BlackBerry, Windows in trouble over new PayPal Update

PayPal has just driven another nail into the coffin of BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Amazon mobile operating systems by announcing it is dropping support for all three platforms with the latest update to its mobile application. In a May 25 blog post announcing the upgrade to Version 6.0 of the PayPal app, Joanna Lambert, the company's vice president of global consumer product and engineering, noted that Amazon Fire or Blackberry users will be no longer be able to use the app on June 30, the date it will be discontinued. 

However, she noted customers using those devices would still be able to log into PayPal on these phones through the company's mobile Web interface. In addition, Blackberry users will continue be able to use the BBM app to send peer-to-peer payments through PayPal.

"It was a difficult decision to no longer support the PayPal app on these mobile platforms, but we believe it's the right thing to ensure we are investing our resources in creating the very best experiences for our customers," Lambert wrote. "We remain committed to partnering with mobile device providers, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers."

Starting on June 3, and going through June 30, customers using older versions of the PayPal mobile app on Google Android and Apple iOS devices will be required to upgrade to the newest version of the app.

The newest version of the app is currently supported on Android devices running OS 4.03 or greater and Apple devices running iOS 8.1 or higher, iPhone 4S or greater, iPad 2 or greater, and iPod Touch fifth generation or greater.

The latest version, announced in February, was built using an interative platform to make it easier to customize and localize the PayPal app for the 145 markets where the app is live. It includes simplified features to make it easier to send and receive money. In addition, a revamped home screen provides transaction details, allows users to pay pending requests, or send payments to recent contacts.

Other features include a fine-tuning Android fingerprint authentication for more devices, separation of account activity by pending and completed transactions, and quicker access to the friends who users send money most often. "As the digital payments landscape evolves, we will continue to innovate and make enhancements to PayPal's mobile experiences to give our customers the best possible ways to manage and move their money," Lambert wrote.

Those sentiments will provide little comfort to the app's users on BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Amazon devices. BlackBerry in particular has suffered a series of setbacks, with major app providers ending support for the platform.

In March, Facebook made the decision, along with the messaging app the company owns, WhatsApp, to discontinue support of its essential APIs for BlackBerry 10 and BBOS at the end of 2016, which means Facebook Messenger will no longer be supported on BlackBerry.

BlackBerry's handset sales figures show the operating system is already on life support, something that looks unlikely to change soon. Company CEO John S. Chen has said numerous times that if BlackBerry can't make a profit selling hardware, it will stop selling hardware altogether -- something that seems more and more like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Rwanda and Ericsson partner to build national interoperability switch

Ericsson and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for Rwanda have signed a breakthrough agreement for the launch of a national interoperability switch based on the Ericsson M-Commerce Interconnect solution. The solution will enable financial and payments service providers in the country to connect to one common platform for seamless and real-time payment transactions.
This agreement supports the Government of Rwanda’s objective to create a digital economy and drive greater financial and social inclusion for its society and citizens, through:

• Collaboration to support greater financial and social inclusion for all Rwanda citizens through improved use of new information technology and software.
• The Government of Rwanda enacting clear financial and payment services policies to create a neutral, interoperable and viable market place, (supported by the Ericsson Interconnect Solution).
• Rwanda aims to become Africa’s first truly digital economy, leveraging on Ericsson M-Commerce Interconnect for seamless financial services
  

Peter Heuman, VP and Head of M-Commerce for Ericsson, said: “Africa has been a main driver for innovative mobile financial services. Ericsson M-Commerce Interconnect advances existing efforts by seamlessly linking banks, mobile operators, money transfer organisations, and payment and financial services providers, making the promise of true financial inclusion achievable.
“The work we are doing with the Government and people of Rwanda on this initiative is imperative for the country and region and we look forward to continued collaboration with countries throughout Africa and globally to build upon these important efforts.”
Ericsson’s Rwanda Interoperability Switch (RIS) will connect financial and payment services providers within the country and enable end-user to enjoy, in real time, a range of digital payments possibilities across all financial platforms and service providers. Further, the inclusion of informal sectors such as savings cooperatives and micro finance players in the ecosystem, allow previously excluded citizens to participate in mainstream financial services, thereby increasing financial inclusion.
Claver Gatete, Rwanda minister of finance and economic planning, added: “Mobile payment technology has the potential to advance financial inclusion and help people build savings while giving government, as well as the private sector, a more cost-effective, efficient, transparent and safer means of disbursing and collecting payments.”
Ericsson M-Commerce Interconnect links Rwandan financial stakeholders to create a real-time, irrevocable financial transactions processing solution with 24/7 availability. Ericsson will also lead on-boarding and integration of Rwanda payment service providers and financial institutions. The Rwanda Interoperability Switch is expected to be operational by early 2017.
Fredrik Jejdling, Ericsson head of region, Sub-Saharan Africa says: “More inclusive mobile financial services solutions could directly impact the UN sustainable development goals by increasing economic growth and reducing inequality within and among countries. This partnership is a great testimonial to how collaboration between the public and private sector can transform the financial sector for the better. This deployment places Rwanda on track to becoming the first truly cashless society in Africa and we are very pleased to be part of making history on the continent.”

SMEs in Africa to benefit as lenders tap mobile technology

Finca, a US microfinance organisation, and First Access, a New York-based data analytics company, have formed a partnership to start making loans over east Africa using credit scores derived from mobile phone data.

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. This kind of uncollateralised lending has already started to transform Kenya’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector. Hundreds of thousands of loans worth more than $150m have been issued since March 2015 when Kenya Commercial Bank, the country’s largest bank, and M-Pesa, the mobile money platform of Safaricom, the dominant telecoms company, began collaborating.

The vast majority of borrowers were previously considered uncreditworthy because of their lack of credit history and access to financial services. However, KCB-Mpesa accepts about 80 per cent of applicants, with an average loan size of Ks4,000 ($40) and a default rate of just under 2 per cent.

“It’s much more efficient and accurate than the old system and we’re seeing much earlier repayments,” said Joshua Oigara, KCB chief executive.

Growth is proving exponential. “Every second a new loan is issued, and we’re only a year into this service,” said Bob Collymore, chief executive of Safaricom.

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. Now Finca, which serves 1.8m people in 23 countries, said it would roll out this kind of lending in six African countries by the end of the year having completed a pilot study in Tanzania.

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. Andree Simon, co-chief executive of Finca Microfinance Holding Company, said the partnership will give the organisation “more objective information to form a credit recommendation and more time to improve the quality of our relationship with our clients”.

Shivani Siroya, chief executive of InVenture, a US start-up that launched its Mkopo Rahisi loan service via an Android app in March 2014, said it took 20 seconds to scan someone’s phone and determine whether they were creditworthy.

Like the other providers, InVenture is using increasingly detailed data to make credit decisions. For example, the Santa Monica-based company found that if at least 40 per cent of an applicant’s contacts were organised with both first and second names they were 16 times more likely to repay on time.

ICS Participates at Dot Finance Africa Event...as GTB upgrades software

ICS Financial Systems (ICSFS), the global software and services provider for banks and financial institutions, has showcased its Awards wining universal banking and financial software; ICS BANKS, at Dot Finance Africa event that was held at the Visa Oshwal Centre, earlier this May, 2016.

The two-day event included more than 400 high-quality attendees and 50 exhibitors in attendance. Dot Finance connected senior executives of Africa's top banks & financial institutions with leading financial technology vendors from across the globe such as ICSFS, which was exhibiting in booth stand number B3.

ICSFS’ Executive Director for Business Development Mr. Wael Malkawi said;

“It was great to see so many attendees exploring our booth and taking advantage of this opportunity to discover what ICSFS technologies has to offer. We were overwhelmed by the great demand on our ICS BANKS and ICS BANKS ISLAMIC solutions.” Mr. Malkawi continued “26% of our customers are based in Africa and are using our universal banking solution ICS BANKS. We are keen to grow our customer base across the Sub-Saharan region, as we are now investing and building solid partnerships in East Africa; such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.”

ICSFS showcased its flagship; ICS BANKS solutions, which provides a complete suite of banking business modules with a rich sweep of functionality and features, addressing business needs and automating accounting processes, as needed, to improve a bank’s business performance. ICS BANKS has always been a pioneer in utilizing the latest technology to serve financial institutions. In addition to its embedded Service-Oriented-Architecture (SOA), ICS BANKS is deployed in a multi-tiered setup that runs on a web thin client.

This is coming on the heels of the recent upgrade of its solution by leading financial powerhouse in Nigeria, Guarrantee Trust Bank Plc. GTBank, one of the largest banks in Africa and the multiple awards wining bank that was named “Africa’s Most Innovative Bank for 2015”, successfully upgraded to the latest version of the awards winning solution ICS BANKS from ICS Financial Systems Limited (ICSFS).

GTBank has gone through one of the most successful and seamless major upgrades in the industry, completed at GTBank’s headquarters that is located in Nigeria, where it upgraded to the latest version of ICS BANKS. The project started on June of 2015 and ended in October of 2015, where the migration had near-zero-downtime.

High level of performance was achieved by ICS BANKS, where a new record of the entire end-of-day activities for 250 branches serving around 8M customers & 13M accounts & 4M daily transactions are being completed in a record time.

Flip phone lovers hail Motorola’s new RAZR ad...hopes for comeback!

Once the best-selling flip phone in the world and one of the best selling mobiles full stop, the Razr was a style icon but as technology advanced and the all-conquering iPhone brought a new must-have look to phones it fell out of favour.

Motorola got tongues wagging recently with a nostalgic 90s-themed ad featuring teens flaunting the old school RAZR flip phone but comes with “Flip back to the RAZR days of yesteryear and get ready for the future,” reads the new 45-second spot’s tagline.

“We will transform mobile again on June 9," a Motorola rep cryptically told The Daily News, noting that the company is not re-releasing the original RAZR.

But “Hello Moto” maniacs are still hoping that an upgraded flip phone is on the line. There’s certainly an audience for it. When Sarah Lisovich’s iPhone broke, she dug up her hot pink V3 RAZR flip phone that she’s held onto for 10 years as a replacement. The simplified device was a welcome change.

Now, however, Motorola has hinted that the flip phone could be returning. The video’s title refers to the date of the Lenovo Tech World conference, where an announcement on the replacement for Motorola’s flagship Moto X is expected.

Motorola is saying little else at the moment but industry experts believe that the video could indeed be a precursor to a new clamshell phone. Whatever form the new handset takes it’s guaranteed to be a massive step up from the original Razr.

Stylish it may have been but its 2.2-inch non-touch screen, 0.3 megapixel camera and rudimentary web access are woeful in today’s world of octa-core beasts with multiple cameras and endless connectivity possibilities.

The new handset is expected to run Google’s Android operating system and come with specifications to take on the big players in today’s mobile market such as Apple and Samsung.

While flip phones declined in popularity in Europe, they have remained popular in Japan and the market is, in fact, growing. Analysts believe that a growing number of older users who don’t want all the bells and whistles of most modern smartphones could be driving up the demand and that Europe could follow in Japan’s footsteps.

Flip phone and “dumb” phone sales grew by 2 million in the U.S. last year, for a total of 24.2 million sold, according to research firm IDC. Smartphones are still far more popular, but their growth remained flat in 2015. And Apple reported its first loss in 13 years last month as iPhone sales dropped 16%.

Basic handsets are making a comeback. Trendsetters such as Anna Wintour and Rihanna have been seen rocking the throwback devices. Adele featured a flip phone in her hit “Hello” video last fall. Robert DeNiro told People he still has a flip phone because “they’re easy to use!” Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne said he “felt far more alive” after dumping his iPhone last year. And Mayor Bill de Blasio reminded us in January that “I love my flip phone.”

True, a dumb phone can’t hail an Uber, order sushi on Seamless, stream “Game of Thrones” or post a photo to Instagram or Facebook. But as a result, the pared-down handset is much cheaper, because there’s no data plan. The battery can last for weeks, not hours. And the sturdy device survives falls better than a smartphone’s exposed glass screen.

View 4 screens in-one with new Dell 43-inch 4K with 1080p panels

Running multiple display monitors on the same PC, with each of them capable of showing its own specific content, is definitely something that someone can get used to in a hurry if they have a lot of PC-related work to cover.

Well, for those who have been doing something like this for years with multiple HD PC monitors daisy-chained together across your work space, the new Dell Multi-Client 43 inch 4K UHD monitor simplifies things enormously while saving plenty of space across your physical desktop.

Dell’s newest P4317Q (also known as the Dell 43 Multi-Client Monitor) is designed to alleviate these problems. While the display can run as a single monitor at 3840×2160, its real strength is as a bezel-less option to display up to four separate desktops, each at 1080p.

Multi-monitor desktops are popular with both professional computer users and enthusiast gamers who want a more immersive widescreen experience, but setting up these systems can be somewhat difficult. It’s generally recommended that you use three of the same display to minimize issues related to mixing and matching different resolutions, as well as to avoid differences in color gamut and calibration from changing how work appears from one monitor to the other.

Dell designed the Multi-Client Monitor with the finance industry in mind, but it's able to run four independent clients of any kind at once. Plus, it gets rid of the cable nightmare that comes with manually setting up four monitors on a single desk.

The P4317Q costs $1,350 and is available to purchase right now. It's certainly an impressive piece of technology, but maybe that high price point is meant to offset expected lower sales of Dell's multi-monitor stands.

Dell has been a leader in office computing needs for years now and apparently the company clearly understands that having access to multiple screens at the same time is something a lot of developers, traders and other professionals who stay glued to their PCs will find extremely useful. With this in mind, the single giant 43 inch P4317Q Multi-Client is ready right out of the box to handle up to four different decent-sized Full HD display spaces.

Though we have seen even better giant 43 inch 4K monitors in terms of overall specs and connectivity options, the P4317Q is an impressive tool indeed as far as workflow requirements go, with a total screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels of 4K glory that can play at a 60Hz refresh rate and a solid, rich contrast ratio of 1000:1, with a maximum brightness that sits at a stunningly luminous 350 nits.

On top of this the P4317Q offers up an 8ms response time, wide IPS panel display viewing angles of 178 degrees and multiple standard connectivity options which include HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2 and Mini DisplayPort 1.2 along with a VGA port. Furthermore, Dell has given the new P4317Q Multi-client a built-in audio capacity that’s definitely above average for a mere PC monitor, with two internal 8-watt speakers. There’s also a robust 4-port USB 3.0 hub built into the P4317Q.

Finacle partners Onegini, Samsung SDS, for mobile security and Mobile Banking

Infosys Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, a product subsidiary of Infosys, and Onegini has announced a partnership to integrate the Onegini mobile security platform with Finacle banking solutions.

The integration will allow banks to provide their customers enhanced security to access and transact across channels. Using this solution, banks can offer customers an option to select advanced authentication methods, including fingerprint, facial, eye and voice recognition as well as multi-factor authentication for added security as they transact on devices. The end-user will be presented different authentication methods depending on device, location and type of transaction.

Also in a move that is seen in the industry as complimentary, Infosys Finacle has also teamed up with Samsung’s services subsidiary in a new mobile banking partnership. Samsung SDS will be providing its FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Authentication tool into the bargain, which allows banking customers to use the device of their choice and mobile application creators the ability to create device-agnostic services.

The use of FIDO, says Infosys Finacle, will also “help to advance and simplify micro payments and enable financial inclusion in developing markets where mobile devices are the dominant form of internet access.” Users of FIDO will be able to scan their fingerprints, use facial recognition technology and other forms of biometrics to complete payments and transactions.

Andy Dey, President of Customer & Operations at Infosys EdgeVerve, said, "A bank is no longer somewhere to go - you carry it with you. This offers a new level of convenience, but at the same time our customers demand secure solutions. Through this partnership, we aim to provide advanced security with convenience to customers."

According to him, “Customers are becoming far more accustomed to accessing and spending their money via mobile,” says Andy Dey, President of Customers and Operations at EdgeVerve, the parent company of Infosys Finacle.

“As such, financial services providers should be empowered with mobile solutions where they never have to choose between providing a good user experience and robust security.

EdgeVerve, he adds, wants to enable banking without passwords “wherein people can authenticate transactions by using flexible biometric options such as facial recognition and fingerprints.” The partnership with Samsung SDS and Origini are part of that vision.

Misys Solutions launches FinCloud

Misys has announced it is launching Misys FinCloud, a new range of Cloud solutions and global Cloud environment offering Misys clients the highest standards of security, performance and operating excellence in Cloud operations in the financial services industry. With this solution, clients pay for what they use as part of an initiative supported by various global and local infrastructure providers, systems integrators and solution partners.

Misys FinCloud solutions promote agility and efficiency. Clients gain faster access to innovation through shorter and more predictable on-boarding and updates. They can consume Misys solutions rather than licensing and running them themselves, freeing up their IT resources to focus on strengthening their competitive edge and growing their business. Offered on elastic, consumption-based charging models, Misys FinCloud clients pay for what they use.

Supported by selected global and local infrastructure providers, systems integrators and solution partners, the Misys FinCloud incorporates a highly secure, trusted Cloud environment, representing the highest levels of security, performance and operating excellence for Cloud operations in the financial services industry.

“The financial services industry is evolving faster than ever before and we are seeing our customers embarking on wholesale digital transformation projects,” said Tom Dawkins, Global Head of Cloud Enablement at Misys. “Cloud technology is a key enabler of this change. We are enabling all Misys solutions for the Cloud to offer our customers the choice of on-premise or Cloud deployment. And, the Misys FinCloud guarantees the highest levels of security and service delivery for our clients. Today we are launching new Cloud solutions into each of our four main lines of business - this is a first wave of Misys FinCloud solutions to be launched and we look forward to announcing more as they come on line.”

The Misys FinCloud enables financial institutions to run Misys solutions on the Cloud, with the confidence that they are being operated and managed in highly secure, audited environments. The Misys FinCloud utilises state-of-the-art virtual server technology, storage, security, disaster recovery and networking hardware that is proactively managed and monitored in line with industry best practices and contracted service levels to ensure the highest levels of availability and performance. 

“With our Misys FusionCapital Summit Cloud solution, we benefit from high performance, high availability and strong security. Misys takes care of every aspect of managing the solution so we can stay focused on our business,” says Ferrante Zilioli, CIO, Banca Akros.

Misys is working with carefully selected partners to operate the infrastructure components of the Misys FinCloud including Rackspace and NTT Communications.

“At Rackspace we specialise in providing managed hosting solutions that can be tailored to customers’ needs, backed by a customer-centric service branded Fanatical Support®, with engaged employees who provide exceptional customer support to maintain loyal customers,” said Ryan Ohls, senior manager at Rackspace. "It is this combination of service excellence and expertise we recognise in Misys, so we are excited to deliver cloud solutions to Misys clients in North America. By working with Rackspace, Misys can enable banks and financial institutions to respond quickly to real customer needs and enjoy a competitive edge in the market.”

Masaaki Moribayashi, Managing Director, NTT Communications, adds: “At NTT Communications we know that Cloud adoption is a key strategic priority for many of the region’s banks. Partnering with Misys on the Misys FinCloud marries up our highly available, secure infrastructure technology with Misys market-leading solutions and application management expertise. Together we will partner with financial institutions on their digital transformation journey towards the Cloud helping them to innovate, accelerate and succeed - all the while enjoying the highest levels of compliance and cost efficiencies.” 

Misys is committed to Cloud enablement of all of its solutions and will deliver all major products in the Cloud, so that Misys customers have the choice of consuming them as a service on the Cloud. The FinCloud provides banks with faster implementations and better access to the latest innovations. 

Misys has a proven track record of delivering highly secure and available solutions in the private Cloud for more than ten years. The company is launching new Cloud solutions in all four business areas, including retail banking, corporate banking, treasury and capital markets and investment management.

Android eat-away Java marketshare as Oracle Denies Acquiring Sun Microsystems just to Sue Google

According to Oracle, Google’s free distribution of Android has greatly damaged Oracle’s business. The database giant reportedly told a US federal court that giving Android to handset makers for free destroyed the revenue it could have made on licensing Java.

Oracle's co-chief executive Safra Catz reportedly told a San Francisco jury hearing the firm's suit against Google that this had had “a very negative impact.” Catz claimed Samsung cut its Java royalty payment from “about” $40m to $1m. She also claimed Oracle had offered Jeff Bezos’ Amazon a 97.5 per cent discount to use Java for its Paperwhite e-reader after Amazon switched from Java, which it had used on Kindle, to Android for its Fire device.

According to Catz, Oracle tried, and abandoned, development of its own phone project. She also reportedly told the jury she’d confronted Google’s general counsel Kent Walker at 2012 bat mitzvah over Android and Java licensing, and claimed Walker had told her: “Google is a really special company and the old rules don’t apply to us.”

Oracle is claiming $9bn over Google’s claimed copyright infringement of Java in a re-trial after Larry Ellison’s firm saw its initial case reach deadlock in 2012. Executive chairman of Google’s parent company Alphabet Eric Schmidt told the trial this week he believed Google was free to use Java as he’d unveiled the language as Sun Microsystems chief technology officer in 1995. The day before in her testimony, Catz denied Oracle had bought Java creator and trademark owner Sun Microsystems in 2010 simply to own Java and sue Google.

Oracle swooped after IBM demurred on picking up Sun for its hardware server and storage business, to deliver the hardware part of the full Oracle stack chief executive Larry Ellison had so long wanted, and Java. Sun was a shell of a company, having spent a decade failing to extricate itself from the dot-com crash of the 2000s and reporting nothing but losses.

Oracle swooped after IBM demurred on picking up Sun for its hardware server and storage business, to deliver the hardware part of the full Oracle stack chief executive Larry Ellison had so long wanted, and Java.

Sun was a shell of a company, having spent a decade failing to extricate itself from the dot-com crash of the 2000s and reporting nothing but losses.

Software was Sun’s only growth area: in 2009 – a year after the first handset – licensing from Java at Sun grew 28 per cent to $281m – it had grown one per cent the year before and 13 per cent in 2007. And yet that was small change for Sun, which lived on systems and server revenue of multiples of billions of dollars - despite losses.

Oracle acquired Sun in 2010 and sued Google after negotiations broke down. The jury was deadlocked in a trial in 2012. If the current jury rules against Google on fair use, then it would consider Oracle's request for $9 billion in damages.

Google has argued that Sun welcomed Google's use of Java, but Oracle plotted to sue upon acquiring the company. However, an Oracle attorney asked Catz about emails from 2009, in which former Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz described a dispute with Google over Java. "He told us that they'd been talking with Google and had been trying to get them to licence Java," said Catz, noting that Android was an unauthorised version of Java because Google did not have a licence.

Oracle proceeded to acquire Sun, Catz said, because Java was too strategically important to Oracle's products for it to be bought by a competitor.

It was Sun’s continued control over the licensing and Java trademark that led to Harmony, a clean implementation of Java at the Apache Software Foundation. Harmony was fully supported by IBM, put out at Sun's continued control of Java, and it happened to be an implementation that used a JVM called Dalvik, whose libraries were picked up initially by Google for Android.

Oracle chased ASF to try to prove a link between Dalvik and Java, but it failed to produce the necessary smoking gun.

NOKIA stages comback as Microsoft sells feature phone segment to Finnish firm

Nokia is all set to make a comeback in the mobile and tablet business thanks to a new agreement reached between the Finnish company and Microsoft. However, Nokia themselves would not be involved in the actual manufacturing or marketing process per se. Instead, that would be done by HMD Global Oy with Nokia just lending the rights to the use of its brand name.

This has been made possible via a new deal as per which Microsoft will be selling off Nokia’s feature phone business to a subsidiary of Foxconn and the young Finnish firm HMD Global Oy. HMD, in turn, will be developing new phones and tablets based on Android carrying the iconic Nokia branding. The entire deal values at $350 million.

Few technology companies evoke the same feelings of warm, fuzzy nostalgia as Nokia. Just mentioning the name brings back memories of a time when mobile phones were mainly just that – devices for making phone calls, rather than portable supercomputers that demand every other minute of our time for emails or social media.

Back then, mobile phones were liberators and if you owned one it was almost certainly a Nokia: the company made the bestselling mobile in every year from 1998 to 2007 – the year the iPhone was released. Defined by its near-unbreakable handsets, its (often too) stylish designs and the gaming sensation that was Snake – the company was once Europe’s biggest, with a market cap of $300bn (£205bn), and a revenue equal to a fifth of Finland’s GDP.

So the news recently that the company is set to re-enter the mobile market was naturally greeted with rose-tinted excitement. A newly founded Finnish company, HMD, led by a former Nokian, has licensed the Nokia name from what remains of the old company; primarily a telecoms and networking business.

Microsoft however stated they will continue to focus on the Windows 10 Mobile platform as well as the Lumia brand. It will just let go of Nokia’s feature phone assets which include the branding rights, ‘software and services, care network and other assets, customer contracts, and critical supply agreements.’ HMD will have the right to the use of the Nokia branding for ten years. It will also engage in the actual manufacturing, sales, and service of the devices. Nokia will be receiving royalty towards the use of its brand by HMD. Nokia will also have a representative in the HMD Board of Directors but won’t make any financial investments or hold equity in the new company. The deal, which is expected to be finalized later in the year will affect 4,500 employees, who, Microsoft said will be given the option to join HMD or FIH, the Foxconn subsidiary.

Once the deal is closed, Arto Nummela, a former Nokia executive will be the Chief Executive of HMD. Nummela right now takes care of Microsoft’s entire feature phones business besides serving as the head of the Mobile Devices business overseeing the entire Greater Asia, Middle East, and African regions.

“We will be completely focused on creating a unified range of Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets, which we know will resonate with consumers. Branding has become a critical differentiator in cell phones, which is why our business model is centred on the unique asset of the Nokia brand and our extensive experience in sales and marketing. We will work with world class providers in manufacturing and distribution to move quickly and deliver what customers want” said Arto Nummela.

Florian Seiche, who right now is the Senior Vice President at Microsoft Mobile overseeing sales and marketing for Europe will be joining HMD as its president.

Microsoft readies HoloLens for military applications

With Microsoft eying the potential for its augmented reality (AR) headset to be used for military applications, the Oculus Rift has garnered a lot of attention in the press as Microsoft's HoloLens appears to be shaping up to be a very interesting take on virtual reality headsets.

The HoloLens was the surprise announcement at the Windows 10 launch earlier in the year with members of the press taken to the firm’s Building 92 for a demonstration of the headset and some hands-on time with it.

But just what does the HoloLens do, how much will it cost and when will the general public be able to buy it?

The technology company detailed, on its official enterprise blog, a vision of the future where military staff, from aircraft mechanics to battlefield tacticians, will use its HoloLens headset to enhance their view of real-world objects and events.

“HoloLens embraces mixed reality to enable users to engage with the physical world and interact with real people as they simultaneously explore 3D digital content,” wrote Sergio Ortega Cruz, Microsoft’s worldwide industry solution manager for public safety, national security and defense. “For military users, the benefits are enormous. By incorporating HoloLens into their everyday operations, defence organisations can operate far more efficiently while dramatically reducing costs.”

Examples Ortega Cruz gave included overlaying a 3D model – over the top of a grounded aircraft – showing a mechanic precisely what parts of the craft need to be taken part, replaced or recalibrated.

HoloLens may also be used to design and assemble military vehicles and equipment. Ortega Cruz said Microsoft’s AR headset would allow workers to save time, instruct one another with greater accuracy, and improve assembly efficiency. Finally, Ortega Cruz suggested that HoloLens could help leaders, in a command and control centre, to better strategize and “keep their soldiers safer” during combat operations.

The blog post in question, published on Monday, has since been removed from the site for reasons Microsoft has not specified. However, it is still visible via web cache.

Microsoft already provides some specific enterprise software and technology to the defence and law enforcement bodies around the world, such as its Aware suite. The company said it is committed to supporting defence organisations with innovative applications for its HoloLens technology.

Speaking at the San Francisco conference, HoloLens evangelist Alex Kipman told the audience that developer kits of Microsoft's VR headset will ship immediately, and offered a couple of use cases for the enterprise too. One from NASA showed Buzz Aldrin taking people on a tour of Mars, and another from Case Western University's Dr Pamela Davis, showed how HoloLens can help teach students medicine by providing three-dimensional displays.

She claimed students learned more from the three-dimensional augmented reality of HoloLens than from dozens of hours of studying, while the VR device allowed people from other countries to join in the lesson (seen as the red figure in the demo picture above).

In an interview with PC World, Dedeine said that the HoloLens goggles contain a processor that heats up during use, to the extent where the headset becocmes too hot to touch with bare skin and thus dangerous to wear for long periods.

For safety reasons, however, it will shut down automatically once it reaches a certain temperature.

"The most important thing is to really be economical... you would never need to do this with a console or PC - it's all about consumption of energy, battery savings," Dedeine said. "Even more important, it's heat - to not make the whole thing get too hot, as it would be uncomfortable to the user."

This issue is presumably due to the fact that, unlike rival augmented reality devices such as Oculus Rift, the HoloLens has its own processor and so does not require a PC to work.

Practo expands services, offers medicine delivery, consultation

India’s largest online doctor discovery company Practo Technologies Pvt. Ltd claims to have 200,000 doctors, 10,000 hospitals, 8,000 diagnostic centres and 4,000 wellness and fitness centres on its platform, besides facilitating 10-12 million monthly searches.

People tend to use doctor discovery apps only when they fall ill. Naturally. But that’s a problem for health start-ups, which would like customers to use their apps more frequently than just once or twice a year. With this goal in mind, India’s largest and best-funded healthcare technology start-up, is maximizing its use cases by adding a bunch of offerings apart from its doctor discovery service.

The company, backed by Sequoia Capital, Matrix Partners, Tencent, Google Capital and others, has introduced doctor consultation and medicine delivery, started providing information, and even entered the beauty and wellness segment, initiatives which will make it a compelling proposition to be used at least once a week if not more, said Practo founder and chief executive Shashank N.D.

“We want to make sure that you don’t need to be unwell to come to our platform. We have built Practo Consult, which allows consumers to get free answers to their health questions from verified doctors. Practo Order, currently available in Bangalore, allows consumers to order medicines at home, because, for chronic patients, there is a regular schedule of medicine consumption. We have also launched Practo health feed that enables consumers to get access to high quality health content written by verified doctors. In the preventive healthcare space, we have the wellness and fitness segment, which is another reason for consumers to come to Practo even if they are not sick or unwell, and the use case of these consumers is more frequent,” said Shashank N.D.

Some of the new initiatives, such as consultation and medicine delivery, will also help Practo derive revenue from existing users, who currently do not pay for searching for doctors or diagnostic centres.

The company claims to have 200,000 doctors, 10,000 hospitals, 8,000 diagnostic centres and 4,000 wellness and fitness centres on its platform, besides facilitating 10-12 million monthly searches.

“You can’t increase the frequency of doctor discovery; people fall sick at a certain frequency and once you have discovered a doctor, you don’t need a health app for the same doctor. But Practo’s story is much bigger than doctor discovery and the vision is to take care of all your healthcare needs. Anybody, anywhere, trying to do anything with healthcare, will touch Practo. From that perspective, it becomes an enormous market,” said Rutvik Doshi, director at Inventus Capital Partners, a venture capital firm. Practo, which was valued at about $500 million during its last fundraising of $90 million in August, does not yet charge consumers for searching for doctors and clinics or booking an appointment. Listing on Practo is also free for doctors. Its revenue comes from Practo Ray, a doctor-facing practice management software sold as a subscription-based, software-as-a-service product, and Practo Reach, a sponsored listing service for hospitals and clinics.

Besides, the acquisition of Insta Health Solutions, a hospital information management solution provider and Qikwell Technologies Pvt. Ltd, which has expertise in appointment scheduling at hospitals, in September has helped the company increase its revenue from enterprises.

Revenue rose to Rs.29.73 crore in fiscal 2015 from Rs.2.30 crore a year earlier, while the company incurred a loss of Rs.12.85 crore in FY15, as against Rs.9.88 crore in the year-ago period, according to documents filed with the Registrar of Companies.

Practo has entered Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brazil, becoming one of the few homegrown consumer Internet startups to capitalize on some of the high-growth, but largely untapped global markets.

The company has so far raised about $124 million from investors such as Tencent, Sequoia Capital, Matrix Partners, Google Capital and Yuri Milner, the Russian billionaire and founder of DST Global among others.

Aviat Networks Provides Update on Corporate Realignment Initiatives

Aviat Networks, Inc., a top expert in microwave networking solutions, has provided updates on its corporate realignment initiatives and outlined aggressive actions to drive to profitability.

"We're continuing to see strong demand for our products and services within the Private Network vertical," said Michael Pangia, president and CEO, Aviat Networks.  "However, spending by Mobile Operators continues to be more challenging than anticipated.  This will have an impact on our short-term revenue, though we remain well entrenched within this segment, and believe we are positioned for growth as the next generation of technology upgrades comes to market.  We are also continuing our realignment transformation and aggressively instituting a series of Lean Six Sigma processes to drive better efficiencies and performance while significantly lowering our cost structure."

Aviat previously commenced a series of process improvement initiatives geared towards enhancing operational efficiencies, improving gross margins and lowering costs.  Based on the impact of these initiatives, the Company will be reducing its headcount by approximately 87 positions, resulting in an estimated annualized savings of approximately $6.0 - $7.0 million.  The majority of workforce reductions are anticipated to take place in Aviat's Fiscal 2016 fourth quarter. 

Aviat will also be implementing the next phase of its corporate realignment programs, which includes office consolidation, the integration of various shared service business units and other cost control measures, which should improve gross profit margins while lowering general and administrative expenses further.  Inclusive of the workforce reductions noted above, the Company anticipates overall savings of approximately $14.0 - $16.0 million during Fiscal 2017 compared to Fiscal 2016, with annualized savings higher based on programs deployed throughout the year.  Additionally, the Company anticipates that it will incur restructuring expenses associated with these events of approximately $4.0 million.

Mr. Pangia continued, "After analyzing our customers' spending plans and third-party industry data, we are taking more aggressive actions now to realign the organization to be profitable at a lower revenue run-rate than previously anticipated.  We believe we have leading technologies and differentiated services that address our customers' needs globally, and we will continue to invest in these areas.  As a result of the improvements made to date, we're in a better position to expedite our plans with a focus on generating positive Adjusted EBITDA in the first half of Fiscal 2017."

On January 4, 2016, Aviat Networks received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") stating that the Company was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the "Rule") because the Company's common stock failed to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 for 30 consecutive business days. The Board of Directors intends to implement a plan that addresses the Company's non- compliance prior to the 180-day period granted by Nasdaq.

Verint Introduces Security Intelligence Initiatives for Customer Engagement and Enhanced User Experience

Verint® Systems Inc., has announced a series of strategic customer engagement initiatives focused on providing world-class service and support to its Security Intelligence customers and partners across the United States. These customer-centric programs leverage networking, education and technology to help further success with Verint solutions and increase customer and partner engagement.

The program aptly called Elevate, is a unique and exciting customer advocacy program designed to boost and enhance customer engagement using an online platform that encourages collaboration and the sharing of best practices. Customers of Verint Security Intelligence Solutions™—as well as those that leverage the company’s customer engagement optimization solutions—will benefit from a robust forum that enables them to connect and network in an innovative and fun way via an assortment of informational, educational and rewarding advocacy opportunities. 

Elevate is designed to help users position themselves or their business as an innovative, customer-focused market leader—helping them to elevate their status, brand, and benefits gained from their

Verint technology investment. It also delivers opportunities to connect with peers and other industry experts to share experiences, expertise, key learnings and feedback. Incentives for participation are offered in the form of points, which can be redeemed for a wide variety of rewards. Exclusive invitations will be sent to current Verint customers.

Verint Smart Support™, a mobile application that empowers users to connect with Verint 24/7, on-demand from any mobile device is being introduced to extend the company’s customer service and support network. It delivers the benefit of remote access to support requests, training collateral, troubleshooting tips, warranty status, architect specifications and more. Verint Smart Support is designed to increase engagement with customers by providing self-service support tools and resources for on-the-go users. Available initially on Android devices in May 2016, the Verint Smart Support application can be downloaded free from the Google Play Store.

In addition, Verint has enhanced its software delivery approach with the introduction of Verint vDelivery™, an electronic software fulfillment system that is now available for the latest Verint EdgeVMS™ upgrade. Electronic fulfillment of software is a best practice in today’s market, increasing speed to market, eliminating physical media costs, and proactively pushing updates and patches to customers as needed. This new delivery method is available initially with the Verint EdgeVMS Upgrade Kit and is planned as the standard delivery method for all future software releases.

“Our focus on the delivery of world-class customer service and support is what drives cutting-edge initiatives like these,” says Steve Weller, senior vice president and general manager, Verint Video and Situation Intelligence Solutions™. “Using Verint Smart Support and Verint vDelivery are ways we are driving continued collaboration with key stakeholders and engaging in new ways of conducting business within the security intelligence community.”

Verint® is a global leader in Actionable Intelligence® solutions with a focus on customer engagement optimization, security intelligence, and fraud, risk and compliance. Today, more than 10,000 organizations in 180 countries—including over 80 percent of the Fortune 100—count on intelligence from Verint solutions to make more informed, effective and timely decisions.

More troubles at NITDA as 245 'Peter Jack' staff gets the boot

The employment and sack of over 245 staff of the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) is generating controversy between the affected staff and Minister of Communications Barrister Adebayo Shittu. The 245 staff “duly” employed by controversial former DG of the Agency, Peter Jack, in November 2015 were summarily asked to stay off work on the orders of the minister after the agency had asked them to open salary accounts and choose their pension administrators.

However, Barrister Shittu said yesterday that the staff were employed through the back door by a former NITDA Director-General, according to a Daily Trust report.

Spokesman for the aggrieved staff, Kabiru Abubakar, said NITDA employed them legally because the agency got approval from the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, Dr. Tunji Olaopa and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) before recruiting them.

“How can the minister say we were employed illegally when the ministry and the Federal Character Commission duly approved our employment? Why is the minister playing politics with our lives; the fact that they have problem with Peter Jack should not make us bear the brunt?” said Mustapha, who was employed as a Higher Executive officer 1 on CONITSAS 8 step 2.

The spokesman said they had met with Dr. Vincent Olatunji, acting DG of NITDA, twice but he told them only the minister could rectify their employment. He stated that the 245 staff would stage a peaceful protest at the Federal Secretariat Abuja today to iron out their issues with the government.

“Why would the government that promised employment for youths go ahead to cancel same employment created by its own agency? The former NITDA Director- General got approval from the Ministry of Communications to recruit and the Federal Character Commission approved the employment of 245 of us who scaled through the interview hurdle,” Mustapha said.

Shittu however, stated that the ministry might reconsider their case after the substantive DG had been appointed at NITDA.

Apart from employment racketeering, the former DG was also accused of inflating contracts and other shady deals while in office.

Is it China or the iPhone 6S that is sending Apple to trouble again?

Apple got hit with a lot of bad news recently. First, the company posted its first quarterly revenue drop since 2003. And then billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn revealed that he has dumped all of his shares in Apple. NPR explores whether the company is really in trouble or if is this all just a bump in the road.

Though Apple's stock has rebounded nicely from its 52-week low levels, however, there's still a lot of uncertainty about the company going into the quarterly earnings. The apparently weak sales of the iPhone 6S has been a matter of great concern among investors.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are great smartphones, ones that are pretty tempting to Apple fans trying to decide on the best time to buy a new iPhone: Is it better to buy an iPhone 6s now or wait until the iPhone 7’s release date this fall? Whether your old smartphone needs replacing ASAP or you’ve mentally allocated your tax refund to a brand new iPhone, you may be leaning toward the iPhone 6s. But because no smartphone is perfect, the iPhone 6s has its own share of problems, despite numerous positive reviews from both tech reviewers and everyday consumers.

Coupled with that, China's shutdown of iTunes and iBooks is an unsubtle reminder of the Chinese government's power over Apple. Apple stared down the United States government over iPhone encryption, but China has the power to bankrupt Apple in a matter of months.

Also iOS 9 has had a bumpy ride. Despite claims this generation of iOS would focus on optimisation as opposed to major features, each major iOS 9 release – 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 – has suffered from significant problems. But even if the bugs haven’t improved since iOS 8, Apple AAPL +1.64%’s attitude towards them certainly has.

Last month Apple launched iOS 9.3.1 – primarily to address serious problems introduced in iOS 9.3 – and this fix in turn was discovered to cause a majority security hole. Yet, unlike the silence that greeted many problems in iOS 8, Apple has again fronted up immediately and admitted to the flaw.

Apple fessed up to the Washington Times, confirming iOS 9.3.1 contained a bug that made it easy to bypass lockscreen security (both PIN and fingerprint) to access a user’s contacts and photos.

Initially when Apple launched the first generation MacBook, Intel's first Core M processor generation was grounded on the company's Broadwell architecture. It was very difficult for the chipmaker to manufacture Core-based chips for MacBook. Recently Apple refreshed its MacBook computers using second-generation Core M processors grounded on Intel’s Skylake architecture.

This new enhanced processor includes some important changes like superior support for hardware video codecs, noteworthy smaller package size, faster graphics and CPU performance, and an integrated image signal processor. However, no single improvement can change the game, but, if combined together, they will convey a substantial advancement in the user understanding.

The most important change is the use of large battery size to offer a more efficient platform. It permitted the company to claim an enhancement in battery life to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback and 10 hours of web browsing.

According to the China Mobile’s (CHL) most recent quarterly results, it added many new 4G users, slightly less than its record December quarter. It reported 64.2 million new 4G customers as compared to 64.7 million customers in previous quarter. China Mobile now has 376.5 million 4G customers, a surge of 163% year over year, which accounts for 45% of its entire 833.9 million users. This clearly indicates that China is one of the most important markets to drive the company’s future growth.

Another reason why China plays a significant role in top-line growth of Apple because it accounted for 53% of the company’s overall revenue growth in 2015 and 70% of the company's top-line growth in the fourth quarter of 2015. Therefore, it is very necessary to understand the Apple’s China business.

On the other hand, China has the second highest operating margin for Apple and it produces the second highest operating margin dollars at $7.6 billion. The company recently reported that China will become its largest market, and if existing drifts continues, it will be Apple’s biggest operating profit contributor before it internments the top-line title.

Although the iPhone 6S will fail to beat the bar set by its predecessor, its most likely that Apple will report a good quarter. The introduction of the iPhone SE, along with the enhancements in the Mac should offset some of the lost sales from the iPhone 6S. Interesting times(?)