European Union antitrust regulators fined Facebook (FB.O) 110 million euros ($122 million) on Thursday for giving misleading information during a vetting of its deal to acquire messaging service WhatsApp in 2014. Calling it a "proportionate and deterrent fine", the European Commission, which acts as the EU's competition watchdog, said Facebook had said it could not automatically match user accounts on its namesake platform and WhatsApp but two years later launched a service that did exactly that. "The Commission has found that, contrary to Facebook's statements in the 2014 merger review process, the technical possibility of automatically matching Facebook and WhatsApp users' identities already existed in 2014, and that Facebook staff were aware of such a possibility," the Commission said. Facebook said in a statement the errors made in its 2014 filings were not intentional and that the Commission had confirmed they had not affected the outcome of the merger review. "Today's … [Read more...] about EU fines Facebook 110 million euros over WhatsApp deal
Whatsapp launched year
Nintendo surges to hit six-year high, Pokemon GO hits UK market
Shares of Nintendo Co (7974.T) jumped nearly 10 percent to a six-year high on Friday, extending their rally since the launch of its Pokemon GO augmented reality game and almost doubling the company's market value in just over a week. A woman uses a portable battery pack to charge her phone while playing the augmented reality mobile game ''Pokemon Go'' by Nintendo in New York City, U.S. July 11, 2016. The mobile game has become an instant hit with more users in the United States than Twitter just one week after launch. Its players are highly engaged, spending far more time in the app than they do with some of the most popular social apps such as Instagram or WhatsApp. "When you look at the way it's becoming a social phenomenon in the U.S., the rally is understandable even though it's not clear yet how much it will boost profits," said Toshiyuki Kanayama, … [Read more...] about Nintendo surges to hit six-year high, Pokemon GO hits UK market
Instant messaging app Zalo claims to have 50 million users in Vietnam
The number of people using Zalo, an instant messaging app developed by local technology company VNG, has hit 50 million, local media reported on Friday, citing the developer. That is equivalent to more than half of Vietnam's population and an increase of over 66 percent from the middle of last year. Since the data was released by the company itself, it is difficult to independently verify the impressive number. Launched in 2012, Zalo has cooperated with several government agencies in providing people with accesses to search for administrative information such as vaccination and appointments, besides calling, messaging and booking air tickets. Zalo is one of five local businesses which are providing over-the-top contents, the official technical term for the delivery of audio, video and other media over the Internet, in Vietnam. Three telecom giants MobiFone, Viettel and VinaPhone launched their services last year, besides Hanoi-based Internet security firm Bkav, according to news … [Read more...] about Instant messaging app Zalo claims to have 50 million users in Vietnam
After beating Google, Korea’s Naver goes global with messaging app Line
The billionaire founder of web portal operator Naver Corp (035420.KS) beat back Google Inc to leave South Korea one of few countries where the U.S. search engine does not dominate. Now, Lee Hae-jin is stepping onto the world stage with Line, a messaging app developed by a subsidiary in Japan to overcome downed communications after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. But Lee will face a very different market to the one that welcomed Naver.com. Instead of developing a local lead and fending off a global giant, Lee will have to take on established rivals in an international context. "I am playing the part of an attacking winger who needs to run to break through the global market," Lee, 47, said recently, referring to a goal-scoring role in soccer akin to that of FIFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo. Line has lured 470 million users with its simple design and elaborate emoticons, such as a cartoon happy-go-lucky rabbit. Its user base eclipses that of local peer Kakao Corp's … [Read more...] about After beating Google, Korea’s Naver goes global with messaging app Line
Viettel Burundi (Lumitel) opens nation’s first ever 4G services
(CPV) - Viettel Burundi, backed by Vietnamese military-backed telecoms group Viettel and offering services under the brand name Lumitel, has launched the country’s first ever 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. The network offers a range of mobile Internet services with speeds of up to 100Mbps covering the core parts of the following provinces: Bujumbura, Gitega, Ngozi, Rumonge Makamba and Muyinga. Photo: Mai LeUsers wishing to take advantage of Lumitel’s LTE offer will need to buy a 4G-enabled Samsung, LG, iPhone or L9501 smartphone from Lumitel, which it says are available at an “affordable price”. In January 2014, Viettel Global announced the establishment of a new cellular unit, Viettel Burundi, which was created after Viettel added another VND6.2 trillion (USD291.1 million) to finance capital for new projects. Officially opening business in April 2015, legally registered as Viettel Burundi SA, the company is headquartered in Bujumbura. Having over one … [Read more...] about Viettel Burundi (Lumitel) opens nation’s first ever 4G services