Briefly

BASEBALL

- The Arizona Diamondbacks have exercised a $12 million option toretain Randy Johnson for the 2003 season, when he will be 39 yearsold. In his two seasons with Arizona, Johnson is 36-16 with a 2.56ERA. He has 711 strikeouts and 146 walks in 5201/3 innings.

- Jeromy Burnitz and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a $20million, two-year contract extension through 2003.

Burnitz, 31, was an All-Star in 1999. He hit .232 with 31 homersand 98 RBI last year, his worst season with the Brewers.

GOLF

- Every golfer should experience Tiger Woods' "slump."

Woods birdied the final two holes today for his second straight 8-under 64, giving him a …

Patents

BC has a long history of companies that have built value around their developed patents, and many companies today are carrying on this tradition of innovation. The following article provides a brief overview of the potential opportunities for companies that develop, acquire, and commercialize patents.

Developing patents-maximizing ITCs

Developing a patent may involve incurring Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) expenditures, which qualify for tax credits (ITCs). BC offers a 10% provincial SR&ED ITC, which, combined with the 35% federalSRSiED ITC, can signify a cash return of up to 68% on qualifying labour costs for a BC Canadian Controlled …

Last Ethiopian troops leave Somali capital

The last Ethiopian troops backing Somalia's fragile government left the Somali capital Thursday, the prime minister said, as Islamist forces took control of bases that the Ethiopians had vacated.

An extremist Islamic group said Wednesday that it now will focus its attacks on the about 2,400 African Union peacekeepers based in Mogadishu, underscoring fears the country could collapse into further chaos.

Ethiopia's prime minister said he could not predict what would happen when his troops leave Somalia completely, but he expected the extremist Islamic group, al-Shabab, and others to try to seize power.

"It would be strange if the Shabab and …

At Oberweis, it's full speed ahead

If you don't have things figured out, you have company thesedays.

In fact, says Ronald A. Alghini, a veteran of the investmentwars, the trouble in Wall Street today is that "the market isconfused."

Rarely, he says, have there been so many "strong" people arguingopposite sides of the same issue.

There are those who think we're headed straight into new wavesof inflation. And those who think the trend is deflation, a replayof 1981-82.

Some analysts see interest rates skyrocketing, while othersthink rates are peaking out and headed downhill. Economists,academic and otherwise, see new economic growth ahead or a recessionof varying degrees of …

The Crystal Structure at 1.5 [Angstrom] Resolution of an RNA Octamer Duplex Containing Tandem G.U Basepairs

ABSTRACT

The crystal structure of the RNA octamer, 5'-GGCGUGCC-3' has been determined from x-ray diffraction data to 1.5 [Angstrom] resolution. In the crystal, this oligonucleotide forms five self-complementary double-helices in the asymmetric unit. Tandem 5'GU/3'UG basepairs comprise an internal loop in the middle of each duplex. The NMR structure of this octameric RNA sequence is also known, allowing comparison of the variation among the five crystallographic duplexes and the solution structure. The G.U pairs in the five duplexes of the crystal form two direct hydrogen bonds and are stabilized by water molecules that bridge between the base of guanine (N2) and the sugar (O2') of …

Wind-driven wildfires strike Malibu again, destroying dozens of homes in wealthy enclave

A fast-moving wildfire pushed by seasonal winds raced through the canyons and over the mountains of the wealthy enclave of Malibu for the second time in little more than a month, destroying dozens of homes and forcing as many as 14,000 residents to flee.

The fire erupted in the wee hours after the long-predicted Santa Anas finally returned, and it quickly grew before the winds died down. Forty-nine homes were destroyed and another 27 damaged, said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman.

By midafternoon the fire was estimated at 4,500 acres (1,800 hectares), or about 7 square miles (18 square kilometers), with 25 percent containment.

…

NBA Playoff Preview

Rarely have the NBA playoffs seemed so wide open, especially in the Western Conference, where only seven games separated first place from eighth. Expect a few upsets along the way -- and plenty of hotly contested series. But when the smoke clears, it says here the top-seeded Celtics and Lakers will meet in a turn-back-the-clock NBA Finals.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

FIRST ROUND

BOSTON CELTICS (1) vs. ATLANTA HAWKS (8)

The skinny: The Hawks should feel proud for making the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but when this series is over, they may wish they were back in the draft lottery.

Prediction: Celtics in four.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (4) vs. …

Dynamic flux balance analysis of diauxic growth in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) has been used in the past to analyze microbial metabolic networks. Typically, FBA is used to study the metabolic flux at a particular steady state of the system. However, there are many situations where the reprogramming of the metabolic network is important. Therefore, the dynamics of these metabolic networks have to be studied. In this paper, we have extended FBA to account for dynamics and present two different formulations for dynamic FBA. These two approaches were used in the analysis of diauxic growth in Escherichia coli. Dynamic FBA was used to simulate the batch growth of E. coli on glucose, and the predictions were found to qualitatively match …

Clinton wins most delegates in West Virginia primary, but still trails Obama overall

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won most of the delegates in West Virginia's Democratic primary Tuesday.

Clinton added 20 delegates and Sen. Barack Obama won eight, according to an analysis of election returns by The Associated Press. All of West Virginia's delegates have been allocated.

Tuesday's primary left Obama with a 166.5-delegate lead in the race for the Democratic nomination. He has 1,883.5 delegates, including endorsements from party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,717, according to the latest AP tally.

The number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination increased by one Tuesday, to 2,026, with the election …

'Jammin" is great music and not much message

'JAMMIN' WITH POPS'

SOMEWHAT recommended

When: Through Jan. 4

Where: Apple Tree Theatre, 595 Elm Pl., Highland Park

Tickets: $27-$38

Call: (847) 432-4335

Take a pair of gifted Chicago performers who can conjure thespirit and musical style of two even more prodigiously gifted andlegendary performers, and let them give voice to more than two dozenof the finest standards in the American popular songbook.

Then saddle them with an exceedingly lame script that comes veryclose to undermining the talent at hand.

That just about sums up the formula at work in Barry Harman's"Jammin' With Pops," the little musical that opened Monday night …

42-Volt report details technology roll out

Paul Hansen, publisher of the Hansen Report on Automotive Electronics has released a 25-page report on 42-volt technology titled 42-Volt Power. An Opportunity to Redefine the Vehicle. The study outlines the need for 42-volt technology, cites environmental and political concerns, exposes obstacles to implementing 42-volt systems and chronicles the activities and technologies now being worked on by the OE and supplier community.

Among the findings in the report, Hansen reveals that in 2002, French automaker PSA will likely be the first to adopt 42-volt technology when it introduces an integrated starter/alternator (ISA) on the Citroen Xsara. He also reports that because GM wants …

Challenger leads early in Cherokee chief election

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — The challenger has a lead in the hotly contested race for chief of one of the nation's biggest American Indian tribes.

A Sunday count of votes cast in person put longtime Cherokee Nation councilman Bill John Baker ahead of former Principal Chief Chad Smith by 61 percent to 39 percent. The tribe's Election Commission says Baker had 6,223 votes to Smith's …

Stocks Rise Ahead of Holiday

NEW YORK - Stocks rose in early trading Tuesday ahead of a shortened holiday schedule for U.S. markets, with investors betting that a report on pending home sales will show some recovery for the beleaguered sector.

The market also drew confidence from new merger and acquisition activity: Kraft Foods Inc. said it offered $7.2 billion in cash to acquire the biscuit division of French food company Groupe Danone SA. The U.S. food company said it made an offer Monday to buy such European brands as LU, Petit Dejeuner, Tuc, and Mikado. Danone said its board is considering the bid on an exclusive basis.

Trading was fairly subdued, as stock markets are set to close early at 1 p.m. EDT ahead of the July 4th holiday.

The National Association of Realtors' report on pending home sales, to be released at 10 a.m. EDT, should suggest whether the real estate market's slowdown is dragging on into the summer. The Commerce Department will also release its May report on factory orders for both big-ticket and less-expensive items at 10 a.m. EDT.

In the first hour of trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 28.29, or 0.21 percent, to 13,563.72.

Broader stock indicators were also higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 4.55, or 0.30 percent, at 1,523.98, and the Nasdaq composite index was up 6.31, or 0.24 percent, at 2,638.61.

Bonds fell slightly, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note edging higher to 5.00 percent from 4.99 percent late Monday. The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices slipped.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. said late Monday it may take a third-quarter pretax charge of $1.47 billion linked to an offer for some of its debt. The company will also be in focus, along with General Motors Corp., as automakers report June sales. Ford dropped 24 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $9.42.

Caterpillar, one of the 30 Dow components, weighed on the blue-chip index after being downgraded by a UBS analyst. The heavy machinery maker, which had been the biggest gainer in the Dow Monday, fell $2.42, or 3 percent, to $77.98 in early Tuesday trading.

Though the average U.S. retail price of a gallon of gasoline has fallen below $3, investors are keeping an eye on crude oil prices. A barrel of light sweet crude fell 27 cents to $70.82 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after closing at a 10-month high Monday.

Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.02 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.72 percent, Germany's DAX index added 1.06 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 0.78.

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On the Net:

New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com

Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com

Small earthquake shakes Long Beach, Calif.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A small earthquake has shaken Long Beach and nearby areas of Southern California.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-3.7 tremor occurred at 9:06 a.m. Friday at a depth of about 11½ miles beneath the port city on the south Los Angeles County coast.

Port of Long Beach spokesman John Pope says there are no indications of any damage to the harbor.

Pope says the quake was a single jolt. The USGS' Internet-based citizen reporting system indicates the quake was felt throughout Los Angeles and neighboring counties.

The quake comes one day after a modest earthquake hit a sparsely populated area east of San Diego.

That magnitude-4.6 temblor struck at about 9 miles north of Ocotillo. There were no reports of damage.

One Christmas remains a cut above all the rest

Nearly every year about this time, someone in my life says to me, "Iknow what we can do this weekend that'll be really fun andChristmas-y."

To which I always reply, "Me too. I'll mix a batch of myspecial grain alcohol eggnog martinis, and we'll watch my videocollection of every sitcom episode with a `Christmas Carol' storyline, from `The Jeffersons' to `Saved by the Bell.' I've got dozensof 'em!"

Amazingly, that's never what they have in mind."Let's not do that, Rich," they say. "Let's really get into thespirit of the season by going out to one of those tree farms inAntioch or Woodstock or someplace and chopping down our very ownChristmas tree!"Insert big Charlie Brown sigh here.Label me a Scrooge if you will, but I have no interest inpulling a Clark Griswold and venturing deep into theoften-unincorporated unknown, bow saw in hand, in search of aChristmas tree.It just seems so . . . unnecessary. Stupid, even. Nobody eversays, "Let's go out to a turkey farm and assassinate our own birdthis Thanksgiving," so why do so many people feel compelled to felltheir own trees come Yule time?Now, I realize this position is going to result in a deluge ofmail in volumes not seen since they dumped all those sacks of"letters to Santy Claus" on the judge's desk in the original "Miracleon 34th Street." (Yes, that's Jack Albertson of "Chico and the Man"fame playing the postal worker who decides to forward all thoseletters to the Kris Kringle trial.)The letters will go something like this:"Bah humbug on you, Roeper! Obviously, you've never had theheartwarming experience of spending a day with family and friends,chopping down your own tree. You'll never understand the realmeaning of Christmas, you bum! Here's hoping you get run over by aone-horse open sleigh!"But I did participate in a Christmas tree retrieval missiononce, back in the 1980s. Why, I remember it as if it were 12 yearsago . . .(Cue music here: Springsteen's "Santa Claus Is Coming toTown.")We decided we'd take a road trip to exotic Wisconsin, where thetrees were said to be as tall as . . . well, trees. After theseemingly endless drive, we arrived at the farm, which had a cutesysign that said something like, "Welcome to Good St. Nick's TannenbaumWonderland - Hot Cider Available!"It was a cold, windy day. Mud was everywhere. Still, I wasdetermined to get into the spirit of things, so I pulled out my newlypurchased ax and did my best Nicholson impersonation from "TheShining." Heeeeere's Johnny!Only one problem. Axes weren't allowed - nor would they let meuse my official souvenir "Scarface" chainsaw. Apparently these farmshave a thing about "safety" and "tradition." You have to use a saw.As our Sherpa guide led us to the forest, one member of ourgroup - an annoying fellow year-round, but particularly so during theholidays - told us he'd been doing some research on the subject ofChristmas trees."Bet you didn't know there were so many different types ofso-called Christmas trees," he told us. "There's Scotch pine, whitepine, balsam fir, Canaan fir, Concolor fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir,Norway spruce, Colorado blue spruce, white spruce, Serbian spruce . .."We threw him from our wagon. Haven't heard from him since.Eventually, we found a tree that was only slightly lopsided, andwe went about the tedious process of felling it with our rented bowsaw. There was a strict embargo on the word "timber," so we allshouted, "Take that, Ted Danson!" as yet another tree fell victim tocrass commercialism.After we purchased some netting and twine, we bundled the treeto my friend's Volvo and held our breath for the long drive back,hoping the December winds wouldn't lift the thing from our vehicleand send it flying through the air like a guided pine missile.Once the tree was lugged up the stairs to my friend's place,forced into its stand and festooned with the usual lights andtrimmings, we all stood back and waited to feel that extra wave ofsatisfaction that comes from knowing you've done something thetraditional way, the hard way.We're still waiting to feel that wave of extra satisfaction.E-mail: rroeper@suntimes.com

Llodra, Nieminen reach Adelaide final

Third-seeded Jarkko Nieminen beat France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-4 Saturday to advance to the Australian men's hardcourt championships final against Michael Llodra.

Llodra ended the lengthy run of 32-year-old Australian wild card Joe Sirianni with a 6-3, 7-6 (8) win in the other semifinal at Memorial Drive, which is hosting the tournament for the final time before it heads north to Brisbane next year.

Sirianni was on a 12-match winning streak, including victories in two Challenger tournaments and in wild card events for Adelaide and the Australian Open.

"I don't think I played well today at all and I nearly beat the guy, so I've got to take a positive out of everything, the whole week," Sirianni said.

"I've got two more tournaments coming up, Sydney and the Aussie Open, hopefully I compete and improve my ranking."

Fabrice Santoro, Jonas Bjorkman and Carlos Moya are among ATP players still playing in their mid-30s, giving the Australian journeyman some hope.

"Maybe another three or four years, you've got a few guys on tour who are 36 and doing really well, you never know," Sirianni said. "If I listen to my body and take care of myself I can have another four years probably."

Llodra was complimentary.

"He is running very well and has a very good backhand, so if he continues like that we're going to see more of him on tour," Llodra said.

The Frenchman won the first 12 points of the match against Sirianni.

The second set went with serve through to the tiebreaker. Leading 6-3 in the tiebreaker, Sirianni had three set points to keep the match alive, but a combination of nerves and fatigue allowed Llodra to win seven of the next nine points and the match.

Bingo win is a nice little Ernie

A KNOWLE man who was made redundant three years ago has scoopedmore than GBP202,000 playing bingo.

Ernie Reed won the jackpot at the Riva Club, in Knowle, on Sunday.

The 56-year-old plays at the club, based in the Broadwalk ShoppingCentre, six times a week and refers to it as his second home.

He won the National Bingo Game prize of GBP200,000 plus a furtherregional prize of GBP2,733 and the club prize of GBP145, completing afull house in 42 calls.

Mr Reed worked for the Courage Brewery for 30 years until he wasmade redundant three years ago when it closed.

He will be sharing his good fortune with his friend Vic Bundy,from Withywood, who he worked with at the brewery and who playsbingo with him.

Ernie's wife Rita, with whom he has four sons and a daughter aswell as 12 grandchildren, is also a bingo player.

Mr Reed, who joined Riva when it opened, said: "You could call mea professional bingo player!

"I can't get enough of it. This win has changed our lives.

"I only had my redundancy money and a pension to live on before sothis will set us up for life.

"We will buy our council house that we have lived in since 1968."

Steve Pidgeon, Riva general manager, said: "I am delighted thatone of our most regular customers has won so much money."

Riva will be hosting a relaunch party this Sunday following aGBP500,000 refurbishment.

Mr Reed is the second big winner in Bristol in less than a month.

An unnamed 73-year-old grandmother from Mangotsfield won more thanGBP101,000 on April 10 at the Mecca club in Barton Hill.

She plays there four times a week and intends to share her prizewith a friend at the club.

Last year there were two big winners at Hengrove's Gala Club, withHartcliffe nurse Jacinta-Fatima Bujia, 40, winning more thanGBP84,000 and another unnamed woman sharing a GBP32,000 jackpot.

Best black books of 2006 pack passion on the page

Best black books of 2006 pack passion on the page

2006 turned out to be an explosive year for African American nonfiction writers, so much so that it proved quite challenging to settle on a list of just 10 praiseworthy texts. What's most interesting about the authors selected is that half of them are relative unknowns, either self-published or signed with modest-sized publishers.

Displaying a variety of unique voices, the only thing that these gifted craftsmen have in common is an unbridled passion and a soul still intact. They expressed themselves on paper in a recognizably black and larger-than-life fashion, doing with words what Aretha can do with her voice and what Coltrane could do with his horn.

1. "Diary of a Lost Girl" by Kola Boof

This heartbreaking and brutally honest autobiography might be the most brilliant deconstruction yet of the plight of present-day African Americans. Born in the Sudan in March 1972, Boof was orphaned at the age of seven after her parents were murdered for speaking out against the government's involvement in the revival of the slave trade. After being abandoned by her grandmother for being too dark-skinned, she found her way to the United States, where she was adopted by a kindly African American couple with a big family.

"Diary of a Lost Girl" represents the unalloyed emotions of an intelligent, defiant, frequently profane and proud black woman, a survivor who somehow overcame one of the worst childhoods imaginable to share an abundance of intriguing insights about her adopted homeland.

2. "Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation" by Natalie Hopkinson & Natalie Y. Moore

"Deconstructing Tyrone" is a thorough and intellectually honest examination of the contemporary African American male. The co-authors assess how such phenomena as homophobia, the incarceration rate, brothers on the "down low," abandonment by baby-daddies, gangsta rap's influence, academic underachievement and underemployment have contributed to what they see as an unfortunate schism between brothers and sisters.

The book's fundamental question is, "How can you love your culture, hip-hop, but love yourself, too?" Can a self-respecting black woman embrace the typical black male in spite of gender frictions without capitulating and accepting the "video ho" label? This excellent study initiates a long-overdue discussion about the prospects and direction of the hip-hop generation, exposing its prevailing imagery as unacceptably misogynistic and more emasculated than macho.

3. "Not in My Family: AIDS in the African-American Family," edited by Gil L. Robertson IV

This informative and groundbreaking book takes AIDS out of the inner-city closet, opening an honest dialogue to shake brothers and sisters out of complacency and inspire action. Among the book's roughly 60 contributors are a variety of entertainers, physicians, AIDS activists, ministers, best-selling authors and elected officials.

Just as moving as the celebrity submissions are those heartfelt stories related by ordinary folks. Filled with profound moments, "Not in My Family" simultaneously serves as the means of kickstarting candid dialogue about an array of pressing topics that all in one way or another impact the means of battling this sinister genocide quietly claiming African American lives.

4. "White Men Can't Hump (As Good As Black Men): Race & Sex in America," Volumes I & II, by Todd Wooten

In these two volumes, Todd Wooten - a Marine-turned-expert (albeit a self-appointed one) on mating habits across the color line - makes up for his lack of credentials with an infectious enthusiasm for his material and a colorful ability to turn a phrase.

Taking no prisoners, the author is an equal opportunity offender, attempting to close the human divide by addressing a litany of uncomfortable issues with the goal of eradicating both intolerance and underachievement. The entertaining page-turner rests on the basic premise that the legacy of slavery has left black males both devalued and blamed for their collective lower station in life.

5. "The Covenant with Black America," edited by Tavis Smiley

Each February since 2000, talk show host Tavis Smiley has convened some of the most brilliant black minds around to assess the "State of the Black Union." Feeling that an annual symposium simply exchanging opinions wasn't enough, he decided to come up with a blueprint addressing the most critical issues confronting the African American community.

"The Covenant with Black America" is an exhaustive, encyclopedic assault on the woes plaguing African Americans. What makes this treatise unique is its plethora of practical guidance on undoing persistent inequalities. In advocating evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary solutions, this inclusive and optimistic opus ought to inspire all who read it to get involved and lend their talents to the eradication of the numerous impediments to black progress.

6. "Mixed: My Life in Black and White," by Angela Nissel

Brutally honest in tone, Nissel's heartbreaking tale begins with her abandonment at an early age by her Jewish father to be raised alone in West Philadelphia by her African American mother, Gwen. Unfortunately, this forced Nissel to grow up fast during her formative years, negotiating her way through a community where many challenged her blackness because she was not only light-skinned, but also half-white.

"Mixed" graphically relates Nissel's battle with depression and suicidal tendencies, her stint as a stripper, her encounter with a gunwielding neighbor and her post-collegiate decision to date white guys after being unable to interest black professionals. Given how low she had to go before hitting bottom, it's a minor miracle that this survivor is still with us, let alone flourishing, having finally found both the man and job of her dreams.

7. "Getting It Wrong: How Black Public Intellectuals Are Failing Black America," by Algernon Austin

Austin's primary contention is that "ivory tower" blacks who have lost touch with the community now feel comfortable indicting less fortunate black folks they left behind for exhibiting symptoms long associated with poverty. Such blaming of the victims is destructive, Austin suggests, because it relies on a stereotyping that makes it convenient for Middle America to see skin color rather than a racist, exploitative economy as the explanation for the plight of their least fortunate brethren.

He goes on to indict the legal system as "the most anti-black institution" in the country, arguing that it defines "criminality as an inherent characteristic, as a trait, of blackness." Consistently separating myth from fact in this fashion, "Getting It Wrong" deconstructs the unfair color-coded stereotypes to which both the black bourgeoisie and white mainstream culture have come to resort to when referring to African American ghetto-dwellers.

8. "Letters to a Young Brother: MAN ifest Your Destiny," by Hill Harper

A preponderance of recent studies, dealing with issues ranging from employment and parenting to education and incarceration, have announced sobering statistics about the dire straits of the African American male. Whatever the factor correlated with success in this society, all indications seem to be that the black male is currently in a state of crisis.

This despairing trend inspired Harper, star of the CBS television show "CSI: NY," to publish "Letters to a Young Brother," a priceless, no-nonsense, step-by-step guide out of the ghetto. This how-to primer communicates salient messages about the power of education, the misleading suggestion that material possessions ensure happiness, and the importance of being the architect of one's own life.

9. "Black Cops Against Brutality: A Crisis Action Plan," by DeLacy Davis

This invaluable police encounter survival guide offers plenty of sound advice on how to handle such an unsettling situation as being detained by a cop for whatever reason. As a recently retired veteran police officer, Davis is possessed of some sage insights, encouraging readers to remain calm, roll down their car windows, turn on the ceiling light and keep both hands on the wheel during a motor vehicle stop. He also lets you know how to proceed when authorities arrive at your door, whether with or without a warrant, or if they simply begin questioning you right on the street.

Of equal import is how Davis addresses what to do when you've become the victim of a profile stop, an unlawful arrest or an unfair search and seizure. He delineates each step of the subsequent civilian complaint process, from keeping a log sheet to finding an attorney, filing charges and contacting the press and your political representatives. And because the author sees the issue as a nationwide crisis, he stresses the need to develop strategies for eradicating police brutality once and for all, breaking the blue wall of silence to help hip the people about how to deal with the criminal justice system most effectively.

10. "Lynched by Corporate America: The Gripping True Story of How One African-American Survived Doing Business with a Fortune 500 Giant," by Herman Malone and Robert Schwab

Co-author Malone's tale starts with his journey from honorably discharged Air Force serviceman to the 1969 traffic stop in his Camden, Ark., hometown when, as a 21-year-old veteran, he was told by two white police officers that he might find himself floating dead in the swamp if he didn't leave town immediately. That rude awakening led him to Denver, where he started a telecommunications company that later flourished into a multimillion-dollar corporation associated with U.S. West, one of seven "baby Bells" created by the 1983 antitrust breakup of AT&T.

But the story transitions from triumphant beating-the-odds story to frustrating cautionary talent when a new CEO takes control of U.S. West and, according to Malone, begins systematically backing out of its established agreements with black-owned businesses. The class action lawsuit filed by the suddenly disenfranchised African Americans alleging racial discrimination against the Fortune 500 corporation, and the subsequent protracted legal battle, provide the painstakingly recounted action for "Lynched by Corporate America."

The copious quotes recounted from court transcripts and Malone's convincing argument that a combination of racism and judicial kowtowing to corporate interests played a significant role in the resolution of the case make "Lynched by Corporate America" a riveting, while discouraging read. As the old legal maxim says, "In the halls of justice, the only justice is in the halls."

Honorable Mentions

"Mama Made the Difference: Life Lessons My Mother Taught Me," by Bishop T.D. Jakes

"Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete," by William C. Rhoden

"Jokes My Father Never Taught Me: Life, Love, and Loss with Richard Pryor," by Rain Pryor

"Life Out of Context," by Walter Mosley

"Living Black History: How Reimagining the African-American Past Can Remake America's Racial Future," by Manning Marable

"A Hand to Guide Me: Legends and Leaders Celebrate the People Who Shaped Their Lives," by Denzel Washington with Daniel Paisner

"Don't Shoot! I'm Coming Out: How to Man-Up & Set Heterosexuals Straight," by Ben Setfrey

"Stripped Bare: The 12 Truths That Will Help You Land the Very Best Black Man," by LaDawn Black

"Color Him Father: Stories of Love and Rediscovery of Black Men," edited by Stephana I. Colbert and Valerie I. Harrison

"Historical Dictionary of African-American Television," by Kathleen Fearn-Banks

"Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life," by Tyler Perry

"Words to Our Now: Imagination and Dissent," by Thomas Glave

Deportivo, Defensor and Boyaca open with wins

Deportivo Tachira , Defensor Sporting and Boyaca Chico made important first steps toward qualification for the knock out rounds of the Copa Libertadores with wins in the opening round of the group stage Tuesday.

Venezuelan champions Deportivo Tachira provided the shock result of the day after coming from behind to beat Paraguay's Guarani 2-1 in Asuncion.

Pedro Chavez scored with a volley in the 38th minute to put Guarani in front in the Group 2 fixture, but the Venezuelans hit back with an equalizer from captain Gerzon Chacon just three minutes later.

Tachira denied the Paraguayan side a crucial home win when Perez Greco sliced through the Guarani defense to slide home the winner in the 80th minute.

Tachira's victory seals a satisfying few days for Venezuelan football, after the Under-20 national side sealed the country's first qualification for a World Cup at any level after finishing fourth in the South American youth championship on Sunday.

The days most impressive performance came from Colombian side Boyaca Chico, who overcame Bolivia's Aurora with a comprehensive 3-0 away win in Cochabamba.

Two long distance strikes by Colombian striker Anthony Tapia proved the difference between the two Group 7 sides, despite Aurora's Argentine goalkeeper Silvio Dulcich producing a series of first half saves to keep the Bolivians in the hunt.

Dulcich could do nothing about Tapia's 45th minute free-kick to break the deadlock, however, and the second goal _ a 35-meter drive from open play in the 80th minute _ finally broke the Bolivian's resistance.

Aurora's Ivan Huayhuata was sent off two minutes later for violent conduct and Juan Mahecha rubbed salt in the wound with a stoppage time third goal for the Colombian visitors.

The four-team Group 7 also features Brazil's Gremio, who kick off against Universidad de Chile in Group 7's next fixture on Feb. 25.

Uruguayan champions Defensor Sporting also got off to a good start in Group 4 with a 1-0 home victory over Colombia's America de Cali in Montevideo.

A well-balanced match, played for the most part under torrential rain, was settled by a downward header from defender Pablo Gaglianone in the 38th minute following a Diego de Souza free-kick.

America pushed forward in the second half in search of an equalizer, but the Uruguayan defense held firm, with Defensor goalkeeper Martin Silva making a crucial save in the 59th minute to deny striker Adrian Ramos.

The other clubs in Group Four, Brazilian league-winners Sao Paulo and Colombia's Independiente Medellin, will face off in Brazil on Feb. 18 in the group's second fixture.

The Copa Libertadores continues with a further three matches Wednesday featuring two clashes between Argentine and Mexican opposition in Buenos Aires.

Lanus host Chivas of Guadalajara in Group 6, while in Group 8, San Lorenzo hosts San Luis and Peruvian club Universitario visits Libertad of Paraguay.

(Cummins Inc.)

- Cummins Inc. has been named Newsmaker of the Year by Diesel Progress Magazine for its work in meeting both on- and off-highway emissions standards.

Bond set for Tenn. man wanted in 1977 murder case

A Tennessee man who spent three decades on the run before turning himself in to face charges in a 1977 killing is very sick following a stroke and it's unclear if his family can post a $150,000 bond set Monday, his attorney said.

James Brewer, a 58-year-old former machinist, surrendered earlier this month while recovering from a stroke that forced his hospitalization in Oklahoma, where police say he spent most of the years since leaving Tennessee in the late 1970s.

A judge set bond at a hearing in Hohenwald, about 60 miles south of Nashville. Brewer's lawyer, Jerry Colley, said he's not sure if Brewer's family will be able to raise the money.

Lewis County Sheriff Dwayne Kilpatrick wants Brewer moved from the county jail in Hohenwald to a state prison hospital that is better equipped to care for inmates with special medical needs, Colley said. He added there's a waiting list and Brewer, who gets his nourishment through a feeding tube, is still recovering from his latest stroke.

"It really makes it difficult for the sheriff," Colley added.

Brewer disappeared along with his wife, Dorothy, just before he was to stand trial in 1978 for the April 1977 shooting death of Jimmy Carroll in Hohenwald. He's now facing a first-degree murder charge that could put him behind bars for the rest of his life, authorities say.

Authorities have said Brewer was suspicious of Carroll because he thought Carroll was having a relationship with his wife. The original police report says Brewer confronted Carroll at a service station, shot him twice, then drove off and left him to die.

According to authorities, James and Dorothy Brewer lived for a short time after the killing in Nashville before heading to Texas, where Brewer began using another name and his wife, her maiden name.

The couple spent most of their lives since in the same home in Shawnee, about 30 miles outside Oklahoma City. He worked as a machinist at a factory until his first stroke about a year ago.

A second stroke this year may have been the motivation to surrender and finally reunite with family members still in Tennessee, said Colley, who also was Brewer's attorney in 1977.

According to police, a relative had told authorities that Brewer might be ready to talk about the shooting. Authorities say Brewer, who was questioned in the Oklahoma hospital last month where he was recovering from his second stroke, did not confess though he turned himself in a few weeks later.

Brewer's next hearing is set for April 27.

Vietnamese journalist sentenced to 2 years in jail

A Vietnamese court sentenced a journalist to two years in prison on Wednesday, accusing him of writing inaccurate stories about one of the country's most high-profile corruption cases.

Nguyen Viet Chien, 56, was convicted of "abusing freedom and democracy" at the end of a two-day trial at the Hanoi People's Court.

Presiding Judge Tran Van Vy said before announcing the verdict that Chien had used fabricated information in his reports and that he "damaged the prestige of some high-ranking officials and caused negative public opinion."

Fellow reporter Nguyen Van Hai, 33, was sentenced on the charges to two years of "re-education without detention," under which his employers or local government officials will supervise education intended to make him a better citizen.

The newspaper reporters were arrested in May for writing about a 2005 scandal in which Transportation Ministry officials were accused of gambling with allegedly embezzled funds.

Chien and Hai were accused of publishing false information, including that an executive bribed officials with US$500,000 in an attempt to cover-up the scandal.

The case prompted the transportation minister to resign and led to the arrest of a deputy minister. Charges against the deputy minister were suddenly dropped in March, and the journalists were arrested six weeks later.

Chien maintained he was not guilty because he believed the information he used was genuine.

"All of my information came from police officials investigating the case," Chien told the court before judges delivered their verdict. "It was hard to avoid mistakes at a time when all newspapers competed to report on a case that attracted huge attention from the public."

Hai pleaded guilty and was given a lesser sentence for his "active cooperation with investigators and remorse," Vy said.

Chien displayed no emotion when his sentencing was announced. His relatives cried outside the court house.

Hai burst into tears and hugged his wife in the court room after he was released.

Also standing trial, police Maj. Gen. Pham Xuan Quac and investigator Dinh Van Huynh were charged with "deliberately revealing state secrets," for giving information to the journalists.

Quac, 62, who has retired, was given a warning, while Huynh was sentenced to one year in prison.

`Twilight' is the new breed of chick flick

With its muscular $70 million opening weekend despite scant appeal for guys, "Twilight" has redefined expectations for the chick flick.

While offering some high-flying vampire battles, its main action centers on the developing romance between two teens played by relative unknowns Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Women and girls made up more than 75 percent of the film's opening-weekend audience, according to Fandango.com, which sells tickets and conducts surveys about recent releases.

With the movie's stellar opening weekend _ it trounced the celebrated $55.7 million opening of "Sex and the City" _ studios ought to take notice of women's continued ticket-buying power, said Paul Dergarabedian of box-office tracking firm Media By Numbers.

"The word 'chick flick' is going to have to be replaced by big box-office girl-power flick," he said. "The box-office clout of the female audience is just astounding, and it's been an underserved audience for way too long. ... They have no trouble finding money for the things they're passionate about."

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines chick flick as "a motion picture intended to appeal especially to women." But "Twilight" is no lightweight date movie _ instead, it's a real-girl's chick flick, where a normal-looking teenager finds romance with a modern (if undead) Prince Charming.

"It's the most insanely romantic film since 'The Notebook,'" said Harry Medved, a spokesman for Fandango.com, who described Pattinson's Edward Cullen as "the ideal boyfriend. ... He's incredibly strong, superfast, impossibly handsome, he plays the piano and all he cares about is what's on her mind."

Here's a look at some of the top-grossing chick flicks in recent years:

_ "Sex and the City" (2008) earned $55.7 million its opening weekend and more than $150 million to date. Easily the biggest chick flick until now, it had something going for it that "Twilight" did not: at least some crossover appeal with men who were fans of the long-running TV series.

_ "High School Musical 3" (2008) had a $42 million opening weekend and has already earned $84 million just one month after its release. This successful Disney franchise has more tween appeal than a standard chick flick.

_ "Enchanted" (2007) opened with $34.4 million and went on to earn more than $127 million. Disney mixed music, princesses and Dr. McDreamy for big box-office success.

_ "Titanic" (1997) opened to $28.6 million in ticket sales and $600.8 million to date, making it the highest-grossing film of all time. Women got steamy romance, men got spectacular disaster action. Both saw it several times and probably bought it on DVD.

_ "Mamma Mia!" (2008) opened with $27.6 million and has topped $142 million. Based on the popular musical inspired by Abba's hits, it had a built-in audience with fans of both live theater and the Swedish supergroup.

_ "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006) collected $27.5 million its opening weekend and more than $124 million to date. Great performances and Oscar nominations (for costume design and star Meryl Streep) likely boosted this film, which also appealed to men with its sendup of the fashion and publishing industries.

_ "The Princess Diaries" (2001) earned $22.8 million its opening weekend and eventually grossed over $108 million. Disney plus princesses equals success (see "Enchanted").

Iraq: US troops capture alleged Shiite militia leader, 1 other suspect south of Baghdad

U.S. soldiers captured a suspected Shiite militia commander and one other suspect Monday in raids south of Baghdad, the military said.

The main suspect is believed to be in charge of "special groups criminal elements" in the Iraqi provinces of Wasit, Babil and Najaf, the U.S. military said in a statement.

"Special groups" is language the military uses to describe Shiite Muslim militias allegedly backed by Iran. The U.S. says the groups have broken ranks with Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army. The radical cleric in August called a six-month cease-fire, which is due to expire later this month.

The U.S. has been careful not to accuse al-Sadr himself of any role in ongoing attacks, and instead blame rogue militiamen violating his cease-fire order. Nevertheless, U.S. and Iraqi officials have been cracking down on al-Sadr's followers, especially in Shiite holy cities south of Baghdad.

The militia leader arrested Monday was allegedly involved in coordinating weapons shipments and planning attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces, the U.S. military said. It did not characterize the second suspect. Both were detained in Hillah, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) south of Baghdad.

Iraqi police said the two men were bodyguards for a Sadrist lawmaker, Ahmed al-Masaoudi. He was not immediately available to comment on the arrests.

Brew Crew Gives Second Half Intrigue

Barry Bonds likely will take down the Hammer's home run record soon. The fates of the surprising Milwaukee Brewers, the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees are far murkier. With baseball still buzzing about Ichiro Suzuki's sprint around the All-Star bases, the talk turned to the dash to October.

"Now the fun starts," San Diego outfielder Brian Giles said.

Can Alfonso Soriano and Lou Piniella lead the Chicago Cubs into the playoffs? Will Jake Peavy and the Padres emerge from the packed NL West? Are David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox going to breeze the rest of the way?

Some things are fairly certain. Surely some trades are on deck before the July 31 deadline - Ken Griffey Jr., anyone?

The second half opens Thursday with Bonds just five homers shy of breaking Hank Aaron's career record of 755. The only question seems to be whether commissioner Bud Selig will be there to see it.

Tom Glavine will start this week going for win No. 298. Alex Rodriguez is six home runs short of joining the 500 club - Frank Thomas already made it this year. And the Philadelphia Phillies will reach a much bigger and more dubious mark: Their next loss will make them the first team in major league history to drop 10,000 games.

The race for records will soon give way to the chase for playoff spots. Almost half the teams are within 5 1/2 games of a postseason berth, including clubs in two hard-luck cities.

There is joy in Seattle, where the Mariners are just 2 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels after finishing last in the AL West for three straight seasons. Fans there may get some other good news, too: Suzuki, MVP of the AL's 5-4 win Tuesday night, is close to signing a long-term contract extension.

The summer also is a lot brighter in Milwaukee, where Prince Fielder and the Brewers lead the NL Central by 4 1/2 games over the Chicago Cubs - buoyed by their major league-best 30-13 home mark.

Milwaukee has not finished a season over .500 since 1992 - when it played in the American League.

"They all have a lot of confidence in their abilities and they all are extremely talented," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "I'll take my chances with them."

Even for teams like Texas, Cincinnati and Kansas City that seem to be out of contention, the trading deadline could bring hope for the future.

The Rangers, with slugger Mark Teixeira and relievers Eric Gagne and Akinori Otsuka, could be major players. And the Reds are bound to get a few calls, with Adam Dunn among those available for contenders looking for a boost.

The Yankees could be buyers or sellers with their string of nine straight division titles in trouble.

Despite the considerable efforts of Rodriguez - the major league leader with 30 homers and 86 RBIs - New York (42-43) was 10 games back of AL East-leading Boston and under .500 at the break for the first time since 1995.

The Yankees haven't missed the playoffs since 1994 - when the postseason was wiped out by a strike.

"We've got a long way to go," shortstop Derek Jeter said.

Consistency has eluded the Cardinals, 7 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the Central. They dealt with the alcohol-related death of pitcher Josh Hancock in late April and skipper Tony La Russa's drunken driving arrest during spring training, and now have something else to overcome.

Star Albert Pujols was upset that La Russa, the NL manager, didn't use him in the All-Star game. Instead, the 2005 MVP merely watched when Aaron Rowand flied out with the bases loaded to end the game.

Pujols and the Cardinals beat Detroit last year in the World Series, and the Tigers are back again.

Detroit leads the AL Central, regarded by many as the best division in the majors, and second-place Cleveland is in front for the wild card. Minnesota, which charged to the division title last year, is eight back of the Tigers.

Aces C.C. Sabathia of Cleveland, Justin Verlander of Detroit and Johan Santana of Minnesota also are strong contenders for the Cy Young Award. "We treaded water pretty good," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, whose team could get a boost when injured relievers Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya return. "We need to get some things ironed out in the second half. They went through a lot in the first half, but this stuff is just revving up now."

Seattle won three of four at Oakland to close out the first half and is just 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the wild card. New manager John McLaren, promoted when Mike Hargrove abruptly retired July 1, doesn't see why his team can't be a factor late in the season.

"The second half you can smell it more," he said. "September is coming up and it's toward the finish line. I look forward to going down the stretch, and doing what you have to do to get into the playoffs. Our goal is to make the playoffs and go from there."

All three races in the NL are tight, with just 7 1/2 games total separating the first two teams in each division. The West features four teams all within 5 1/2 games of the top, with Giles and the Padres leading the Dodgers by one game.

"We've got a tough division. Everybody's beating up on everybody, so it's really tough for people to distance themselves. But it's nothing new, the past couple of years, so we'll be ready to go," Giles said.

The Mets, who ran away with the NL East last year, have weathered some early season struggles to take a slim two-game lead over Atlanta at the break. They could get a lift from the return of Pedro Martinez, who had rotator cuff surgery last fall and is just two strikeouts shy of 3,000 for his career.

Several hitters are eyeing big numbers, too.

Griffey will get to 600 homers with 14 in the second half. Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez also could get to 500 with big second halves.

And then there's Bonds, batting .295 with 17 homers and on the brink of baseball's most revered record.

"Look at his numbers and they're pretty impressive," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "They're still walking him. What would his numbers be? It hasn't been a great first half for us, but Barry's done a nice job. His numbers at 42 are pretty impressive."

---

AP Sports Writers Janie McCauley and Josh Dubow in San Francisco, Bernie Wilson in San Diego, Gregg Bell in Seattle, Larry Lage in Detroit and Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Kubel's 4 hits, Nathan's save help Twins hang on

Joe Nathan left the bases loaded in the final two innings for his 33rd save and the Minnesota Twins held on Sunday for an 11-8 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Nathan got Ichiro Suzuki to ground out to complete the three-game sweep. The All-Star closer also struck out Adrian Beltre with the sacks full to end the eighth.

Jason Kubel had four hits and scored four runs and Justin Morneau homered and drove in two for the Twins, who stayed tied with the Chicago White Sox for the American League Central lead.

Knuckleballing reliever R.A. Dickey matched a major league record by throwing four wild pitches in an inning, and the reeling Mariners couldn't get any closer than two runs.

Minnesota's Glen Perkins (10-3) improved to 8-1 in his last 14 starts.

Raul Ibanez went 5-for-5 for Seattle, but Ryan Feierabend (0-1) allowed six runs and 10 hits in three innings.

Rays 7, Rangers 4

At Arlington, Texas, B.J. Upton homered and drove in three runs in his return from a benching, Scott Kazmir allowed two runs in six innings and Tampa Bay downed Texas to add a game to its AL East lead.

With the bases loaded in the ninth and Josh Hamilton coming to bat as the potential tying run, Rays manager Joe Maddon had the RBI leader walked to force in a run and help protect the lead.

The victory coupled with Toronto's 15-4 win over Boston gave the Rays a 4 1/2 game pad over the second-place Red Sox, who lost to Toronto.

Kazmir (9-6) earned his first win since July 21, giving up four hits with seven strikeouts and four walks to help the Rays improve to 20-9 since the All-Star break.

White Sox 13, Athletics 1

In Oakland, California, Carlos Quentin hit his 34th homer and drove in four runs, Alexei Ramirez added a grand slam and Chicago won a series in Oakland for the first time in eight years.

Javier Vazquez (10-10) allowed four hits in eight innings to help the White Sox win consecutive games in Oakland for the first time since August 2000. Chicago also took the season series from the A's for the first time in eight years.

Juan Uribe hit a two-run shot and Jermaine Dye also homered as the White Sox won for the fifth time in six games. Chicago is a season-best 17 games over .500.

Gio Gonzalez (1-2) was tagged for eight runs, six hits and five walks in 3 1-3 innings. The A's have lost 10 straight series, falling to a big league-worst 5-23 since the All-Star break.

Quentin took over the major league home run lead.

Blue Jays 15, Red Sox 4

In Boston, Alex Rios had five hits, matching a club record with four doubles, and Toronto chased Boston ace Josh Beckett in the third inning.

Adam Lind had a solo homer and four RBIs and John McDonald added three hits and three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who set a team record with 10 doubles. They won their fifth in six games and improved to 6-2 against the Red Sox this season.

Boston, the AL wild-card leader, lost consecutive games for the first time in August.

Shaun Marcum (8-5) gave up one run in five innings. He's won his last three starts.

Beckett (11-9) was roughed up for eight runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings. Toronto equaled its season high with 22 hits, the most Red Sox pitchers have given up this year.

Kevin Youkilis hit his 23rd homer and Dustin Pedroia his 12th for Boston.

Yankees 15, Royals 6

In New York, Jason Giambi hit a grand slam, Alex Rodriguez sent a three-run homer bouncing into Monument Park and New York battered Brian Bannister and Kansas City to salvage a split of the 10-game season series.

Cody Ransom added a two-run homer and Xavier Nady also went deep for the Yankees, who moved within five games of Boston in the wild-card race. Rodriguez finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs, and Derek Jeter went 4-for-4 and scored three times.

Mike Mussina (16-7) gave up three runs in the first but retired his last 14 batters for career win No. 266. Despite winning at least 15 games 11 times, Mussina has never been a 20-game winner.

Ross Gload hit a two-run homer and Billy Butler had a two-run double for the Royals, who wasted two chances over the weekend to win their first season series against New York since 1999. Instead, they've lost nine of 11 after a three-game winning streak.

Bannister (7-12) allowed 13 of the 16 batters he faced to reach safely, on 10 hits and three walks, and the 10 runs he yielded were a career high.

Indians 4, Angels 3

In Cleveland, Jeremy Sowers and two relievers cooled off Los Angeles' lineup, and Cleveland took two of three from the Angels to hand them a rare series loss.

It was the Angels' first series loss to an AL opponent since a three-game sweep in Tampa Bay from May 9-11. They hadn't lost any series since dropping two of three interleague games to the Los Angeles Dodgers from June 27-29.

Sowers (2-6) gave up only two earned runs over 6 2-3 innings for his first win in five starts. The left-hander earned his first home win in 13 starts at Progressive Field since beating Detroit on Aug. 25, 2006.

Rafael Perez struck out three over 1 1-3 perfect innings and Jensen Lewis got his third save.

Cleveland took a 4-3 lead in the sixth against Justin Speier (1-6) on Grady Sizemore's RBI single.

Orioles 16, Tigers 8

In Detroit, Melvin Mora and Luke Scott hit two home runs apiece, leading Baltimore to a rout of Detroit.

Mora had five hits and a career-high six RBIs, while Scott had three hits and four RBIs to pace a 22-hit outburst. It was the most hits for the Orioles since they had 22 on July 22, 2006, at Tampa Bay. Baltimore's 16 runs and 12 extra-base hits were season highs.

The Orioles, winners of four of five, have scored in double digits in three of their last four games. The Tigers fell to 5-11 in August.

Baltimore finally won a Sunday road game for the first time this season after going 0-10.

Fernando Cabrera (2-1) got the win with three shutout innings of relief.

Casey Fossum (2-1) took the loss, allowing four runs in two innings.

Mail delivery test scheme [Edition 4]

PEOPLE in Ammanford and Llandeilo who are out when their recordedsigned-for mail is delivered may soon find it has been sent to aneighbour. This is not a mistake -- but a new scheme being tested byRoyal Mail to make it easier to collect missed mail.

Ammanford and Llandeilo are two of the postcode areas selected.The others are Gorseinon, Pontardawe, and Neath -- 83,518 addresseson 169 delivery rounds in total.

Royal Mail said around 90 per cent of people are in favour, butwill be writing to every household giving them the chance to optout.

The trial is due to run until February 25. It will not includespecial delivery or international items.

Watch E-Wallets

Device- or Internet-based software poised to manage consumers' shopping and payment activities.

As smartphone s begin to proliferate faster than both PCs and traditional cell phones, the buzz is beginning to grow about a future filled with "e-wallets."

Are you ready? An electronic wallet is basically a piece of software that stores personal and payment information either on a device (such as a smartphone or an iPad) or hosted by a party on the Internet. And some technology pundits predict that the time will come - in the not-so-distant future - when consumers will use electronic wallets to manage all their shopping and payments activities.

Here's an interesting excerpt from Time magazine about the growth of electronic wallets:

Shoppers wa ? ti ng to get the ir caff� i ? e fix online at Starbucks.com now have only one path to take when they pay for their beans...

But wait, here's something a bit more revealing about this quote:

If they are already registered with Passport, Microsoffs new identity-verification program, they can use it to complete their purchase.

You see, this quote is actually from a 2001 issue of Time, when folks were first predicting that electronic wallets would take over our usage of traditional credit and debit cards. It's always hard to predict how fast new technologies will be adopted by consumers and, in the end, Microsoft's Passport proved to be a disappointing flop.

But what if electronic wallets became as popular as Apple iPads or Amazon Kindles are today? During 2011, innovative companies have made the first moves around their wallet strategies. Here's a round-up of the players and what they are doing in the marketplace.

Google Gets Early Buzz

In a venture with Citibank (www. citibank. com) and MasterCard (y^ww. master card. com), Google recently introduced its Google Wallet (www.google.com/wallet) application to manage payment, loyalty and special offer information. Retailers that have already agreed to support the contactless payment aspect of Google Wallet include Walgreens, Subway, OfficeMax, and Toys "R" Us.

While Google has caught early buzz, the contactless functionality of this wallet is only available on Sprint phones today. Like many early technologies, it will take time to work across most devices.

PayPal Aims for Big Changes

PayPal (www.paypal.com), owned by eBay (www.ebay.com), wants to completely change consumer shopping behavior. The company envisions a future in which consumers regularly use PayPal for mobile online purchases as well as in stores, and eBay barcode readers on smartphones will arm shoppers with powerful comparison shopping technology.

PayPal is preparing to introduce an electronic wallet with some pretty cool features. For example, PayPal's wallet will allow customers to change their method of payment after they make a purchase. A user could pay for something in a store with MasterCard, take the merchandise home, and then later switch the payment method to his or her Visa without any additional fee.

Apple Streamlines Orders

Apple (www.apple.com) is rumored to be planning an iPhone with near-field communications to support mobile payments, but no release date has been announced so far. However, Apple has launched an app that enables users to place orders for pickup at their local Apple Store, and enables self-checkout at Apple stores.

Reports have Apple promising a turnaround of 12 minutes from when a customer places an order for an in- stock item and when it will be available for pickup. Talk about the perks of a multichannel world!

Steps to CU Readiness

As credit unions watch these consumer payment trends unfold, credit union executives should take the following five steps to avoid being caught blindsided by e-wallet innovations:

1 Internally recruit wallet testers. Every credit union should find a cadre of folks knowledgeable about IT, marketing and retail delivery who can serve as the "early adapter" team and test wallet offerings early.

2 Create an executive learning event around wallets. Electronic wallets and mobile payment strategies should be understood in more detail by credit union executives. A planning session where vendor offerings are reviewed and wallet users provide first-hand perspective would be time well spent.

3 Understand the wallet vision and road maps of payment vendors. Credit unions should study the research and development and alliance efforts under way for wallets - and payments in general. Check out what's happening with your credit and debit card processors and payments networks.

4 Review consumer adoption and the competitive landscape each yean As part of your credit union's annual strategic planning efforts, review how well electronic wallet and mobile payment technology is "sticking." Based on what you find, decide how urgently your credit union must act.

5 Build loyalty around payment cards as soon as possible. However electronic wallets are adopted, it is clear that most consumers will evolve their purchasing habits from their current relationships. When wallets first start going mainstream, they will hold a consumer's most-used debit and credit card information. The most critical tangible action a credit union can take concerning a future of electronic wallets is to penetrate its member base with large, active debit and credit card portfolios.

In much the same way that music, entertainment and navigating directions became key components of our mobile phones, consumers may soon be using a smartphone app as the centerpiece of their payments activities. Credit unions need to become more engaged in these innovations before it's too late to play a relevant role.

[Sidebar]

Resources

Search for "payments" at cumanagement. org/archive/indexto read free related articles, including "Marvelous Mobile" and "No Cash for Coffee."

Search for "card rewards" at eu m an age ment.org/archive to get free articles on how to boost your programs before e-wallets hit. You may be especially interested in "Debit Card Rewards" and "Choosing a Vendor."

Eric Weikart of Cornerstone Advisors will help lead CUES' inaugural "School of Growth and Profitability," slated for May 1-3 in San Diego. Learn more and register at cues.org/sgp.

Terence Roche of Cornerstone Advisors will speak at CUES Execu/Nef", slated for Aug. 19-22 in Big Sky, Mont. Learn more and register at cues.org/execunet.

Learn more about Cornerstone's strategic and technology offerings at cues.org/cornerstone.

[Author Affiliation]

Steve Williams is a principal with Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (www.crnrstone.comA a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Watch E-Wallets

Device- or Internet-based software poised to manage consumers' shopping and payment activities.

As smartphone s begin to proliferate faster than both PCs and traditional cell phones, the buzz is beginning to grow about a future filled with "e-wallets."

Are you ready? An electronic wallet is basically a piece of software that stores personal and payment information either on a device (such as a smartphone or an iPad) or hosted by a party on the Internet. And some technology pundits predict that the time will come - in the not-so-distant future - when consumers will use electronic wallets to manage all their shopping and payments activities.

Here's an interesting excerpt from Time magazine about the growth of electronic wallets:

Shoppers wa ? ti ng to get the ir caff� i ? e fix online at Starbucks.com now have only one path to take when they pay for their beans...

But wait, here's something a bit more revealing about this quote:

If they are already registered with Passport, Microsoffs new identity-verification program, they can use it to complete their purchase.

You see, this quote is actually from a 2001 issue of Time, when folks were first predicting that electronic wallets would take over our usage of traditional credit and debit cards. It's always hard to predict how fast new technologies will be adopted by consumers and, in the end, Microsoft's Passport proved to be a disappointing flop.

But what if electronic wallets became as popular as Apple iPads or Amazon Kindles are today? During 2011, innovative companies have made the first moves around their wallet strategies. Here's a round-up of the players and what they are doing in the marketplace.

Google Gets Early Buzz

In a venture with Citibank (www. citibank. com) and MasterCard (y^ww. master card. com), Google recently introduced its Google Wallet (www.google.com/wallet) application to manage payment, loyalty and special offer information. Retailers that have already agreed to support the contactless payment aspect of Google Wallet include Walgreens, Subway, OfficeMax, and Toys "R" Us.

While Google has caught early buzz, the contactless functionality of this wallet is only available on Sprint phones today. Like many early technologies, it will take time to work across most devices.

PayPal Aims for Big Changes

PayPal (www.paypal.com), owned by eBay (www.ebay.com), wants to completely change consumer shopping behavior. The company envisions a future in which consumers regularly use PayPal for mobile online purchases as well as in stores, and eBay barcode readers on smartphones will arm shoppers with powerful comparison shopping technology.

PayPal is preparing to introduce an electronic wallet with some pretty cool features. For example, PayPal's wallet will allow customers to change their method of payment after they make a purchase. A user could pay for something in a store with MasterCard, take the merchandise home, and then later switch the payment method to his or her Visa without any additional fee.

Apple Streamlines Orders

Apple (www.apple.com) is rumored to be planning an iPhone with near-field communications to support mobile payments, but no release date has been announced so far. However, Apple has launched an app that enables users to place orders for pickup at their local Apple Store, and enables self-checkout at Apple stores.

Reports have Apple promising a turnaround of 12 minutes from when a customer places an order for an in- stock item and when it will be available for pickup. Talk about the perks of a multichannel world!

Steps to CU Readiness

As credit unions watch these consumer payment trends unfold, credit union executives should take the following five steps to avoid being caught blindsided by e-wallet innovations:

1 Internally recruit wallet testers. Every credit union should find a cadre of folks knowledgeable about IT, marketing and retail delivery who can serve as the "early adapter" team and test wallet offerings early.

2 Create an executive learning event around wallets. Electronic wallets and mobile payment strategies should be understood in more detail by credit union executives. A planning session where vendor offerings are reviewed and wallet users provide first-hand perspective would be time well spent.

3 Understand the wallet vision and road maps of payment vendors. Credit unions should study the research and development and alliance efforts under way for wallets - and payments in general. Check out what's happening with your credit and debit card processors and payments networks.

4 Review consumer adoption and the competitive landscape each yean As part of your credit union's annual strategic planning efforts, review how well electronic wallet and mobile payment technology is "sticking." Based on what you find, decide how urgently your credit union must act.

5 Build loyalty around payment cards as soon as possible. However electronic wallets are adopted, it is clear that most consumers will evolve their purchasing habits from their current relationships. When wallets first start going mainstream, they will hold a consumer's most-used debit and credit card information. The most critical tangible action a credit union can take concerning a future of electronic wallets is to penetrate its member base with large, active debit and credit card portfolios.

In much the same way that music, entertainment and navigating directions became key components of our mobile phones, consumers may soon be using a smartphone app as the centerpiece of their payments activities. Credit unions need to become more engaged in these innovations before it's too late to play a relevant role.

[Sidebar]

Resources

Search for "payments" at cumanagement. org/archive/indexto read free related articles, including "Marvelous Mobile" and "No Cash for Coffee."

Search for "card rewards" at eu m an age ment.org/archive to get free articles on how to boost your programs before e-wallets hit. You may be especially interested in "Debit Card Rewards" and "Choosing a Vendor."

Eric Weikart of Cornerstone Advisors will help lead CUES' inaugural "School of Growth and Profitability," slated for May 1-3 in San Diego. Learn more and register at cues.org/sgp.

Terence Roche of Cornerstone Advisors will speak at CUES Execu/Nef", slated for Aug. 19-22 in Big Sky, Mont. Learn more and register at cues.org/execunet.

Learn more about Cornerstone's strategic and technology offerings at cues.org/cornerstone.

[Author Affiliation]

Steve Williams is a principal with Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (www.crnrstone.comA a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Watch E-Wallets

Device- or Internet-based software poised to manage consumers' shopping and payment activities.

As smartphone s begin to proliferate faster than both PCs and traditional cell phones, the buzz is beginning to grow about a future filled with "e-wallets."

Are you ready? An electronic wallet is basically a piece of software that stores personal and payment information either on a device (such as a smartphone or an iPad) or hosted by a party on the Internet. And some technology pundits predict that the time will come - in the not-so-distant future - when consumers will use electronic wallets to manage all their shopping and payments activities.

Here's an interesting excerpt from Time magazine about the growth of electronic wallets:

Shoppers wa ? ti ng to get the ir caff� i ? e fix online at Starbucks.com now have only one path to take when they pay for their beans...

But wait, here's something a bit more revealing about this quote:

If they are already registered with Passport, Microsoffs new identity-verification program, they can use it to complete their purchase.

You see, this quote is actually from a 2001 issue of Time, when folks were first predicting that electronic wallets would take over our usage of traditional credit and debit cards. It's always hard to predict how fast new technologies will be adopted by consumers and, in the end, Microsoft's Passport proved to be a disappointing flop.

But what if electronic wallets became as popular as Apple iPads or Amazon Kindles are today? During 2011, innovative companies have made the first moves around their wallet strategies. Here's a round-up of the players and what they are doing in the marketplace.

Google Gets Early Buzz

In a venture with Citibank (www. citibank. com) and MasterCard (y^ww. master card. com), Google recently introduced its Google Wallet (www.google.com/wallet) application to manage payment, loyalty and special offer information. Retailers that have already agreed to support the contactless payment aspect of Google Wallet include Walgreens, Subway, OfficeMax, and Toys "R" Us.

While Google has caught early buzz, the contactless functionality of this wallet is only available on Sprint phones today. Like many early technologies, it will take time to work across most devices.

PayPal Aims for Big Changes

PayPal (www.paypal.com), owned by eBay (www.ebay.com), wants to completely change consumer shopping behavior. The company envisions a future in which consumers regularly use PayPal for mobile online purchases as well as in stores, and eBay barcode readers on smartphones will arm shoppers with powerful comparison shopping technology.

PayPal is preparing to introduce an electronic wallet with some pretty cool features. For example, PayPal's wallet will allow customers to change their method of payment after they make a purchase. A user could pay for something in a store with MasterCard, take the merchandise home, and then later switch the payment method to his or her Visa without any additional fee.

Apple Streamlines Orders

Apple (www.apple.com) is rumored to be planning an iPhone with near-field communications to support mobile payments, but no release date has been announced so far. However, Apple has launched an app that enables users to place orders for pickup at their local Apple Store, and enables self-checkout at Apple stores.

Reports have Apple promising a turnaround of 12 minutes from when a customer places an order for an in- stock item and when it will be available for pickup. Talk about the perks of a multichannel world!

Steps to CU Readiness

As credit unions watch these consumer payment trends unfold, credit union executives should take the following five steps to avoid being caught blindsided by e-wallet innovations:

1 Internally recruit wallet testers. Every credit union should find a cadre of folks knowledgeable about IT, marketing and retail delivery who can serve as the "early adapter" team and test wallet offerings early.

2 Create an executive learning event around wallets. Electronic wallets and mobile payment strategies should be understood in more detail by credit union executives. A planning session where vendor offerings are reviewed and wallet users provide first-hand perspective would be time well spent.

3 Understand the wallet vision and road maps of payment vendors. Credit unions should study the research and development and alliance efforts under way for wallets - and payments in general. Check out what's happening with your credit and debit card processors and payments networks.

4 Review consumer adoption and the competitive landscape each yean As part of your credit union's annual strategic planning efforts, review how well electronic wallet and mobile payment technology is "sticking." Based on what you find, decide how urgently your credit union must act.

5 Build loyalty around payment cards as soon as possible. However electronic wallets are adopted, it is clear that most consumers will evolve their purchasing habits from their current relationships. When wallets first start going mainstream, they will hold a consumer's most-used debit and credit card information. The most critical tangible action a credit union can take concerning a future of electronic wallets is to penetrate its member base with large, active debit and credit card portfolios.

In much the same way that music, entertainment and navigating directions became key components of our mobile phones, consumers may soon be using a smartphone app as the centerpiece of their payments activities. Credit unions need to become more engaged in these innovations before it's too late to play a relevant role.

[Sidebar]

Resources

Search for "payments" at cumanagement. org/archive/indexto read free related articles, including "Marvelous Mobile" and "No Cash for Coffee."

Search for "card rewards" at eu m an age ment.org/archive to get free articles on how to boost your programs before e-wallets hit. You may be especially interested in "Debit Card Rewards" and "Choosing a Vendor."

Eric Weikart of Cornerstone Advisors will help lead CUES' inaugural "School of Growth and Profitability," slated for May 1-3 in San Diego. Learn more and register at cues.org/sgp.

Terence Roche of Cornerstone Advisors will speak at CUES Execu/Nef", slated for Aug. 19-22 in Big Sky, Mont. Learn more and register at cues.org/execunet.

Learn more about Cornerstone's strategic and technology offerings at cues.org/cornerstone.

[Author Affiliation]

Steve Williams is a principal with Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (www.crnrstone.comA a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Watch E-Wallets

Device- or Internet-based software poised to manage consumers' shopping and payment activities.

As smartphone s begin to proliferate faster than both PCs and traditional cell phones, the buzz is beginning to grow about a future filled with "e-wallets."

Are you ready? An electronic wallet is basically a piece of software that stores personal and payment information either on a device (such as a smartphone or an iPad) or hosted by a party on the Internet. And some technology pundits predict that the time will come - in the not-so-distant future - when consumers will use electronic wallets to manage all their shopping and payments activities.

Here's an interesting excerpt from Time magazine about the growth of electronic wallets:

Shoppers wa ? ti ng to get the ir caff� i ? e fix online at Starbucks.com now have only one path to take when they pay for their beans...

But wait, here's something a bit more revealing about this quote:

If they are already registered with Passport, Microsoffs new identity-verification program, they can use it to complete their purchase.

You see, this quote is actually from a 2001 issue of Time, when folks were first predicting that electronic wallets would take over our usage of traditional credit and debit cards. It's always hard to predict how fast new technologies will be adopted by consumers and, in the end, Microsoft's Passport proved to be a disappointing flop.

But what if electronic wallets became as popular as Apple iPads or Amazon Kindles are today? During 2011, innovative companies have made the first moves around their wallet strategies. Here's a round-up of the players and what they are doing in the marketplace.

Google Gets Early Buzz

In a venture with Citibank (www. citibank. com) and MasterCard (y^ww. master card. com), Google recently introduced its Google Wallet (www.google.com/wallet) application to manage payment, loyalty and special offer information. Retailers that have already agreed to support the contactless payment aspect of Google Wallet include Walgreens, Subway, OfficeMax, and Toys "R" Us.

While Google has caught early buzz, the contactless functionality of this wallet is only available on Sprint phones today. Like many early technologies, it will take time to work across most devices.

PayPal Aims for Big Changes

PayPal (www.paypal.com), owned by eBay (www.ebay.com), wants to completely change consumer shopping behavior. The company envisions a future in which consumers regularly use PayPal for mobile online purchases as well as in stores, and eBay barcode readers on smartphones will arm shoppers with powerful comparison shopping technology.

PayPal is preparing to introduce an electronic wallet with some pretty cool features. For example, PayPal's wallet will allow customers to change their method of payment after they make a purchase. A user could pay for something in a store with MasterCard, take the merchandise home, and then later switch the payment method to his or her Visa without any additional fee.

Apple Streamlines Orders

Apple (www.apple.com) is rumored to be planning an iPhone with near-field communications to support mobile payments, but no release date has been announced so far. However, Apple has launched an app that enables users to place orders for pickup at their local Apple Store, and enables self-checkout at Apple stores.

Reports have Apple promising a turnaround of 12 minutes from when a customer places an order for an in- stock item and when it will be available for pickup. Talk about the perks of a multichannel world!

Steps to CU Readiness

As credit unions watch these consumer payment trends unfold, credit union executives should take the following five steps to avoid being caught blindsided by e-wallet innovations:

1 Internally recruit wallet testers. Every credit union should find a cadre of folks knowledgeable about IT, marketing and retail delivery who can serve as the "early adapter" team and test wallet offerings early.

2 Create an executive learning event around wallets. Electronic wallets and mobile payment strategies should be understood in more detail by credit union executives. A planning session where vendor offerings are reviewed and wallet users provide first-hand perspective would be time well spent.

3 Understand the wallet vision and road maps of payment vendors. Credit unions should study the research and development and alliance efforts under way for wallets - and payments in general. Check out what's happening with your credit and debit card processors and payments networks.

4 Review consumer adoption and the competitive landscape each yean As part of your credit union's annual strategic planning efforts, review how well electronic wallet and mobile payment technology is "sticking." Based on what you find, decide how urgently your credit union must act.

5 Build loyalty around payment cards as soon as possible. However electronic wallets are adopted, it is clear that most consumers will evolve their purchasing habits from their current relationships. When wallets first start going mainstream, they will hold a consumer's most-used debit and credit card information. The most critical tangible action a credit union can take concerning a future of electronic wallets is to penetrate its member base with large, active debit and credit card portfolios.

In much the same way that music, entertainment and navigating directions became key components of our mobile phones, consumers may soon be using a smartphone app as the centerpiece of their payments activities. Credit unions need to become more engaged in these innovations before it's too late to play a relevant role.

[Sidebar]

Resources

Search for "payments" at cumanagement. org/archive/indexto read free related articles, including "Marvelous Mobile" and "No Cash for Coffee."

Search for "card rewards" at eu m an age ment.org/archive to get free articles on how to boost your programs before e-wallets hit. You may be especially interested in "Debit Card Rewards" and "Choosing a Vendor."

Eric Weikart of Cornerstone Advisors will help lead CUES' inaugural "School of Growth and Profitability," slated for May 1-3 in San Diego. Learn more and register at cues.org/sgp.

Terence Roche of Cornerstone Advisors will speak at CUES Execu/Nef", slated for Aug. 19-22 in Big Sky, Mont. Learn more and register at cues.org/execunet.

Learn more about Cornerstone's strategic and technology offerings at cues.org/cornerstone.

[Author Affiliation]

Steve Williams is a principal with Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (www.crnrstone.comA a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Watch E-Wallets

Device- or Internet-based software poised to manage consumers' shopping and payment activities.

As smartphone s begin to proliferate faster than both PCs and traditional cell phones, the buzz is beginning to grow about a future filled with "e-wallets."

Are you ready? An electronic wallet is basically a piece of software that stores personal and payment information either on a device (such as a smartphone or an iPad) or hosted by a party on the Internet. And some technology pundits predict that the time will come - in the not-so-distant future - when consumers will use electronic wallets to manage all their shopping and payments activities.

Here's an interesting excerpt from Time magazine about the growth of electronic wallets:

Shoppers wa ? ti ng to get the ir caff� i ? e fix online at Starbucks.com now have only one path to take when they pay for their beans...

But wait, here's something a bit more revealing about this quote:

If they are already registered with Passport, Microsoffs new identity-verification program, they can use it to complete their purchase.

You see, this quote is actually from a 2001 issue of Time, when folks were first predicting that electronic wallets would take over our usage of traditional credit and debit cards. It's always hard to predict how fast new technologies will be adopted by consumers and, in the end, Microsoft's Passport proved to be a disappointing flop.

But what if electronic wallets became as popular as Apple iPads or Amazon Kindles are today? During 2011, innovative companies have made the first moves around their wallet strategies. Here's a round-up of the players and what they are doing in the marketplace.

Google Gets Early Buzz

In a venture with Citibank (www. citibank. com) and MasterCard (y^ww. master card. com), Google recently introduced its Google Wallet (www.google.com/wallet) application to manage payment, loyalty and special offer information. Retailers that have already agreed to support the contactless payment aspect of Google Wallet include Walgreens, Subway, OfficeMax, and Toys "R" Us.

While Google has caught early buzz, the contactless functionality of this wallet is only available on Sprint phones today. Like many early technologies, it will take time to work across most devices.

PayPal Aims for Big Changes

PayPal (www.paypal.com), owned by eBay (www.ebay.com), wants to completely change consumer shopping behavior. The company envisions a future in which consumers regularly use PayPal for mobile online purchases as well as in stores, and eBay barcode readers on smartphones will arm shoppers with powerful comparison shopping technology.

PayPal is preparing to introduce an electronic wallet with some pretty cool features. For example, PayPal's wallet will allow customers to change their method of payment after they make a purchase. A user could pay for something in a store with MasterCard, take the merchandise home, and then later switch the payment method to his or her Visa without any additional fee.

Apple Streamlines Orders

Apple (www.apple.com) is rumored to be planning an iPhone with near-field communications to support mobile payments, but no release date has been announced so far. However, Apple has launched an app that enables users to place orders for pickup at their local Apple Store, and enables self-checkout at Apple stores.

Reports have Apple promising a turnaround of 12 minutes from when a customer places an order for an in- stock item and when it will be available for pickup. Talk about the perks of a multichannel world!

Steps to CU Readiness

As credit unions watch these consumer payment trends unfold, credit union executives should take the following five steps to avoid being caught blindsided by e-wallet innovations:

1 Internally recruit wallet testers. Every credit union should find a cadre of folks knowledgeable about IT, marketing and retail delivery who can serve as the "early adapter" team and test wallet offerings early.

2 Create an executive learning event around wallets. Electronic wallets and mobile payment strategies should be understood in more detail by credit union executives. A planning session where vendor offerings are reviewed and wallet users provide first-hand perspective would be time well spent.

3 Understand the wallet vision and road maps of payment vendors. Credit unions should study the research and development and alliance efforts under way for wallets - and payments in general. Check out what's happening with your credit and debit card processors and payments networks.

4 Review consumer adoption and the competitive landscape each yean As part of your credit union's annual strategic planning efforts, review how well electronic wallet and mobile payment technology is "sticking." Based on what you find, decide how urgently your credit union must act.

5 Build loyalty around payment cards as soon as possible. However electronic wallets are adopted, it is clear that most consumers will evolve their purchasing habits from their current relationships. When wallets first start going mainstream, they will hold a consumer's most-used debit and credit card information. The most critical tangible action a credit union can take concerning a future of electronic wallets is to penetrate its member base with large, active debit and credit card portfolios.

In much the same way that music, entertainment and navigating directions became key components of our mobile phones, consumers may soon be using a smartphone app as the centerpiece of their payments activities. Credit unions need to become more engaged in these innovations before it's too late to play a relevant role.

[Sidebar]

Resources

Search for "payments" at cumanagement. org/archive/indexto read free related articles, including "Marvelous Mobile" and "No Cash for Coffee."

Search for "card rewards" at eu m an age ment.org/archive to get free articles on how to boost your programs before e-wallets hit. You may be especially interested in "Debit Card Rewards" and "Choosing a Vendor."

Eric Weikart of Cornerstone Advisors will help lead CUES' inaugural "School of Growth and Profitability," slated for May 1-3 in San Diego. Learn more and register at cues.org/sgp.

Terence Roche of Cornerstone Advisors will speak at CUES Execu/Nef", slated for Aug. 19-22 in Big Sky, Mont. Learn more and register at cues.org/execunet.

Learn more about Cornerstone's strategic and technology offerings at cues.org/cornerstone.

[Author Affiliation]

Steve Williams is a principal with Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (www.crnrstone.comA a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Watch E-Wallets

Device- or Internet-based software poised to manage consumers' shopping and payment activities.

As smartphone s begin to proliferate faster than both PCs and traditional cell phones, the buzz is beginning to grow about a future filled with "e-wallets."

Are you ready? An electronic wallet is basically a piece of software that stores personal and payment information either on a device (such as a smartphone or an iPad) or hosted by a party on the Internet. And some technology pundits predict that the time will come - in the not-so-distant future - when consumers will use electronic wallets to manage all their shopping and payments activities.

Here's an interesting excerpt from Time magazine about the growth of electronic wallets:

Shoppers wa ? ti ng to get the ir caff� i ? e fix online at Starbucks.com now have only one path to take when they pay for their beans...

But wait, here's something a bit more revealing about this quote:

If they are already registered with Passport, Microsoffs new identity-verification program, they can use it to complete their purchase.

You see, this quote is actually from a 2001 issue of Time, when folks were first predicting that electronic wallets would take over our usage of traditional credit and debit cards. It's always hard to predict how fast new technologies will be adopted by consumers and, in the end, Microsoft's Passport proved to be a disappointing flop.

But what if electronic wallets became as popular as Apple iPads or Amazon Kindles are today? During 2011, innovative companies have made the first moves around their wallet strategies. Here's a round-up of the players and what they are doing in the marketplace.

Google Gets Early Buzz

In a venture with Citibank (www. citibank. com) and MasterCard (y^ww. master card. com), Google recently introduced its Google Wallet (www.google.com/wallet) application to manage payment, loyalty and special offer information. Retailers that have already agreed to support the contactless payment aspect of Google Wallet include Walgreens, Subway, OfficeMax, and Toys "R" Us.

While Google has caught early buzz, the contactless functionality of this wallet is only available on Sprint phones today. Like many early technologies, it will take time to work across most devices.

PayPal Aims for Big Changes

PayPal (www.paypal.com), owned by eBay (www.ebay.com), wants to completely change consumer shopping behavior. The company envisions a future in which consumers regularly use PayPal for mobile online purchases as well as in stores, and eBay barcode readers on smartphones will arm shoppers with powerful comparison shopping technology.

PayPal is preparing to introduce an electronic wallet with some pretty cool features. For example, PayPal's wallet will allow customers to change their method of payment after they make a purchase. A user could pay for something in a store with MasterCard, take the merchandise home, and then later switch the payment method to his or her Visa without any additional fee.

Apple Streamlines Orders

Apple (www.apple.com) is rumored to be planning an iPhone with near-field communications to support mobile payments, but no release date has been announced so far. However, Apple has launched an app that enables users to place orders for pickup at their local Apple Store, and enables self-checkout at Apple stores.

Reports have Apple promising a turnaround of 12 minutes from when a customer places an order for an in- stock item and when it will be available for pickup. Talk about the perks of a multichannel world!

Steps to CU Readiness

As credit unions watch these consumer payment trends unfold, credit union executives should take the following five steps to avoid being caught blindsided by e-wallet innovations:

1 Internally recruit wallet testers. Every credit union should find a cadre of folks knowledgeable about IT, marketing and retail delivery who can serve as the "early adapter" team and test wallet offerings early.

2 Create an executive learning event around wallets. Electronic wallets and mobile payment strategies should be understood in more detail by credit union executives. A planning session where vendor offerings are reviewed and wallet users provide first-hand perspective would be time well spent.

3 Understand the wallet vision and road maps of payment vendors. Credit unions should study the research and development and alliance efforts under way for wallets - and payments in general. Check out what's happening with your credit and debit card processors and payments networks.

4 Review consumer adoption and the competitive landscape each yean As part of your credit union's annual strategic planning efforts, review how well electronic wallet and mobile payment technology is "sticking." Based on what you find, decide how urgently your credit union must act.

5 Build loyalty around payment cards as soon as possible. However electronic wallets are adopted, it is clear that most consumers will evolve their purchasing habits from their current relationships. When wallets first start going mainstream, they will hold a consumer's most-used debit and credit card information. The most critical tangible action a credit union can take concerning a future of electronic wallets is to penetrate its member base with large, active debit and credit card portfolios.

In much the same way that music, entertainment and navigating directions became key components of our mobile phones, consumers may soon be using a smartphone app as the centerpiece of their payments activities. Credit unions need to become more engaged in these innovations before it's too late to play a relevant role.

[Sidebar]

Resources

Search for "payments" at cumanagement. org/archive/indexto read free related articles, including "Marvelous Mobile" and "No Cash for Coffee."

Search for "card rewards" at eu m an age ment.org/archive to get free articles on how to boost your programs before e-wallets hit. You may be especially interested in "Debit Card Rewards" and "Choosing a Vendor."

Eric Weikart of Cornerstone Advisors will help lead CUES' inaugural "School of Growth and Profitability," slated for May 1-3 in San Diego. Learn more and register at cues.org/sgp.

Terence Roche of Cornerstone Advisors will speak at CUES Execu/Nef", slated for Aug. 19-22 in Big Sky, Mont. Learn more and register at cues.org/execunet.

Learn more about Cornerstone's strategic and technology offerings at cues.org/cornerstone.

[Author Affiliation]

Steve Williams is a principal with Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (www.crnrstone.comA a CUES Supplier member and strategic provider based in Scottsdale, Ariz.