france news

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid and is Volvo Car Corporation's most technically advanced model ever - an electric car, hybrid car and muscle-car all rolled into one. At the touch of a button, the driver can choose which of the three cars they want to drive at any given moment.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced the commercial availability of its flagship 4” Wave 3 smartphone. Initially launching in France, it will be rolled out to Germany, Italy, Russia and other global markets within this year.

Renault is pursuing its proactive electric vehicle strategy with the inauguration of an electric test centre in Lardy, France, on November 14. Renault now offers a range of all-electric vehicles that deliver the highest levels of performance, safety and quality thanks to the Group’s €28 million investment and three years of electric powerplant development.

Eligible candidates can use the online application procedure to upload their CVs and cover letters. All applications must be received before 31 January 2012.

Lindab has entered an agreement to acquire Elia Sarl, a one-stop ventilation distributor with a strong local market presence in the south of France.

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger rail service between the UK and mainland Europe, has announced its results for the third quarter of 2011, having delivered a solid performance during the period with sales revenues up 7% (£197m in 2011 vs. £183m in 2010).

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced it will conduct a six-month trial of a new system to ease road congestion in the City of Vélizy-Villacoublay, a key enterprise zone south-west of Paris. The system will improve information to motorists, providing advance warning of delays and suggestions for alternative routes, reducing journey times and the impact of pollution created by traffic congestion.

Atos, an international IT services company and Worldwide IT Partner for the Olympic Games, today launches its inaugural IT Challenge. It is a competition looking for the IT talents of the future from 25 universities based in France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.

Bernard Cambier, Renault’s Sales Director for France, and Mathieu Bonnet, Managing Director of the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), France’s leading producer of 100% renewable electricity, signed a partnership agreement today at the Lyon International Motor Show.

Orange and NTT DOCOMO announced today that they have pooled their expertise and know-how to unveil the SHARP AQUOS PHONE SH80F, the world’s first Android Smartphone able to convert 2D content into 3D content in real time. This ground-breaking handset will propel users into the third dimension: as streamed content like Orange TV, videos and games appear as they should be, in 3D.

Live life to the fullest with the latest life proof smarwhich transforms the device into the perfect running mate. Its brilliant 3.7-inch high-resolution touch-screen display enables you to easily view and track your work out progress. Wherever your days – or nights – take you, Motorola DEFY+ is the life proof device that can keep up with your toughest demands and wildest adventures.

Orange Business Services has today announced its aim to extend the reach of its FTTO (Fiber to the Office) network, which provides businesses with access to dedicated fiber-based services. This extension is possible thanks to the investments that have already been carried out to upgrade the network in France over the past few years.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Algorithmics for $387 million, subject to price adjustments at closing. Algorithmics is a risk analytics firm with operations in Toronto, Canada. Algorithmics risk analytics software, content and advisory services are used by banking, investment and insurance businesses to help assess risk, address regulatory requirements and make more insightful business decisions.

Zero-emission motoring with even more driving fun – the third generation smart fortwo electric drive will be available from the spring of 2012. In total a five-figure number of vehicles will roll off the production line in Hambach, France. Following the huge success of the second generation, electric mobility will then become accessible to anyone interested in more than 30 markets worldwide.

Spotify is a new way to manage your music, discover new tracks and share songs and playlists with your friends. Now you can enjoy music whenever and wherever you like.

HSBC France today presented its latest strategic plan to its Works Council and reiterated its aim to develop as part of a global bank.

The sixth Total Summer School organized in Paris from July 3-8 welcomes 120 international students enrolled in highly competitive graduate programs to discuss the major challenges in the energy industry and Total’s strategic vision. The students, ranging in age from 19 to 23, are from 24 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

The digital economy and innovative start-ups more generally play a decisive role in growth and job creation. This is why BNP Paribas has the ambition to back new businesses by providing best-in-class support for the creation of innovative micro-enterprises and SMEs and offering finance to the digital economy, an area where the group can call on deep and long-standing expertise.

ING announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell ING Direct USA for a total consideration of USD 9.0 billion (EUR 6.3 billion at current exchange rates) to Capital One Financial Corporation, a leading US-based financial holding company.

Nokia today announced its new Ovi Store operator app store concept for France’s Orange and Deutsche Telekom. The "store-in-a-store" concept provides operators with a familiar branded channel on Ovi Store for new Symbian devices including the Nokia C7, Nokia E7 and Nokia N8, and global opportunities to differentiate and build revenues with their own content collections and consumer-convenient operator billing.