As the world becomes more digitized and more and more financial transactions happen electronically, we’ve seen a huge surge in popularity among cryptocurrencies in general, and bitcoin especially, as more people come to see it as a legitimate form of currency. An increasing number of vendors and merchantsnow accept bitcoin as payment (including known brands like Microsoft and Expedia), and bitcoin ATMs are even springing up in locations around the globe. This trend has raised speculation as to bitcoin it could one day supplant centralized banking as the primary form of finance. Could central banks one day become obsolete or unnecessary? Could we soon transact all business with digital currency? Let’s begin by exploring how we got here, then discuss some different aspects of this question.

A Bit of Context

Up until recently, cryptocurrency has been largely the domain of speculators—and with good reason. In July 2010, the dollar value of one bitcoin was USD $0.125; as of Sept. 30, 2019, one bitcoin was worth USD $8,463.92. If you bought $1000 worth of bitcoin in July 2010, it would be worth nearly $68 million today. (If you sold it at its peak value in December 2017, you’d have more than twice that amount!) 

While the exchange rates continue to fluctuate more widely than some are comfortable with, the fact remains that bitcoin has grown considerably in value and now appears to be holding its own—leading consumers and merchants to view it more and more as a valid form of payment. If trends hold, it’s quite possible that going “all digital” would be a natural next step, especially among those who favor a decentralized economic system.

A Threat to Banking Systems?

There’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that banking systems around the world do see cryptocurrency as a potential threat. A UK Banking Reportrefers to the phenomenon as a “digital disruption,” noting that bitcoin users can bypass banks completely in their transactions, which means the banks can’t collect their usual fees. Agustin Carstens, chief of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), recently raised the notion that central banks might soon begin issuing their own forms of digital currencyin an attempt to stay competitive.

Challenges and Concerns

The prospect of an economic system functioning on bitcoin raises mixed emotions on both sides. While proponents celebrate the idea that bitcoin effectively neutralizes a banking system they see as greedy and predatory, the lack of regulation in this market could also be viewed as a new “wild west”, a breeding ground for a whole new set of predatory practices. Additionally, without some stabilizing force in place, the fluctuating values of bitcoin can still potentially wipe out entire fortunes in a day. Any attempt to supplant central banking with digital currency would need to include discussions on how to resolve these and other questions.

Possible Outcomes

Will bitcoin eventually unseat centralized banking? Currently, we see three possible outcomes: 

  • Outcome 1:Bitcoin becomes the preeminent form of currency once stability and regulation issues are resolved.Central banks don’t close down immediately, but instead become increasingly irrelevant and fall into obscurity. In this scenario, the middle man would essentially be cut out whenever transactions occur. In other words, businesses would transact directly with consumers using crypto currencies.
  • Outcome 2: Central banking learns to “get along” with bitcoin and/or other forms of cryptocurrency.Industry innovators find ways to integrate digital currency into their offerings, renewing the relevancy of central banks for another generation.
  • Outcome 3: Bitcoin destabilizes and disintegrates due to unforeseen circumstances. Fortunes are lost in the process, but central banking is there to pick up the pieces.

Which of these outcomes we see is anyone’s guess, but current trends lean toward one of the first two. Either central banking will learn to get along with bitcoin, or bitcoin may eventually take over.

Helping You Anticipate the Future

At MelroseINC, we are on a mission to help companies anticipate new technologies and prepare for potential disruption. As innovations like bitcoin change the landscape, MelroseINC is here to keep you informed about the latest trends in technology.

Missed the Apple product launch event last week? We got you covered. Apple announced three new products; the iPhone 11, the Apple Watch Series 5 and the upgraded 7th-Gen iPad. Here’s a look at the three products and their new features. 

1. iPhone 11

Just like it does every year, Apple announced a new spin on its flagship product — the iPhone. Only this time around, there will be three separate models for tech fans to get their hands on: the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. At first, this sounds a little confusing, but each model comes with innovative features that everyone expects from Apple. 

All three phones feature the new A13 Bionic processor, which will optimize gameplay and web browsing. Then there are multiple rear cameras and brand-new video tools like Night Mode.

But what sets these phones apart? Let’s take a closer look at some of the specs.

You’ll notice the difference when it comes to screen size. The iPhone 11 boasts a 6.1-inch LED screen, while the iPhone 11 Pro offers a smaller 5.8-inch OLED screen [1]. The iPhone 11 Pro Max, however, clocks in with a massive 6.5-inch OLED screen. If size matters, the Pro Max is your best bet. 

The Pro and Pro Max offer better screen resolution (both have 458ppi) than the standard iPhone 11 (326ppi), while the Pro Max is the heaviest phone (7.97 oz/226g) of the three. (The iPhone 11 weighs 6.84 oz/194g; the Pro weighs 6.63 oz/188g.)   

All three models come with the latest iOS 13.

At time of press, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max cost $699, $999, and $1,099 respectively. All three Apple products will be available in our MelroseMac stores on September 20. 

2. Apple Watch Series 5

The smartwatch market has exploded in recent years, and Apple has just announced the latest incarnation of its Apple Watch. Sure, it’s similar to the Series 4, with available display sizes of 40mm and 44mm [2]. The battery life still lasts for around 18 hours. The price is similar, too — $399.

So, does it make sense to upgrade? 

Well, there are some significant aesthetic changes. The new Apple Watch comes in ceramic and titanium, and both will look great on your wrist. Plus, the Series 5 has a retina display that stays on continuously, therefore you no longer have to touch your Apple watch to wake it up. 

3. New iPads

Apple didn’t reveal too much about the iPad at its product launch event — the main focus was on the new iPhone and Apple Watch. However, expect a new twist on the iPad Pro later in the year, with faster processors and cameras [3].

Apple also announced they are making a new version of its budget iPad model, with a size increase from 9.7 inches to 10.2 inches. 

These are the latest Apple products that you’ll be hearing about in the months to come. Remember, though, all tech is fallible, and you’ll need to safeguard your data at all times, whether you’re using the latest iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.

MelroseMAC is an Apple Premier Partner and an Apple Premium Service Provider. When it comes to data recovery, order fulfillment, hands-on customer experience, and product consultation, we can help.

More large corporations have incorporated the internet of things (IoT) into their operations. Laptops, smartphones, smart watches, you name it — more devices now connect to the internet and provide companies with solutions to everyday problems. Here are just some of the ways IoT is transforming business as we know it. 

1. In-Depth Analytics

Before the internet, organizations had to collect feedback from customers and clients via paper questionnaires and conduct market research. This was time-consuming and expensive. Today, IoT provides business owners with the latest insights into their products and services with in-depth digital analytics.

The latest analytics tools, supported by good IT infrastructure, serve many purposes. Business owners can track customers as they move through the sales pipelines. Monitor customers at different touchpoints, for example, and convert prospects into genuine leads. Alternatively, you can discover what people are saying about your brand on social media. 

“The IoT has the potential to completely rewrite how businesses think of their customers,” says Software Advice [1].

2. Better Customer Service Outcomes

Customer service might be the most crucial component of your business model. Countless studies show that large organizations will experience a sales slump because of poor service. Research even suggests that the customer experience will be more important than prices and products by the year 2020 [2]. 

Looking for ways to improve the customer experience in your organization? IoT can help. The internet, for example, allows you to send personalized communications to your customers via email. This can help you target consumers and move them along your sales and marketing funnels.

IoT can also help maintain healthier relationships with your customers. Internet-enabled devices like smartphones, for example, help you collect big data from customers about your products and services, that can then be fine-tuned for your marketing and sales campaigns in the future. 

“The internet of things enables brands to play a much more important role in consumer’s lives — facilitating and enhancing everyday experiences,” says eConsultancy [3]. 

3. Tech Solutions

Research shows that around 29 percent of organizations have already installed IoT technology — up from 12 percent in 2013 [4]. As you can see, IoT continues to proliferate, and more companies are using the latest technology to automate many day-to-day tasks. 

Large organizations now have IoT ecosystems — huge networks of processors, servers, and devices that store, collect, and transfer data. These ecosystems provide business organizations with solutions to many tech-related problems. Companies now can improve workflows, for example, without any human intervention. This is because IoT automates many manual processes and, as a result, saves times and money.

If you’re interested in incorporating IoT into your business, our team at MelroseINC can help facilitate the complex process by providing infrastructure and IT support. 

Sources:

[1] https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/iot-data-analytics-use-cases/

[2] https://www.qminder.com/customer-service-statistics/

[3] https://econsultancy.com/how-the-internet-of-things-can-improve-customer-experience/

[4] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/future-technologies/internet-of-things/


Cities across the world are proving that innovation in technology is key to attracting new business and promoting the health and happiness of its citizens. In doing so, they are stimulating economic stability and growth. With innovation in transportation, green technology, and IT that is used to connect a city to its community, ‘smart cities’ can advance themselves toward attracting industries and entrepreneurs. Here are three examples of powerful new technologies that are being utilized in urban areas.

Moving People At LAX

Upon its completion, Los Angeles’ Automated People Mover, or APM, will serve an estimated 30 million passengers each year at Los Angeles International airport. The APM will drastically reduce airport traffic, and with its utilization of electric power, recycled materials, and regenerative braking, it will shrink the airport’s carbon footprint.   

APM at Los Angeles International Airport

The APM is slated to begin service in early 2023 and will include six stations along a 2.25-mile guideway that will be traveled by a fleet of 44 fully electric cars. The system’s maintenance facilities and command center have been designed to obtain LEED Gold Certification and will harness solar energy to generate a portion of their power.

Along with the improvements in sustainability and the decrease in congestion, the Automated People Mover will also give a boost to the people of Los Angeles. This new tech investment will create jobs and pump revenue into the local economy during its construction. The APM is precisely the kind of venture that can become a showcase for a city leading the way in innovation in technology.

Connecting Vehicles To Seoul

Seoul, South Korea is at the forefront of using the internet to capitalize on communication between vehicles and cities. In order to make moving the nearly 25-million people that live in the Seoul Capital area feasible, Seoul’s public transportation system gathers real-time traffic information through GPS systems and road sensors. Seoul continues to update its Intelligent Traffic System, or ITS, to improve traffic conditions in the city and provide relief from some ramifications of growing urban populations.

As autonomous vehicle technology becomes more prevalent, technologies that move info between vehicles and cities, like Seoul’s ITS, will surely be a staple of technological innovation in the world’s principal cities. For example, Navya is piloting autonomous shuttle programs in 18 cities across the world-including Las Vegas-that rely on real-time information for efficient shuttle deployment.

An Amazing Experience For San Jose Citizens

My San Jose app

Project ACE is part of San Jose, California’s plan to become America’s most innovative city by next year. ACE stands for Amazing Citizen Experience, and the project’s goal is to use cloud technology to enhance communication between San Jose and its citizens. The My San Jose app, a component of Project ACE, allows citizens to enter service requests for incidences such as abandoned cars, downed power lines, and street lights that need repair. Users can even submit GPS tagged photos along with their requests. The requests get relayed to service teams through the app, and the requestor can monitor the status of their request in real time.

This innovative project shows that cities can utilize technology not just for practical means, but to improve the relationship between a city and its citizens as well. Project ACE engages citizens in civic service across San Jose and increases the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of municipal services. This new tech in San Jose is proving that when cities commit to innovative technologies, both the city and its citizens reap the benefits.

At MelroseINC we are committed to innovation and providing new technologies that serve our clients and industries.