• The facts. Between January 1 and March 31, 2012, it sold 419.1 million mobile phones worldwide, according to figures from research company Gartner reported Wednesday. This is the first time since the second quarter of 2009 as the market retreats.

• Why is it sold less mobile. According to Gartner, the main reason is to be sought in Asia. Demand between January and March, traditionally driven by the Chinese New Year, has slowed, due to deferrals of purchases and a lack of new landmark.

Mobile phone makers have had mixed fortunes, however. So, Nokia has been the most impacted. Its sales have collapsed, from 107 million units last year to 83 million, a global market share of 19.8%. The Finnish group has lost its leading position in mobile, he had held since 1998. Samsung (20.7%), with sales however rose from 68 to 86 million units, an increase of over 25%, is now number one industry.

In fact, manufacturers are well positioned in smartphones that are best left in the quarter. It sold 144.4 million smartphones between January and March, an increase of 44%. Together, Apple and Samsung have concentrated almost half of sales (49.3%), against a little over a third last year. Interestingly, smartphones represent the total sales of Apple and 44% of those from Samsung, against only 16% for Nokia.

• The conservative projections for 2012, despite the iPhone 5. Given this trend, Gartner considers "inevitable" a downward revision of sales forecasts throughout the year. The research institute recognizes that the arrival of new Android smartphones and Windows phone, and the launch of the iPhone 5, will encourage strong growth in Europe and the United States. Similarly, the new BlackBerry, BB10, is expected by the end of the year.

During the first quarter, more than one smartphone sold in two (56.1%) was an Android, against 36.4% a year ago. IOS, the system of the iPhone, is it rose from 16.9 to 22.8% market share. In contrast, all other systems are now fallen below 10%. Smartphones running Microsoft's Windows phone have such great difficulty to penetrate. They represented 1.9% of sales this quarter, or 2.7 million units sold.

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Who has not dreamed of just open my hand to touch the money immediately? Tomorrow is reality, or almost, Japan.

Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank will offer its customers, in September, cash machines with a floppy schema veins, a sensor capable of recognizing the lines of the hand.

Other institutions are already in the Archipelago of biometric authentication technique. But it simply serves to replace the numeric code if it has been forgotten, to prove that the credit card into the machine belongs to the person using it. This time, no need to map. The machine will compare the vascular pattern of the palm, pre-recorded by the bank, with the distributor free business cards. No question that someone other than the card owner uses the account. The margin of error, it seems, almost zero. The idea came, says Takeshi Usui, Executive Director of Ogaki Kyoritsu, the tsunami of March 11, 2011 where thousands of people lost all their identification papers and credit cards.

The only thing that we should not lose is memory. Indeed, distributors will claim any biometric same date of birth of the customer. And a password.

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The merger between Universal Music and EMI, respectively number one and four global music publishing operation is not like the others, beat independent labels, headwind against it announced last November. And this acquisition which is the subject, since late March, a thorough review by the European competition authorities, gives rise to unusual trading.

In addition to the traditional arguments about the consequences that such a merger might have on prices, the protagonists struggle, indeed, the future of design in Europe. With unexpected postures. If the American Universal Music – directed from Santa Monica by the British Lucian Grainge and detained by the French Vivendi – poses as guarantor of European culture, his compatriot Warner Music – owned by Russian-born U.S. billionaire Len Blavatnik – shall guard on the "negative consequences for the identity and heritage of Europe, access to culture, creativity and innovation", in a note circulated to the Commission that Le Figaro is procured.

The strength of Hollywood

Warner – unsuccessful candidate for redemption of EMI – displays the same objective as the independent grouped in Impala: torpedo rapprochement with Brussels Universal-EMI but also the resumption of catalogs of the British recorded music (number 2), ranging from Norah Jones Sting, by a consortium led by Sony (No. 4). Both operations should lead to the birth in each of these careers in music of a domineering leader, strong market share of nearly 40% in Europe.

"A music company will seek to reduce risk by influencing the production of records or by focusing its marketing firepower on a few tracks that are most likely to travel abroad – usually in the Anglo-American repertoire," warns the Warner notes, which sounded the alarm: "In the European context with its very specific markets, record companies are essential to sustain production in local languages ​​and cultures. Leave a dominant player in deciding the viability of investments in local cultural carries a high risk. "

And prevent, "A local company is less competitive when a dominant player can absorb the bad years with a thick catalog of rights. This control of the catalog explains, in large part, Hollywood domination of the European Film Market. "

All subjects, Warner insists that should preoccupy European countries signed the UNESCO Convention encouraged to "adopt measures and policies to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions within their territory." A goal also highlighted in the European treaties, the U.S. recalled. Brussels must rule on the Universal-EMI merger by August 8. Universal as well as Sony have proposed sale of catalogs to reduce their scope. Recorded music side, if the Commission is not satisfied by the remedies of Sony, the European anti-trust will also open an investigation.

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Double the normal. During the month of Easter – Friday night for Jews and Sunday for Christians – he buys at least twice more lambs than usual. "It consumes on average between 4000 and 5000 tons of lamb meat per month in France, according to panel data Kantar says Anne Mottet, an economist at the Livestock Institute. When Paschal month, households consumed 9,000 tons in 2010, for example. " A strong tradition since 13% of French households to savor the occasion of Easter, against 5% in normal times. The lamb symbolizes for Christians the resurrection of Christ and the Jews, the exodus led by Moses out of Egypt.

Economically, the farm became a holder of lamb from the reallocation in 2009 by former agriculture minister, Michel Barnier, a part of CAP subsidies in favor of sheep farmers, the farmers worse off at the time. "It allowed me to generate additional income of 12,000 to 15,000 euros per year," said Hubert Elder, farmer in Maine-et-Loire.

To prevent a portion of the added value is captured by intermediaries, this direct selling. "At Easter, I'll sell 12 lambs against 4-5 in a typical week. They are valued 30% more than when I sell them at retail "he adds. A small niche – is consumed in France 190,000 tonnes of lamb, only 10% of the pork market – but profitable. The price is comparable to consumer beef prices: 12.95 against 12.94 per kilo for beef and 6.58 for pork.

Still according to Kantar, the French producer of lamb is the best paid in Europe with a price paid around 6.09 euros per kilo, against 4.97 euros in the UK, against an average of 4.78 euros in Europe.

UK and New Zealand

Flip side, nearly 60% of sheep consumed in France are imported from countries where they are cheaper to raise. More than half the imports come from the UK, just under a quarter of New Zealand, Ireland and the rest of Spain.

"Legs salt meadow, racks of lamb, milk, orders flow for three weeks, said Christian Le Lann, artisan butcher in Paris. We sell top quality local lamb but there is a commoditization of the product because of the importance of imports of lamb from New Zealand including a by-product of wool transported frozen, which invades the shelves of supermarkets "says the merchant who is also president of the French Confederation of butchery.

Lastly, there is the question of renewal of French sheep farmers. They will be 63% out of business in the next decade. The investors do not rush in sheepfolds.

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Unions of La Poste have been heard. Rocked by three suicides in six months, the postal group, which employs 240,000 people, has taken the measure of social malaise that reigns within its walls. Its CEO, Jean-Paul Bailly announced Monday "adjustments" in the reorganization under way in the business. However, he rejected the idea of ​​a six-month pause in the restructuring of the branch post, as was mentioned the Sunday newspaper this weekend. "Adaptation of the company can not stop. It does not take a break: some projects will continue, others may see their schedules relaxed, "he said in a statement.

Jean-Paul Bailly has also stressed the importance of continuing the "cycle of listening" started last week and announced a "great dialogue to improve social cohesion" in local and national levels, until 15 September. Parallel negotiations should also lead to a "package of concrete measures by April 30." The Post decided, also, to extend by six months the deployment of employee ownership, a project which met recently to outright union opposition. Finally, Jean-Paul Bailly has appointed a "mediator of work life," a position entrusted to his chief of staff, Dominique Blanchecotte.

Calendar of crisis accelerated

The Post had already accelerated its timetable for ending the crisis last week, after the suicide, March 11, a part of the group in Britain. In a folder left behind, this forty, who had been off long illness since November and was found hanged at his place of work in Brittany, had denounced a hard three years from its hierarchy. This was the second suicide in Breton Post in ten days. February 29, Jeremy Buan, a senior of 28 years, had committed suicide by jumping from the top floor of La Poste in Rennes, in the Ille-et-Vilaine. He too had reported his "outstanding work" in a letter released by his partner. Immediately, the Post Office had opened on Tuesday for talks with the unions on "health and welfare at work", promising that "proposals" would be made "before summer" make quick cash.

The measures announced today should therefore satisfy the unions who denounced social climate "anxiety" since the suicide last September of a 52-year employee who was, also, défenestrée the fourth floor of the financial center of the 15th arrondissement in Paris. "This situation is unfortunately not unique to the post office," said Antoine Le Séguillon this week, a union representative GSC in Figaro.fr. "And it is not unique to Britain," he said hoping that the leadership would engage quickly "concrete actions".

Action plan against erosion mail

Faced with the erosion of its mail business, which it considered that the volumes would collapse by 30% over 2008-2015, the Post Office had drawn a new plan in 2009. Jean-Paul Bailly had emphasized that this branch should "reinvent themselves" by offering new services. Gradually, the schedules of post offices have been extended throughout France, robots have been installed to reduce waiting times for customers and, last September, The Post has completely redesigned its line of mail.

A strategy that has "paid off", welcomed the group during the presentation of its annual results on March 8. While lower volumes continued with a decrease of 3%, after falling 3.3% in 2010, the mail business recorded a turnover stable at EUR 11.5 billion (+ 0.3%), more than half of the total activity of La Poste. But for the unions, these good results have been costly to employees. According to the CGT, it was obtained "at a price of 10,091 job cuts" and an increase in sick leave.

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For this formula the insurance premium paid by the insured depends on the actual mileage each year. Unlike traditional insurance providing "small" and "large" rollers in the same way, the insurance km fits the real needs of the driver's insurance.

This is the only difference from a conventional insurance. Otherwise, the proposed safeguards are strictly the same with or without this formula. Liability, all risks formulas, bonus / malus … nothing changes.

Insurance kilometer may interest all those who drive around with their vehicles. It may, for example using mostly urban public transport, the elderly, young drivers …. But also own several vehicles, some of which are little used, such as campers or collector vehicles.  

In practice, it is interesting for vehicles that travel less than 8000 km per year. At comparable guarantees, insurance kilometer can then save up to 30% on contributions (15% on average).

Auto insurance in package

For this type of auto insurance, the insured and the insurer agree on an annual mileage not to exceed. To verify its use, the meter of the vehicle is controlled at the time of contract execution, and annually thereafter. He is also in case of emergencies and some companies even provide for random checks cash till payday.

For exceeding the package, the insured pays a penalty. It can be fixed or depend on the number of additional kilometers performed.  

Conversely, if the package is not reached, some insurance contracts provide for reimbursement of the overpayment or deferral of kilometers of unused quota the following year.

Auto insurance "pay as you drive" (pay as you roll)

It is the insurance per kilometer in the fullest sense. The insured is actually charged according to the exact number of miles it performs in the year the vehicle is in this case equipped with a GPS unit, whose pose can be paid or free.

Some insurers not only modulate the rates based on mileage, but also driving conditions. Thus, when driving at night, on weekends or in urban areas for example, rates are adjusted accordingly.

Note: Some insurance companies offer both the "pay as you drive" and the package. At the insured to choose the most suitable according to its "consumption" (regular or subject to strong variations from one year to another and even from month to month).

SERVICE:

"Make several comparative auto insurance quotes and contact auto insurance brokers specializing in these formulas.

The tension is still up a notch on the site ArcelorMittal Florange in Moselle. About 300 steelworkers blocked since Thursday morning the release of shipments of the site for the restart of two blast furnaces, at a standstill for several months. At a central works council (CEC), management has confirmed the arrest of these furnaces in the second quarter. She said it was a "temporary suspension" and that the situation for the third quarter would be considered "in the month of May." The group, which invokes a slowdown in demand, provides a target restart facilities "as soon as market conditions permit".

Far from being reassured, the unions are convinced that management has signed the "death warrant" of Lorraine site, with imports of Russian steel to fuel its business outside furnaces.

"The management was committed to restarting our blast furnaces if Dunkirk was unable to feed, here, in steel," the mill hot strip mill, which produces steel for automotive technology, said Edward Martin , responsible CFDT. "And now she announces in CEC purchase of 60,000 tons of metal" to a "competitor" Russian laments there. Broccoli for Walter, FO, this purchase "constitutes an admission that Florange not restart."

According to management, 500 employees of ArcelorMittal are affected by the shutdown of blast furnaces, the other 2300 employees working on site production tools downstream. "We try to find a solution for each employee" affected, said Hervé Bourrier, CEO for France.

The possible appointment of Jean-Louis Borloo at the head of Veolia react keenly the opposition. Monday, politicians railed against a possible intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy in this case, as reported by Libération and Les Echos.

The Socialist Party, through the voice of Pierre Moscovici, denounced "little arrangements in Fouquet's friends no faxing payday loans." Canal +, the campaign manager Francois Hollande evoked "the game of musical chairs comfortable to oust a man of political centrists and avoid certain temptations."

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In private, the waiting period is currently three days. But under the austerity plan, the government plans to bring it to four days, stated Valérie Pécresse and Xavier Bertrand on Tuesday. A measure subsided, according to the entourage of the Minister, by which pension arrangements are provided 70% of employees, which may reduce or eliminate this delay.

Stops short penalized more

This extra day would represent a saving of around 200 million euros.