What’s the news from the MEF community? Here’s your weekly round up of all the latest announcements from MEF members including product launches, partnerships, research insights and more…
CLX Communications acquires German messaging giant
CLX has been shopping again – it has bought the German company Xura Secure Communications.
The move comes just weeks after CLX bought Sweden’s Sinch, and gives CLX further reach into new verticals. Xura Secure currently processes more than 500m messages per year for some of the country’s largest banking and aviation organisations.
“CLX was founded on a vision to become the world’s leading player in mobile cloud-based communications, with solutions for text, voice and Internet of Things…the acquisitions of Mblox and Sinch AB, and now Xura Secure were strategic steps in achieving that vision,” said Johan Hedberg, CEO of CLX.
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Universal Music Group signs hi-res audio deal with MQA
Major label Universal is to make its back catalogue available on the new ultra-high quality digital music format.
Demand is growing for a next gen format to replace MP3, which audiophiles regard as inferior to old analogue formats like vinyl and CD.
Various options are available. MQA offers one of them, and now UMG has given the company its backing with a multi-year deal.
MQA stands for Master Quality Authenticated. It offers smaller file sizes than traditional hi-res audio formats and will play on devices that don’t support hi-res.
“With MQA, we are working with a partner whose technology is among the best solutions for streaming Hi-Res Audio, and one that doesn’t ask music fans to compromise on sound quality for convenience,” said UMG vice president of digital strategy Michael Nash.
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Telefónica signs major sponsored data deal
The entire customer base of Telefonica will be offered access to ‘data-free’ content after the MNO signed an agreement with Datami.
It’s already live in Brazil where brands including ifood, Mercado Libre, Netshoes and Privalia are targeting customers with sponsored apps and video content, and data rewards.
“We selected Datami because of their flexible platform and comprehensive approach to help us customise use cases for each local environment” said Dan Rosen, Director of Global Advertising
for Telefónica.
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Novatti Group targets Indian market with digital payment products
Australia’s Novatti is working with India’s Transaction Solutions International on a range of alternative payment technologies – including digital wallets, mobile money, electronic bill payments and remittance services.
TSI India currently focuses on ATMs and helped the government to adjust machines when it withdrew some bank notes from circulation last year.
Now, it’s looking at developing more digital alternatives to cash. Hence the partnership with Novatti.
Gemalto to supply Com4 with over-the-air IOT connections
Norway’s IoT specialist Com4 has signed as deal with Gemalto to enable remote SIM provisioning for various IoT devices and applications.
The deal with kick off by accelerating Norway’s largest smart metering rollout.
Gemalto’s offers a subscription system that lets firms like Com4 manage millions of SIM remotely. That works well with Gemalto’s GSMA-compliant eSIMs, which are designed to be embedded in smart ‘things’.
Pete Vickers, CTO for Com4, said: “Gemalto’s solution has the scalability necessary to match our ambitious plans for growth in the IoT sector on a worldwide basis.”
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Wirecard adds voucher services to boon
Users of the Wirecard’s boon payment app in Germany and Austria can now use it to manage their vouchers too.
This is because bluesource has integrated boon into its digital loyalty app, mobile-pocket. The app bundles together customer, club and advantage cards as well as coupons and vouchers.
boon lets people pay by mobile contactless using a prepaid MasterCard. The app works at any NFC-enabled MasterCard terminal.
The collaboration will launch first in Germany and Austria but could extend to France and the UK.
Georg von Waldenfels, Executive Vice President Consumer Solutions at Wirecard, said: “This collaboration represents an important step in opening up boon to customer loyalty programmes. This means we can offer our users much more than just another payment option.”
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Smaato names new CTO
Gerry Louw has joined ad giant Smaato in the newly created role of chief technology officer.
Louw previous worked at RhythmOne, World Wrestling Entertainment and others and has managed M&A processes for many startups.
Smaato has also promoted Ryan Klinefelter to chief corporate strategy & development officer. He joined Smaato in 2014 and played a lead role in undertaking due diligence in the company’s acquisition by Spearhead.
F-Secure acquires transport security specialist
F-Secure has bought Inverse Path to extend its reach into the avionics, automotive and industrial control sectors.
Inverse Path is known for products such as the USB armory – a USB stick that features an entire onboard computer designed to provide a portable platform for personal security applications.
Jyrki Tulokas, F-Secure Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development, said: “Inverse Path was one of the first companies to publish research on vehicle security, and they now use this expertise to help automobile and vehicle telematics manufacturers secure their products.”
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