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Weekly Digest: iPhone, fb Messenger hit 1B, Twitter wins top live streaming deals, more
![Weekly Digest: iPhone, fb Messenger hit 1B, Twitter wins top live streaming deals, more](https://adigitalboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/iphone-billion-messenger-billion-konami-and-barcelona-pes-2017-linkedin.png)
Historical week for Apple and Facebook as both hit the 1B milestone for iPhone and Messenger – Twitter looks unstoppable when it comes to living streaming as the microblog signed a new deal to stream the English Premier League, Konami has signed a new deal with FC Barcelona for PES17, Cortana is now on Xbox, and a piece of good news for Instagrammers, a new feature to filter comments on its way, and finally, Linkedin buys pointdrive to boost social selling, let’s read in details:
1. Apple celebrates one billion iPhones:
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple has recently sold the billionth iPhone.
iPhone is not only the best-selling mobile phone ever but also the best-selling music player, best-selling camera, best-selling video screen, and the best-selling computer of all time. It is, quite simply, the best-selling product of all time.
photo credit: Apple
Cook said: “iPhone has become one of the most important, world-changing and successful products in history. It’s become more than a constant companion. iPhone is truly an essential part of our daily life and enables much of what we do throughout the day,” said Cook. “Last week, we passed another major milestone when we sold the billionth iPhone. We never set out to make the most, but we’ve always made the best products that make a difference. Thank you to everyone at Apple for helping change the world every day.”
The best-selling products in a range of categories are:
Car model: VW Beetle 21.5 million
Car brand: Toyota Corolla 43 million
Music Album: Thriller 70 million
Vehicle: Honda Super Cub 87 million
Book Title: Lord of the Rings 150 million
Toy: Rubik’s Cube 350 million
Game console: Playstation 382 million
Book series: Harry Potter Series 450 million
Mobile Phone: iPhone 1 billion
2. Messenger joins Facebook’s flagship +1B users apps:
Facebook Messenger now has more than 1 billion monthly users, which Facebook announced last Wednesday, which means that more than 60 percent of Facebook’s users communicate with the app.
infographic credit: Facebook
Also, Facebook counts more than 1.71 billion monthly active users.
3. Twitter wins ‘England Premier League’ live streaming content deal:
Twitter has signed a new deal with Sky Sports to show Premier League football videos this upcoming season. The new deal with Sky Sports will let Twitter stream Premier League highlights and goals.
4. Konami signs ‘PES’ partnership deal with FC Barcelona:
Konami has announced a three-year partnership with FC Barcelona.
PES 2017 president said: “By working closely with a team of Barcelona’s stature, we can introduce the PES series to a huge global fan base.”
FC Barcelona’s vice president of Marketing and Communications said: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Konami, who is now an official Premium Partner of the Club.”
5. Cortana arrives on Xbox One:
Microsoft announced the release of the Xbox Summer Update for the Xbox One. The new release brought Microsoft’s Cortana voice assistant to all Xbox One systems in the U.S. and the U.K.
Also, Xbox users will play music in the background while they’re playing a game.
6. Instagram, a new feature that will let you avoid all bad words or Harassment:
According to The Washington Post, Instagram will soon roll out a feature that lets all users filter put words or phrases they find offensive in comment streams. Users can also opt not to allow comments on posts at all.
BONUS: 10 Instagram Hacks That ACTUALLY Work!
7. LinkedIn acquired Pointdrive:
Credit: Linkedin newsroom
Linkedin announced in a press release the acquisition of PointDrive to drive social selling efforts forward.
PointDrive is a sales presentation tools provider.
The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed, but most of the PointDrive team will be joining LinkedIn’s engineering, product, and sales teams.
Pointdrive Founder & CEO said: Our vision of differentiated buyer engagement is a natural extension to LinkedIn’s Sales Solutions goal to connect the world’s buyers and sellers to build relationships. I couldn’t imagine a better partner to carry forward our concept to a global audience.
See you next Sunday.
News
Saudi Fintech Lendo Signs MOU with J.P. Morgan
![Saudi Startup Lendo Joins Forces with J.P. Morgan to Enhance SME Financing](https://adigitalboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Lendo-x-JP-Morgan-MOU.png)
Lendo, a Saudi Arabia-based Shariah-compliant crowdlending marketplace, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with J.P. Morgan to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
The MOU was signed during 24 Fintech, a premier fintech event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and investors in Riyadh.
J.P. Morgan and Lendo are working together on potential opportunities to support the SME sector in Saudi Arabia in growing and sustaining the remarkable demand in this market.
“This strategic collaboration with J.P. Morgan, a pioneer in the financial industry, marks a significant milestone for Lendo,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo. “By combining our strengths, we’ll deliver cutting-edge financial solutions to SMEs, supporting their growth and contributing directly to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
The SME financing landscape in MENA presents a substantial market opportunity as limited financial access continues to restrict the growth of the region’s businesses, with commercial banks hesitant to issue loans to SMEs at scale, resulting in a high percentage of declined financing requests annually.
The total SME financing gap in developing countries is estimated to be approximately $5.2 trillion, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Lendo’s debt crowdfunding platform aims to bridge the financing gap for SMEs, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to significantly expand SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.
According to the latest available report from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the total value of debt crowdfunding in Saudi Arabia surged from SAR 1.4 million in 2019 to SAR 771 million in 2022, marking a remarkable growth.
Lendo raised SAR 132 million ($35.2 million) in total funding from leading investors, including the most recent Series B led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly-owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Since its inception in December 2019, Saudi fintech Lendo has processed over 5,000 financing transactions on its platform, providing over SAR 2 billion ($600 million) in financing to SMEs and generating SAR 280 million ($74 million) in returns for investors.
News
TA Telecom Introduces AnteThink: A New AI Decision Support Tool
![**TA Telecom Introduces AnteThink: A New AI Decision Support Tool for Enhanced Decision-Making**](https://adigitalboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/antethink-ta-telecom.png)
TA Telecom, a prominent player in the Middle East’s tech sector, has unveiled AnteThink, an AI-driven tool designed to enhance decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.
With a history of influencing the tech landscape through various initiatives, including advanced mobile solutions, high-volume payment platforms, and ventures in e-commerce, fintech, and analytics, TA Telecom has carved a niche for itself. Serving a vast user base of 40 million and processing an impressive 15 billion transactions across its platforms, TA Telecom has cemented its position as a tech industry leader, with some of its ventures achieving the status of Y Combinator companies.
Established in 2000, TA Telecom has emerged as a prominent player in the technology sector. With over 40 million users and processing 15 billion transactions annually, TA Telecom has made a notable impact. Recognized for its contributions by the Financial Times and featured on Deloitte’s list of fastest-growing tech companies in EMEA, TA Telecom is known for its adaptability and forward-thinking approach in the ever-evolving global tech landscape.
Sameh Ibrahim, CEO of TA Telecom, highlights the potential of AnteThink: “AnteThink reflects our commitment to leverage technology for practical impact. It aims to provide clarity and confidence in decision-making, whether in the professional or personal sphere. AnteThink is a tool that can empower startup founders, executives, and individuals to make more informed choices, alleviating the stress and uncertainty often associated with critical decision-making.”
Mostafa Ashour, CEO of Y Combinator-backed startup NowPay, shared his perspective on AnteThink: “AnteThink transformed our strategic planning, allowing us to explore various scenarios and prepare for different outcomes. It has strengthened our decision-making process, helping us navigate the complexities of the business landscape.”
AnteThink embodies TA Telecom’s commitment to innovation, focusing on supporting the startup ecosystem. The tool is tailored to help leaders and executives navigate the complexities of business management and strategic development by providing a clear picture of potential outcomes.
Key Features of AnteThink include:
1. Second Order Mode: Offering a comprehensive analysis of broader impacts, fostering a strategic mindset for long-term success.
2. Optionality Mode: Enabling detailed evaluation and comparison of different choices to ensure decisions align with strategic objectives and values.
3. Inversion Mode: Focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks, thereby strengthening risk management strategies.
![TA Telecom Introduces AnteThink: A New AI Decision Support Tool for Enhanced Decision-Making](https://adigitalboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/antethink-screenshot-800x450.png)
Credit: Antethink
AnteThink’s advanced AI technology aims to assist decision-makers with insightful analytics, offering guidance through the decision-making process.
News
GoDaddy’s Global Markets VP Predicts Egypt’s E-commerce to Hit $9.88 Billion by 2028
![GoDaddy's Global Markets VP Predicts Egypt's E-commerce to Hit $9.88 Billion by 2028](https://adigitalboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Selina-Bieber-the-Senior-Director-of-Global-Markets-at-GoDaddy.webp)
Selina Bieber, the Senior Director of Global Markets at GoDaddy, has predicted a significant increase in Egypt’s e-commerce revenue. By 2028, it could reach $9.88 billion.
Godaddy is forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives to help local entrepreneurs. These efforts align with Egypt’s digital transformation goals and its Vision 2030.
In an interview with the Arabic financial news “Amwal Al Ghad,” Bieber spoke about GoDaddy’s plans and how they match Egypt’s 2023 strategy. She highlighted the company’s aim to provide effective, easy-to-use digital tools and services. By 2024, GoDaddy wants to serve more customers in Egypt by making its digital tools more widespread.
The company is working closely with the Egyptian government, especially the Ministry of Planning. They are offering training programs to improve the digital skills of startups and existing businesses. GoDaddy’s services in Egypt include domain registration, web hosting, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing tools.
Recent surveys support Bieber’s positive outlook for e-commerce in Egypt. They show a clear trend towards digital strategies among small businesses. Many are realizing the importance of having an online presence for their growth and success.
As GoDaddy continues its partnerships and supports government digital initiatives, its influence on Egypt’s digital landscape is growing. The company is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. It aims not just for business growth but also to contribute to a sustainable and thriving digital economy in Egypt.
The 2028 projection indicates a vast potential for e-commerce, with GoDaddy playing a key role in this digital evolution.
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