Apple delivered its best results ever in a July quarter, while Samsung achieved its strongest July-quarter growth on record. Demand for Apple's new iPhone 17 lineup was robust, with pre-orders surpassing those of the previous generation. At the same time, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 outperformed all earlier foldable models, creating renewed momentum for the foldables segment.
Google's new, cheaper AI Plus plan is now available in more than 40 countries, including Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, Uganda, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. The company first launched its AI Plus plan in Indonesia earlier this month at Rp 75,000 ($4.50) per month. The plan costs around $5 in most countries, and Google says it will discount it by 50% for six months in a few locations like Nepal and Mexico.
Emerging markets are increasingly important for multinational companies (MNCs), but entering these markets can be a difficult and costly experience. As interest in emerging markets grows, so too has research into their unique challenges and opportunities. A critical, yet overlooked, problem is that companies often take an overly optimistic view of how quickly success can be achieved in these complex, unfamiliar environments-a phenomenon we call the temporal optimism trap.
The industry is witnessing a major redistribution of influence. At the centre of this change is the BRICS+ Fashion Summit, a major international event that brings together leading voices from 65 countries to focus on decentralization and the rise of regional markets. Moscow hosts the Summit once again from August 28 to 30, offering a crucial platform to address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing fashion business.