Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Huawei’s founder reveals plan to beat U.S. sanctions

    Huawei’s founder reveals plan to beat U.S. sanctions

    Last week we told you that starting on March 31st, Android phones uncertified by Google, including those made by Huawei, will no longer have access to the Google Messages app. While not too many Android handsets are uncertified by Google, Huawei’s newer models are because of its inclusion on the U.S. Commerce Department’s Entity List which prevents the Chinese manufacturer from using parts made by American suppliers. That includes software and since Google is a U.S. firm, Huawei cannot have the version of Android that is certified by the company.

    One Google app that Huawei users have been able to use without certification from Google is video chat app Duo. But just as Messages will be unavailable on uncertified Huawei devices this coming Spring, the same fate will befall the Duo app. According to XDA, strings of code found on version 123 of Duo reveal sentences that say, “Duo is going away soon,” and “Because you’re using an unsupported device, Duo will unregister your account on this device soon. Download your Clips and call history to avoid losing them.

    Note that the strings of code for Duo refer to unsupported devices as opposed to uncertified devices as with Messages. While unsupported phones do not comply with the Google Mobile Service ecosystem and are treated mostly the same as uncertified models, the difference is that after Duo shuts down for these handsets on March 31st, there will be a grace period of 14 days during which users will be able to save and download their data from Duo before the service shuts down.

    Right now, Duo can be installed and used on the Huawei P40 Pro series without requiring the phone to be running Google Mobile Services (GMS). This will end on March 31st unless Huawei is removed from the Entity List and is allowed to install GMS on its models missing Google’s ecosystem. For this to happen, the new U.S. president will have to decide what to do about the Chinese manufacturer in general. So far, there hasn’t been any word from the new administration on how it plans to treat Huawei, TikTok, Xiaomi, SMIC and other Chinese tech firms.

    Meanwhile, Huawei founder Ren Zhenfei had given a speech last June explaining how Huawei could survive the sanctions placed on it by the U.S. The speech was just published last week and ended up in the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Zhenfei, who is also Huawei’s CEO, said that the company needs to decentralize its operations, focus on making profits, simplify product lines, and freeze pay for three to five years. The 76-year old executive said that U.S. actions against Huawei have made it hard for the company to put its original globalization plans into play and have forced Huawei to develop its own production lines. As Zhenfei said, “There’s a big mismatch between our ability and strategy. It’s our weak link, and we are forced to start from the beginning like elementary school students.”

    Zhenfei says that Huawei will not be defeated, nor will it become resentful of the U.S. Speaking to Huawei back during the summer, Ren stated, “Please don’t be upset because of the temporary US pressure, or give up on our globalization strategy. There’s no future without embracing globalization (in development and research).” Besides having to motivate employees while keeping pay frozen for the next three to five years, Ren said that Huawei needs to focus on the bottom line. “We must gradually shift focus from the top line to the bottom line. All product lines … must not blindly pursue becoming No 1 … we don’t have the conditions to always fight to be No 1,” Ren said. “We must create value and reasonable profits to ensure healthy growth.” So instead of worrying about the number of units Huawei is shipping, the company’s founder says that it needs to focus on profitability.

    According to Ren, the U.S. wants Huawei to die. He said, “At the beginning, we thought we might have done something wrong in compliance and we carried out self-examination; but then the second blow and third blow followed. Then we realized that they want our death … but the desire to survive has also motivated us”

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  • HCMC hotel occupancy hits record low

    HCMC hotel occupancy hits record low

    HCMC’s average hotel occupancy rates dropped 54 percentage points year-on-year to 20 percent last year as Covid-19 travel restrictions hit foreign arrivals, a report says.

    Over 3,600 hotel rooms were closed last year as the number of foreign tourist arrivals plunged 85 percent year-on-year to 1.3 million, according to real estate consultancy Savills.

    Average room rates fell 29 percent year-on-year to $61 per night, the report said. Total supply fell 5 percent year-on-year to 15,200 rooms in 111 hotels.

    The development of Covid-19 vaccines will help the industry improve over the next two years and it is expected to make a full recovery by 2024, the report said.

    Vietnam halted all international flights from March 25 in an unprecedented move to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

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  • Real-World Examples of Text Analysis and AI-Driven Market Research

    Real-World Examples of Text Analysis and AI-Driven Market Research

    AI and text analysis is being incorporated into every aspect of life. On social media, entertainment, work, marketing, and sports, automation is becoming more “human.” The result is less time spent doing tedious tasks and more energy to focus on developing ideas and drafting new strategies. The following are examples of where AI and text analysis is creating an impact.

    Real Estate

    AI-driven market research and text analysis are making it easier to find and sell properties/ There is a significant amount of data to analyze before making a real estate investment, including the potential value of the property, market in the area, KPIs, and characteristics of the property. Getting the data together isn’t difficult, but the challenge is analyzing it to inform investment decisions.

    Property managers are discovering the benefits of AI in calculating assets, finding information about a property’s environmental footprint, and updating portfolios. An AI algorithm predicts future market value by looking at recent numbers and considering other factors such as changing prices in the area, crime rates, transportation, and schools.

    The number of data points required for analyzing property can be overwhelming.  AI technology organizes the information, sorts of relevant points, analyze the data, and updates existing information. AI also assists in creating in-depth property analysis for clients. It also makes property management easier with automatic updates on when things should be repaired, tenant information, and price trends.

    Real estate agencies and sites use chatbots to directly interact with potential buyers and sellers and collect useful information. For instance, if a visitor to a website or a social media page clicks on a link, they can immediately interact with a chatbot that answers questions and requests email addresses or  Whatsapp numbers of potential buyers and sellers.

    Market Research

    The amount of consumer data available online is a boon to market research. However, given the sheer enormity of social media updates and reviews, gathering and analyzing this information creates a significant challenge. AI-driven market research tools take unstructured user-generated content and create actionable data.

    AI and text analysis tools perform sentiment analysis, evaluating social media updates and reviews for emotional coloring, tone, and word choice. Machine learning associates certain words and phrases with emotions and gives each text a rating from very positive to very negative and in-between. These ratings are combined and compared to provide an overview of how consumers feel about a product or brand.

    The advantage of AI and text analysis is that it deals with direct feedback from customers rather than second-hand data from financial reports or company-generated resources. The main focus is the customer, and information about their preferences is the most relevant information. Market forecasts attempt to predict what consumers will want. Text analytics allows customers to customers to say they want directly to companies.

    Workplace

    AI in the workplace is at its early stages but is poised to grow rapidly. According to a Deloitte survey, 41% of businesses replied they are using automation extensively throughout their operations. Some examples of these tasks are ones that involve simple decisions, such as customer service chatbots that respond to specific queries according to set FAQ responses.

    In many cases, these automated tasks are not meant to replace the workforce. Still, they eliminate routine tasks so employees can spend their energy on tasks that require complex thinking or intricate decision making. For instance, a loan agency may use automated tools to calculate simple loans, but those that involve multiple factors are still dealt with by humans.

    Sentiment analysis is also used in the workplace to gauge how employees feel about their jobs, areas where they may need assistance, and where their morale is at its highest and lowest point. Public company chats and forums can yield user-generated data that can be evaluated by the human resource department using sentiment analysis tools. Besides, responses to memos can uncover between the lines how employees really feel about a new policy or launch.

    Sports

    Given the affection for numbers and statistics in sports, it is a natural area for AI to flourish. The success of data-driven strategies was seen in the 20 game-winning streak of Oakland Athletics in 2002 as depicted in the film Moneyball. The team applied data-driven strategies to players’ individual statistics and, through analytical tools, positioned each player according to his attributes. The result was an overwhelming success against rivals who had much larger budgets.

    AI is tremendously useful in scouting and recruitment. Statistics about players, such as the number of home runs or other performance data, can be calculated with AI tools to measure potential. AI also monitors training regimens and can personalize a diet, workout, and practice schedule suited to each player. AI uses performance indicators to evaluate how players are improving and where they need to improve.

    AI and Text Analysis Are Everywhere

    Smart AI technology is powering everything from the chatbot at a favorite website, communications at work, real estate investors’ calculations, and even draft picks for a favorite team. These tools aim to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently and offload monotonous jobs to automation to concentrate on the main task. Since automation saves money and time, it is being adopted rapidly and will continue to create value.

     

     

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  • Shiseido plans sale of consumer product lines for over $1.45 billion

    Shiseido plans sale of consumer product lines for over $1.45 billion

    Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido Co Ltd said on Friday it was in talks to sell its lower-priced skincare and shampoo lines to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners in a deal reported to be valued at over $1.45 billion.

    Shiseido said it was in talks to sell its “personal care” business in the first half of the year to CVC but that no decision had been made.

    The business includes its Tsubaki shampoo and Sea Breeze deodorant brands which are sold at drugstores and convenience stores throughout Asia.

    The talks were first reported by Bloomberg News, which put the value of the deal at between 150 billion to 200 billion yen ($1.45 billion-$1.93 billion).

    Shiseido said it was considering taking a stake in the business and remaining involved in its development.

    The talks come as Shiseido has been eyeing possible asset sales to focus on premium cosmetics, including its namesake line and brands such as Cle de Peau and NARS sold at department store counters.

    Global private equity firms such as CVC and Carlyle Group have recently been looking to expand in Japan, taking advantage of large Japanese companies coming under pressure to sell non-core assets and improve returns to shareholders.

    CVC last year raised $4.5 billion for its fifth Asia Pacific fund.

    Like other companies in the luxury sector, Shiseido was hit hard by the coronavirus as people shopped less and wore less make-up. A halt in tourism has been particularly painful as the company depended heavily on Chinese visitors.

    The company said in November that it expects a net loss of 30 billion yen in 2020, worse than a previous forecast loss of 22 billion yen.

    Shiseido shares rose 4% in morning trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. A CVC representative declined to comment.

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  • Harmay launches wet market-inspired store in China

    Harmay launches wet market-inspired store in China

    New-generation retail brand Harmay released its latest fashion collaboration collection with Chinese fashion designer Masha Ma on Tuesday as part of the brand’s continuing expansion despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The new fashion collection includes T-shirts, trousers and bags. The retail philosophy is focused on creating a beautiful life through sensuous experiences.

    The brand emerged online in 2008. In recent years, it has started to open more brick-and-mortar stores while maintaining and expanding its online territory with an experiential shopping journey.

    “Harmay was born in the golden age of China’s cosmetics and beauty retail industry, and now we have grown and expanded to become a unique retail brand that pursues beauty and a beautiful life,” said Jason Ju, Harmay HK co-founder and general manager, as well as a Harmay partner. “Bringing consumers a high-quality and innovative shopping experience and becoming a new benchmark for retail are goals we have been aiming for.”

    As a retailer of premium cosmetics and beauty products in China, the company offers a variety of well-known international cosmetics and skincare brands as well as self-developed personal skincare products, providing high-quality, contemporary makeup and cosmetics for consumers. Harmay sells exclusive brands, such as SG79|STHLM, Balmain Hair, Tangent GC, ICONIC London, Graine de Pastel, and many others.

    According to the retailer, Harmay acts as an agent for more than 50 international brands and has more than 200 licensed brands in its portfolio. Besides the top brands, the company explores overseas niche brands that haven’t entered the Chinese market.

    In 2017, it opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Shanghai. Just last year, it opened stores in Hong Kong and Beijing. AIM Architecture, one of China’s leading award-winning architecture companies based in Shanghai, designed the interior of Harmay stores, featuring neat, orderly displays, clean lines, and wide and free spaces inspired by industrial warehouses, assembly lines, kitchens, and lockers. The design makes the stores look more peculiar, fashionable and international.

    Harmay will open two new stores in Chengdu and Shanghai this year.

    Facing the challenges brought by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic this year, Harmay maintained its stable customer flow and sales through its online and offline integrated operation model to resist risks, the company said. This proves that its solid e-commerce foundation and mature physical store development, as well as unique store design, diversified product selections, and customer-centric quality service, have won a large number of loyal followers.

  • EBay close to selling Korean unit

    EBay close to selling Korean unit

    Global e-commerce business eBay is reportedly selling off its Korean businesses G-Market, Auction, and G9, in a deal worth $4.5 billion (5 trillion won).

    eBay is exploring a number of “strategic alternatives” for its Korean business and is looking for options that will maximize value for shareholders and create growth for the wider business.

    “From last week, we heard there is going to be an announcement made by our headquarters in the United States. Given that it said it was considering a variety of options, it seems to be in the process of selling the platforms,” an eBay Korea official said.

    EBay’s Korean platforms provide around 11 percent of its annual sales, and it’s expected any player that acquires the three businesses could become one of the top three e-commerce platforms in Korea.

    Rival marketplace Coupang, which is considered South Korea’s most popular online retailer, is reportedly looking to go public in the first half of 2021.

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  • Paris Baguette opens its largest Singapore store

    Paris Baguette opens its largest Singapore store

    Best known for its Paris Baguette bakery franchise, SPC Group has opened four food brand stores in Singapore. The group is planning to make Singapore as its third axis of global growth after China and the United States.

    The group opened the new stores at Jewel Changi, a commercial complex connected to Changi Airport in Singapore, on April 17. The four food brands include Maison de PB, the first high-end brand of Paris Baguette; Coffee@Works, a special tea and coffee brand; and Shake Shack, a burger brand.

    Jewel Changi is a seven-story lifestyle complex built as part of the Singaporean government’s Chingi Airport development projects.

    Maison de PB serves not only bakery products but also various meals that go well with bread such as “Beef On The Stone” and “Signature Seafood Pasta.”

    Coffee@Works has opened its first overseas store at Jewel Changi. Currently, it operates a total of 12 stores in South Korea. Shake Shack has also opened the first store at the complex after it obtained a license for business operation in Singapore in October last year. Singapore is the third-largest market in SPC Group’s global operations.

    Paris Baguette has 12 stores in Singapore, including the one at Jewel Changi. Although the number of stores in Singapore is less than the 14 in Vietnam, sales in Singapore, which came to 14.90 billion won (US$13.13 million) last year, are nearly three times higher than those in Vietnam.SPC Group is seeking to establish a holding firm in Singapore. It is planning to build a base in Singapore, which is considered a hub of logistics, finance, and business in Asia, and expand its business to neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

    The group is also seeking to build a Halal certified production facility to target Muslims and the global Halal food market. It will establish the facility in the Southeast Asian region in order to target Muslim countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, and will set the exact time and place in the future.

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  • China’s Central Bank Signals Break-Up Risk for Non-Bank Players

    China’s Central Bank Signals Break-Up Risk for Non-Bank Players

    The latest draft rules proposed by the People’s Bank of China signals even more regulatory tightening against the mainland fintech sector including the potential to even break up non-bank institutions deemed to hinder payment development.

    The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) proposed this week that it could advise the state council’s antitrust committee to take action should non-bank institutions severely hinder the healthy development of the payment service market.

    Actions suggested include the ability to break-up non-bank financial institutions that are deemed to be too dominant and abusive of their leading market positions.

    This spells more tightening for the likes of payment giants like Ant’s Alipay or Tencent’s Tenpay which own the majority of mainland China’s digital payment market share.

    According to guidelines released earlier this month, the PBoC defines a digital payments monopoly as any non-bank service provider with at least half of the market share for online transactions.

    Two non-bank providers with a combined market share of two-thirds or three providers with three-quarters will also qualify for antitrust investigations.

    Two or three firms having less than a 10 percent market share will not trigger investigations, the PBoC added.

    The new rules spell headwinds for China’s leading fintech giants whose dominance could at the very least potentially face supervision over capital adequacy requirements especially if they offer deposit products with interest rate payments, if not a full break up.

    While onlookers remain cautious, some have expressed optimism about limited intervention due the risk of such actions resulting in curbed innovation.

    Globally, regulations have actually intensified to rein in the dominance of big tech. In our view, this is meant to prevent market abuse, said UBS Global Wealth Management’s APAC CIO Min Lan Tan in a recent virtual roundtable. Regulators will be careful not to stifle innovation. Significant changes in business models or the breakup of companies, we think, is unlikely.

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  • E-payment startup Gpay bags funding from South Korean investor

    E-payment startup Gpay bags funding from South Korean investor

    Vietnamese e-wallet provider Gpay has received an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from South Korean listed bank KB Financial Group.

    The Series A round values the digital payment business at VND425 billion ($18.46 million), and the fresh funds will be used to expand its team and user base, as also upgrade its technology, Gpay said in a statement.

    G-Group Technology Corporation, Gpay’s parent, has also joined hands with KB Financial to launch a VND300 billion fintech joint venture, called KB Fina, which will provide financial services to unbanked or underbanked consumers, Gpay said.

    G-Group general director Phung Anh Tu said they expect the fintech platform, which incorporates financial and investment advisory products already provided by KB Financial Group in its home country, to come online in the second quarter this year.

    Established in 2018, Gpay obtained its e-payment license in April 2020. However, it faces fierce competition in the Vietnamese digital payment market, where there are currently 39 other licensed e-wallet service providers.

    Gpay said it will not be “burning cash” to fight for a higher market share, but will serve G-Group’s 30 million users currently using various services on its digital ecosystem, which includes peer-to-peer lending firm Tima, digital media firm Beat.vn, and social networking app Gapo.

    Last week, Momo, another payments app in Vietnam, raised an undisclosed amount in Series D financing from U.S.-based investment funds Warburg Princus and Goodwater Capital.

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  • Vietnam a global bright spot in electronics production

    Vietnam a global bright spot in electronics production

    Vietnam stands to benefit from its emergence as a global bright spot in electronics production with some index scores exceeding China and India.

    Experts attribute this to lower labor costs and better policy incentives.

    Jason Yek, Asia country risk senior analyst at market research company Fitch Solutions, said that the increased presence of large electronic manufacturers in Vietnam would generate jobs, support exports and improve the country’s electronics supply chain,

    The country started 2021 off by awarding a license to a unit of Taiwan’s Foxconn on January 18 to build a $270 million plant capable of producing eight million laptops and tablets annually in the northern province of Bac Giang.

    Foxconn, a key supplier for Apple, has so far invested $1.5 billion in Vietnam and plans to raise its investment by $700 million and recruit 10,000 more local workers this year, the government said.

    The company, which is said to be moving some iPad and MacBook assembly to Vietnam from China at the request of Apple, is also looking into investing $1.3 billion in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

    This was followed by a recent decision of Japanese electronics giant Panasonic to end the production of washing machines and refrigerators in Thailand to consolidate appliance assembly in Vietnam.

    Data from U.K. research company Euromonitor International shows 2.8 million refrigerators and 2.27 million washing machines were sold in Vietnam during 2019, compared with 1.92 million and 1.75 million, respectively, in Thailand.

    “As urbanization has advanced everywhere in Asia, regional product preferences have grown similar. The Thai market has little room for growth, but labor costs are high, so it was natural to consolidate production,” Akio Ota, former president of Panasonic Appliances Vietnam.

    Higher scores.

    In a recent report, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a division of the U.K.-based Economist Group, gave Vietnam higher index scores than China and India in some categories, highlighting the country as a potential manufacturing hub.

    On a scale of 10, Vietnam scored 6 in FDI policy, while both India and China scored 5.5 each.

    Vietnam also exceeded both countries in the score of foreign trade and exchange controls and surpassed India in the labor market.

    EIU explained that Vietnam’s incentives for international firms for setting up units to manufacture hi-tech products, its pool of low-cost workers and the spate of free trade agreements it has signed place it in an enviable position among Asian peers.

    Vietnam’s membership of free trade agreements represents a strong point in its trade relations, reducing export costs, and the country’s low-skilled manufacturing wages will remain competitive for years to come, it added.

    Yek of Fitch Solutions also said that favorable labor demographics, relatively low labour costs, and a strong business environment will continue to aid Vietnam’s bid to attract FDI over the medium term.

    “Vietnam, not being embroiled in trade disputes with major economies such as the U.S. or Europe, also positions it favorably for exporters seeking to use it as an exports manufacturing hub or in some cases, another manufacturing hub in addition to their Chinese operations so as to diversify their supply chains.”

    Nguyen Mai, chairman of Vietnam’s Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises, said the expansion of Foxconn in Vietnam is similar to what South Korean giant Samsung has been doing for nearly 15 years.

    Government data shows that Samsung had poured over $17 billion into Vietnam as of mid-2020 to become the largest FDI company in the country. It has two smartphone factories in the northern region and a TV screen production facility in Ho Chi Minh City.

    The company is also building its largest mobile research and development center in Southeast Asia in Hanoi.

    The expansion of Foxconn in Vietnam increases the possibility that a wave of hi-tech projects will find its way to the country in upcoming years, Mai said.

    However, experts have also listed several disadvantages that are slowing down the country’s efforts to attract investment.

    Yek said that to achieve the government’s goal of moving up the manufacturing value chain, further improvements are needed in the education and skill levels of the labor force, which is a long-term task.

    And while there are ongoing projects to develop the country’s transport and logistics infrastructure, progress has been slow, Yek said. In fact, bottlenecks can appear as the country’s infrastructure capacity fails to keep pace with trade volumes, he added.

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  • New app allows Apple’s iMessage to run on an Android phone

    New app allows Apple’s iMessage to run on an Android phone

    While there are Android users who are always putting down iOS for its notification system, Siri’s aggravating weak points, and for other issues, one thing that is off-limits for discussion is the iOS iMessage app. Even those who have updated to Google’s Rich Communication Service (RCS) based Message platform still would prefer Apple’s messaging system instead. A new app launching today called Beeper can make it happen. It isn’t a streamlined process as you will see. But it does deliver iMessage capabilities to Android users while at the same time creating a unified inbox that covers a number of messaging apps.

    For example, Beeper will create one in box with all of the unread messages from apps such as:

    • Whatsapp
    • Facebook Messenger
    • iMessage
    • Android Messages (SMS)
    • Telegram
    • Twitter
    • Slack
    • Hangouts
    • Instagram
    • Skype
    • IRC
    • Matrix
    • Discord
    • Signal
    • Beeper network

    All of the messages look the same since the idea is to use a single interface for all of your chats. And yes Virginia, Beeper says that it can connect with Apple’s iMessage even if you are using an Android phone. But for this to take place, you need to use an Apple device as a bridge. This can be done using one of two options. One method requires that you keep a Mac awake and continually connected to the internet. Using the Beeper Mac app, your Android phone can be connected to iMessage. With the other method, Beeper will send you a jailbroken iPhone 4s with the Beeper app installed to connect you with the iMessage app. “This is not a joke,” says Beeper’s website.

    Using Beeper will cost you $10 per month and with the last update received by the iPhone 4s taking place 17 months ago, you have to wonder how secure your iMessages will be. If you’re trying to figure out how Beeper got iMessage to work on Android and Windows, here is the response:

    “This was a tough one to figure out! Beeper has two ways of enabling Android, Windows and Linux users to use iMessage: we send each user a Jailbroken iPhone with the Beeper app installed which bridges to iMessage, or if they have a Mac that is always connected to the internet, they can install the Beeper Mac app which acts as a bridge. This is not a joke, it really works!”

  • Chinese Telcom Giants Review New York Delisting

    Chinese Telcom Giants Review New York Delisting

    In the latest on U.S. delistings of Chinese firms, the three largest mainland telecommunications firms have requested for a review of the New York Stock Exchange’s decision to remove their shares from the bourse.

    In a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange yesterday where they are also listed, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom said that written requests have been filed with NYSE. The three telecom giants said they also asked for trading suspensions to be maintained during the review.

    The review will be scheduled at least 25 days from when the request was filed, the statement added, with no assurance for success.

    Near the end of the Trump administration, the New York bourse had already once reversed a decision to delist the stocks, deemed by the U.S. to be linked to China’s military, only to ultimately comply following an alleged phone call from U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

    But now, the three telecom giants will seek to push for a second reversal under a Joe Biden administration. Biden recently nominated ex-Fed chair Janet Yellen as the new incoming Treasury secretary.

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  • Uncertified Android phones will lose support for an important app in March

    Uncertified Android phones will lose support for an important app in March

    The latter is making changes to its Messages app that will prevent some devices from receiving texts. One group of Android users that won’t be able to receive new texts will be those who own one of the latest Huawei models. Starting this coming March, Android phones considered to be “uncertified” will not be allowed to install and use the Messages app; this will affect millions.<

    Because of its placement on the U.S. Commerce Department's Entity List (due to its alleged ties to the Communist Chinese government), Huawei is not allowed to access its U.S. supply chain. That means that its phones cannot use Google software including the licensed version of Android. Because recent Huawei models like the P40 series and the Mate 40 series no longer feature security permissions from Google, the latter considers those Huawei models to be uncertified. Certified Android models are allowed to have Google's Android apps installed along with the Google Play Services ecosystem.

    Uncertified Android handsets are hard to find. But in the case of Huawei, the manufacturer's newer models are impacted by the firm's placement on the Entity List. If you install the latest listing of Google Messages from the Play Store (which is version 7.2, by the way) on an uncertified device, a message will appear that reads, "On March 31, Messages will stop working on uncertified devices, including this one." The warning is intended to prevent Huawei owners from sideloading Google Play Services onto their device which could allow them to install Google Messages on it despite any ban. The Messages app is not preinstalled on most Android phones and must be downloaded from the Play Store.

    Google might have decided to make this change because of the end-to-end encryption that has recently been added to the Messages app. Android phones without certification, including newer Huawei devices that have Play Services sideloaded, have not been able to have their security vetted. Thus, users who think that messages they are sending to friends, family members, co-workers and others using an "uncertified" device are protected by encryption, could actually be disseminating secrets that strangers are viewing.

    While there has been some hope that the punishments received by Huawei might be reversed under the Biden administration, so far there has been no word from the new president about his intentions vis-a-vis Huawei.

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  • Leading taxi firm posts first ever annual loss

    Leading taxi firm posts first ever annual loss

    Vinasun, Vietnam’s second-largest taxi firm, reported its first-ever accumulated loss of VND211 billion ($9.15 million) last year.

    The figure far exceeded the firm’s earlier loss forecast for 2020 at VND115 billion. Vinasun leaders have blamed the loss on the long-lasting impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The company has already laid off over 1,300 employees and taken other earlier measures to reduce operating costs.

    Vietnam’s second-largest taxi firm after the Mai Linh Group, Vinasun reported that its revenues plunged 49 percent year-on-year to VND1 trillion last year.

    The company leadership had said at an annual general meeting in June that 2020 was the most challenging year for the company since its establishment.

    The company shut down most of its operations in April last year when the country began a social distancing campaign to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

    As of December 31, it had total assets of over VND2.05 trillion.

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  • How to Choose a Holiday Camp

    How to Choose a Holiday Camp

    When schools are on a break, holiday camps offer the perfect opportunity for kids to gain independence, try new things, make friends, build confidence and, most of all, have fun while learning. But with many different camps on offer, how do you know which one will be the best fit for your child?

    Is your child ready for camp?

    Many camps accept children from age 3 up to 14, but for younger children their level of independence can be key in deciding if they’re ready for camp. 

    What should you look for in a camp?

    Good camps offer a balance of enrichment, games, and recreational activities with regular breaks for snacks and meals. They should employ experienced teachers, offer transportation options, and cater for different dietary requirements (eg vegetarian, halal). 

    What type of camp will your child enjoy most?

    Kids should see holiday camps as a benefit, not a chore, so see if you can find a camp that will cater for their special interests, such as Space or Harry Potter. Some companies also offer themed camps for e.g. Chinese New Year and Halloween.


    How much do camps cost?

    Prices for camps range from 80 SGD to 126 SGD  per day. Check whether camps include snacks and meals in their prices.

    Should you force your child to join a camp?

    Kids are often uncertain about new experiences but after one or two days at camp this anxiety normally disappears, and children are too busy having fun to worry about anything else.


    How do camps deal with misbehaving children?

    Established camps should have guidelines for acceptable conduct. Experienced teachers should be able to minimize any disruptive behaviour and allow one-on-one discussions to help children understand the impacts of their actions.

    How do I prepare my child for camp?

    Talking to them in advance about what the camp will entail – interesting topics, games, recreational activities, making new friends – can help settle pre-camp nerves. On a practical note, most camps will expect children to bring a bag packed with a reusable water bottle.