during the financial year.

Continued here:
PRESS RELEASE: Intershop reports licensing revenues up 20% in financial year 2013

DGAP-News: NORMA Group SE / Key word(s): Final Results/Preliminary Results NORMA Group generates record sales and earnings in 2013

19.02.2014 / 07:11

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NORMA Group generates record sales and earnings in 2013

- Preliminary sales increase by 5.1% year on year to EUR 635.5 million in financial year 2013

- Adjusted EBITA grows by 6.9% to EUR 112.6 million in 2013

- Adjusted EBITA margin improved from 17.4% in the previous year to 17.7% in financial year 2013

Maintal, Germany, 19 February 2014 - NORMA Group SE ('NORMA Group'), a global market and technology leader for engineered joining technology, continued its growth trend in financial year 2013. According to preliminary and unaudited figures, in the past financial year sales grew by 5.1% to EUR 635.5 million compared to the previous year (2012: EUR 604.6 million). The acquisitions made in 2012 and 2013 contributed EUR 26.7 million to this result. Sales grew organically by 2.5% in the full year 2013. Adjusted operating earnings (adjusted EBITA) increased 6.9% year on year to EUR 112.6 million in 2013 (2012: EUR 105.4 million). The adjusted EBITA margin of the MDax-listed company improved from 17.4% in the previous year to 17.7% in financial year 2013. This translates into record sales and earnings that were in line with the guidance for 2013. NORMA Group had expected consolidated sales to grow moderately in financial year 2013 compared to 2012 and aimed for a sustainable EBITA margin at the same level as the past three years of more than 17%. Net debt ex hedging instruments decreased to EUR 138.2 million in spite of acquisitions and dividend payments (31 December 2012: EUR 174.2 million).

'2013 has been a successful year for NORMA Group in spite of the economic uncertainty in Europe. The fourth quarter in particular has shown strong momentum and gives us confidence as we start into 2014,' says Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group. 'Global megatrends such as scarce resources and the reduction of emissions will drive the global need for engineered joining technology in various industries. We therefore expect our business to continue its progress in 2014.'

Record fourth quarter 2013

See the article here:
PRESS RELEASE: NORMA Group generates record sales and earnings in 2013

DGAP-News: euromicron AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous euromicron AG: Future-proof DMR solution

18.02.2014 / 09:18

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telent modernizes digital mobile radio network in the local transport region West Mecklenburg

Backnang, February 18th, 2014. telent GmbH - a euromicron Group company - has been tasked by the transport companies Verkehrsgesellschaft Ludwigslust-Parchim mbH (VLP) and Grevesmhlener Busbetriebe GmbH (GBB) with renewing its mobile radio network in the local transport region of West Mecklenburg. The existing analog mobile radio infrastructure is to be replaced with a cutting-edge DMR network complying with the ETSI Tier 3 standard. telent will be responsible for planning the radio network, as well as supplying and installing the systems and infrastructure.

The new DMR network unites the advantages of mobile radio with those of a digital, mobile communication switching system. Modernization of the network will enable the transportation association to achieve great efficiency and flexibility in its mobile enterprise communication and take a major step toward implementing a state-of-the-art technology.

DMR offers the same coverage with the same frequency as the currently installed analog digital mobile radio system. The higher voice and data quality ensured by DMR in the entire area supplied by the network is a further key feature, as are secure emergency calls, flexible assignment of groups and channels and various priority levels in voice and data radio communications. A confidential radio call or defined group calling can be used alternatively. Apart from status messages and short data services, diverse IP data packet services are supported.

The crucial factor in choosing a DMR Tier 3 system was the transportation companies' wish to improve communication between their stationary organizational units and vehicles and to make it multiclient-capable. That means that in future multiple transportation companies will be able to communicate with each other in the network without all the units having to listen in. The associated IP concept and the VPN infrastructure will be provided by telent.

'The use of cutting-edge equipment and integration in the existing radio network reduce the amount our customer needs to invest without sacrificing a high degree of future proofness for coming data applications,' explains Robert Blum, Managing Director of telent GmbH.

'Rollout of digital radio technology will create a network that plugs the existing gaps in radio communication and will cover the complete local transport region of West Mecklenburg with its area of around 7,000 km. The network can also be made available to other parties who need to use it,' says Andreas Plestinsky, Managing Director of VLP. 'In addition, it improves the possibility of establishing alternative services, such as call taxis or call buses. A fleet management system is to be set up in order to plan the journeys of alternative forms of transport,' adds Stefan Lsel, Managing Director of GBB.

Original post:
PRESS RELEASE: euromicron AG: Future-proof DMR solution