(This article originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 -Your iPhone may soon be able to accept contactless payments directly.
According to recent reports Apple is planning to add a POS system like Square (which recently changed its name to Block) to the iPhone. The report shared that Apple would build the capability directly into iPhones which means merchants will not need to add any hardware. Apple paid approximately $100 million for company Mobeewave which is developing a technology to make accepting payments via smartphones possible. (Source: Tech Radar)
Why this is important for your business:
As easy as Square is to accept payments, it’s common for merchants using the card reader to have to insert a separate piece of hardware to complete the transaction. Apple aims to avoid all that and make the process more seamless. Will it work with other systems? What will be the cost? Will this be cheaper than Square and other mobile credit card readers? How easy will this be? All questions to be answered soon, I’m sure.
2 — Cloud computing and virtualization company Citrix will be acquired for $16.5 billion.
Global investment firm Vista Equity Partners will be acquiring cloud computing and virtualization company Citrix for $16.5 billion. Initially known for remote access products for Windows, Citrix has grown over time to expand its offerings to various technologies that include networking, servers, and cloud computing. According to Yahoo Finance, “Citrix makes software that workers use to log onto to their corporate programs virtually, a category of product extensively relied upon during the pandemic as businesses sought quick ways to keep remote workforces connected to central operations. Many are now planning permanent hybrid setups for home and office working, which is expected to grow the market for tools that help make this seamless.” In connection with the transaction, Vista and another investor Evergreen intend to combine Citrix and TIBCO Software one of Vista’s portfolio companies. (Source: VentureBeat, Yahoo Finance)
Why this is important for your business:
If you’re a Citrix user, prepare for changes. Citrix says “the union will create one of the world’s largest software providers, serving 400,000 customers, including 98 percent of the Fortune 500, with 100 million users in 100 countries. Further, it will accelerate Citrix’s defined growth strategy and SaaS transition. The combined company will be positioned to provide complete, secure and optimized infrastructure for enterprise application and desktop delivery and data management to advance hybrid cloud IT strategies and meet the needs of the modern enterprise.”
3 — Gmail’s new ‘integrated view’ is coming to Workspace users February 8th.
Starting February 8th, Google Workspace will include a new ‘integrated view.’ Users will begin to see the updated look automatically by April. (Source: The Verge)
Why this is important for your business:
According to Google the new integrated view is aimed at helping users easily toggle between chats, meetings, and mail without switching tabs. Get ready because this is not a choice. Google says that by June, the integrated view will be a ‘standard experience’ without the option to go back.
4 — Microsoft Teams will be adding predictive text features and improving hybrid meetings.
The mobile version of Microsoft Teams will soon be adding predictive text features and making improvements to hybrid meetings. Teams will also be introducing the ‘Front Row’ view to make hybrid meetings feel more like in-person meetings. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
The goal of the predictive text feature is to make it more difficult to make grammar or spelling errors when typing on the move, especially as workers continue to work remotely. The new ‘Front Row’ feature will move the videos to the bottom of the meeting screen so all meeting attendees are face-to-face.
5 — Tech investment is hitting record levels, and everyone wants to hire developers.
Recent data has revealed that over 12,800 job openings for tech professionals were listed in 2021. This is an increase of 105% as compared to the year before. The majority of tech vacancies were in the engineering and software development fields. Openings for these jobs went up by 88.2% YOY (year-over-year) and reflect the continued demand businesses have for digital services and products. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
Tech is still very, very hot and good internal people are hard to find. But that’s no surprise is it?
