Baidu has agreed to pay JOYY US$3.6 billion for its video-based entertainment live streaming business YY Live in China, which includes YY mobile app, YY.com website and PC YY. The transaction is expected to be […]
Category: Social computing
Instagram gets reels and shop tabs
Instagram has got two new tabs — a Reels tab fors discovering short and fun videos, and a Shop tab to provide easy acess to brands and products. Reels was first announced in August when […]
Zendesk adds WhatsApp capabilities
Zendesk has established a strategic partnership that lets companies engage with customers, share information and respond to questions across WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram. According to Zendesk and ESG research, companies with the best customer experiences […]
WhatsApp message: Gone in 7 days
WhatsApp messages just keep growing and growing, taking up tons of space on users’ smartphones. Deleting messages can be troublesome and time-consuming. A newly-announced feature lets users choose if they want their messages to disappear […]
Scienjoy applies 5G technologies to live streaming
Scienjoy is leveraging 5G technologies to create a fully immersive user experience and drive the development of entertainment that combines online, offline, and virtual reality. The China live streaming platform is pioneering the application of […]
Mute WhatsApp notifications forever
If you’ve been inundated with WhatsApp notifications, the messaging platform has just introduced a magic word — “Always”. Instead of the previous maximum muting duration of one year, you can now mute chats forever. You […]
Nearly half of consumers to use more online services post-pandemic
If online service usage was not already the norm before COVID-19 struck, it will certainly be post-pandemic as nearly half of respondents (45 percent) to a ForgeRock survey plan to consumer more online services post-pandemic.
Oracle and Walmart acquire combined 20% stake in TikTok Global
ByteDance has received a reprieve from the US ban on TikTok following the creation of TikTok Global, in which Oracle and Walmart will have a 20 percent stake.
Oracle to take a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global
In a double announcement, Oracle has become TikTok’s secure cloud technology provider and taken a 12.5 percent stake in TikTok Global.
No more TikTok and WeChat downloads in the US from September 20
The US government is tightening the noose around TikTok and WeChat. From September 20, both China-originated apps will no longer be downloadable from App Store and Play Store in the States.
Google Drive trash to automatically delete after 30 days
This has been a long time coming. From October 13, trash items in Google Drive will be automatically deleted after 30 days.
Tencent makes Singapore its Asia hub
Tencent is opening an office in Singapore that will serve as its Asia hub.The WeChat owner has offices in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, highlighting the importance of the region to the company.
ByteDance picks Oracle for TikTok
Move aside, Microsoft and Walmart. It seems that ByteDance has decided to partner with Oracle to solve its TikTok challenge in the US.
Facebook Messenger limits forwarding
Facebook is limiting forwarding on Messenger in a bid to stop the spread of viral misinformation.
Advantage China: TikTok sale hits roadblock
China has just thrown a spanner into the TikTok sale of its US operation. By announcing an additional 23 new categories to its regulations on technology export, the China government has gained an advantage in the deal.
TikTok interests Walmart
First, it was Microsoft. Now, Walmart has decided to join the Redmond-based software company is buying TikTok.
Facebook enables paid online events for small businesses
Source: Facebook
With physical events still not possible due to social distancing in many parts of the world, Facebook is giving individuals and small businesses a lifeline by enabling them to create paid online events on the social media platform.
Go live from Messenger Rooms
Facebook Live has emerged as a top platform for live broadcasting for organisations during this trying period. Messenger Rooms was introduced in April to meet the increasing videoconferencing needs. Now, Facebook has announced a way to get the best of both platforms — users can broadcast live to Facebook using Messenger Rooms.
AWS unveils Amazon IVS
Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced Amazon Interactive Video Service (Amazon IVS), a fully managed service that lets customers set up live, interactive video streams for a web or mobile application in minutes.
Netflix to cancel inactive accounts
Netflix is doing what most, if not all, service providers, have not done — cancel subcriptions of inactive accounts. And these are paid accounts so doing so will result in revenue loss for the streaming service provider.
Facebook and Instagram offer Shops to businesses
Set up shop on Facebook and Instagram (Photo: Facebook)Having an online shop is so important today. With people huddled at home and movement limited, online shopping has spiked, leaving those without an online presence behind.
More room for Facebook Messenger Rooms
Messenger Rooms available on groups and eventsLess than a month after Messenger Rooms was rolled out, Facebook has given this videoconferencing feature more room to grow by availing it on events and groups.
Facebook zooms Rooms
Hold video calls for up to eight persons now — up to 50 in coming weeks, (Photo source: Facebook)
Can’t say this was unexpected. The demand is high and the need, urgent. In response, Facebook has launched Messenger Rooms, its videoconferencing service for the masses.
Google Ads: Identity please?
All advertisers on Google will have to show proof of identity and where they operate from as part of the search giant’s move towards greater transparency to users.
Facebook takes 10% stake in India telco Jio Platforms
Facebook is investing US$5.7 billion or a 9.99 percent stake in India’s Jio Platforms. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, Jio will use the new invesment to pursue new opportunities for businesses of all sizes, especially small merchants, micro-businesses and farmers, and create digital ecosystems that will empower, enrich and uplift the lives of all 1.3 billion Indians.
Zendesk launches Gather and Sunshine Conversations
Zendesk has launched Gather, which lets companies provide trusted and transparent support to customers through online community forums. They can engage with each other and company experts to offer guidance and insight beyond what a single customer support agent might be able to handle.
Huawei bucks the trend as global smartphone shipment shrinks in Q1
While its competitors struggled, Huawei strode ahead and emerged the winner in the worldwide smartphone market in Q1. Though it’s still behind market leader Samsung, the China-based smartphone giant narrowed the gap with an astounding 50 percent growth in the quarter, according to IDC.
Facebook plays matchmaker
Singapore has joined 18 other countries, including Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, that can access Facebook Dating, the social media platform’s dating feature.
Goodbye, Google Plus!
Google Plus aka Google+ will be no more — for consumers, at least. The search giant is shutting down its social media service after discovering security lapse that put the data of half a million users at risk.Facebook to give SEA startups a leg up
Social media giant Facebook is partnering with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore to give Southeast Asia startups a head start in developing data-driven technologies.
