The most talked about brands online
Google, Apple, Yahoo! and Microsoft lead the way in terms of mentions in blogs, social networks and photo and video sharing sites, a new study reveals. The 'Brands in Social Media' report, conducted by online PR specialist immediate future, examines how companies from the Interbrand Top 100 Global Brands (2006) report are performing in social media. The research also monitors positive and negative comments in groups on social network sites such as Facebook, Flickr and MySpace to reveal who receives the most positive chatter. The report founs that Disney, Nintendo and Google are the most positively-discussed brands on social networks. Whilst the technology industry dominates the top ten brand mentions, FMCG and Automotive industries also gain a large share of the conversation. BMW, Toyota and Honda inspire a number of appreciation groups in social networks. In fact, all industry sectors have their promoters and detractors online and immediate future found that every top 100 brand was being discussed.

'Brands in Social Media' Top Ten:

‘Brands in Social Media’ Top Ten:
1. Google
2. Yahoo!
3. Apple
4. Microsoft
5. Canon
6. Sony
7. Dell
8. eBay
9. Disney
10. Ford

Interbrand Top Ten (2006):
1. Coca- Cola
2. Microsoft
3. IBM
4. GE
5. Intel
6. Nokia
7. Toyota
8. Disney
9. McDonald’s
10. Mercedes
Of all those with the highest number of conversations and mentions, only 36% ranked in the top 25 Interbrand results. This illustrates a noticeable disparity between the 'brand value' rankings and the perception of brands by consumers.

Maybe businesses Should ban the iPhone
Some analysts claims the iPhone could "punch a hole" through corporate security systems if staff are allowed to use the phone for work purposes. IT departments should be extremely wary of allowing staff to use Apple's mobile handset as it does not contain the necessary functionality to comply with basic corporate security. The iPhone will be launched in the US on Friday. Lists the following reasons to steer clear of the iPhone for now:

* Lack of support from major mobile device management suites and mobile-security suites
* Lack of support from major business mobile email solution providers
* An operating system platform thatis not licensed to alternative hardware suppliers, meaning there are limited backup options
* Feature deficiencies that would increase support costs (for example, no removable battery)
* Currently available from only one operator in the US
* An unproven device from a vendor that has never built an enterprise-class mobile device
* The high price of the device, estimated at $500
* A clear statement by Apple that it is focused on consumer rather than enterprise

Integrating mobile devices and other tech into corporate IT networks, while maintaining security policies, has become an increasing problem for businesses. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that manufacturers provide tools that allow staff to integrate their device into the corporate network, the analyst group claims.

Web-savvy consumers demand transparency
The rise of the web has given savvy consumers more knowledge about the products they buy and consequently diminished their faith in branded goods. These are the conclusions of two pieces of research from IBM, one of which charts the demise of packed goods brands and the other the rise of the so-called 'omni consumer'. Consumer companies need to provide more information on the origins and impacts of their products, concludes the report. Product contaminations and recalls, coupled with confusion over marketing claims, have contributed to an erosion of consumer trust in consumer product manufacturers, according to the survey of 1,676 consumers in the US and UK. Nearly 70% of consumers expressed a low overall level of trust in the claims branded food products make about their environmental impact and health benefits. Almost half of consumers are more concerned about safety, and nearly two in five buy different brands today because of these concerns. According to this study, the omni-consumer is purchasing a wider range of products and is actively and frequently tuning in and out of unwanted marketing messages. The study suggests that companies align 'Full Value Traceability' with their brand vision to set themselves apart from the pack. These new systems can safeguard the food supply and enable the trust and transparency necessary to instil consumer confidence and, in turn, protect and empower individual companies' brands. The linkage of the physical and information supply chain, coupled with engaging all the relevant stakeholders, is an imperative in building a 'Full Value Traceability' system.

Netflix Lowers Price to Match Blockbuster
Online DVD rental company Netflix Inc. lowered the monthly fee for a popular subscription plans by $1, matching a similar reduction made by rival Blockbuster Inc. this month. Netflix is now charging $13.99 a month to rent up to two DVDs at a time, down from $14.99 previously. The service mails another DVD after subscribers return one of their other discs in postage-paid envelopes. The price cut comes less than three weeks after Blockbuster began charging $13.99 a month for the same kind of plan. Dallas-based Blockbuster charges $14.99 a month for another two-DVD-at-a-time program where subscribers can return movies to a store instead of through the mail. Netflix, didn't change the fees for any of its other plans. The two rivals have been locked in fierce competition since Blockbuster launched an online service in 2004 to counter the service that Netflix launched in 1999. Blockbuster on Wednesday indicated it will change the pricing on some of its plans later this year, but didn't provide details. Separately, Blockbuster said it plans to close 282 stores in the U.S. this year to improve operating margins and expand domestic share.

The New Era for Cable Subscribers
Cable companies are bracing for a deadline they staved off for more than a decade — one that could bring a wave of new TV viewing options for many of the 65.6 million homes connected to cable. A FCC order taking effect on Sunday requires all major cable operators to give up the conventional cable boxes they so profitably lease to subscribers. These proprietary boxes contain technology for functions such as video-on-demand and perhaps a digital video recorder — and also house the operator's decoder that unscrambles digital, premium and HDTV channels. All big operators now will have to provide a standard external decoder called a CableCard that plugs into their box — or into equipment from any company. Customers could ditch the operator's box and get their channels via a TV, DVR, computer or other device built for CableCards. Nothing has to change for the 58% of cable subscribers with the old boxes. The FCC rule applies only to new installations or upgrades. The FCC was ordered in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to help electronics companies compete with the cable guys' leased boxes on the theory that lower prices and more choices of equipment and features would result. It took until 2003 for the cable industry to agree on a decoder, the CableCard, but it was able to fend off an FCC mandate until now. Electronics makers say the order will spur a new generation of devices and features. Retailers already are beginning to stock CableCard-ready "boxes" that manage channels but do many other things most cable-company boxes do not, such as:

* Send Web videos to TVs.
* Transmit TV programs, including recorded ones, to multiple sets in and outside the home.
* Blend Internet data, such as sports statistics or facts about a TV show character, on the screen with conventional programs.
* Facilitate remote-control voting or interactive-shopping services.
* Enable TV sets to play music and show photos digitally stored on a PC.

Sony becomes less green than Apple
Sony has moved to the bottom of the new Greenpeace guide to IT's dirtiest companies. The environmental group moved Apple off the bottom rung after hearing Steve Jobs' Gospel of the Greening of Apple. Greenpeace even praised Apple's policies on PVC and brominated flame retardants citing these as principal reasons for the improved assessment. Apple pledged to remove the substances from all its products by 2008. This is Greenpeace's fourth Guide to green electronics. Apple was the bottom of the last chart produced in April. Now Sony, LG Electronics, Panasonic and HP are all deemed to be ungreener than Apple, which moved to to tenth place on the list. Nokia, topped the list with Dell second a and Lenovo third. The ranking is based on the use of toxic chemicals, initiatives to phase out such materials and recycling policies for high-tech consumer goods. While Apple has new goal of recycling 30% of its products by 2010, and the firm still does not do enough to follow "Precautionary Principle" in its environmental policies, Greenpeace said.

Air France starts mobile check-in
Air France and KLM have launched a mobile phone check-in service using SMS for confirmation. Initially the service will be available on departures from almost all metropolitan France and European airports, on Air France and KLM short and medium-haul flights. It should be extended to the entire network later this year. Customers can check in and choose their seat (window or aisle) between 30 hours and 30 minutes before the latest check-in time. When they've checked in, customers can request confirmation via SMS. When passangers arrive at the airport, they simply need to print their boarding pass at a self-service kiosk or at the "baggage drop-off and boarding pass collection" desk before the latest check-in time. To benefit from this service, customers must have internet access on their mobile phone, and go to mobile.airfrance.com or www.klm.com. Air France and KLM intend to test a new service with certain Flying Blue customers, by sending them an SMS the day before departure to remind them that they can check in on their mobile phone. Air France believes the service is particularly attractive for business customers travelling on busy short and medium-haul routes. Only a few airlines in the world, including Air Canada, Southwest and SAS, offer mobile check-in.

South Korea enforces new law to curb cyber bullying
South Korea on Thursday started enforcing a new law aimed at curbing the country's notorious cyber bullying by preventing Internet users from hiding behind false IDs. Under the "Internet real-name system," the country's major portals and news media websites will be compelled to record the real IDs of users when they post entries. Portal operators will be obliged to disclose personal information such as names and addresses of cyber attackers when their victims want to sue them for libel or infringement upon privacy. Cyber bullying has become a social issue in South Korea as many celebrities often fall victim to abuse and malicious attacks. Many Internet users, taking advantage of anonymity, have made a hobby of writing malicious messages on websites, accusing celebrities of sex scandals or having plastic surgery, experts said. TV star Jeong Da-Bin and pop singer Yuni reportedly suffered cyber bullying before they committed suicide earlier this year. South Korea's top portal operators such as Daum and Naver, along with 33 others, are subject to the new regulation. South Korea is one of the world's most wired countries, with nearly a third of its 48 million population having access to high-speed Internet.

IT professionals are sad individuals
A new survey shows that 57% of IT professionals have blogs, with those numbers set to increase. According to ITjob.com: "So far 57% of individuals say that have a blog which is relatively high, seeing as blogs have only started to be widely used. This figure is bound to jump to new heights in the near future as more and more people understand the concept of blogging, how easy it is to set up and how it can be valuable to them." Individuals are "implementing blogs on their websites to help their SEO and site stickiness." Sounds positively disgusting to us, and possibly damaging to keyboards.

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