Apple, Inc.

Fifty Best Buy stores nationwide have launched new interactive departments branded as, “The Intel Experience.”

What makes the initiative interesting is that Intel is a brand that powers many consumers electronics devices, but it isn’t a brand consumer directly seek out the way they do Samsung, Apple or LG.

By Dov Cohn

New York -- For the second year in a row, Apple ranks as the most valuable brand in the world, followed by Google, on Interbrand’s 15th annual Best Global Brands Report. Apple was valued at $118.9 billion, up 21% over last year, while Google was valued at $107.43 billion, up 15%. Rounding out the top five were Coca-Cola, IBM and Microsoft. It was the first time in the history of the Best Global Brands report that two global brands – not just one – had a brand value that exceeded $100 billion.

Seattle - Blue Nile Inc. has launched a new mobile shopping app available in Apple's App Store, which now includes augmented reality on the app's "Dream Box" feature, allowing consumers to virtually "try on" a Blue Nile engagement ring from an iPhone.

iWallet Corporation, a secure luxury “techcessories” company, has appointed three new members to its board of directors including Carl Rosen, former COO of Bulova, then international consumer luxury goods company; Charles Ng, VP of sales at NEXT Biometrics and the former North American director of sales for Fingerprint Cards and sales director for Authentec, a biometric fingerprint technology; and Anthony Durkacz, EVP of the investment firm First Republic Capital Corporation.

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Curbside, a new startup that specializes in same-day pickup from local stores, launched its service on Monday with several retailers on board, including a pilot with Target Corp.

The new service is currently available in 10 Target stores across the greater San Francisco Bay area, including the retailer’s Metreon and Geary St. locations downtown.  

Ten Target stores in the San Francisco area are experimenting with a new mobile shopping app called Curbside, which promises to deliver the next generation of commerce.

Curbside launched its mobile app this week to make finding, buying and getting the things shoppers need from their favorite local stores faster and easier than ever before, according to the company. Target is among the retailers whose stores are participating in the Curbside app.

New York -- Consumers are well positioned to make the transition to mobile payments — with a little help from retailers, banks, payment networks and retailers, according to a new report from global consultancy Kurt Salmon.

Cupertino, Calif. – Following an investigation launched in June, the European Union (EU) is reportedly formally accusing the Republic of Ireland and Apple of striking an improper deal that has kept Apple’s taxes in Ireland artificially low since 1991. According to CNN, the arrangement has allowed Apple to pay a tax rate as low as 2% on earnings of Irish subsidiary.

By R.J. Carver, Corporate Development Associate, Plug and Play Tech Center