The global ridesharing and taxi company, Uber, has rolled out a new VoIP calling feature as another method for drivers and riders to communicate with each other. Similar to other VoIP communication applications such as Skype, this feature will require an Internet connection instead of a mobile voice service in order to make calls. Riders and drivers on Uber can already communicate by using in-app chats, sending SMS or making voice calls over their mobile service provider’s network. Yet VoIP calling caught Uber’s attention when the company noticed that in some countries, particularly when traveling abroad, data calling is cheaper than calling over a mobile voice network. Besides this new feature assisting the company to expand their services on a global scale, this advancement will be of great assistance to drivers, as they will be able to stay within the Uber app while handling voice calls. Moreover, the…
InMobi, a tech company providing marketing solutions to enterprises, has announced the acquisition of the mobile data and advertising company, Pinsight Media. This all-stock deal between Pinsight Media’s previous owner Sprint and InMobi is part of a broader strategic partnership between the two companies, covering devices, data, media and marketing. “Sprint’s partnership with InMobi goes beyond this acquisition. We have been looking for a strategic partner that can deliver the latest digital marketing and mobile advertising technologies, besides having a deep appreciation of regulatory, privacy, and data concerns. This partnership provides Sprint with an innovative partner for driving our marketing success,” commented Rob Roy, the Chief Digital Officer at Sprint. Pinsight Media works with leading US telecoms service providers and advertisers to improve targeted advertising on mobile devices. InMobi will benefit from the deal by bringing the user behavior analysis and marketing strategy insights from Pinsight to the…
RingCentral, the California-based cloud communication and collaboration solution provider, has made a definitive agreement to acquire the cloud digital customer engagement platform, Dimelo. Dimelo is a single management interface enabling communications with customers through a variety of channels, including email, social networks, chat and mobile. This innovative platform is already in use by major companies across a number of industries, including Allianz, AXA, BNP Paribas, ENGIE, Orange and Telenor. “In today’s digital world, engaging with customers over digital channels is crucial to business success. With Dimelo, consumer-facing enterprises can transform how they engage with their customers. Simply put, Dimelo enables companies to vastly improve their customer interactions by delivering world-class integrated experiences across a multitude of digital channels. We’re excited to welcome the Dimelo team to RingCentral,” said the CEO of RingCentral, Vlad Shmunis. The addition of the Dimelo platform will expand the already considerable RingCentral solution…
Grand X, a subsidiary of the leading South Korean mobile operator Kakao, has unveiled the test version of their blockchain platform called Klaytn. At the moment, the testnet version of this service-centered blockchain platform has only been offered to 10 partners of Kakako, along with a publicly available whitepaper to outline the network potential and capabilities. If all goes well, the mainnet version of the network is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2019. According to the information in Klaytn’s whitepaper, this network focuses on a seamless user experience for all parties, including developers and end users. “The popularization of blockchain requires providing a practical blockchain service for mass adoption thereby validating the value and utility of blockchain technology. To achieve this, Ground X has designed Klaytn that can provide an easy and friendly environment for end users, service providers and developers all at…
EE is the first mobile operator to launch a 5G network trial site in the UK. The BT owned telco has based its testing predominantly using Huawei network equipment, coupled with the 3.4GHz spectrum it bought at the UK communications regulator (Ofcom) auction. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the behavior and performance of 5G technology in real-life settings outside of the testing lab. The initial trial is located in the Montgomery Square area of Canary Wharf, London, where more than 150,000 people pass through on a daily basis. It might seem strange that a practical trial has been started with no commercially available 5G devices, but the end goal is to evaluate the 5G spectrum and to test devices for performance, speed and coverage in areas with traditionally high 4G mobile network usage. “This live trial is a big step forward in making the benefits…
A leading global provider of telecommunications solutions and services, Tata Communications, has announced the acquisition of the Dutch IoT specialist and mobile network enabler, Teleena. This deal is a clear investment in technology and talent that are expected to contribute to Tata Communications’ growth in the IoT and mobility markets. “The growth rate in the global mobility and IoT market is phenomenal: by 2021, enterprises’ spending on mobility alone is set to surpass USD 1.7 trillion,” commented Anthony Bartolo, the Chief Product Officer at Tata Communications. “Our vision is to create an environment where anything can be ‘born connected’. Providing everyone and everything in the world with seamless connectivity globally will support businesses’ digital transformation. The combination of the Tata Communications MOVE™ platform and Teleena’s technology and talent will help us fulfill this vision, and accelerate our growth in the mobility and IoT market.” This agreement did not…
October 1st, 2018 will be remembered as the date when the first 5G broadband network went live, with the telecommunications giant Verizon launching its 5G network in parts of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento. The company confirmed that it will be expanding its coverage shortly, pending the installation of new standards-compliant equipment. “The world’s first commercial 5G service is here. We’ve formed incredible partnerships with many of the world’s leading technology companies, the international technical standards bodies, public officials, developers and our own customers to drive the 5G ecosystem forward, faster than most had predicted. And now, actual customers. It’s been an incredible journey…and we’re just at the starting line,” the president of Verizon Wireless, Ronan Dunne, expressed enthusiastically. The very first user on this network, a resident of Houston, Clayton Harris, became one of the early adopters by setting up a “5G Home” service, an ultra-fast…
The Lithuanian mobile operator BITĖ has launched a new Smart call management service oriented towards its business customers, delivering full PBX services to mobile users. While cloud-based PBX services are now generic, BITĖ’s Smart call management service has fulfilled their specific and innovative requirement that the solution must be delivered over the standard mobile voice network, and should not require data services or the use of an app on the mobile device. The result is a seamless, simple-to-use, fully featured and high availability business voice service, accessible from any mobile device and being operating system agnostic. The solution architecture enables instant deployment of phone system extensions without any action required by the end users (business employees), eliminating the time and effort required by the business IT department and BITĖ’s customer service to configure, manage and support the service. “Phone calls constitute an essential and integral component of all…
Vodafone New Zealand recently announced it will be the first telecommunications company to launch an Intelligent Digital Human in cooperation with a Kiwi company, FaceMe. While the identity of the Digital Human should be revealed within the next two months, it is already clear that the AI-based assistant will be of great benefit in improving the self-service experience for Vodafone’s customers, and allow staff to devote time working with more complex customer demands. “Great customer experience happens through meaningful conversations. FaceMe has evolved AI technology to create Intelligent Digital Humans that are human-like in their appearance and interaction. Thanks to machine learning, they are capable of continuously learning how to anticipate our customers’ needs and better serve them,” explained Vodafone’s director of Customer Operations, Helen van Orton. Orton emphasized that this initiative is not a replacement for front-line customer service, but will rather aid in maximizing staff…
The communication and technology giants AT&T, Samsung Electronics America (SEA) and Samsung Austin Semiconductor (SAS) have announced that they will join forces to create America’s first 5G Innovation Zone, focusing on the use of 5G in manufacturing. The Innovation Zone will be located in Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s 160-acre campus in Austin, Texas, one of the most advanced semiconductor facilities in the world. The goal behind this innovative project is to explore the futuristic idea of a Smart Factory, powered by 5G technology. “This is a first. We’ll be testing the real-world impact 5G will have on the manufacturing industry,” commented Mo Katibeh, the CEO at AT&T Business. “Ultimately, we plan to use what we learn from this 5G Innovation Zone to help create better technology experiences and improvements in Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s plant along with creating a future blueprint for people and businesses across all industries.” By…


