Celebrating the older female tech pioneers

Age UK

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Inspire Inclusion,” underscores the importance of celebrating diversity and empowering women across all aspects of life. In the tech industry, women have historically been underrepresented, with prominent figures like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg dominating the field. However, it’s essential to recognize the contributions of women pioneers like Ada Lovelace, a mathematician credited as the first computer programmer for her groundbreaking work in the early 19th century. Although her achievements were not widely acknowledged until the 1950s, Ada Lovelace Day now commemorates her legacy and aims to elevate the profile of women in STEM fields.

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Women’s Day 2024: Inclusion In Tech To Accelerate Progress

Spice Works

On International Women’s Day 2024, tech leaders emphasize the crucial role of inclusion in driving innovation and overcoming barriers. Despite women holding just over 25% of jobs in the sector, studies show that businesses with greater gender diversity see a 15% average performance improvement. Diverse teams contribute to innovation, economic growth, and product design enhancements. The tech industry, historically dominated by men, acknowledges the necessity of enhancing gender diversity. On International Women’s Day, women leaders reflect on the increasing role of women in propelling innovation and emphasize the necessity of fostering more inclusive workplace cultures.  These leaders advocate for creating environments where diversity is celebrated, barriers are dismantled, and everyone can thrive regardless of gender. They underscore the transformative power of inclusive workplaces in driving progress and shaping a brighter future for all.

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Apple: iPhone China sales slide as Huawei soars, report says

BBC

Sales of Apple’s iPhone in China have declined by 24% in the first six weeks of 2024 compared to the previous year, according to research by Counterpoint. This drop coincides with increased competition from local rivals, particularly Huawei, which experienced a 64% surge in sales during the same period. Apple’s challenges in China stem from both heightened competition and aggressive pricing strategies by competitors like Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi. Overall smartphone sales in China also decreased by 7% during this time, reflecting broader market trends. Apple and Huawei have yet to comment on these findings.

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Warner Bros. focusing on mobile and free-to-play instead of “volatile” AAA console games

Eurogamer

Warner Bros. Discovery’s gaming chief, J.B. Perrette, aims to steer the company away from the unpredictable AAA console gaming market. At a recent Morgan Stanley event, Perrette outlined plans to focus on the company’s major franchises and expand into the mobile and free-to-play sectors, alongside live-service games. This strategic shift aims to achieve more consistent revenue streams by leveraging existing intellectual property and development capabilities. Perrette emphasized the company’s dual role as both a publisher and developer, positioning it uniquely to capitalize on growth opportunities in the gaming industry.

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As IoT use explodes in Asia, challenges lie in cloud compatibility (Reader Forum)

RCR Wireless

The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing a significant shift in IoT adoption, propelled by exponential 5G growth. Forecasted to grow from 14.5 billion in 2022 to 38.9 billion by 2030, IoT devices are becoming ubiquitous, enabling data collection, communication, and real-time feedback. This trend is driving value for businesses and consumers alike, with IoT comprising hardware and software components facilitating improved operations across various industries. Integrating IoT with the cloud enables organizations to establish a unified IT infrastructure, leveraging the benefits of both technologies for streamlined operations. However, it’s crucial to ensure this integration is achieved without introducing complexity or compromising performance or security standards.

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Mastercard and MTN Group Partner on Mobile Payments in Africa

PYMNTS

Mastercard and MTN Group Fintech have joined forces to facilitate mobile payments for consumers and small businesses across Africa. Through this partnership, Mastercard’s technology will bolster MTN’s FinTech platform, which boasts 290 million subscribers and 60 million active monthly MTN Mobile Money (MTN MoMo) wallets. The collaboration spans 13 markets in Africa and aims to enhance user experiences, ensure secure transactions, enable safe remittances, introduce new use cases, and expand acceptance. As part of the agreement, virtual and physical Mastercard companion cards will be added to every MoMo wallet, granting users access to over 100 million acceptance locations globally. Serigne Dioum, CEO of MTN Fintech, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting its potential to empower more people and businesses through innovative apps and secure transactions.

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Should All Mobile Business Apps Scrap Passwords and Integrate Biometrics?

Telemedia Online

With biometric authentication now available on most advanced mobile devices, there is a prime opportunity for apps to integrate this feature, aligning with the push for enhanced security and user experience. The FIDO Alliance has highlighted that a significant portion of data leaks are attributed to passwords, making a shift towards biometrics even more compelling. For business owners offering mobile apps, integrating biometrics not only enhances security but also improves the overall user experience. Biometric authentication, such as Face ID and Touch ID, has become increasingly ubiquitous since its introduction on smartphones like the iPhone X in 2017, signaling a broader acceptance and adoption across various technological devices.

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Mobile banking malware growing rapidly, ThreatFabric warns

Biometric Update

ThreatFabric, an online payment fraud prevention provider, has reported on the resurgence of the Anatsa trojan virus in Europe and shared insights into its Fraud Kill Chain for mobile malware detection. Since November 2023, ThreatFabric’s Mobile Threat Intelligence team has observed five waves of the Anatsa banking trojan campaign, targeting regions such as the UK, Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Czechia. The campaign utilizes dropper applications on Google Play, leveraging AccessibilityService to enhance credibility and facilitate its spread among users. ThreatFabric’s research sheds light on the evolving tactics of this prolific malware threat.

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5 crucial insights from mobile leaders on privacy-first advertising

The Drum

The phasing out of mobile device ID tracking is prompting significant adjustments for app marketers and their advertising partners, necessitating a reevaluation of strategies and technological infrastructure to adapt to a privacy-first era. This global shift in digital advertising aims to limit the sharing of user data among third parties, impacting various aspects of the industry, especially programmatic mobile advertising. As individual in-app ad placements are bought and sold through algorithmically-driven virtual auctions, mobile leaders are emphasizing the importance of understanding and navigating these evolving dynamics to maintain effective advertising practices.

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