Tag Archives: aapl

Facebook Messenger Becoming A Swiss Knife That Could Poke Apple

Facebook ( FB ) is in position to make its widely popular Messenger platform an all-in-one tool that could include a partnership or a battle with Apple ( AAPL ) and its Apple Pay system. An investigation by The Information found software codes inside Facebook Messenger that could enable the messaging service to handle in-store purchases, among other features. Messenger currently allows people to send cash between users. But data from Apple iOS code examined by The Information suggest Facebook could provide users the ability to pay for goods in person. Facebook has gradually increased the features in Messenger, such as live video calling or the ability to request a ride from Uber. During Facebook’s quarterly earnings conference call in January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said newer services would include the ability to book airline tickets, as well as new payment features. But rather than proving its own payment service, Zuckerberg suggested a partnership. “We don’t view ourselves as a payments business, that’s not the type of company that we are,” Zuckerberg said on the call. “We’ll partner with everyone who does payment. We look at the stuff that Apple is doing with Apple Pay for example as a really neat innovation in the space that takes a lot of friction out of transactions as well.” He noted that small tests began about one year ago with some e-commerce services, so that people who bought goods could follow up with customer service or purchase more goods. “We started off pretty slowly, but that’s going to be some of the basis for how we look to make Messenger a business going forward,” Zuckerberg said. “And we’re happy with the initial results.” Facebook Messenger As Payments Vehicle Unclear By entering the mobile payments fray, Facebook could either partner or compete with Apple, Android Pay by Alphabet ( GOOGL ) and other services. “There is clearly the potential for Messenger to be used as a payment mechanism,” wrote Richard Windsor, an analyst at Edison Investment Research, in a research note. “This is all well and good, but the real secret to payments is not the app but the back-end and fulfillment, and how this will work is unclear.” Facebook rivals in Asia, such as WeChat from Tencent Holdings ( TCEHY ) and Alipay from Alibaba ( BABA ), already provide the ability to pay for goods through the app platform. “Although this is virgin territory for Facebook, its Asian rivals have been on this path for quite some time,” Windsor wrote. He said Facebook will face some challenging obstacles in expanding its Messenger features to new areas, but said it’s on the right track. “We see Facebook expanding into media consumption, shopping, gaming and search which will give it over 80% coverage of the Digital Life pie and market leadership,” Windsor wrote. “However, it is one thing to cover the pie and quite another to monetize it. Assuming that Facebook gets it right, it is on the way to create a thriving ecosystem that according to Edison estimates could allow it to double its revenues over the next five years or so.” Facebook stock was up 2%, near 116, in afternoon trading in the stock market today . Facebook is trading comfortably above its 50-day moving average as it works on a new base with a 117.69 buy point.

Twitter Adds New Technology To Bring Images To Visually Impaired

Twitter ( TWTR ) said people using Apple ‘s ( AAPL ) iOS or  Alphabet ‘s ( GOOGL ) Google Android can now add descriptions to images in tweets, a benefit to the visually impaired. The update allowing descriptions — also known as alternative text — empowers “ everyone to ensure content shared on Twitter is accessible to the widest possible audience,” said Twitter engineer Todd Kloots in a blog post Tuesday. . “Photos have been at the center of some of the biggest moments on Twitter,” said Kloots. “ As a core part of the Twitter experience, it’s important that images shared on our platform are accessible to everyone, including those who are visually impaired.” People can use the feature  via the “compose image descriptions” option in the Twitter app’s accessibility setting. When an image is added to a tweet, the user can tap the “add description” button and insert a description of up to 420 characters to the image. Visually impaired people will have access to the description by using assistive technology, such as screen readers and braille displays, Twitter said. Smartphones have other accessibility features, including VoiceOver, the iPhone’s built-in gesture-based app that reads text on a touchscreen aloud, and Google Android’s TalkBack, through which visually impaired users can access anything on their phones. Voice Activation Usage Still Low Voice-activated services, including Apple’s Siri, Amazon.com ‘s ( AMZN ) Alexa, Alphabet’s Google Now, Microsoft ‘s ( MSFT ) Cortana and others, can assist all consumers, including the visually disabled, as people increasingly rely on mobile phones for shopping, communicating and information. But surveys have found those voice-activated services aren’t getting much use. Just 13% of U.S. mobile phone owners use a voice-controlled personal assistant on their device each day, according to a survey last June from 451 Research. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires websites and mobile applications to be accessible. Google announced its Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities last year with a $20 million grant for technology innovators in the nonprofit community who work on technology to make people with disabilities more independent. In addition to Twitter and Microsoft, Adobe Systems ( ADBE ), Dropbox, LinkedIn ( LNKD ), Yahoo ( YHOO ), Facebook ( FB ), Intuit ( INTU ) and others have jointly asked universities  to train computer students in accessibility software design and are requiring new hires to demonstrate some familiarity with it, according to the Mercury News. Besides facing competition from rivals such as Facebook, Twitter is struggling to expand its user base as its user growth has slowed. Twitter has launched programs to reel in “logged out” users who visit Twitter’s site but don’t have accounts of their own, making them less coveted by advertisers. Twitter stock was up 2% in afternoon trading in the stock market today , near 16. Image provided by Shutterstock .

T-Mobile Ramps Data-Only Plans, Apple Adds Verizon Wi-Fi Calls

T-Mobile US ( TMUS ) is expected to announce data-only wireless plans soon, targeting consumers adept at using Internet calling apps or making free calls over Wi-Fi networks. The “Uncarrier”-branded wireless firm’s plans will include unlimited text messaging but no voice service, according to reports. T-Mobile’s data-only plans will range from two gigabytes of data at $20 monthly up to 22 GB at $95 a month, said TmoNews . T-Mobile’s move comes shortly after Apple ( AAPL ) provided improved support for Wi-Fi calling in its iOS 9.3 software update. Apple initially supported Wi-Fi calling when it rolled out the iPhone 6 in September 2014. T-Mobile was first to support Apple’s free Wi-Fi calling, followed by Sprint ( S ) and then AT&T ( T ) in 2015. Verizon Communications ( VZ ) says that it will offer the iPhone’s Wi-Fi calling feature to its subscribers following the iOS 9.3 software update. Apple released its new iOS 9.3 operating system in tandem with the new iPhone SE , announced March 21. Wireless firms have upgraded their 4G wireless networks to voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology. VoLTE sends voice calls over 4G networks as data. VoLTE is similar to, but technically not the same as, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services that have been offered via fixed-line broadband and Wi-Fi networks. Microsoft ’s ( MSFT ) Skype is the biggest VoIP calling service. AT&T and Verizon are still working on making their VoLTE systems interoperable so that their customers can make and receive calls to both networks, analysts say. VoLTE-based calling apps from Facebook ( FB ), Alphabet ’s ( GOOGL ) Google and other Internet firms have been anticipated, but technical issues remain, analysts say. Wireless firms have already lost significant revenue to free texting apps such as Facebook’s WhatsApp.