E-Commerce Minute

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E-Commerce Minute: Monday -- December 12, 2016

The E-Commerce Times -- E-Business Means Business
http://www.ecommercetimes.com
Part of the ECT News Network

Headline Scan
Microsoft Trumpets Stellar Surface Sales
AT&T, Time Warner Defend Merger to Lawmakers
Fitbit Pulls Pebble From Rock, Hard Place
Stock Shortages May Deplete Brand Loyalty Fast
Without Numbers, Cook's Apple Watch Claims May Be Hollow
Bill Bolsters Legal Efforts of Wells Fargo Fraud Victims
SCOTUS Scuttles Apple's Big Samsung Award
Uber Sees Gold in Autonomous Vehicle Field

Today's Story Highlights

Microsoft Trumpets Stellar Surface Sales
Microsoft announced robust sales of its Surface line ahead of the
holiday season. November was the best month ever for consumer Surface
sales, according to Brian Hall, CVP of Microsoft devices marketing. The
sudden surge follows this fall's unveiling of the Surface Studio, the
Surface Dial, and the Surface Book with Performance Base, which delivers
twice the graphics power as its predecessor.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84161.html

AT&T, Time Warner Defend Merger to Lawmakers
AT&T and Time Warner executives this week appeared before a subcommittee
of the Senate Judiciary Committee to respond to lawmakers' concerns
about their $84 billion merger. Their testimony came at a time of high
public skepticism of institutional power. Rival content and mobile
providers applied further pressure with questions about the impact the
deal would have on competition and pricing.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84160.html

Fitbit Pulls Pebble From Rock, Hard Place
Fitbit has announced an acquisition deal with smartwatch maker Pebble.
It clearly has been struggling, having laid off 25 percent of its staff
earlier this year, when CEO Eric Migicovsky acknowledged that money was
tight. "Fitbit is acquiring certain assets of Pebble, including key
personnel and intellectual property specific to software and firmware
development," a Fitbit spokesperson said.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84153.html

Stock Shortages May Deplete Brand Loyalty Fast
Many consumers fear a shortfall of highly desired items this holiday
season, and disappointed shoppers may switch to other brands, suggests a
survey Elementum released Thursday. The firm polled 2,001 adults in the
U.S. this fall. About 48 percent of the participants who were parents of
kids under 18 expressed concern about product shortages.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84158.html

Without Numbers, Cook's Apple Watch Claims May Be Hollow
Apple drew some pointed questions this week following CEO Tim Cook's
vague response to reports suggesting Apple Watch demand has plummeted.
The Apple Watch is on track to set a holiday sales record and post its
best quarter ever, Cook said. Sell-through of the watch -- that is,
units sold to consumers and not just stocked on retailers' shelves --
also is on track to reach a new high, he added.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84151.html

Bill Bolsters Legal Efforts of Wells Fargo Fraud Victims
U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to stop Wells Fargo from
enforcing arbitration agreements with victims of fraud it perpetrated
against them. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the ranking member of the Senate
Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Rep. Brad Sherman,
a member of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the
Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016 .
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84150.html

SCOTUS Scuttles Apple's Big Samsung Award
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday spoiled Apple's hopes for a big
payday, scotching the $399 million award in its successful patent
infringement suit against Samsung. Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered the
Court's decision, which turned on what lawmakers meant by the term
"article of manufacture." The appeals court had ruled that it
encompassed the entire phone. The Supremes disagreed.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84149.html

Uber Sees Gold in Autonomous Vehicle Field
Uber has announced the acquisition of startup Geometric Intelligence, a
move designed to increase its presence in the autonomous vehicle
technology field. Geometric CEO Gary Marcus will become the chief of
Uber's new artificial intelligence business. He will lead the newly
formed Uber AI Labs, which will be dedicated to conducting research into
artificial intelligence and machine learning.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84147.html

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