Consumers buying iPhones and Galaxy tablets in France could soon be paying a little extra to get their digital doses of mobile technology.

The government there is also weighing the possibility of taxing foreign music and video streaming services, such as YouTube.

What could possibly prompt a government to stack an extra fee on to a smartphone, or a viral video from Psy?

Here's a marketing fail. A specialty foods store in Australia has introduced a 'show rooming fee' for customers who are just browsing. The rationale? It's fed up with people checking out its goods and then trying to find cheaper prices elsewhere. It's a good example of what happens when ecommerce collides with bricks and mortar. In marketing terms, it's also as dumb as a post.

Social media is a great way to engage your customers, but sometimes it goes horribly wrong. Timothy's Coffees of the World found that out recently, when a special offer associated with its Facebook page went viral.

During these challenging economic times, several governments are running deficits, slashing spending or doing both in order to balance the books.

While some governments will do what they think is best, one administration is putting the question to you, the people.

The government of British Columbia has created a website where users can attempt to balance the province’s books, cutting back spending in certain areas or increasing tax rates on various activities, while seeing the impact of cutbacks and tax hikes.

E-commerce giant Rakuten -- effectively the Amazon.com of Japan -- is buying Kobo, the Canadian seller of e-books and e-readers, for US$315 million. Since being spun out of Canada's Indigo book retailer, Kobo has been plucky underdog in the e-reader space. Rakuten hopes to expand Kobo into new markets, with a special focus on Asia, where Rakuten enjoys strong online market presence.

Click through to read more and see the press release.

How would you feel if you discovered that the house you lived in right now was being listed for rent on Craigslist, complete with pictures and details about the property’s potential.

There has been something noticeable with most daily deal websites – their deals are often targeted at women. But a new site aims to meet the needs of deal-seeking dudes.

Would you be happy with Google poking its nose around inside your wallet? More to the point, would you be happy if Google actually provided your wallet for you? That is the company's plan, and it points to a broader industry trend could see your smart phone become your primary method of payment. The company has announced Google Wallet, which will enable you to pay for things by simply using your cell phone, no cash required.

If you love waiting on hold as much as I do, you might want to check out this new website/app that zaps the wait.

Ah, the Super Bowl. It's a chance to watch the two greatest teams in the National Football League square off for supremacy. But when the athletes aren't tackling each other or planning their plays, commercials take centre stage.

Super Bowl ads have become must-see sensations, with advertisers paying up to $3 million a spot. But here in Canada, it's highly unlikedly that we'll see the same famous ads our American counterparts will at the same time.

But if you have to watch the advertising blockbusters as soon as they come out, there's a site to feed your fix.