Microsoft has strengthened the 5G credentials of its Azure public cloud platform through the acquisition of Metaswitch Networks.
Metaswitch Networks is a specialist in virtualised network software and voice, data and communications services for operators. Its technology and expertise will be used to expand Microsoft Azure’s telecoms portfolio as demand for cloud-based 5G core services increases.
5G promises ultrafast speeds, enhanced capacity and ultra-low latency that will enable a whole host of new business, consumer and government applications. This is a significant opportunity for mobile operators to increase and diversify revenue streams.
However 5G requires operators to rearchitect networks away from centralised, legacy core infrastructure and towards the cloud. By virtualising network functions, operators can rollout new services more rapidly, dynamically allocate resources to where they are most needed, and bring processing capabilities closer to the point of collection.
The cloud also helps operators reduce their operating costs and lower capital expenditure. In addition to the potential new revenue streams on offer, 5G will also lower the cost-per-bit of transmission.
Microsoft says the acquisition of Metaswitch Networks, along with the earlier purchase of Affirmed Networks, will help it better serve operator customers and partner with telecoms equipment manufacturers.
“The convergence of cloud and communication networks presents a unique opportunity for Microsoft to serve operators globally via continued investment in Azure, adding additional depth to our hyperscale cloud infrastructure with the specialized software required to run virtualized communication functions, applications and networks,” explained Yoused Kahalidi, head of Azure Networking at Microsoft.
“As the industry moves to 5G, operators will have opportunities to advance the virtualization of their core networks and move forward on a path to an increasingly cloud-native future. Microsoft will continue to meet customers where they are, working together with the industry as operators and network equipment providers evolve their own operations.”
The adoption of fintech applications including digital wallets is booming in the Asia Pacific region, according to a new study by Rapyd, a global Fintech as a Service company.
The survey said digital wallets are particularly taking off for personal transactions, such as personal repayments from family or friends, rebates, and sale of personal goods or services.
Across the seven markets studied, India was found to the biggest adopter of digital wallet apps for both business-to-business (B2B) and P2P transactions, recording the highest usage rates.
Rapyd surveyed 3,500 online consumers in the Asia Pacific region (India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand) in March and April 2020, found that consumers across the region are rapidly embracing mobile fintech apps, with 77.6% of Indians, 77% of Malaysians, 70% of Indonesians, and 66% of Thai, having used a digital wallet app over the past month.
The survey respondents were identified as household decision-makers aged 18-64 across a full spectrum of income levels and asked questions around banking and payment preferences, behaviours, and concerns.
The survey, which contrasted attitudes between different countries, is a sign of where they are on their digital payments journeys. The report also found that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to global payouts. Every country is unique in its preferences and digital leaders must be prepared to localize their payout experiences to drive beneficiary loyalty and engagement.
The survey, however, threw up some interesting info about India: Indian users who are self-employed and work on a contract basis received payments more via wallets than cash or bank transfers. Around 33.5% of Indians chose this as their preferred option.
India is the only country that picked e-wallets as an option for transferring remittances. The possible reason is that the cost of remittances remain high in India.
Indians value data safety
Most interestingly, India cared more about keeping its data and private information safe than any other Southeast Asian country.
The survey said that 82% of Indians, 75% of Malaysians and Indonesians, and 68% of Singaporeans cited keeping personal information safe as the most important attribute of receiving payments.
The Reserve Bank of India, India's Central bank, would be happy to know of this as it has mandated a mechanism for all companies to store data in India, much to the chagrin of international tech giants and credit card networks.
Their insistence on safety and security reflects the mood of the Indians.
Overall, the study reflects remarkable buoyancy in the finance app industry which has seen staggering growth in global adoption, from 16% in 2015 to 64% in 2019.
In a bid to help small businesses stay afloat during this turbulent time, Facebook and Instagram have launched a handful of new features that allow users to promote and support their favorites.
A digital gift card feature allows businesses to promote their gift cards directly through their Facebook Pages and News Feeds, and on Instagram by adding a sticker to their Stories or a button to their profile page.
Users, meanwhile, will be able to search for gift cards issued by local businesses – including hairdressers, restaurants, bookshops, grocery stores and more – and make purchases directly through either platform.
The social media giants have doubled down on existing support extended to small businesses, such as the $ 100m Small Business Grants program, which will see Facebook provide cash support and ad credits to struggling firms.
Both platforms have now expanded their fundraising tools to allow businesses to create campaigns on Facebook to solicit donations from loyal customers and add a “Donate” button to Instagram Stories and profile pages.
Instagram has also rolled out a new “Support Small Business” sticker option, which lets users spotlight their most beloved businesses via their Stories. Mentioning a business directly using the sticker gives the user’s followers a preview of the account and highlights other firms the person has championed.
In an effort to make content published by small businesses more easily discoverable, Facebook has also launched a new feed called ‘Posts from Businesses Near You’ – a single destination from which users can browse the latest posts from local businesses.
“Running a company during Covid-19 is far from ‘business as usual’, and for smaller companies the impact of lockdown has hit hard,” said Steve Hatch, VP Northern Europe at Facebook.
“SMBs are the backbone of the economy, they sit at the heart of our communities and at Facebook they are part of our story as well, so we want to do all we can to support them at this challenging time,” he added.
Sure, Samsung Galaxy S20 deals are impressive, with 5G capabilities, top-notch screens and flagship cameras. But it won't come as a surprise to hear that Samsung flagship quality doesn't come cheap.
Luckily, now the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is rumoured to be just around the corner, we're starting to see the older Samsung Galaxy Note 10 shed its price, with Amazon slashing a large chunk off this week.
To be exact, Amazon is offering SIM-free Galaxy Note 10 deals at a discount of 32%, bringing the price down to just £587.79. That's a £281.21 saving from the device's RRP and the cheapest UK price for the Galaxy Note 10.
Realistically, that's the cheapest price you're going to get on this phone, beating out any Samsung Galaxy Note 10 deals. Simply invest in a cheap SIM only deal to finish off the package.
Want to see the competition? Check out our guide to the best iPhone deals
This SIM-free Samsung Galaxy Note 10 deal in full:
What's the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 like?
Under the hood of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, you will find 8GB RAM and a 3500mAh battery, making this a pretty powerful device. And the 'S' pen – a tool for productivity through your phone – is back, too and smarter than ever.
On the outside you'll notice a triple camera set-up. That gives you access to not just a wide-angle camera and optical zoom but also 4K video, optical image stabilisation and 'bokeh' video abilites.
UFC, or the Ultimate Fighting Championship in full, is the world's premier mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, with stars like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Holly Holm some of the biggest draws in all of sports. The often vicious and always unpredictable nature of MMA fights mean that title belts change hands regularly, usually at the promotion's monthly numbered PPV events, which resumed in May with UFC 249 and Justin Gaethje's stunning victory of Tony Ferguson.
Follow our guide and you'll see just how easy it is to find a reliable UFC live stream online and never miss a second of Octagon action ever again. Whether you're a dedicated UFC Fight Night fan or just tune in for the big cards, here's how to watch UFC events wherever you are.
The biggest UFC fights are reserved for its 'numbered' events. These take place once a month – so UFC 249 in May (delayed due to the coronavirus), UFC 250 in June and so on. They're typically available on a pay-per-view basis and held at big name venues in the US, though these are likely to be behind closed doors affairs for the time being.
On top of that, a second-tier of events exist called UFC Fight Nights. These are held on a weekly basis and occur all over the globe, usually featuring up-and-coming local fighters. They're still a darn big deal, though, being held at huge international venues with tickets changing hands for hundreds of dollars.
Both types of UFC events are shown exclusively on the ESPN+ streaming service in the US and almost always take place on Saturdays. There's also a third series of Octagon bashes called 'UFC on ESPN' – these occur intermittently and air on one of ESPN's TV channels in America. For the events that matter most, follow our guide and find out the best ways to watch a UFC live stream wherever you are.
Live stream UFC Fight Night and PPVs in the US exclusively with ESPN+
How to watch a UFC live stream in the UK
How to live stream UFC in Australia
Live stream UFC Fight Night and PPVs in Canada
UFC live stream in New Zealand: how to watch every event
We were impressed with the Ulefone Armor 7 rugged smartphone when we reviewed the device earlier this year. Now, Ulefone has released a new and cheaper iteration: the Ulefone Armor 7E.
The discount version of Ulefone’s flagship rugged smartphone is available for an attractive $ 229.99 (£188.60/AU$ 370.29) from online retailer Gearbest – that's more than $ 100 less than the original model.
The unit ships for free to the US, UK, Australia and dozens of other territories worldwide, but it's worth noting the price of the system could change in line with exchange rate fluctuations.
There are only two main differences between the Armor 7 and Armor 7E: the latter has half the memory and inferior camera sensors.
All other components found in the original are still present, including a Mediatek P90 CPU with 128GB storage, 6.3-inch FHD+ display, 48-megapixel rear Samsung camera, 16-megapixel front camera and 5500mAh battery.
Other features include 802.11ac Wi-FI, Bluetooth, dual nano SIM card with microSD slot, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, IP68, wireless charging, heart rate sensor and MIL-STD-810G certification.
Rivals such as the Oukitel WP6 and Doogee S68 Pro may have more memory or a larger battery, but the Armor 7E provides greater balance thanks to a superior processor and overall feature set.
Nearly 10 years ago, AMD attempted to break Intel's stranglehold on the server market with the Opteron 6272, a 16-core processor with 16 threads. Its price at launch was $ 523, but you can now get hold of one for £31.99 (around $ 40/AU$ 60) on eBay – and yes, you can fit up to four of them in a server or workstation.
The vendor is based in the UK, but will ship to many countries worldwide for an additional fee. Should remaining stocks run dry, there are still a fair few 6272s available from other sellers.
Based on the Bulldozer architecture, the Opteron 6272 was produced using a 32nm manufacturing process, has a TDP of 115W and 32MB cache with a base frequency of 2.1GHz.
Unsurprisingly, these parts have been pulled from a working environment. Opteron processors are server CPUs, used primarily in data centres that support service providers (i.e. web hosting , cloud storage and SaaS companies).
Fast forward to 2020 and AMD has its best chance in a decade to make a splash, with the new EPYC range that has up to 64 cores per CPU and is built using 7nm process.
Compared to its predecessor, AMD's new server processor enjoys a much higher IPC (instruction per clock), larger cache, multithreading and the ability to ramp up the core count with ease.
Motorola’s much-anticipated Razr foldable made its comeback to the market a few months ago and was launched in India. However, the phone never went on sale due to the nation-wide lockdown. After about two months of the launch, the Motorola Razr foldable phone is finally set to go on sale in India starting today.
Motorola Razr Price and offers
Priced at Rs 1,24,999, the Motorola Razr will go on sale in India via Flipkart. It is available in the noir black colour variant. Originally, the Razr was set to go on sale in India from April 2. But, Motorola had to postpone due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The sale was then pushed to April 15 and again to May 6. Due to the lockdown extension, the company once again postponed the sale, and finally, the phone is going on sale in India today. Deliveries are likely to be slow or delayed in most parts of the country.
As far as offers are concerned, there is Rs 10,000 cashback when you purchase the Motorola Razr using Citibank credit and debit cards.
Motorola Razr specs
The Motorola Razr comes with a clamshell design similar to the original Razr. It offers a 6.2-inch pOLED primary 21:9 display when unfolded. It has a 2,142 x 876 pixels resolution with a notch cutout on the top. When folded, the Razr offers a 2.7-inch OLED display on the front.
The second screen can be used to quickly glance through the notifications. It is also touch-enabled and allows you to see, respond, and move on. The handset lacks the 3.5mm headphone jack and therefore comes with Type-C Razr earbuds in the box.
Under the hood, it is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor and Adreno 616 GPU. It is packed with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. To power all the internals, it houses a 2510 mAh that supports 15W TurboPower via Type-C. The fingerprint scanner is present at the front of the device and can be used even when the phone is folded.
The Motorola Razr sports a 16MP rear with ToF 3D depth sensor, dual-LED flash, and gyroscope-based EIS. There is a 5MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture. The device is running on Android 9 Pie and is also splash-proof with water-resistant nanocoating.
Other features of the device include bottom-firing speaker, Dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi 2.4 + 5GHz, and A-GPS, LTEPP, SUPL, GLONASS, Galileo for navigation.
Dubai-based healthcare start-up Okadoc said that telemedicine is here to stay even after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It was gaining traction even before the pandemic but due to Covid-19, the adoption has accelerated for instant appointments as we are living in unprecedented times and there’s a greater sense of urgency for patients and doctors to be connected,” Fodhil Benturquia, Founder and CEO of Okadoc, told TechRadar Pro Middle East.
At a time where most providers are experiencing a tremendous shortfall in patients’ visits, he said that Okadoc utilises technology to connect patients with doctors quickly on a 24/7 basis, helping transform the existing healthcare model in the region by connecting patients, doctors and healthcare providers seamlessly, removing any barriers.
Moreover, he said that the platform has allowed providers to continue the spectrum of care and keep businesses running and reduce the waiting time.
With remote working and remote learning, he said that people have got used to video conferencing, so telemedicine will be there for immediate needs and rather than going to an emergency, the patient can now talk to a doctor instantly.
“When you are sick, driving can be a risk apart from the traffic and the hassle of finding parking and wasting time. When you are diabetic, you may need to visit a doctor once or twice every week and it is a burden.
“Due to Covid-19, most of the clinics and hospitals were not ready for a telemedicine service and was trying to use other video communications tools to solve the problem. In the future, I think that the government may ask every provider to have a telehealth service as a regulatory need and as a backup if another pandemic arises in the future,” he said.
Telemedicine is a complementary product and he said that about 80% of the consultation with the same doctor can be replaced by the app.
“…In the future, I think that the government may ask every provider to have a telehealth service as a regulatory need and as a backup if another pandemic arises in the future,” Fodhil Benturquia, Founder and CEO of Okadoc, said.
TRA approved apps
Okadoc is one of the telehealth providers and facilitators besides NextGen Healthcare, VSee, Doxy.me, GetBee and Mind Mina Telemedicine to be approved by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) for use in the UAE.
Claiming to be the largest telehealth provider in the UAE, Benturquia said that they have accelerated the launch of the virtual video meeting with the doctor due to the growing demand.
The start-up, which started as a doctor booking facility at Dubai Healthcare City, was supposed to launch the service in the third quarter of this year.
Benturquia said that they have 204 doctors in 43 specialties from 38 healthcare providers live and more than 200 doctors are expected to join soon. They have already done more than hundreds of consultations.
“Patients can book an appointment with their own doctor or a doctor of their choice within minutes. Users can have a video consultation and chat electronically, transfer and receive documents such as prescriptions or medical records and pay for their consultations based on their insurance coverage,” he said.
Humeira Badsha, a rheumatologist consultant at Dr. Humeira Badsha Medical Centre, said that it has been a stressful time for our patients, especially with chronic diseases, last month but Okadoc has stepped in quite fast to provide the platform.
“We wanted a platform that is encrypted to maintain the confidentiality of our patients. We have managed to see more than 50 patients on telehealth last month and really surprised to see how satisfied the patients are.
“I am seeing patients from their homes with their families and in different settings in a casual mode. Dubai is a medical tourism hub and we do see a lot of patients, who can’t get to see us now due to the lockdown, from Baku and the GCC region,” she said.
Big focus on security and privacy
Using end-to-end encryption with the cloud data hosted on Alibaba Cloud and Microsoft Azure in the UAE, Benturquia said that regarding scalability, encryption and security, the platform is compliant with the UAE and international regulations which mean that doctors working from home can have instant and safe access to the platform at a time where they are not able to be present in hospitals or clinics.
Okadoc is the only regional solution that is directly integrated into a provider’s hospital information system; he said and added that the platform is end-to-end encrypted.
Even if the data is hacked, he said that it cannot be decrypted and the audio and video is not recorded.
Benturquia said that they plan to add prescription reminders on the app for the patients and looking to launch a telemedicine app for the doctors this year.
Right now, the mobile app is only for patients and desktop websites for doctors and hospitals.
At just under $ 600 with free DHL delivery(£488.49/AU$ 944.36), you won't find a cheaper Intel Core i9 computer than this one, provided you don’t mind waiting a few weeks for it to ship from China.
Sold by Shenzhen Helor Cloud Computer Store via Aliexpress, the device features an Intel Core i9-9880H CPU, which has eight cores, 16 threads and uses a 14nm lithography. With a base frequency of 2.3GHz and 16MB cache, it has a TDP of 45W and leans on an Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU.
For context, the cheapest Core i9 CPU we could find retails at around $ 520 – only marginally cheaper than the whole workstation.
This thin client can take up to 64GB DDR4 memory, supports up to three SSD drives and uses a 90W PSU.
It also has two video ports, five USBs (including Type-C), a GB Ethernet connector and an audio port. At 15 x 14.6 x 6.65cm, it is compact enough to be carried around with ease.
Despite its miniscule footprint, the device contains a massive 100mm fan and plenty of slits to cool the CPU, 8GB memory and 128GB M.2 SSD.
Note, like most PCs that ship from mainland China, Windows 10 does not come bundled.
1 844.742.7448 
Email Us
Remote Support 
Contact
