Category: BUSINESS

How cities can utilize the good, avoid the bad of the new mobility movement

Staff Writer

When London stripped popular ride-hailing app Uber of its licence to operate in the city, in late September, it made headlines. The wall-to-wall coverage that followed the decision was a sign that we are on the cusp of an urban mobility revolution. Ride-hailing systems, car- and bicycle-sharing networks, trip-planning apps and other innovative services that capitalize on advances in mobile communications, cashless payments and remote monitoring are increasing in popularity around the world. Users appreciate, and in many places have grown to depend upon, the convenience and flexibility these services…

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Qualcomm beats revenue expectations despite Apple lawsuits

Staff Writer

Qualcomm has beat analysts’ revenue and earnings estimates in its fourth fiscal quarter despite a year-long legal battle with Apple. Qualcomm booked $5.96 billion in sales, or 92 cents per share, versus expectations of $5.8 billion and 81 cents per-share as the overall economics of the chip business continue to improve. The numbers were good enough to bump shares of the stock up 54 cents (or 1 percent) in after-hours trading, to $54.00. Qualcomm’s ongoing legal battle with Apple was not enough to completely overtake strength elsewhere in its business…

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Microsoft 365 now available for small and medium businesses

Staff Writer
Microsoft 365

Businesses can now  subscribe to a bundle with Office 365, Windows 10 and the company’s mobile device management tools through Microsoft 365. The early focus for this program was enterprises, but a few months ago, Microsoft also launched a preview version of Microsoft 365 for small and medium businesses. Today, Microsoft 365 Business is coming out of beta and is now generally available to customers. Also coming out of beta are the company’s tools for managing email marketing campaigns (Microsoft Connections), creating invoices (Microsoft Invoicing) and keeping tabs on a…

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Essential phone slashes price by $200

Staff Writer

Essential has  slashed the price of its eponymous phone down to $499, a $200 price cut from the original $699 price, less than two months after it began shipping to customers. This move may be a signal that it wasn’t selling well at $699, especially given that the only US carrier stores it’s available in have “Sprint” above the door. Another reason is that it now has to face the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL head-to-head. Of course, that’s not how Essential sees it, saying that the price drop…

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Microsoft displeased with Google over approach to security patches

Staff Writer

Microsoft’s Windows security team have been unhappy with Google for the past year. While the pair are bitter rivals for a number of different reasons, Google disclosed a major Windows bug before Microsoft was ready to patch it last year. This  irritated the company so much that Windows chief Terry Myerson authored a blog post criticizing Google for not disclosing security vulnerabilities responsibly. That resentment still remains today. Microsoft discovered a remote Chrome vulnerability last month and is now demonstrating what it feels is responsible disclosure. In a new blog…

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Samsung CEO resigns as tech firm projects record profits

Staff Writer
Samsung

Samsung electronics has today made two contrasting announcements. First, it issued an optimistic third-quarter earnings guidance then it later posted a resignation letter from chief executive officer and vice chairman Oh-Hyun Kwon. In the letter, Kwon said it is time for new leadership as the company faces an “unprecedented crisis inside out.” In terms of earnings, the chaebol has had a good year so far, posting strong first and second-quarter results thanks to its components business, which Kwon also oversees. From a leadership perspective, however, it has had a very difficult…

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Alibaba tech company to Invest over $15billion in global initiative

Staff Writer

Alibaba Group today revealed its plans to invest more than $15 billion over the next three years into a global research and development initiative called Alibaba DAMO Academy. The Chinese tech giant said the program, which it is currently recruiting 100 researchers, will help it reach its goal of serving two billion customers and creating 100 million jobs by 2036, while also “increasing technological collaboration worldwide.” Discovery, adventure, momentum and outlook (DAMO) Academy  will be led by Alibaba Group chief technology officer Jeff Zhang and start by opening labs in seven…

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Laptop bans on Middle East flights bring mixed reactions.

Fast-growing Middle Eastern airlines have been luring business travelers away from carriers in the U.S., Europe and Asia for years. But they may find the seats in the front of the plane going unfilled after the U.S. and U.K. ijucted laptop bans and other large electronics in the cabin on some flights from the region. Travelers across expressed frustration Wednesday at a ban on large electronic devices for flights to the US and Britain that has sparked confusion and speculation. Passengers on flights to the US and Britain from major…

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21% of British startups plan to open a European office due to Brexit

The vote to leave the EU left some start ups questioning where their future lies, particularly if they’re confronted with issues around employing foreign staff. Currently, One in every five UK start ups intends to open a European office due to Brexit, according to survey results published Tuesday by Silicon Valley Bank. It found that 21% of UK startups are planning to open up a new office in cities such as Berlin, Paris, and Stockholm, which are all trying to take on London’s Tech City. The survey also found that around…

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Cisco buys AppDynamics for $3.7 billion, plots business performance expansion

AppDynamics

Cisco will acquire AppDynamics, which monitors application performance and business metrics, in a deal valued at $3.7 billion. The purchase gives Cisco more software heft and broadens its reach in analytics makingthis one of its largest deals of recent years as it searches for growth beyond its core networking business. Cisco’s announcement comes a week after Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co said it would buy cloud startup SimpliVity for $650 million in cash. The software brings a platform that can analyze application performance across Cisco software and gear. AppDynamics launched software…

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