It might be that the market is still running on fumes from the Fed taper talk, especially now that the rumors about Janet Yellen are flying about. Even with two of the Fed members openly talking about tapering beginning as early as December, the pundits still say the market is up because the Fed will not taper until sometime in 2087.

Okay, so 2087 is a bit far out, but it might as well be that far out, given the nature of rumors in the market world. Regardless, the market is still testing higher record levels and until and unless the corporate earnings fall apart or the global economy turns south convincingly, it will continue on its current path.

True, it might take a breather come the December Fed meeting week and then again in January when the Washington clowns take the stage again, but both the Fed and the US debt-ceiling issues are effectively over for the market. Their long-term influence is virtually nil. The Fed will taper sooner rather than later and the debt ceiling will get raised again.

In the meantime, I am enjoying my travels through the world of technology, as it relates to the auto and telecomm industries. Frankly, I had no idea how integrated mobile devices are into the very fabric of society and how far electric cars have come.  

  • Europe’s aviation safety authority has paved the way for passengers to use smartphones and tablet computers during entire flights, following a similar move by the United States.

Regarding the points I raised yesterday, the above is a natural follow-up to the US’s move to deregulate the use of smart phones on aircraft. Consider the reality of the $260 billion (and growing fast) online retail market. Do you think there is some pressure coming from that?

As to the further integration of mobile devices into society …

  • On Wednesday, Jawbone introduced the latest version of its Up wristband, a rubber-coated device and associated smartphone software for tracking exercise, sleep patterns, and other activity. The new version, Up 24, features a small but significant upgrade: it can wirelessly sync your activity with an iPhone throughout the day by using the newer, lower-power Bluetooth standard, Bluetooth Low Energy, to transfer data.

Bear with me as I bring forth all of this rather general information about technology. It is my way of burrowing deeper to find opportunity. Given where the market is now, at the top of the charts, I want to fully prepare for when it comes back down to a less lofty height. Fully prepared means fully understanding the two industries I have selected to research for opportunity.

  • Displays featuring “backplanes” of IGZO transistors should make it possible for tablets and TVs to have much higher-resolution displays while consuming significantly less power. The technology has already cropped up in low volumes of high-end smartphones and televisions, but its appearance in iPads suggests we can expect IGZO to improve several more popular products over the next year.

The information above relates back to what I wrote about entertainment and mobile devices coming together. The important point is that “newer and improved” products will keep pushing sales of mobile devices higher and that will spur further integration of the entertainment and telecomm industries. In the end, it is all about building the “network.”  

  • Today’s networks include both business and social interactions, making possible new types of insight and intelligence. Trends and patterns that could never be detected by human intelligence alone can be made visible in a network. Businesses can reconfigure suppliers and partners and even target new markets faster and more efficiently than ever before.

The above is a “throw in” for the general understanding how all things are changing and changing fast in today’s world. Nevertheless, the fact that businesses can “reconfigure suppliers and partners faster and more efficiently” points to the reality that the verticals supporting the auto and telecomm industries will grow as fast as the demand for all mobile device products. Just look to the fast-growing electric car aspect of the auto industry.   

  • Public charging stations for electric cars are getting easier to find. But that doesn’t mean they’re convenient. Now a new version of Recargo’s popular PlugShare app will let EV drivers use public charging stations just by tapping their smartphones. No need to set up an account. Just drive up, pull out your phone, type your credit card number, and plug the car in.

Now, the above is not blue-sky nonsense. It is real and moving fast. The electric car and mobile devices are coming together quickly and that means the demand for electric-car infrastructure will rise quickly as well.

  • Approximately 50,000 people per month use ReCargo’s PlugShare app to locate public charging stations.

Did I read that right? Some 50,000 people per month are looking for public charging stations for their electric cars? The EV industry (vertical for electric cars) is ramping up. Now, who here in the US is building these charging stations and who is building the parts? My “migliore donna” wants to know the answers, as do I.

  • At least for now, Rolls-Royce’s luxury sedans will be staying gasoline-only. CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös has told Car and Driver that the fully electric Phantom-based 102EX concept car isn’t going to make it onto the production line. Rolls-Royce said Tuesday that it will not put the gargantuan plug-in car into production. The automaker blames a lack of charging infrastructure.

The above is from an article written in 2011. Perhaps now, Rolls Royce (BMW) is reconsidering putting its electric car on the road. Let’s watch this one in 2014.

 

Trade in the day; Invest in your life …

Trader Ed