Google Invests $450 Million In ADT, Forms Nest Partnership

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Google Invests $450 Million In ADT, Forms Nest Partnership

Google has announced it is investing $450 million in security company ADT, in a multi-year partnership that will give Google a 6.6% stake.

The deal is a win for both companies. Google benefits from ADT’s security expertise, not to mention its 20,000 professionals, who will soon be selling and installing Nest devices and services. ADT, on the other hand, benefits from Google’s AI-driven smart home developments.

“Over time, Nest’s devices, powered by Google’s machine learning capabilities will enhance ADT’s security monitoring and become the cornerstone of ADT’s smart home offering,” writes Rishi Chandra, Vice President and GM, Nest. “The goal is to give customers fewer false alarms, more ways to receive alarm events, and better detection of potential incidents inside and around the home. It will also provide people with more helpful notifications that make everyday life more convenient, like package detection. ADT customers will also have access to Nest Aware, a service that keeps people informed about important events at home, including intelligent alerts and event history recording for up to 30 days.”

Google has repeatedly been in the news lately, with its recent Fitbit deal under intense scrutiny in the US and the EU. Regulators are concerned with how Google will use the data it acquires from the wearables maker. It’s possible this scrutiny was a motivating factor in Google investing in ADT, rather than attempting to buy it or a competing firm outright. Whatever the motivation, it’s evident Google has high hopes for what the partnership will bring.

“Together, we aim to create the next generation of the helpful home—based on new security solutions that will better protect and connect people to their homes and families,” writes Chandra.

Google Invests $450 Million In ADT, Forms Nest Partnership
Matt Milano

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DOJ Reviewing Intuit’s Credit Karma Deal

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DOJ Reviewing Intuit’s Credit Karma Deal

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing Intuit’s recent attempt to acquire Credit Karma over anticompetitive concerns.

Intuit moved to purchase Credit Karma for roughly $7 billion in cash and stocks. While the deal appears to join two complimentary services on the surface, almost immediately it came under scrutiny over concerns Intuit was merely trying to eliminate a competitor. While Credit Karma is primarily known for helping individuals monitor and improve their credit score, it had launched a free tax preparation service in 2017.

ProPublica is reporting the concerns were valid enough to warrant the DOJ’s attention. In particular, Credit Karma’s innovative approach to tax preparation threatened to upend the whole market. In a company memo ProPublica obtained that outlined Intuit’s legal strategy, it appears the government is looking at “the influence that Intuit’s purchase of Credit Karma will have on consumer tax preparation platforms and [the] software market.”

Once Credit Karma and Intuit respond to the government’s request for information, the DOJ will decide what to do. While it’s too early to tell which way the DOJ will rule, given the government’s renewed interest in anticompetitive behavior in the tech industry, Intuit’s deal may face significant hurdles.

DOJ Reviewing Intuit’s Credit Karma Deal
Matt Milano

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PPC Conversion Tracking 101: Setting Up Tracking

Conversion tracking is key

But Emmilly, I’m not in Analytics. Why should I care about conversion tracking?

Fair question, but let me tell you why conversions are important to everyone.

• Clients: An accurate depiction of paid media campaigns as it relates to the website and business goals, in addition to an increased understanding of the user journey.

…

The post PPC Conversion Tracking 101: Setting Up Tracking appeared first on Seer Interactive.

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Use Paid Media to Build Funnels Now for Long Term Success

People are increasingly sensitive to how they are spending their time and money

According to Qualtrics, 33% of people say that not taking advantage of the crisis to maximize profits makes them trust brands more. Both AdWeek and Edelman report that consumers want companies to provide solutions, not just sell things.…

The post Use Paid Media to Build Funnels Now for Long Term Success appeared first on Seer Interactive.

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Verizon the First US Wireless Company to Offer International 5G

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Verizon the First US Wireless Company to Offer International 5G

Verizon has become the first US wireless carrier to strike an international 5G roaming deal.

All three US carriers are racing to deploy 5G networks, and are eager to tout their milestones and advantages. T-Mobile has the widest 5G coverage, while Verizon’s 5G network has the fastest speeds. Verizon can now add another feather to its cap, being the first US wireless company to offer 5G international roaming—albeit in a single country.

The company has inked a deal to offer 5G roaming service in South Korea. Verizon conducted tests using a dual frequency device that can access the company’s mmWave service in the US and Korea’s 3.5 GHz mid-band spectrum when roaming. Speeds in Korea averaged 252 Mbps down and 119 Mbps up. Despite the rather humble beginnings, Verizon promises more countries will soon be included in its international roaming agreements.

“We are in the early phases of global roaming partnerships with other countries and will continue to look for strategic partnerships with international providers who, like Verizon, are leading the 5G evolution. This roaming service with South Korea will serve as a model as we engage with 5G providers in other countries to provide our customers who travel globally with more options,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer.

Verizon the First US Wireless Company to Offer International 5G
Matt Milano

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Are XR Sports The Future?

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Are XR Sports The Future?

The pandemic has shown us the business opportunities for new and emerging technologies, and even technologies typically thought of as gaming tech can have legitimate business uses and opportunities. Virtual and augmented reality technologies have given people the ability to travel, learn, and do business in a unique way throughout the pandemic, and now these technologies are converging in a new way to form extended reality, or XR technology.

Extended reality is a way to describe the mixed reality platforms that are gaining popularity. These platforms can be used for work, travel, and exercise. For work, Frame allows users to host meetings in a virtual space with as many as 20 participants for a more realistic-feeling meeting experience. Oculus Quest allows users to travel virtually, visiting such landmarks as Chernobyl, Machu Picchu, Antarctica, and even ancient cities as they once were. 

When it comes to sports, extended reality is generating even more realistic experiences for users. This is important especially now during the pandemic when people are stuck at home and unable to play their typical competitive sports. The WHO has urged people to get physical activity on a daily basis, which seems to grow more difficult as the pandemic wears on.

Extended reality sports include things like mountain climbing, golf, tennis, and more. To make the play seem more realistic, real sporting equipment is used and is outfitted with sensors that allow the player to experience the game as it is intended to be experienced.

This technology is presenting brand new business opportunities, as well. The popularity of such gaming platforms is growing, and by 2023 the market for extended reality is expected to reach $18 billion.

Increasingly Americans are being forced to take part in activities at home, but even before the pandemic they were choosing to spend more time at home than previous generations. This has booted demand for XR sports, as it gives people an opportunity to take part in communal physical activities from the safety of their own homes.

This technology uses motion tracking, artificial intelligence, and biomechanical modeling to achieve realistic gameplay. Sensors on sporting equipment coupled with sensors watching or on the user track movements to simulate their part in the gameplay. Machine learning adapts to a player to present more realistic competition.

The possibilities for this technology are endless. In the real world, gaming centers are starting to pop up using this technology. Golf simulators and tennis simulators are some of the most popular and prevalent, and eventually there will be several different kinds of virtual sports offerings. 

Players will be able to enter a socially distanced pod and play a realistic version of their favorite competitive sport using real sports equipment. Competition happens virtually online and leaderboards keep track of who is performing the best and where they are located.

Gameplay is realistic as is the feel of competition, something that is currently missing in many  home-based virtual reality games. As this technology progresses, the possibilities are endless. Learn more about the future of XR sports from the infographic below.

Are XR Sports The Future?
Brian Wallace

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T-Mobile and Sprint Officially Unified Under T-Mobile Brand

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T-Mobile and Sprint Officially Unified Under T-Mobile Brand

Four months after completing a merger years in the making, T-Mobile has officially shut down the Sprint brand.

T-Mobile and Sprint pursued a merger for several years before finally coming to an agreement and receiving FCC and DOJ approval. Despite federal backing, a coalition of states filed a lawsuit to block the merger. After a judge ruled in T-Mobile’s favor, the merger moved forward with T-Mobile quickly integrating Sprint’s spectrum into its own network.

Now the company has officially retired the Sprint brand, unifying the two under the T-Mobile brand.

”Our team has been working night and day to combine our storefronts – and this is SO much more than just rebranding thousands of Sprint locations with a fresh coat of magenta paint,” writes CEO Mike Sievert. “This is about giving customers even MORE access to our expanded retail footprint, (one of the largest in the United States) and making it even easier and more convenient for them to safely drop in, chat with a Mobile Expert, make upgrades, get the latest deals, and reap the benefits from all that new T-Mobile has to offer! It was no small feat and is a testament to incredible teamwork all around the country. Today truly marks the beginning of a new era for T-Mobile, and for our customers.”

Sievert also took the opportunity to tout the company’s 5G plans, especially in comparison to the competition.

”It all starts with our people and of course our integration work – with major milestones like this one marking our way – and then it really comes to life with our 5G network that will surpass anything that anyone (yes, including Verizon) will deliver to the market for years! (Spoiler alert: we have another important network milestone coming up really soon… because Neville and his team are truly firing on all cylinders to bring 5G to even more people in more places, so stay tuned!). Trust me, we are going to bring new and better connectivity options to everything from major metros and urban cities to small towns and rural America!”

It remains to be seen what the network milestone is that Sievert is referring to. Given the amount of spectrum T-Mobile acquired with the merger, it’s a safe bet it’s probably something big.

T-Mobile and Sprint Officially Unified Under T-Mobile Brand
Matt Milano

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