Japan's DoCoMo to begin selling iPhone as early as autumn: sources

A man walks past the logo of Japan's biggest mobile phone operator NTT Docomo at its shop in Tokyo July 3, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Issei Kato

By Maki Shiraki and Nobuhiro Kubo

TOKYO | Thu Sep 5, 2013 9:23pm EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - NTT DoCoMo Inc will begin selling Apple Inc's iPhone as early as this autumn, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, as it seeks to halt a loss of market share to rivals already offering Japan's most popular smartphone.

DoCoMo, Japan' biggest mobile carrier, had long resisted taking on the iPhone, which remains the most popular smartphone in Japan despite the ascendance of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's Galaxy series elsewhere.

It has paid heavily for that strategy as it ceded market share to smaller competitors KDDI Corp and Softbank Corp.

DoCoMo, a pioneer in mobile Internet and one of the last of the world's large mobile carriers still not offering the iPhone to its 60 million customers, said in a stock exchange statement that it had nothing to announce on the matter.

Apple is expected to unveil the latest version of its iPhone at an event on September 10. The Nikkei business daily said an announcement that DoCoMo would begin marketing the iPhone is likely to come on the same day.

Shares in Softbank, the first Japanese carrier to offer the iPhone, fell 2.8 percent as of 0115 GMT on Friday, while KDDI dipped 0.1 percent. DoCoMo was 0.5 percent higher after opening up more than 3 percent.

The sources said DoCoMo would continue with its planned winter promotions for handsets made by Sony Corp, Sharp Corp and Fujitsu Ltd.

Fujitsu shares, which had risen on news that it would be included in the winter promotions, fell 1.6 percent. Sony rose 0.5 percent while Sharp fell 1.3 percent. Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei average was down 1.2 percent.

Although DoCoMo's negotiations with Apple had been shrouded in secrecy, it was widely believed that strict contractual obligations typically linked to iPhone sales would have conflicted with the Japanese mobile leader's practices.

The sources said it was not clear exactly when a DoCoMo iPhone would go on sale.

(Reporting by Maki Shiraki and Nobuhiro Kubo; Writing by Edmund Klamann; Editing by Chris Gallagher)

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Selling or Staying Put, 'Daylighting' Improvements Pay Off for Homeowners

    FORT MILL, SC, August 03, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- If your home is on the market or will be soon, you're probably looking for every possible edge that will make it stand out to potential buyers. But even if you're staying put, you still want to make your home as attractive and valuable as your budget will allow.

"Daylighting" improvements that boost your home's brightness and energy efficiency offer substantial return on investment for both home sellers and those who will be staying in their homes for the foreseeable future.

Bringing the daylighting concept home
Industrial and office designers have long used daylighting - the concept of illuminating interior spaces with natural light from above - to improve energy efficiency, healthfulness and functionality of rooms. A stagnant housing market and sluggish economy raised homeowner interest in the concept.

"Daylighting improvements not only elevate a home's visual appeal for potential buyers, they can enhance a homeowners' enjoyment of their living space, and reduce energy costs," says Ross Vandermark, national product manager with skylight manufacturer VELUX America (www.veluxusa.com).

Homeowners who want to apply the principles of daylighting to their home have many options: they can add windows or roof windows or install any number of types of traditional skylights or Sun Tunnel tubular skylights.

The easiest daylighting upgrade
While adding a window in the wall of your home may raise practical and design issues, adding a roof window or skylight can be much easier. Roofs are, for the most part, a blank slate, allowing you to install skylights wherever they are needed most. And daylighting from above doesn't just add functionality: it offers room-changing drama and decorating flair.

Roof windows are hinged, hand operated venting units designed to be installed in easily accessible areas, such as the angled walls in attic bonus rooms. A double-sash roof window is also available that opens from both bottom and top to form a balcony on your roof. These units are often used in place of, or to replace, dormers.

Skylights are usually positioned higher on the ceiling, out of reach. The latest models from Velux America are no leak solar power fresh air skylights operated by remote control. These Energy Star-qualified units, which carry a 10-year no leak warranty, admit healthful natural light while providing passive ventilation through the natural "chimney or stack effect" of rising air when the skylights are open (and they feature sensors to automatically close in case of rain).

Both the solar powered skylights and installation, as well as solar powered blinds, are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit meaning that homeowners can receive an average of $850 of federal tax credit eligibility, making the complete fresh air skylight package very affordable.

Skylights are popular with daylighting designers for several reasons. First, they easily fulfill the primary goal of daylighting by admitting more healthful natural light into a room than similar sized vertical windows--thereby reducing the need for energy to power artificial lights.

And there's another plus for fresh air skylights in today's tightly built and heavily insulated homes - indoor air quality. According to the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (www.greenguard.org), most of our exposure to environmental pollution occurs by breathing the air indoors

You can learn more about energy-efficient skylights and calculate your tax credit for a new or replacement model at www.veluxusa.com. For even more on skylights and other home energy saving tips visit energystar.gov.

Energy efficiency, high-tech and decorating in one package
Another important similarity among windows, roof windows and skylights is in the glazing, or how the glass is manufactured. Since the units are mounted facing directly at the sun, skylight-glazing technology has to be among the best in the industry. Quality Energy Star-qualified units feature double-pane, gas-filled construction to control heat gain or loss, and to filter the sun's fade-causing rays.

Independent research done in Denmark shows that skylights admit 30 percent more light than vertical windows in dormers, and provide the drama of a sky view that can't be achieved with vertical windows.

In addition to high-tech features such as remote control and automatic rain sensors, solar powered skylight blinds are available in a varied pallet of decor enhancing colors and patterns. Homeowners can utilize blinds as another decorating option while achieving as much as a 37 percent increase in energy efficiency, according to VELUX America. (Link to http://www.veluxusa.com).

They recommend closing the blinds on high heat/sun days in the summer to reduce potential solar heat gain and, on cold winter nights, to provide an extra layer of thermal insulation to keep warm air indoors.

Modern, low profile skylights are unobtrusive and as dependable as vertical windows. Information about units with a 10-year, no leak installation warranty, plus an installer locator, is available at www.veluxusa.com. There's also a free mobile phone app available to help homeowners see how skylights and blinds would look in rooms in their own homes. The Velux Skylight Planner App works with iPhones, iPods, iPads and Android devices.

For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information, visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org. For remodeling information visit nahb.org/remodel or greenhomeguide.org.

Media Contact:
Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive -
Raleigh, NC 27615-2306 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - khobbs@nc.rr.com

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Edmonton Home Construction Company Now Selling in Crystallina Nera Neighborhood

    EDMONTON, AB, August 09, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Anyone interested in relocating to the Northeast section of Edmonton will be very interest in the homes the Edmonton Construction Company has built in the Crystallina Nera community. Bordered on one side by an urban forest that is protected by the city of Edmonton, the community provides a tranquil place to raise a family and enjoy a peaceful and happy life.

The Edmonton Construction Company created houses that perfectly suit the natural beauty of the setting. Each home features early American architecture that give them a historical feeling, while simultaneously making it possible for residents to enjoy all the conveniences of modern life. The show home will be open and ready for tours in August.

The location of the Crystallina community puts it in close proximity with the Anthony Henday Yellowhead Trail. The trail, along with the community lake and paths leading through the urban forest provide ample opportunity for new routes to run and walk. Backyards that are spacious and well groomed provide children and pets with the space they need to play.

Though the new Crystallina neighborhood feels far from the hustle and bustle of the big city, the new residents won't have to learn to live without the amenities you love. Community residents will be able to choose from ten excellent schools located nearby. Close proximity to the North Town and the Londonderry Mall means plenty of shopping opportunities and the nearby Clareview Transit Centre makes for an easy commute.

About the Company
The Pacesetter Homes the Edmonton Construction Company used for the Crystallina community have been attracting attention since 1969. The company enjoys a reputation for consistently designing homes that are both innovative and stylish. Houses designed by the company feature an elegance that never goes out of style combined with modern functionality.

As an industry leader with over 50 years of building experience, Pacesetter Homes offers a wide variety of outstanding home plans. Building attached garage, rear lane, duplex and town homes ensures you will find a home product designed to fit your lifestyle. We include many upscale features and offer a variety of standard finishing packages, providing your family the opportunity to select the home options that reflects your personal dreams. Timeless elegance, refined design, and innovation of style are what make Pacesetter Homes one of the most successful builders in Western Canada.

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Homes Selling at Fastest Pace Since Boom (CNBC)

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Galaxy S4 is Samsung’s Fastest Selling Smartphone: 4M in 5 Days

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Think 'local' when it comes to selling

By Gold Coast Bulletin Realestate columnist and host of Lifestyle Channel's Selling Houses Australia Andrew Winter

IN recent months I have been involved with a few houses that just would not sell.

Nothing unusual there, of course, in this market.

However, there has been a common factor that has stood in the way -- admittedly, it is nothing new but I don't think it hurts to let you in on this if you are about to sell.

The house-selling misdemeanor is to not choose a local agent.

Now before you start emailing terse responses to this article saying you used a non-local agent and sold in three days for many millions, I do always say there are exceptions to every real estate rule.

However, as a general rule of thumb, deciding to use a local agent is an easy way to avoid error.

So what constitutes a local agent?

"Local", by definition, has evolved in recent years.

It used to mean their office needed to be local -- a smart space on the main street with lots of windows featuring masses of homes.

But now that may not be the case. By local, I mean it should be an agent with a strong sales record in your area -- even better if it is homes in a similar price banding and type to yours.

As a guide, a local agent in urban and suburban built-up areas can fairly be considered to be someone who is active in your actual suburb and its immediate surrounds.

Look for an agent with sale records of properties similar to yours in the same area type.

The geographical area becomes broader with certain property types where buyers tend to be less suburb specific. This can mean acreage, ocean-frontage or holiday-type housing too or general lifestyle properties.

So if you are selling in these categories look at agents selling in your area first and then work outwards to find someone who has expertise in selling the property type similar to your own.

In the recent cases I was involved with we saw perfectly good agents struggling and not getting a sale, simply because they too had to do a lot more legwork and research than someone who had local expertise.

You should choose a local agent because those who have had recent sales in your area will have an active database for your property, before it even goes to market.

A good local agent will really know your area and how to sell it and be able to reference other sales and market history without even turning on his or her iPad.

Such an agent is likely to be able to best upsell your home because they will know how to compare it in the marketplace and encourage buyers with a confident and honest sales pitch.

Remember real estate agents are there to represent you as the seller and your property, so why would you compromise this in any way by going out of area?

One more final tip.

Rather than going with that top-performing local agent everyone uses, try their No. 2 competitor.

He or she will be hungry for a top result and every sale will count in their pursuit of achieving the accolade of being the area's top-selling agent.

Remember it is not about where an agent puts his office any more. The new local is about the agent with the best local sales record.

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