Facebook prompt will encourage ad tracking opt-in ahead of Apple’s privacy push

The Verge

Facebook will begin showing a prompt on its mobile app for the iPhone and iPad that’s designed to convince users to allow ad tracking, in preparation for an upcoming privacy change in which Apple will force developers to obtain permission to track users across apps and websites in the future. The new screen, first reported on Monday by CNBC, will be shown to users globally starting today and will provide Facebook with early data on how Apple’s privacy change might affect the social network’s business, ahead of Apple’s planned update in early spring that will make the opt-in request mandatory.

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Google is reportedly working on an anti-tracking feature for Android

Engadget

Google is looking to develop an anti—tracking feature for Android similar to the one Apple is rolling out with iOS 14.5, according to Bloomberg. The tech giant is reportedly in the early stages of exploring how it can limit data collection and cross-app tracking for its mobile OS. However, it intends to find a less stringent solution than Apple’s so as not to completely alienate its advertising partners.

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PayPal is shutting down domestic payments business in India

Tech Crunch

PayPal is shutting down its domestic business in India, less than four years after the American giant kickstarted local operations in the world’s second largest internet market.

“From 1 April 2021, we will focus all our attention on enabling more international sales for Indian businesses, and shift focus away from our domestic products in India. This means we will no longer offer domestic payment services within India from 1 April,” said a company spokesperson.

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IoT: How It’s Making Small Businesses More Efficient

Forbes

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the hottest topics in business today – and whether you own a small business or a medium-sized company, it’s something you’ll need to understand sooner rather than later. And while the concept may seem overly complicated and somewhat nebulous, like most problems, when you break it down into a few fundamental elements, it becomes easier to understand.

In general, IoT has one goal: to connect all the physical places and things in the world to the internet. By doing so, it will help companies of all sizes improve their systems and processes, increase efficiencies, and even open the door to new products, services, and business models.

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Mobile industry ramps calls for European rule overhaul

Mobile World Live

European Union (EU) regulators faced growing calls for a regulatory revamp in the region, moving to policies which allow cost-effective deployment of 5G, drive development of the digital economy and cut inequality in access to technology.

In separate statements, Telefonica and industry association the GSMA added to comments last week from ETNO and Ericsson chief Borje Ekholm pointing to issues hampering Europe’s progress in 5G and highlighting risks to the digital economy from outdated regulations.

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Google announces new AI-powered heart and breathing monitors for Pixel phones

TNW

Google announced today that it’s adding AI-powered measurements of heart and respiration rates to the Google Fit app.

The tech uses a combination of sensors and computer vision algorithms to take measurements through a smartphone camera.

The Big G said the features will be available from next month on Pixel phones, with more Android devices to follow.

Users will then be able to measure their breathing rate by placing their head and upper torso in view of the phone’s front-facing camera.

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China’s national blockchain network embraces global developers

Tech Crunch

While China bans cryptocurrency exchanges and initial coin offerings, the government is set to leverage the underpinning technology — often without the decentralized part. Blockchain, for instance, could help track the shipment of luxury goods and authenticate court evidence. In the process of adopting blockchain applications in its own interest, China also wants to become a world leader of the new technology.

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PwC Study Claims 5G Mobile May Add £43bn to UK GDP by 2030

ISP Review

New research from professional services firm PwC has forecast that the productivity and efficiency gains enabled by the rollout of ultrafast 5G (mobile broadband) technology will drive business, skills and service change worth £43bn to UK GDP by 2030. The healthcare sector is also expected to see the biggest impact from this.

According to the ‘Powering Your Tomorrow‘ report, which is a global study, the amount that 5G will add to GDP in the United Kingdom by 2030 per sector is as follows: Healthcare £15bn, Consumer and Media £9.4bn, Smart Utilities £9.4bn, Manufacturing £6.1bn, Financial services £3.1bn (TOTAL: £43bn).

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Mobile ad spending surged 26% in 2020 as pandemic fueled demand

Marketing Dive

Mobile engagement soared in 2020 as consumers across generations spent more time on the channel during the coronavirus pandemic, according to App Annie’s latest State of Mobile report. The surge was reflected in marketing as mobile advertising spend grew 26% year-on-year to $240 billion.

Mobile ad placements climbed 95% YoY in the U.S., with interstitials experiencing the highest growth among ad formats analyzed in the report. Video ad placements also saw gains, but were surpassed by interstitials in all but two markets: Australia and Canada. The interstitial boom suggests marketers sought cheaper ad inventory as the pandemic’s impact created new budgetary pressures, App Annie said.

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