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Tag: asia

  • AirAsia Opens Jakarta-Phuket Route

    AirAsia Opens Jakarta-Phuket Route

    “Currently the traveling trend continues to increase especially in the youth market, hence demand to open unique routes is increasing as well,” said AirAsia Indonesia president director Dendy Kurniawan.

    Phuket is one of Thailand’s biggest islands in the southern side and boasts various destinations, such as Phi Phi Island, Big Buddha statue in Chalong and Phuket Old Town. The carrier is currently offering promotional fares from Rp 583,000 (US$40.35) one way that can be booked until May 26 for a travel period between July 2 and Oct. 25.

    Other direct flights served by AirAsia from Thailand to Indonesia are Jakarta-Bangkok, Medan-Bangkok and Denpasar-Bangkok.

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  • Fendi Open Flagship Store in Queensland

    Fendi Open Flagship Store in Queensland

    Italian fashion house Fendi unveiled its first flagship store in Queensland on Thursday, becoming the latest in a series of global luxury brands to set up shop in the Sunshine State.

    The store, located in Vicinity Centres’ QueensPlaza shopping center in Brisbane, features high-end details such as stone walls, marble inlay and gold accents throughout. It is the brand’s 7th location in Australia.

    Fendi is the latest international luxury brand to arrive at QueensPlaza in recent months, following the addition of Saint Laurent earlier this year and Dior at the end of 2018. The shopping center now offers 10 luxury brands, including Chanel, Zimmermann, Scanlan Theodore and Camilla, capping off a $36 million development by Vicinity.

    Earlier in the week, QueensPlaza also welcomed the new luxury dining venue Stanton Cafe and Bar. Seating 180 and offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant is an Instagram-worthy hot spot overlooking Queen Street Mall and with views of the CBD.

    Designed by award-winning interior designer Melissa Collison, the restaurant features an eclectic style with 1940s chandeliers, antique furniture, hand-woven Persian rugs, and bespoke wallpaper. Hatted head chef Daniel Jones and Dean Blanchard and their team oversee the menu.

    In addition to offering shoppers a place to relax, Stanton Cafe and Bar will also be hosting a range of masterclasses to educate and entertain, with topics ranging from champagne tasting to Napoli pizza making and barista classes.

    Customers can also download an app that they can use to place their food or coffee order before they arrive and pay for their order.

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  • Zara’s local profit after E-commerce Launch

    Zara’s local profit after E-commerce Launch

    Inditex Group’s Australian business, Group Zara Australia, posted a 35 percent increase in net profit for the year ending January 31, 2019, lifting the figure from $8.9 million to $12 million, according to documents lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.

    This came off the back of strong sales growth, with Zara’s full-year revenue in Australia grew 10.5 percent to $311.7 million, up from $282 million in the previous corresponding period.

    This is due in part to the launch of Zara’s local e-commerce site in Australia and New Zealand in 2018, which opened up a new sales channel for the business and gave more customers the ability to shop with the fashion brand.

    Zara’s parent company Inditex launched online stores in a further 106 markets in November last year, which led to a group-wide online sales increase of 27 percent to $5.19 billion (€3.2 billion) – contributing 12 percent of group net sales for the year.

    Zara had 21 stores in Australia on January 31, 2019, including 19 Zara and two Zara Home stores.

    In a statement about its full-year earnings, Inditex highlighted the growing risk fast fashion brands face of being perceived by stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers and society in general, as unsustainable.

    The retail giant noted that it was ranked as the ‘most sustainable company in the global retailing industry’ by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the third straight year based on the progress it has made in its environmental strategic plan and laid out various initiatives it is undertaking to lessen its impact on the planet.

    These include gaining greater control over the materials used in the creation of its products, reducing the amount of water used in its supply chain and using energy efficiently.

    Additionally, in September of last year, Inditex piloted an at-home pick-up service for recycled garments in China, an initiative that is already operating in Spain, though has yet to make it to Australian shores.

    Inditex is far from the only fashion retailer tackling the issue of sustainability. The Iconic recently launching Considered, an initiative that allows customers to more easily filter products based on their own personal values, such as sustainable materials, eco-production, fair production, animal-friendly, and community engagement.

    Swedish fashion retailer H&M has also committed to add more information to its website to allow customers to understand where its products come from – a move to create greater product transparency.

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  • Restaurant Brands International eyes massive China expansion

    Restaurant Brands International eyes massive China expansion

    Restaurant Brands International, parent of the Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen brands, is eyeing significant expansion in China despite current trade tensions.

    The firm is aiming to surpass 40,000 locations in the territory within 10 years, making the firm one of the world’s largest restaurant chains.

    “Our view is that we want to be there, and we will be there for the long term,” said company CEO Jose Cil. “It’s an amazing consumption market, growing tremendously.”

    The firm is making its intentions known in an atmosphere of a deteriorating trade relationship between China and the US. Before tensions heightened last week, China was already on track to experience its worst GDP growth in 29 years.

    Restaurant Brands is aiming to launch 1500 Tim Hortons locations within China within the next decade as the brand’s growth is slowing in its home Canadian market. There are currently just four Tim Hortons in the territory, compared to more than 1000 Burger King restaurants.

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  • J.P. Morgan Invests In Indian Fintech

    J.P. Morgan Invests In Indian Fintech

    J.P. Morgan has invested in a fintech player in the business payments based in India.  To help its clients experience clearer electronic invoice presentation and quicker reconciliation, the U.S. financial group invested an undisclosed sum in India-based Global PayEx, a player in the Electronics Invoice Presentment & Payment (EIPP) and business-to-business (B2B) payments space.

    «At J.P. Morgan, we continue to invest in innovation to help our clients optimize and simplify their payment operations,» said Sridhar Kanthadai, Head of Wholesale Payments for the Asia Pacific at J.P. Morgan in a media statement on Monday.

    The investment by J.P. Morgan extends the fintech’s footprint in the Far East, Middle East, Europe, and the United States, said Brij Sharma, CEO, Global PayEx. Its cloud-based platform – Freepay – facilitates the electronic sharing of invoices, handling of payments and comprehensive management of transaction information between B2B buyers and sellers.

    Operational for more than three years, Freepay improves working capital efficiency by digitizing all processes in the order-to-cash cycle such as invoicing, dynamic credit and trade terms support, credit/debit notes, instantly applicable cash discounts, full document support for payment decisions including ePoD, and analytics-driven dunning.

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  • UOB Outlines Growth Priorities

    UOB Outlines Growth Priorities

    Amid rising global trade tensions and concerns over a synchronized global slowdown, UOB wants to focus on three areas for growth. UOB wants to focus on regional connectivity, ecosystem partnerships, and strong balance sheet/quality earnings to harness growth, the bank said at its Corporate Day held in Singapore on Wednesday.

    In such an environment, it is even more important that we focus on the fundamentals and not lose sight of our main objectives, UOB’s chief executive Wee Ee Cheong underlined.

    In his keynote address, he added that with rising global trade tensions and concerns over a synchronized global slowdown, it was essential that the bank focused on its key priorities.

    At UOB, this rests on our consistent approach of putting our customers at the center, he said. The Corporate Day covered how UOB will continue to build on its regional operating model, to invest at scale in digital and new technology, to equip its people for the future and to drive productivity and performance.

    Currently, the bank has more than 40 percent of group operating profit derived outside of Singapore. Of this, close to 80 percent comes from operations in Southeast Asia and Greater China. «We expect these numbers to go up as we strengthen our regional connectivity, collaborate in win-win partnerships to tap intra-regional flows and the region’s rising affluence for growth,» Wee added.

    Southeast Asia has the third largest population globally, after China and India. The region also has a young population, with 384 million people below 35 years old.

    Given Southeast Asia’s prospects, the bank will continue to make significant investments in developing its digital capabilities to make banking simpler, smarter and safer across all its network. «Throughout the region, we have invested in an omnichannel approach: engaging our customers across a range of touchpoints that best suit them – offline or online, physical or digital or a combination. This is because we know that digital is not the only way that our customers want to be served,» Wee said.

    The impact of UOB’s omnichannel approach is enhanced by the ecosystems which the bank has forged with like-minded partners for the customer’s benefit.

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  • OCBC Eases Digital Onboarding With Instant Approvals

    OCBC Eases Digital Onboarding With Instant Approvals

    The bank’s consumer banking products can now be applied for, approved and used instantly. OCBC Bank is making getting a card or loan more accessible and convenient by enabling digital applications and instant approval and use of its key consumer banking products. The bank said that by leveraging national data repository MyInfo as well as its own real-time digital KYC and credit assessment systems, it can offer customers bank cards, OCBC ExtraCash personal loans, and OCBC EasiCredit lines instantly.

    This is a natural progression of our pursuit of the new digital – to provide instant, embedded and frictionless access to all our products and services for the convenience of customers, enabling them to start a banking relationship with us seamlessly and instantly, Dennis Tan, OCBC Bank’s Head of Consumer Financial Services Singapore, said in a statement.

    He added that the bank would extend instant approval to secured lending products such as home and car loans in the near future.

    This is the latest in a series of digital innovations OCBC Bank, Singapore’s longest-established bank, has rolled out to enable instant, hassle-free and secure access to its core products. According to the bank, OCBC 360 accounts have grown three-fold since digital applications and instant approvals were allowed for bank accounts in June 2018, with one in three OCBC 360 accounts now acquired digitally.

    I expect that one in every two OCBC Bank customers to be on-boarded digitally by 2020, Tan said.

    To apply for a banking product, one should select the «Use MyInfo» option, log in using SingPass and allow OCBC to retrieve personal details, such as proof of income and home address. There is no need to submit any additional documentation – the customer only needs to review the pre-filled fields of the application form and submit it for instant approval.

    According to the bank, its agents acquire the majority of their customers at public roadshows, so digitalizing card applications is crucial in alleviating customer pain points, which include the hassle of paper applications, waiting days for approval and receiving the physical card.

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  • Alibaba buys into furniture chain Macalline

    Alibaba buys into furniture chain Macalline

    Alibaba has invested US$640 million in Red Star Macalline Group, the largest furniture retail chain in China. Signalling a renewed interest in the home improvement business, Alibaba made the investment in the form of convertible bonds issued by Macalline’s controlling shareholder. The transaction will see Alibaba taking a 10 per cent shareholding of Macalline’s Shanghai listing if fully converted. Alibaba has also taken 3.7 per cent of Macalline’s Hong Kong-traded shares.

    The investment will see emerging cooperation in the furnishings business between the two parties, a move that follows several other plays into the lucrative sector by the e-commerce giant.

    Macalline currently has 364 stores in almost 200 cities.

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  • Huawei is now looking to capture the 5G chipset market

    Huawei is now looking to capture the 5G chipset market

    While Huawei and 70 of its affiliated companies now need U.S. government approval to buy parts from the U.S., the company doesn’t have to worry about accessing SoCs from San Diego based Qualcomm. That’s because Huawei designs its own chips for the firm’s high-end handsets. The next such chip, the Hi-Silicon Kirin 985, is due out in the second half of this year. The Kirin 985 is designed for Huawei’s 4G LTE phones. However, the chip can be outfitted with Huawei’s own Balong 5G modem; this will allow phones powered by the Kirin 985 to connect to mobile 5G sub 6GHz networks.

    The Kirin 985 chipset with the 5G Balong modem will first appear on the Huawei Mate 30 line due out in the fourth quarter of this year. The chip will be manufactured by TSMC using the 7nm+ mode, with trial production runs scheduled for this quarter. By the third quarter of this year, the Kirin 985 should be rolling off of TSMC’s assembly lines in volume.

    Following the release of the Kirin 985, Huawei is expected to introduce 5G SoCs that comes with an integrated 5G modem. These chips are expected to roll out sometime between late 2019 and early 2020. Early next year, Huawei is also planning on offering chips that will be used on smartphones supporting mmWave 5G connectivity. The latter uses very high-frequency radio signals in the 24GHz to the 90GHz range. While mmWave 5G speeds could be faster than those achieved over sub 6GHz airwaves, the wavelengths are shorter. As a result, it will take less time to build out a nationwide 5G network using sub 6GHz. This is why T-Mobile expects to be first in the states with a coast-to-coast 5G platform next year using sub 6GHz only.

    Huawei’s Hi-Silicon unit plans to compete with Qualcomm to become one of the top two suppliers of 5G SoCs to phone manufacturers. The report notes that MediaTek will have a 5G chipset for sub 6GHz smartphones before the end of this year. It also expects Apple to design a 5G SoC in time for the launch of the 2020 iPhone models.

    Huawei’s road map is not unique. Other global chip designers are said to be creating chipsets for mobile devices that can be produced with a 4G or 5G modem chip as the slow migration from 4G to 5G begins. These firms will start offering 5G SoCs with integrated 5G modem chips as well as chips supporting mmWave 5G next year.

    Interestingly, Huawei offered to sell Apple its Balong 5G modem chip last month. This came at a time when Apple was unsure about which company it would source the component from. Due to its legal battles with Qualcomm, Apple appeared committed to using 5G modem chips that were being developed by Intel. Still, there were questions about whether Intel could deliver them in time for a 2020 launch, which led Apple to talk with Samsung and MediaTek. Finally, the company reached a settlement with Qualcomm that included a multi-year supply deal for the chipmaker’s 5G smartphone modem.

    Huawei’s first 5G phone, barring any Galaxy Fold-like delays, will be the Mate X. This is a foldable phone that folds out instead of in like Samsung’s device does. The Mate X will use the same Kirin 980 SoC found on the current P30 line but will include a 5G Balong 5000 modem chip. The $2,600 device will probably not be seen in the U.S. since President Trump is expected to sign order soon that will ban Huawei products from entering the states.

  • Singapore’s First On-Demand Rental Marketplace ‘MyRent’ Launches

    Singapore’s First On-Demand Rental Marketplace ‘MyRent’ Launches

    MyRent, Singapore’s first peer-to-peer on-demand rental marketplace, has formally launched. MyRent allows Singaporeans to rent items including photography and sporting equipment to seasonal apparel and video games. For Singaporean consumers, you can now, for the first time, rent a Canon EOS 550D for as low as S$5 / day; a DJI Spark Drone for S$6 / day; a Nintendo Switch for S$8 / day and Ski Jackets for as low as $5 / day — these are just some of the current listings on MyRent. Meanwhile, Singaporeans can now avail of a safe rental platform and build up a community of sharing with the security of Lender Protection Guarantee.

    MyRent has been developed to address a shift in consumer behaviour, with an increasing number of people opting to rent items and engage in a sharing economy — rather than purchasing products for their own use. Since its soft launch in December 2018, MyRent now has more than 2,000 registered users in Singapore alone, with over 800 active listings.

    Ishwar Dhanuka, CEO and Co-founder of MyRent said: “The idea behind MyRent is to primarily allow users to own experiences instead of things. We want to decentralize ownership, and create a win-win for both listers and renters — where the former can earn money by renting what they own and rarely use, while the latter can rent a product without actually having to pay the full amount to use it. Simply put, why buy something when you can rent it?”

    According to a study jointly published by Google and Temasek, Singapore’s e-commerce market is valued at over US$1 billion. Of this, online shopping comprised 2.1 percent of all retail sales in 2015, but is projected to soar to US$5.4 billion by 2025. Meanwhile, peer-to-peer retail platforms have gained popularity in the industry, with platforms like MyRent shifting focus towards providing consumers with experience versus the traditional ownership of goods. With evolving consumer spending habits and increasing awareness of sustainability, Singaporeans are less likely to purchase seasonal one-off items for a quick getaway or a new hobby. MyRent has a good opportunity to capitalize on the Singapore market, with over 4 million people using e-commerce to purchase products.

    “Imagine being able to get the latest GoPro for all your vacations without being dragged down by huge upfront costs,” said Ishwar. “By purchasing an item, you’re essentially signing a long-term contract for using it. With short-term rentals, you get the flexibility of using the latest technologies and paying only per use!”

    “MyRent is currently the most affordable and efficient platform for me. Before I joined, customers would only come across my website by using search engines, so partnering with this rental platform has afforded me increased exposure,” said Maureen Knight, who rents out winter wear on MyRent.

    Sean Eng, a merchant who uses the rental platform, said: “Before our partnership with MyRent, customers had to pay a deposit to rent one of our GoPros for their holidays — which they were hesitant to do. With MyRent, we’ve now been able to get rid of the deposit requirement, so customers are happier and more than willing to rent with us via this platform.”

    “Tennis rackets usually retail for more than $200, so I worry about losing these items when I rent them out,” said Wayne Ko, who used to rent his items from a consumer marketplace. “I’m glad I switched to MyRent, because with their Lender Protection Guarantee, I know that I’m covered in case something happens to one of my rackets.”

    To be a mobile-first marketplace that gives both listers and renters convenience and on-the-go accessibility, MyRent is focused on being accessible everywhere — either via their web portal, or through a dedicated app that is available for both iOS and Android users. To further add to a seamless experience, MyRent is working on reducing the time it takes to list items on their platform, to less than a minute. It is the brainchild of three co-founders, each with their own experiences of growing and working in a variety of startups, including companies such as Funding Societies, and PropertyGuru.

    MyRent plans to make its peer-to-peer rental platform available in more markets, with a Malaysian release date slated for end-2019. It is also exploring merchant partnerships to help stores rent out unused inventory, and ecosystem partnerships (insurance, logistics sector), and is looking into the possibility of adding a delivery option in the future.

     

     

  • DJI Osmo Action Camera Captures Every Adventure in Stunning 4K Detail

    DJI Osmo Action Camera Captures Every Adventure in Stunning 4K Detail

    DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, building on its heritage of advanced image stabilization, takes a bold new direction with the Osmo Action camera. Utilizing DJI’s unparalleled experience with capturing smooth and stable videos in the most demanding environments, Osmo Action is as rugged as it is sophisticated, opening worlds of creative potential for professionals and adventure seekers alike.

    “DJI has always pushed the limits of technology, and the content creators who love our products made clear they wanted us to push the limits of their creative potential too. Osmo Action is our cutting-edge answer to what the creative community demands. Exceptional image quality and stabilization in a unique and durable new form factor, with dual color screens and seamless software integration. For all types of creators who push their gear to the limits, Osmo Action sets the new standard,” said Roger Luo, DJI President. “Whether you are capturing aerial content with Mavic 2, incredibly smooth content with Osmo Pocket, or heart-racing footage with Osmo Action, DJI offers a full suite of products for your creative needs.”

    Rugged construction and intuitive design

    A compact yet durable design makes Osmo Action the ideal camera for life’s adventures. Constructed to handle extreme conditions with ease, Osmo Action is dustproof, shockproof[1], waterproof[2] and has the ability to operate in sub-freezing temperatures[3]. Osmo Action utilizes color screens on both the front and back, a unique design feature that allows for more convenient scene composition while on the move. The 2.25-inch rear touchscreen employs a water and fingerprint repelling coating, and the 1.4-inch front screen makes vlogging and selfies easier than ever before. With a brightness of 750-nits, Osmo Action can be used in harsh lighting conditions including direct sunlight.

    Osmo Action’s interactive user interface, Action OS, combines a streamlined and functional physical design with flexible operation. Power on, initiate recording, and rotate through the video and photo capture modes in the blink of an eye with three dedicated buttons. Never miss a moment with the help of SnapShot, which allows Osmo Action to turn on and begin recording in under two seconds by pressing the shutter button once.

    Advanced technology with exceptional image quality

    A 1/2.3-inch sensor records 12-megapixel photos and 4K video up to 60fps at 100Mbps in stunning detail, assuring high-quality footage. A three-glass aspherical lens design records low-distortion content and aids in reducing warping effects for improved scenes. The lens cap is finished with two layers of anti-fingerprint coating to keep the shot clean during use, as well as an anti-reflective coating to reduce the unwanted effects of lens glare, giving users more flexibility to shoot in bright conditions.

    Incorporating over a decade of experience creating three-axis mechanical gimbals, Osmo Action is the first DJI handheld camera to include RockSteady, DJI’s Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) technology. High-performance stabilization algorithms work in conjunction with EIS to record every movement in smooth, stable, high-quality video, even when recording 4K/60fps. Additionally, Osmo Action is capable of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video in 4K/30fps, delivering an additional three stops of dynamic range to the scene, natural transitions between light and dark areas, and rich details that are often lost in complex lighting conditions. Osmo Action has a removable battery with a run time of 93 minutes recording at 4K/30fps with RockSteady enabled, and 135 minutes recording at 1080p/30fps without RockSteady. Dual microphones let users take advantage of Osmo Action’s Voice Control, and a speaker ensures outstanding playback quality.

    Creative, intelligent features

    A staple in DJI’s product lineup, Osmo Action offers a wide variety of highly creative features built into the camera which users can access with a few simple taps. While recording, choose between:

    • Slo-mo: 8x slow motion in 1080p 240fps or 4x slow motion in 1080p 120fps creates a visually appealing effect when documenting action-packed scenes.
    • Timelapse: If the user is looking to turn minutes into seconds, Timelapse is perfect for capturing unique content with the effect of the world moving faster.
    • Custom Exposure settings: Shoot for the stars with manual and semi-automatic settings that allow up to 120 seconds of exposure, perfect for capturing the night sky.

    Unlocking Osmo Action’s full potential[4]

    Using the recently released DJI Mimo app, connect Osmo Action to your mobile device with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for added functionality, including a live feed of the camera, multiple story templates, in-app quick editing, and more. An ecosystem of accessories helps unleash all the possibilities of Osmo Action including:

    • Camera Frame Kit: Included with Osmo Action, the Camera Frame Kit offers a universal mount for additional accessories and a window for the LED indicator to show camera status in real time while protecting the device.
    • Adhesive Mounts: Attach Osmo Action to flat or curved surfaces including skateboards, bikes, helmets, and more to capture fast-paced moments. Both the curved and flat adhesive mounts are included with Osmo Action.
    • Waterproof Case: The waterproof case protects the device at depths down to 60 meters while providing a clear image using high-strength glass.
    • 3.5mm Adapter: The 3.5mm adapter offers users the ability to connect an external mic for professional sound recording.
    • Extension Rod: Capture unique angles using the Extension Rod, which features a rotatable phone holder and a ¼-inch screw adapter.
    • Floating Handle: The Floating Handle offers a comfortable grip for Osmo Action and keeps it floating when shooting in water.
    • Filters: Osmo Action comes with Neutral Density (ND), Polarizer, and underwater filters. ND filters (ND4, ND8, ND16, and ND32) reduce light exposure in various environments, while Polarizer filters reduce reflections and increase color saturation for a more appealing image. Orange Seawater and Purple Freshwater filters restore the natural color of underwater scenes.
    • Charging Hub: Charge up to three batteries simultaneously in less than 130 minutes.

    Price and Availability

    Osmo Action retails for $2,999 HKD and will start shipping immediately after the announcement on May 16 at store.dji.com and from authorized dealers on May 22. For more information on all the new features and capabilities of Osmo Action, please visit https://www.dji.com/osmo-action.

    DJI Care Refresh

    DJI Care Refresh is now available for Osmo Action. For an additional $299 HKD, DJI Care Refresh offers comprehensive coverage as well as up to two replacement units within one year. Receive your replacement even sooner with DJI Care Refresh Express. DJI Care Refresh also includes VIP after-sales support and free two-way shipping. For a full list of details, please visit https://www.dji.com/service/djicare-refresh.

  • Ooredoo Myanmar signs 5G agreement with ZTE

    Ooredoo Myanmar signs 5G agreement with ZTE

    Ooredoo Myanmar has signed an agreement with ZTE to collaborate on 5G network deployment as part of the operator’s network modernization program.

    The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding that will cover Ooredoo Myanmar’s 5G evolution from trials through to commercial deployment.

    During the first stage of the partnership, Ooredoo Myanmar and ZTE will evaluate potential test environments for Ooredoo’s 5G network. The network tests will be used to evaluate the performance of the 5G network ahead of commercial deployments.

    “It is a great pleasure to announce our MOU with ZTE Corporation, one of the leaders in advanced telecommunications technology,” Ooredoo Myanmar acting CEO Alok Verma said.

    “Ooredoo is the first telecom operator in Myanmar to launch initiatives towards 5G development, recognizing the potential of 5G, which will unlock the next generation of wireless technology with high speeds, ultra-low latency and greater capacities, unleashing new possibilities in mobility, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation and several other industries.”

    Ooredoo Myanmar’s parent company Ooredoo launched what it claims as the first live 5G network in Qatar during May last year. The company plans to arrange more 5G trials and commercial launches across its operating companies around the world over the next few months.

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  • WBA identifies connected vehicle use cases

    WBA identifies connected vehicle use cases

    Connected vehicles are not just the technologies of the future – there are significant revenue generation opportunities available today, according to the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA).

    In a new whitepaper, the WBA identified a number of use cases for automobile manufacturers and service providers that are already being used to generate revenues.

    The use cases specifically take advantage of telematics services – which the majority of automobile makers already have built into new vehicles – combined with Wi-Fi connectivity.

    These use cases include applying predictive analytics to information already collected by telematics systems to preempt vehicle recalls, which is an issue that costs the vehicle industry more than $9 billion annually.

    Other examples include predictive maintenance through the use of diagnostic trouble codes uploaded over time, the ability to address software bugs and security vulnerabilities through over-the-air firmware upgrades, and applications including advanced driver assistance or public safety services.

    “The connected vehicle market will experience explosive growth over the next few years, and Wi-Fi plays a significant role in creating key monetization opportunities, while also enhancing and improving vehicle maintenance and driver safety for connected cars,” WBA GM Tiago Rodrigues said.

    “While much of the focus today is given to how 5G will impact connected cars, we want to reinforce the message that Wi-Fi is here now, and it is capable of supporting connected vehicle use cases today.”

    The whitepaper also explores the process of developing use cases for the connected cars of tomorrow combining both cellular and Wi-Fi for seamless connectivity.

    “We are eager to engage with others in the connected vehicle ecosystem to develop future opportunities for Wi-Fi and connected cars, particularly as we prepare for Wi-Fi 6 and the new opportunities it will support,” Rodrigues said.

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  • HGC expands collaboration with Salesforce, Enxoo

    HGC expands collaboration with Salesforce, Enxoo

    Hong Kong’s Hutchison Global Communications (HGC) has expanded its partnerships with customer relationship management company Salesforce and Salesforce platinum partner Enxoo to accelerate its digital transformation.

    HGC plans to use the collaboration to develop a streamlined customer journey across the sales cycle, product catalog, pricing tools, quotations and order management.

    The company will be able to take advantage of a set of open ad modular tools that will allow for greater flexibility when responding to customer needs.

    This includes the Salesforce Einstein AI platform, which HGC plans to use to make proactive decisions to serve customers better and maintain long-term customer loyalty.

    In addition, omnichannel tools will allow HGC to more quickly respond to requests for quotes for complex enterprise solutions, and to provide customers with self-service and procurement automation capabilities.

    HGC chief digital officer Jacqueline Teo added that the automated solutions will also support the creation of targeted marketing and engagement programs and to generate more meaningful insights about customers, which will eventually facilitate the expansion of HGC’s product and service portfolio.

    “We are passionate in delivering a new level of personalization, new ways of engagement for our customers, and in supporting our staff to embrace digitalization,” she said.

    “At every step of our digitalization journey, HGC will strive to optimize our services and solutions and to equip ourselves to meet dynamic market needs in the digital era. In future, we will continue to further expand our ecosystem for much better customer experience.”

  • Steam Link launches on iOS and Apple TV

    Steam Link launches on iOS and Apple TV

    Due to violating many of App Store’s guidelines, Valve’s Steam Link app was rejected by Apple last year, so Android users were the only ones to be able to bring desktop gaming to their smartphones and tablets.

    Well, it looks like Apple and Valve managed to address all the issues so that gamers could enjoy their library of games on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Steam Link for iOS is now available for download via App Store and enables Steam users to play their games on their mobile devices while connected to their computers.

    You just need to pair an MFI or Steam controller to your device, connect to a computer running Steam on the same local network, and you should be ready to play any game from your Steam library.

    Now, it’s worth mentioning that Steam Link requires an iPhone or iPad running iOS 10 or higher, a computer running Steam (Windows, Mac, or Linux). According to Valve, for best performance, you need to connect your computer using Ethernet to your 5GHz Wi-Fi router, then connect your iOS device to the same 5GHz band of your Wi-Fi network. Also, make sure that you’re not too far away from your router when playing games.