On March 14, Avery Dennison’s Retail Branding and Information Solutions (RBIS) group opened its first Europe-based Customer Design and Innovation Center and introduced enhanced capabilities for the apparel industry in design, high definition graphic embellishments, sustainable packaging, and RFID-enabled inventory and loss prevention solutions.

For the first time in its history, a VoIP solution provider Skype launches advertising module integrated in its software. The ads to be published in Skype will feature multimedia functionality and include video, audio and the ability to call the advertiser as well as integration with the most popular social media websites. According to adrants.com, the size of the homepage ad will measure 650 X 170 and will expand to 650 X 340.

On March 2, Apple unveiled the second version of its tablet—iPad 2. The most important developments that inspired the technological giant to roll out the second installment of the device are new design, two cameras and faster performance.

Speaking in a nutshell, there are two important things to know about Apple’s iPads. First, the new iPad 2 is 33% thinner, 15% lighter and considerably faster than its predecessor. And let’s not forget that its predecessor, iPad v.1.0,  according to Mr. Jobs, is ‘the most successful consumer product ever launched’ given the sales statistics: it earned Apple about 9.5 billiard dollars in the first 9 months after being introduced in April 2010.

From little things big things grow. That became the concept behind the new ‘Business Heroes’ awards launched by Cisco, which celebrates Britain’s small firms with a great potential. On March 1, the company, which had been looking for the best representatives of small businesses across the UK in partnership with the ‘Management Today’ magazine, announced the award’s winners from a range of fields, including technology, recruitment, manufacturing and sustainability.