“Surprised? Well, when everyone out there is making Smartphones, why should Mr. Zuckerberg stick only to a social-networking site (Facebook), and a mobile app store?”, says Eric, my roomie, from Capital One Promotions.

Yes, Eric is right! We know – Facebook has got into the stock market, and then, there should be nothing it may have to fear about getting into Smartphone manufacturing…

“What – Facebook to come up with Smartphones?” Hmm, yeah – you heard it right, folks, and that too (at a time) when half of the world does not know anything but – an Apple, Google, Samsung, and a few BIG names!

This is true, Facebook (now) wants things more beyond ‘Apps for various mobile platforms’, and no wonder – if they launch a Smartphone, probably next year; who knows!

It seems, Mark wants to do something extra for the ever-increasing mobile audience, of Facebook, and Smartphone is just another idea…he had; the word is that the social-networking giant has already hired technical experts, for pioneering the Smartphone project. Well, we had better hold our horses…!

Mark, our fingers are crossed for some DEEPLY-SOCIAL mobile devices from you, and know that you won’t deject us…; cheers!

Excuse me, let me first finish this article, online – about Appco Group that I was already on: “How do I know, if a fundraiser is genuine?” Great, interesting! Thanks!

Yes (after a cuppa, I feel quite fresh), back to YAHOO; so – who’s going to JOIN Yahoo! next, to LEAVE early – aha, Ross Levinsohn! Yes, let me introduce you with the new Interim Chief Executive Officer, of Yahoo! Inc.

…and yes, what more on the slate, the Board of Directors have picked the 62-year old Alfred J. Amoroso, who, w.e.f. May 14, 2012 is the Independent Chairman of the Board.

About the agreement with Third Point LLC, the Yahoo! Board will have three-nominees from Third Point: Harry J. Wilson, Michael J. Wolf, Daniel S. Loeb, w.e.f. May 16, 2012.

Whether stories about CEO exits, or management re-shuffling, there’s nothing NEW for the readers, when they know, “Oh, it is Yahoo!”; well, most of the board-members have decided to step down: Gary Wilson, Patti Hart, to name but a few.

Well-umm-err! What to say, yes – “Best of luck, Gentlemen; hope you all will take Yahoo! – to great heights”!

Hmm, this is about the Itanium microprocessor; there is no sign of ‘settlement’ over it, as the possibilities are being ruled out by Oracle’s attorney, Dan Wall. My colleague Christos Niarchos over the phone; has much to say about all this!

Here’s the gist of my phone conversation with him…

Regarding the case resolution, the Superior Court judge (Santa Clara County) – James Kleinberg has declined to resolve it for either of them, prior trial; about lost profit damages ($4 billion that HP is seeking), Oracle is not ready to bend on it, as it states those to be worthless claims, from Hewlett-Packard.

No matter what HP and Oracle had agreed on Itanium, before, the current scenario does not signal anything good (they remind him of Apple and Samsung’s fight over patents) for either of them.

Well, both – HP and Oracle have been busy suing and counter-suing each other, for this and that; let’s wait, and watch, he added.

Yes, not just Steve Jobs’ Apple which is going to come up with 500 new jobs for the people, but there are many from different sectors, giving the Irish citizens a lot of hope, by creating new career opportunities. But then, why only Ireland, even my Polish friend working for Appco Group Poland is lucky…!

Apple is already  present in Europe; the company operates in Cork (Ireland), with more than 2500 employees, and growth certainly is there on cards for them; the company of Steve is up to expand business operations, and will be adding 500 new jobs in another year, and so.

So, if you are an unemployed Irish youth, looking forward to secure your career in Finance, IT, Retail or any other sector – then you may not have to wait any further, as things are going to change for everyone out there in Ireland; hmm, the economy is even going to get a facelift!

Outbound marketing and its techniques are getting less effective over time and the reasons are nothing but this – an average human today is loaded with thousands of such inundated outbound marketing interruptions. Also, the cost of coordination around learning about something new or shopping for something new using internet (search engines, blogs, and social media) is now much lower than going to a seminar at the Marriott. That’s the reason why leading entrepreneurs like Christos Niarchos follow the techniques of Inbound Marketing to strengthen business.

With “inbound marketing”, you help yourself get found by people already learning about and shopping in your industry.  In order to do this, you need to set your website up like a “hub” for your industry that attracts visitors naturally through search engines, the blogosphere, and social media.

With shopping malls and markets up and busy with customers, companies can leverage the scenario; business marketers like Redwoods Advance think of a personalized market approach to promote and sell things, that customer may want for their near and dear ones.

For business marketers, they know – nothing serves them better than a chance to have lots of people at any place to talk to, and what could be better than festive seasons, when one gets to talk and interact with people of different age groups and genders, with varying needs and demands?

During festive seasons, when people go shopping to buy things for their families and friends – business marketers can approach them up-front and make presentations about various products for their clients; prospective customers can, en masse, at a time be easily transformed to loyal customers, if addressed in a proper and careful manner.

So, do not delay to hit the right note with customers during this eventful season, and acquire new customers for your business.

In both cases, one can opt for direct marketing services from renowned business marketers; unlike conventional marketing techniques, where responses are not instant and results cannot be easily measured – direct marketing approach stands different by being reasonable and effective. Modern-day companies have started realizing the importance of going direct to prospective customers, for DIRECT (UP-FRONT) dealings; everyone today is re-examining their marketing strategies, and seeking help of reputed field marketing agencies like Clover Advertising to execute various direct marketing campaigns.

Success in business has to do a lot with great business marketing ideas one has; and with cost being a prime concern, one should try to consider possibilities of direct marketing solutions.

Amanda, thank you so much for sharing the story with me, taking time off from your schedule of Web Listings Inc.!

Readers, here is the story… The Dubai-based bank, that addresses Personal, Private, Business, Corporate banking needs of its customers, is in trouble. Yes, this is true – as to break-even, the Emirates NBD Bank (ENBD Bank) is prepared to lay about 700 men off.

Well, this did not surprise me a wee bit, because – ENBD is not the first one to do this in the time of recession; hmm – who said, men were laid off only in the US, UK, and other countries, and not in the Middle East, or other Asian countries (?).

To cut costs, Emirates NBD has decided to toss about 15% of its workforce, thanks to poor Q4 net profit the bank has had. The bank is now busy restructuring the departments, and re-shuffling the management.

Let us wait, to hear more of/on that front! Until then, Ciao!

Let me dig more into the UK Bribery Act 2010, and some other Bribery and Corruption Acts, in place – in different countries. But then, hey – what are fresh corruption stories that our readers know already, and may perhaps want to share with others.

What about these: News Outdoor Group (Russia), Banknote Bribery Scandal (Reserve Bank of Australia), Jean-Bertrand Aristide (Miami Bribery/of phone contracts), to name a few?!

Well, at one end – Government bodies/lawmakers are busy enforcing laws/policies on people, while on the other – people are quite busy taking/giving bribes.

Corruption is a grave issue that the whole world is trying to fight against; the cancer of corruption needs to be tackled at, in an effective manner – for growth and economic development of every other nation.

The government and people need to work together to fight off this global menace. See, we have endless (corruption/bribery) scandals to learn things from, where people that used their power (of office) for personal gains – and tried to offer/gave/took bribes are now behind bars.

A word of caution – do not indulge yourself in corrupt acts for quick money, by putting your reputation at stake!

Yes, because India (here) wants to have a slice of London; surprised to read this? Even Andrew was quite puzzled, reading it; he is my friend employed with ANB Promotions Ltd. – I always find him buried in either of these – clients or customers! (Laugh!)

Jokes apart, the market leader (based in Mumbai, India) in submarine cable networks and voice services – Tata Communications Limited is eyeing up for UK-based Cable and Wireless Communications Plc with intent to have a firm GRIP on communications services sector.

Our readers might know – not just India (Tata Group), but even the London-based Vittorio Colao is not far behind with his company (Vodafone Group plc).

Tony Rice is getting enough CASH offers for his company; so, what are the chances of both, and who would you think will conquer ’26 Red Lion Square’ at the end, ha?!

Well, the UK Takeover Panel has set deadlines for both of them – Vodafone Group has to decide something by March 12, while Tata Group can reciprocate by March 29.

Tata Group’s INTEREST in Cable and Wireless Communications Plc. is getting mixed reactions, in the global market; but then, Tata is not NEW to this (acquisitions), here are some that Tata owns – Tetley, Tata Steel Europe (Corus Group), Jaguar Land Rover PLC, to name a few.

If things go well Ratan Tata would be the happiest man – see, his fingers are crossed; hey, we wish (both of) you good luck, Ratan and Vinod!