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Tag: Techcrunch

  • Spotify starts testing voice ads on Android and iOS devices

    Spotify starts testing voice ads on Android and iOS devices

    Spotify has decided to be more aggressive with its ads and announced over the weekend that it will launch voice-enabled advertisements. They are meant to encourage customers to use verbal commands to take action on the ad’s content available through Spotify.

    TechCrunch reports the audio ads will initially redirect listeners to a branded Spotify playlist or a podcast. These voice ads will only be available to a limited number of Spotify’s free mobile listeners on both Android and iOS platforms, but they required users to have voice controls enabled.

    The good news is Spotify users can opt out of voice ads in the Settings menu by turning off the Voice-Enabled Ads option. Moreover, the app will also allow users to completely disable microphone access via the mobile device’s Settings.

    The voice ads will enable Spotify users to check out the content advertised by saying “Play Now.” If the user doesn’t say the voice command within the required amount of time or says something else, the mic will be turned off and the ad break will continue.

    The voice ads test is live in the United States for free users of the Spotify app and uses the company’s built-in house technology. It doesn’t have a pricing model yet since it’s too early at this time.

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  • $100m deal for RedMart?

    $100m deal for RedMart?

    A $100 million investment aimed at funding pan-Asian expansion is on the cards for Singapore’s online grocer RedMart.

    Discussions involving the Series C investment are said to be at an advanced stage, reportsTechCrunch, citing two sources. While closure is expected in this first quarter, the grocery company has not issued any public comment on the development.

    Launched in late 2011 by Vikram Lupani, Rajesh Lingappa and Roger Egan, the venture introduced online and on-demand shopping in Singapore. So far, the company has raised $55.1 million from 19 investors. These include, according to Crunchbase, gaming company Garena, SoftBank Ventures Korea, Visionnaire Ventures and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

    In August, RedMart raised a $26.7 million bridging round from its investors.

    Potential targets for RedMart’s expansion include Hong Kong and Jakarta, reports DealStreetAsia. However, the firm wants to establish its market leadership in Singapore, where Egan estimates the grocery market to be worth $16 billion a year. The company’s strategy is to maintain its own logistics system and warehouses so as to have greater control of the customer service cycle and enable rapid expansion later into other verticals.

    RedMart’s Asian competitors, HonestBee and HappyFresh, have raised significant equity financing and have adopted a model relying on third-party logistics and delivery services while expanding across South-east Asia and establishing a presence in Hong Kong and Taiwan, says DealStreetAsia.

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