Month: February 2021

European telecoms outlook 2021. Revenue steady and 5G making the headlines. #Telecoms #5G

The credit outlook for European telecommunication operators remains stable. Total revenues, and mobile capex will hold steady in 2021 even though the introduction and roll-out of 5G is making the headlines, says Scope Ratings

The sector has demonstrated its fundamental stability during the Covid-19 crisis. Latest revenue figures published by European regulators showed little change from 2019 trends, particularly in comparison with the scale of the economic recession in Europe.

“Also noteworthy is the operational resilience of Europe’s industry which experienced no network failures despite the increase in traffic during the lockdowns and the shift toward remote working,” says Jacques de Greling, analyst at Scope.

“Helping operators cope with the rise in usage was that the surge in traffic took place mostly during the day when usage was usually low, pre-pandemic, rather than in the evening, typically the period of peak usage,” de Greling says.

Operators are at risk of a more material adverse impact from the pandemic should further economic disruption, as governments reimpose restrictions to contain Covid-19, trigger more bankruptcies and business closures. “Offsetting that risk is growing digitalisation of corporate activity, accelerated by the pandemic and pressure to cut costs, so, overall, the impact of a second phase of coronavirus infections would be negligible,” he says.

The pandemic’s biggest impact on the sector to date has been postponement of several auctions of 5G spectrum in 2020. Operators will likely incur the cost of acquiring spectrum this year though it will remain well within their financing capacity.

“We expect no new entrants in any of Europe’s biggest markets to compete for spectrum this year: the industry is mature with mobile penetration around 130%,” says de Greling. France’s 5G auction raised EUR 2.8bn last year with bids from four established operators – Altice SA, Bouygues Telecom SA, Iliad SA, Orange SA – whereas Germany’s raised EUR 6.5bn in 2019. The entry of 1&1 Telecommunication SE provided extra competition for Deutsche Telekom AG, Telefónica Deutschland AG and Vodafone PLC.

“The speed at which operators are putting 5G in place varies from country to country – 5G trials, spectrum auctions, network roll-out, service introduction, new handsets – while the industry continues its search for a ‘killer app’,” says de Greling.

“Beyond the hype, the impact on revenues and capex will not be significant: investment continues to increase slowly, driven in 2021 more by further investment in fibre networks (FTTH) around Europe than 5G which is replacing existing technology – much as 4G did with 3G, and 2G before that – and re-using existing infrastructure like masts,” he says.

“We see limited opportunities for large M&A given already concentrated national markets and no advantages from cross-border tie-ups, though operators will continue to sell infrastructure assets, such as towers and parts of their fibre networks,” he says. “This will leave the sector’s overall credit quality unchanged despite a likely slow, uneven economic recovery.”

Get full report

The GameSir X2 Bluetooth Version – IMPROVED for Better Cloud Gaming. #Gaming #Tech #GameSir

Following on from the success of the X2 Type C Mobile Game Controller which was designed to give users an outstanding cloud gaming experience, GameSir has updated the X2 to give bring this innovative mobile gaming experience to everyone.

Now equipped with Bluetooth, the X2 Bluetooth version supports both iOS and Android devices and is compatible with Apple Arcade.

Like its predecessor, the X2 Bluetooth version is designed to provide a full array of controls and minimise lag to ensure a maximum gaming experience. With smartphones getting bigger and more powerful to ensure they can handle the ever increasing complex games played on them, the X2 Bluetooth version will keep you ahead of your competitors no matter what phone you choose to use.

Compatible with both Android and iOS, the X2 Bluetooth version features a split design that includes a joystick on both the left and the right sides and ABXY buttons. The buttons come with a lifespan of up to 3 million presses so you needn’t worry about wearing them out! The simple design will expand to securely hold phones measuring up to 173mm, and the soft rubber grips will ensure a comfortable hold throughout your gaming session.

Have you ever had a moment in game when you wished you had the option of getting a record of a particularly good move? Thanks to the added screenshot button you now have the chance to take quick snapshot of your best on screen gaming moments.

The GameSir X2 Bluetooth version – bringing simply outstanding cloud gaming experience to devices. The X2 Bluetooth version is available at $59.99 / £69.99. For more information, please see https://www.gamesir.hk

Celebrate Bob Marley’s birthday with sustainable audio maker @HouseofMarleyUK

Saturday 6th February will mark Bob Marley’s birthday and we wanted to share some information on House of Marley, the sustainably minded audio maker created in collaboration with the Marley family to carry on Bob’s legacy of love for music and the planet.

To celebrate the occasion, House of Marley will be offering 25% off all products with the code BOB76, from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th February at houseofmarley.co.uk.

For more than 10 years, House of Marley has consciously crafted audio products from sustainable materials such as FSC certified wood, bamboo and cork, as well as Marley’s signature REWIND™ fabric made from organic cotton, reclaimed hemp and recycled plastic bottles.

 The Project Marley Global Giving initiative was created in honour of the legendary Bob Marley and his respect for the earth and its people. In addition to creating audio products that are better for the earth, House of Marley are also devoted to supporting global reforestation via One Tree Planted, a charitable initiative contributing to the planting of trees around the world. Since 2017 and through donations made to One Tree Planted, the company has helped to plant 223,000 trees. House of Marley recognises the responsibility to reduce its corporate footprint by contributing to positive environmental, social and economic impacts through carbon offsets, cleaner air, water filtration and greater biodiversity within the world’s forests and oceans, and also supports ocean conservation via the Surfrider Foundation.

Redemption ANC True Wireless Earbuds – RRP £179.99

House of Marley’s Redemption ANC are the first sustainably minded ANC true wireless earbuds. Crafted from bamboo, natural wood fibre composite and REGRIND™ silicone and IPX4 rated, these earbuds are ideal for all activities. Complete with 7 hours battery or 28 hours with the case, you’ll never be without your tunes. SEE OUR REVIEW

House of Marley Stir It Up Wireless Turntable – RRP £229.99 – Available from: Argos

Crafted using bamboo, REWIND™ fabric and recyclable aluminium, the turntable not only looks good but is sustainable too. USB to PC recording means that not only can you listen to classic vinyl’s, you can also record and digitise music that can be listened to on laptops, phones or portable media devices.

 

Tech Review – Jabra Elite 85t update. They get better. #Jabra #Elite85t

Yesterday an new update rolled out for the Jabra Elite 85t and I have been testing it overnight and it enhances the earbuds which are one of the best on the market today. The update offers a more enhanced experience with more features dropped to give you the best feature set available today on true wireless earbuds, we go through this update below in the video review and you can see what you get in the latest update which takes about 10 minutes to do in total and then you can personalise to your needs afterwards, You will enjoy it. One of the best new features here is the MY FIT option which tells you the correct buds you need for the most optimum experience. Check out the full review HERE and see what the update is all about below..

 

 

Tech Review – SHURE Aonic 215 True Wireless. #SHURE #Tech

SHURE is a well known audio brand but perhaps not so much at consumer level and is a company geared for audiophiles in the music industry for example but now they have launched true wireless for the consumer and the 215 TWS are what is on offer giving the consumer an idea of what they can do.

Fit is really good here and they will not move so if you jog or go to the gym these are perfect, comfort is also great and with the comply foam tips they offer good isolation straight away. Once on you will forget they are there after a while. The controls are great, a big circular button that gives you options to control music on the go, minus volume control. The thing to take note of here is you dont touch the earbud which in some cases put pressure on the ears making commands and so on.

Sound quality is clean not with a heavy bass but overall clean crisp and clear with vocals, music, direction and instruments it is a well balanced set up and only boosted with their own app which is great to see, Calls are great however only on the one side and the same for independent use. This is common enough though with true wireless earbuds so not a huge issue in fairness. There is also no lag latency here when using for videos or Netflix for example..

Battery life is quite good at the higher end of the scale, Given the case is bigger than normal it works well and keeps your earbuds secure and looks high end with the materials used and will turn heads when sat on a table.  Overall these are a great set of earbuds to have and for those into fitness and they show what the company can do and I would love to see how their headphones fair out too.

FEATURES

  • Awe-inspiring, true wireless audio with clear sound and deep bass. No cords. No wires. Just pure listening.
  • Secure, over-ear fit. Built with the same design musicians use for in-ear monitoring on-stage. Your earphones stay in place for unmatched, long-wearing comfort, even during high-energy activities.
  • Sound Isolating™ technology blocks up to 37 dB of noise to eliminate distractions. Enjoy the most immersive listening experience no matter where you are.
  • Environment Mode. Hear the outside world with the touch of a button.
  • Up to 8 hours battery life. Uninterrupted audio wherever you are – on the train, in the gym, or at home. Included carrying case provides three additional charges for a total of up to 32 hours battery life on-the-go.
  • Detachable connection allows the AONIC 215 Earphones to attach to different cable accessories. Stay connected to any device, including airplane entertainment systems.
  • Enjoy clear calls with exceptional audio through integrated microphones for video conferencing and phone calls. Call audio only heard in the right earphone.
  • Premium headphone amplifier and support for multiple codecs including Qualcomm® aptX™, AAC and SBC
  • Bluetooth® 5 wireless technology for enhanced stability and a range of up to 30 feet (10 metres). Pairs to phones, tablets and laptops for music and calls.
  • ShurePlus™ PLAY app allows you to customise your EQ and Environment Mode levels. Free to download for iOS and Android.
  • Includes a two-year warranty, AONIC 215 detachable Sound Isolating™ Earphones, True Wireless Secure Fit Adapter set, fit kit with a variety of sleeves for the perfect fit, a charging case, and USB-C charging cable.
  • Available in four colour options (clear, black, white, blue)

BUY HERE 

 

 

How to Find the History of a Property Online. #Property #Online

Buying a new property is everyone’s dream. We all want to make sure everything is perfect at our new home. However, it is crucial to check the history of that property before buying it.

It is because there are many cases of fraudulent property selling that end up with legal problems. That is why people recommend knowing everything about a property before signing the papers.

Today, we will share a platform that helps you check the records of a property and its previous owner. It will make your work much easier and you won’t even need to contact anyone to get these details. So, let’s begin by discussing this online service and how it works.

What is an Address Lookup Service? How does it work?

As mentioned earlier, Address lookup is an online service that provides complete records of a property. You can check the complete details of any address without visiting it. Additionally, you can verify if there is any property at the provided address or not. 

CocoFinder’s address owner lookup is not limited to the basic information as you can get the criminal activities done on that property as well. This data is shown through a report that will give you all the information you need for making a decision.

The information comes from the public database and you can rely on it without giving it a second thought. However, you need a powerful platform to use this service. 

Here is our best recommendation to search for an address.

CocoFinder

CocoFinder is the leading application to find any public information online. It has a wide database where you can find any information related to a person, phone number, or address.  This application is equipped with various features that will help you get any information within a few seconds.

When you search for a name or an address, it starts searching for the relevant information on millions of databases. After that, you can get the information in a well-designed report. That way, it can help anyone get the history of property without replying to any property agent.

It is completely secure as you do not need to create an account on the platform. Instead, you can visit CocoFinder’s website and start searching for any information you want. Your data and privacy stay safe as it does not collect data on the platform.

How to Use CocoFinder to Get Property Information

Considering the increasing cases of property fraud, CocoFinder has made it much easier to use its services. All you need to do is follow three simple steps and you can get complete information about any property you want.

Step1: Visit its official website and click on the address lookup feature from the homepage. It will redirect you to a new page where you can proceed with your query.

Step2: Enter the address and select the city of that property. Match your query and click on the start search option. It will take some time to analyze the database. 

Step3: You will get a report where you can get a complete history of that property. The report is broken down into different sections to help you read it conveniently. Once you get the report, check all the information you want and close the website.

That’s it. No registration or sign up required. You can also use its other features such as background check, people search, and phone lookup for other information. However, we recommend checking out the features to understand how they work.

What Information Does the Report Include?

An address lookup report includes everything you need to know about the property, owner, and neighborhood. 

Section1: About Property

The first section of the report covers some important details about the property. Please know that the details are uploaded from the previous records and the data is updated regularly. It includes:

 

  • Complete surface in square feet 
  • Design (number of rooms)
  • When the house was built (year and month)
  • PIN code of the area 
  • The average value of property
  • Tax Information related to Mortgage and pending loans

 

Section2: Owner’s Information

The second section of the report covers everything about the previous owners of the property. It is not limited to their name as you can check their records as well. That way, you can know what type of person has lived at that address.

It includes:

Full name of the owner/owner’s

Contact details including phone and landline number

Other ways to contact (Social media and other profiles)

Previously owned property by the owner

Criminal records

These details will help you know if the person had any criminal record or not. We recommend using the background check feature on the owner to get more details. 

Section3: Neighbourhood Details

Neighbourhood plays a key role in helping you make a decision of buying a property. That is why this report includes complete information about the neighbourhood of the property. No matter what property you are searching for, you can get complete details in this section.

It includes:

  • Value of the property in that area
  • Nearby market and general stores for convenient living
  • Type of people who live there ( find out if there is any sex offender)
  • The average income of people who live there
  • Demographic information

If you want to check the complete list, you can visit its website and search for the property yourself. 

Final Words

Getting the public records of a property is no longer a challenging task. You can get this information from any address lookup service at the comfort of your home. All you need is a trusted service that does not sell your data to other companies.

CocoFinder comes out as an excellent solution to do it. You can browse any service while protecting your identity. Additionally, you do not pay a single dollar to use its services. Thus, it is a complete solution for anyone looking for address lookup services online. You can visit its website and check its service by entering your address as well.  

Microsoft Ireland announces 200 new jobs with the expansion of its Digital Sales team. #Microsoft #Jobs

Microsoft Ireland was joined today by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD to announce a further expansion of its Dublin-based EMEA Digital Sales team with the creation of 200 new jobs. The company also unveiled details of its new Microsoft Sales Academy, which will enable 25 recruits from a variety of backgrounds and with little or no digital skills to establish a career in digital sales. Today’s announcement builds on Microsoft Ireland’s November 2020 engineering investment announcement, which saw the creation of 200 new engineering roles and an investment of €27m in a new Engineering Hub at its growing campus in Leopardstown, Dublin.


Microsoft Ireland today announced the expansion of its Dublin-based EMEA Digital Sales team with the creation of 200 new jobs. Recruitment for the 200 new positions at Microsoft is underway with the intention to have all roles filled before May 2021. For more visit: careers.microsoft.com. Pictures taken outside Microsoft’s campus in Leopardstown, One Microsoft Place. Pic:Naoise Culhane –

Recruitment for the 200 new positions is underway with the intention to have all roles filled before May 2021. Microsoft Ireland is seeking applications to fill a broad array of digital sales positions including Sales Representatives, Technical Sales Specialists, Cloud Solution Architects, Account Executives and Sales Managers. The company is seeking candidates with fluency in languages including English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, and Spanish to help meet the needs of customers across the EMEA region.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said: “I warmly welcome this latest job announcement by Microsoft as a strong vote of confidence in Ireland as a destination for investment, and in the talent of our workforce.

 “In the coming months we will be focusing on delivering a recovery that is both inclusive and sustainable, central to this will be getting people back to work and protecting and creating employment fit for the future. Attracting highly sought-after digital jobs like those created by Microsoft today is an important step in that journey.”

 Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland said: “We are delighted to be in a position to announce the further deepening of our footprint in Ireland. Following so soon after our Engineering investment, it highlights the importance of our Irish based operations to Microsoft globally. The growth of our EMEA Digital Sales team reflects the dynamism and growth mindset that is at the heart of our company. Our existing digital sales team has been working hard to provide organisations in Ireland and across Europe, the Middle East and Africa with digital technologies they need to transform their business model and achieve success.

 “The creation of the Microsoft Sales Academy further supports those efforts by building and nurturing a diverse pipeline of talent both now and into the future, ensuring our team reflects the diversity of the customers we serve. By adding to the diversity of skills and backgrounds within our Dublin-based team, we can continue to innovate at speed as we reimagine Ireland’s future.”


Microsoft Ireland today announced the expansion of its Dublin-based EMEA Digital Sales team with the creation of 200 new jobs. Recruitment for the 200 new positions at Microsoft is underway with the intention to have all roles filled before May 2021. For more visit: careers.microsoft.com. Pic:Naoise Culhane 

 Lisa Dillon, Vice-President, Microsoft EMEA Digital Sales said: “I am delighted that we are expanding our EMEA Digital Sales team so that we can best meet the evolving needs of our customers. In just four years, we will have established and grown the team to over 1,000 employees. This rapid growth is creating superb career development opportunities for the dynamic team which today represents more than 75 nationalities and fluency in over 35 different languages.

 “The EMEA Digital Sales team leverage Microsoft technologies, including AI and machine learning, and enhance them with digital selling capabilities to transform our engagement with customers.  This allows us to meet and exceed the needs of our customers and partners, engaging them at the right time in their digital journey to help drive their business success. I am looking forward to welcoming our new recruits and supporting them as they contribute to the continued growth and success of the team.”

 The new Microsoft Sales Academy will provide recruits from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skillsets with the sales and technical skills to succeed in a digital sales environment. The Academy builds on Microsoft’s ongoing digital education and training programmes to help people to participate fully in the digital economy. With four intake waves planned per calendar year, the six-month sales training programme will provide recruits with the expertise to support the digital transformation journey of organisations globally. At the end of the programme, recruits will transition into a Digital Sales Representative role with the skills to support customers’ digital transformations. 25 of the new jobs announced today are for Sales Academy positions.

New recruits will join an existing team of more than 1,000 highly trained sellers leveraging cutting-edge technology platforms and analytics to better meet customer needs. First established in 2017 with an initial headcount of 500 employees, the EMEA Digital Sales team in Dublin has expanded rapidly as organisations globally embrace digital transformation. Upon conclusion of the current phase of recruitment Microsoft Ireland will employ more than 2,800 people in Ireland across its Leopardstown campus and within its Data Centre operations.

Microsoft Ireland offers an extensive array of benefits in addition to a competitive package for the right candidates. For those interested in a starting or furthering a career in digital sales, visit: careers.microsoft.com.

Poly’s P Series is a New Squad of Personal Video Solutions to Look and Sound Your Best from Anywhere. #Poly #PSeries

Poly has today announced the Poly Studio P Series of professional-grade personal video conferencing equipment designed to up the game of today’s remote worker. The webcams, video bars, speakerphones and an all-in-one video conferencing monitor deliver the professional edge to look and sound your best, wherever you choose to work.

Developed with the work-from-home and remote worker’s success and convenience in mind, the Poly Studio P Series applies Poly’s renowned professional audio and video expertise, from the company that put the first headset on the moon, to command a conversation with total confidence.

Fine-tuned camera optics and microphones ensure you are seen and heard with exceptional clarity, while brilliant colours and automatic low-light compensation deliver broadcast-quality video from personal and shared spaces.

The Series includes:

  • Poly Studio P5 Webcam – Personal webcam with camera optics optimised for video conferencing, with 1080p resolution, 4x digital zoom and directional microphone. It comes with a built-in privacy shutter and integrated USB connectivity for headsets, for easy audio plug-and-play connectivity.
  • Poly Studio P15 Personal Video Bar – Personal video bar with powerful 4K clarity, automatic camera framing, and a powerful integrated speaker and microphone array with advanced NoiseBlock AI technology to block outside noise. Everything you need in one sleek device so you look and sound your best.
  • Poly Studio P21 Personal Meeting Display – Video conferencing display that includes everything you need for a premium video conferencing experience, including a 21” display, camera, and audio — all in one device. Dynamic ambient lighting adjusts to illuminate and improve your appearance and overall video quality. USB connectivity frees Poly Studio P21 to work with any PC or Mac running your video apps.
  • Poly Studio P5 Kit – For collaboration confidence, Poly Studio P5 Kits bring a ready-to-work, out-of-the-box experience bundling the new P5 camera with an award-winning Poly headset or the portable Poly Sync intelligent speakerphone, to optimise your work-from-anywhere set-up.

“We’re in a new era of work that has put home set-ups in the spotlight. Work is no longer a place, it’s what you do and how you do it, and presenting your best self from your home environment can make all the difference in how you stand out and command the virtual room,” said Tom Puorro, executive vice president and general manager of global products at Poly. “The new Poly Studio P Series brings the freedom to work wherever you want, with pro-grade audio and video devices that allow you to bring your best self to work and smash every conversation, call and collaboration.”

The Poly Studio P Series products are available for pre-order now for purchase in April 2021, on Poly.co.uk and with select retailers in the UK and Ireland. The Poly Studio P15 is available for pre-order and is Zoom and Microsoft Teams certified.

For more information on pricing and availability visit:

BWF Partners with Creative to Add Holography To Badminton Live Streams with SXFI LIVE.

Badminton World Federation (BWF) has partnered with Creative Technology to enhance the fan experience of watching badminton matches by bringing the audience closer to the action through holographic audio.

Since the 30th January at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, live and  delayed matches on BWF’s YouTube channel will be enhanced with SXFI LIVE. Making its debut as the latest iteration of the multiple award-winning Super X-Fi headphone holography, SXFI LIVE adds audio holography and recreates the soundstage of a premium multi-speaker system in a pair of normal headphones.

Processed in real time at the source of the live stream, fans will be able to enjoy the lifelike effects of Super X-Fi audio, regardless of the headphones they wear when watching the live streams on YouTube, and feel as though they are watching the matches live in the arena.

Bringing the Game Closer to the Fans

BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund said the progressive partnership was a positive step for badminton. “2020 was an unprecedented year in sport. The BWF has learned some valuable lessons about content curation in the absence of live events.

“As we begin 2021 with the possibility of some of our events hosted without live audiences, such as in Bangkok this week, we are delighted to partner with Creative to enhance the audio fan experience, even when virtual. 

“We look forward to working with Creative and the clever SXFI LIVE technology going forward.”

Sim Wong Hoo, CEO of Creative, said: “We are thrilled to be partners with BWF in a first-of-its kind initiative. This is a win-win-win partnership – Creative brings its technology and products to a global sport and audience. BWF becomes the first sports body to incorporate ground breaking audio technology to its events. Over 700 million badminton fans can now enjoy lifelike badminton live streams through their headphones.

“By transforming the audio quality right from the source, we bring the best seat in the badminton arena, smashes, flicks and all, to the fans in the comfort of their own homes. This is as close to the real thing as it gets, short of the fans returning to the arena. Aside from creating the spatialization and improving the immersion, SXFI LIVE will let people hear more details from the matches, through an ultra-wide soundstage compared to regular audio.”

SXFI LIVE for all BWF Major Championships and BWF World Tour Finals

SXFI LIVE will be featured in all of BWF’s top-tier Major tournaments in 2021, including the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup, TOTAL BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, BWF World Championships and HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.

For more information, please visit https://www.creative.com/BWFSXFI.