Tag: #Apps

Synctuition launches mindfulness app for free worldwide as mental health crisis looms #MentalHealth #Synctuition

Research commissioned by Synctuition indicates the Republic of Ireland is on the verge of a mental health crisis as they make their mindfulness and relaxation app free for everyone in the country

With the world on the brink of a mental health crisis due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Synctuition, the most advanced mindfulness and mind relaxation app backed by 106 scientific studies, today announces that their platform will be made free to people in 14 countries, in June and July 2020. The announcement comes as new research from Synctuition indicates that over three quarters (76%) of adults in the Republic of Ireland have experienced severe anxiety since the start of the pandemic, whilst the company reports a surge in demand and usage over the past few months, becoming one of the top three highest grossing mindfulness apps globally.

This new offering comes at an important crossroads in the way society examines  how various global events, such as COVID-19, mass unemployment and global riots, has affected the mental health of people worldwide. With psychiatrists and psychologists calling for research into the impact of COVID-19 on our mental health, Synctuition polled 1,011 adults aged 18+ from across the Republic of Ireland between 12-22 May 2020, and found that 18-35 year-olds are experiencing greater anxiety than over 55s (84% vs. 65%). Three out of five Irish adults (58%) are most concerned about the economy, followed very closely by the health of their family (57%). Three in 10 (30%) cited concern for the Government to be able to get us through the pandemic. This is felt more strongly by older respondents (aged 55+) where 40% said this, compared to only 27% of those aged 18-34.

With a responsibility for us all to support those in need, today’s research also paints a poor picture for employers. Only two in five workers (40%) feel supported by their employer with younger workers struggling more with isolation than their older counterparts. More than two fifths (40%) cited lack of socialising as one of the most stressful parts of working remotely, compared to 32% of those aged 55+. 21% say their employer is more concerned about their bottom line than their employees’ wellbeing, 11% say their employer is making more demands on employees and 10% think their employer has treated their employees poorly.

The research also indicated that:

  • When it comes to how employers could be doing more to support their employees’ mental well-being at work, over a third (34%) want more communication with their teammates and nearly a third (29%) would like access to well-being solutions like mindfulness apps.
  • Interestingly demand for wellbeing solutions such as mindfulness apps outstripped demand for access to financial advice (18%) and this is despite that two fifths (41%) of workers are fearful that they will lose their jobs.
  • Despite high levels of anxiety throughout the population, there are rays of sunlight, with the majority of people feeling productive (96%) and feeling optimistic about the future (95%).

Developed over 10 years, Synctuition is the world’s most advanced audio relaxation program. Backed by 106 scientific studies, Synctuition has already reached 4 million users. Whilst being entirely self-funded, the platform has become the third biggest mindfulness app in the US since launching 18 months ago. Dr. Prudence Hall, an author,  and Synctuition mental health advisor said:“Being a part of the development of Synctuition was such a unique experience — incorporating so many disciplines and striking a balance of scientific studies and mindfulness modalities. For listeners to be completely transported to a different world in just 25 minutes could truly transform their state of mind and improve mental health. Personally, integrating the program’s journeys into my own self-care regimen has brought me peace and serenity throughout the current lockdown on numerous occasions.”

Urmas Reinsalu, the Estonian Minister for Foreign Affairs, sees Synctuition as a vital tool for the current time. He said: “I’m proud that Estonia is leading the way in developing so many different technologies to combat the challenges of the current time, and one of the most pressing of these challenges is the mental health crisis. People are struggling to cope with the effects of staying indoors, and people are worried about spreading the virus if they do go out, and their recent research has shown that people are very concerned about their loved ones and their friends. It is vital that people are given all the available materials to help them deal with the stress and anxiety they are currently feeling, which is why Synctuition’s global announcement today is so important.”

Michael Burich, the Co-Founder and COO of Synctuition, said: “Increased loneliness, isolation, anxiety, stress and worry about an economic recession are creating significant dangers to people’s mental health and wellbeing. We are very worried about the future and the mental health crisis that is emerging. Unemployment in the Republic of Ireland has already jumped to record rates over the pandemic period, and unemployment has a direct increase in mental health crises, suicide rates and drug overdose death rates. It is deeply concerning that millions of people’s mental health could be affected for years to come due to the pandemic, and we want to save the lives of those that may be experiencing severe mental hardship due to the current situation. This is why we’re offering our platform for free, with no strings attached.  I’ve been touched by how the international community has come together to offer their support for those in need, but there is almost nothing being offered by the government to support mental health. We want to raise awareness around this neglected issue and offer a helping hand to those in need.”

He added: “Neurological studies over the past decade have shown the positive impact mindfulness can have on helping combat stress and anxiety, giving people a new perspective on stressful situations; building skills to manage stress; focusing on the present; and increasing patience, tolerance, and imagination. As our research shows, the majority of people in the Republic of Ireland are feeling optimistic about the future. We would like to use this as a platform to build on to keep people feeling safe, supported and happy.”

“2020 has been a challenging year for many reasons, with anxiety heightened, loss, pain and injustice all afoot. It’s clear that community and connection is more vital than ever. It’s great to see that Synctuition are working to help others during this time of uncertainty and I am so pleased they are in partnership with the Happy Place Virtual Festival,” Fearne Cotton, Synctuition User.

The app has now been made available for free from the now until 31st July 2020 to the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Canada, Amsterdam, Australia, Belgium, Dubai, Israel, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

You can find out how to download the app for free here: https://synctuition.com/24hpositivity/ireland

OR Android HERE or iOS HERE 

The Mobile Apps Helping Us to Cope with Lockdown Revealed. #Apps

With the introduction of the COVID-19 lockdown seeing nearly all aspects of our lives migrating to our home, our dependence on digital connectivity has never been more prevalent. Thankfully, there has been no shortage of apps that can help us through this strange time – from keeping in contact with family and friends to connecting with colleagues and customers. 

New research from Carphone Warehouse used a social media listening tool to discover which apps are helping us to cope with the lockdown. From learning a new hobby, keeping connected or sharing your own lockdown experience on social media, many of us are using apps to keep us going: 

 

  • Houseparty

 

A relatively new app that has made a name for itself during lockdown, Houseparty has increased in popularity since social distancing has become the new norm. It allows you to make video calls with friends and family while challenging them to a variety of different games. Recent research has revealed that the app is most popular at 10pm on Wednesdays, proving it to be the go-to for a mid-week gathering. 

 

  • Zoom 

 

Another video-based app, Zoom is perfect for both professional and social calls. It is used for business meetings and webinars and can accommodate up to 10,000 viewers through its presentation feature. On the social side, it is also great for hosting virtual pub quizzes or birthday parties. You can also jazz up a Monday morning meeting or Friday night drinks with a variety of fun backgrounds. 

 

  • Headspace 

 

With radical changes to our lifestyles, many of us have had to wave goodbye to well-honed routines – and this can be stressful and mentally draining. Mental health app Headspace focuses on mental wellbeing and relaxation, while providing access to resources such as anxiety-reducing meditation and sleep exercises that help keep users’ mental health in tip top shape. 

 

  • Disney+ 

 

Wondering what to do with all this extra time on your hands? You can binge all your favourite Disney movies and programmes, from princesses to Jedis and everything in between. In fact, the new movie streaming service has proven a threat to streaming giant Netflix, as millions of users have signed up after its launch in the US, Canada, UK and the majority of Europe. 

 

  • Stand Up! 

 

Working from home is the reality for many of us, and being cooped up at home can make it difficult to find the motivation to keep active. It can be easy to slip into sedentary behaviour, but sitting for too long can come with some serious health risks. Stand Up! is an app that prompts you to stand up and move around every so often so you can stretch and get those muscles moving. 

 

  • Duolingo 

 

Many people are using self-isolation as an opportunity get a new language under their belt – and Duolingo has been popular for this. It makes learning French, Greek or even High Valyrian easy and fun with games and tests against the clock. Why not fulfil your wanderlust by attempting to grasp the language of a country you’d love to travel to once this is all said and done?

 

  • MasterClass 

 

If a language doesn’t interest you, you can get to grips with a new skill instead. MasterClass offers the help of a leading professional in their field so you can come out of lockdown with a new hobby. Whether it’s cooking classes with Gordon Ramsay or tennis lessons with Serena Williams, it’s as close as you can get to a private lesson with these professionals. 

In today’s digital landscape, there are a plethora of apps that you can use to help keep you entertained and connected during this time at home. 

Belfast based Thrive launches rapid deployment internal comms app to fast track employee communication with frontline teams. #Thrive

Belfast based Thrive, a leading provider of employee communication and engagement software, announced today the launch of its newest self-service, rapid deployment Thrive.App. This brings together the key features needed for businesses to power up their internal communications for their frontline employees, and can be set up and launched within hours. Thrive’s platform and apps are already used by over 250,000 employees, across the public sector, healthcare, manufacturing, food production, transport and retail, Thrive’s clients include SGN, Fairchild Medical Centre, An Post, Children’s Health Ireland, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Air France KLM.

James Scott, CEO of Thrive comments,

“Our newest Thrive.App will help many companies manage the complex work required to move comms from noticeboards to mobile phones. It’s engineered to make the setup, sign off and success of introducing a digital communication channel easier than ever before, taking the risk and worry away from launching a new solution. 

Using Thrive.App, organisations can now set up an employee comms app within hours, with predefined content templates, drag and drop functionality, customised themes to suit their brands and best practice guidance from our team.

One of the key benefits is that companies can see their employee app come to life immediately, with their own content in the app. They can also get crucial feedback from key stakeholders, business leaders and most importantly their employees with no upfront commitment.”

In this new world, in the wake of Covid-19, business transformation is happening everywhere and each organisation is relying on technology more than ever before. With over 80% of the world’s workforce being deskless, employee communication apps are playing key roles in keeping front line teams informed, engaged, supported and recognised.

James Scott, CEO of Thrive adds,

“We take pride in the guidance we give to people who are thinking about deploying an app. The rapid deployment of Thrive.App will help businesses even further in making their decisions quicker as well as fast tracking their way to better communications.

We are extremely excited about the launch, especially during this time of uncertainty, when effective communication is vital. We hope this launch will enable more people and organisations to see the benefits of moving to a digital communications channel during this challenging time.”

Thrive’s technology has been used actively throughout the Coronavirus period across its client base, with Thrive reporting an all-time usage peak – some as high as 200%. One of Thrive’s client’s is Children’s Health Ireland and Trevor Murphy, Director of Human Resources comments: “With our programme for change in preparation for our move to the new children’s hospital and the current health crisis we are facing, there has never been a more important time for us to ensure our colleagues are connected, sharing and receiving important information and feel fully supported and recognised.

A massive and sincere thanks to all the Thrive team for ‘the can do’ attitude in assisting us in launching our employee app. It is hugely welcomed by all as a great support for communicating key and important updates, information and support for our staff at this very difficult time.”

The initial feedback from staff has been overwhelmingly positive and we are excited to roll it out to our staff across all our sites, in particularly those who are working remotely due to the current guidelines on physical and social distancing.”

Using the Thrive.App clients can quickly remove the reliance on notice boards and allow front line teams easy access to critical information, gather feedback, encourage two-way communication and social communities via user generated content, celebrate success through recognition, build stronger teams and build stronger businesses.

CWSI launches free mobile app to help Irish businesses return to work safely. #CWSI #Business

CWSI, Ireland’s most experienced enterprise mobility specialists, today announces the launch of a freely available mobile app for businesses, to help employees return-to-work safely according to Government protocols. The Safety Instructions app, which is available in multiple languages, including English and Irish, is free to download on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

CWSI developed the app in conjunction with its partner, Netherlands-based enterprise mobility experts BLAUD, with the aim of helping Irish and UK organisations manage the safe return of workers to sites and offices as the economy opens up in phases, following the temporary closure of most businesses due to COVID-19.

The app was built on the insight that a safe and continued return to work requires strong communication and a shared collaborative approach between employers and workers. The user-friendly app was designed to help organisations easily communicate and explain workplace controls to comply with infection prevention measures to all relevant workers, contractors and visitors to the site or office.

Through the app, employers can easily and dynamically distribute safety information and protocols including detailed instructions on social distancing, site floorplans, evacuation procedures and emergency contact details. Data related to Government guidelines on COVID-19 – such as advice on hand hygiene and instructions on what to do if a worker develops signs and symptoms of COVID-19 on-site – can be updated quickly and easily as the latest advice and instructions change.

Visitors to a workplace can access site-specific information via a unique QR code or via a map search feature. The app is available in multiple languages, including English, Irish, Flemish, French and Dutch.

Ronan Murphy, CEO, CWSI, said: “As the economy slowly begins the return to office and site-based working, health and safety protocols and procedures will be critical to ensuring a safe environment for employees and reducing risk for employers. At CWSI, we believe mobile technologies, such as the Safety Instructions application, can play a key role in helping organisations communicate safety measures clearly to staff to mitigate the chances of future outbreaks in the workplace.

Ronan Murphy, CEO and Co-Founder, CWSI

 

“Our freely available app is a great example of how technology can provide employees with immediate, up-to-date information, helping to remove uncertainty around the return to work and alleviate the administrative burden on over-stretched HR and health and safety resources. With the right measures and the tools to communicate these in place, the economy as a whole can return to normal both quicker and more safely.”

 Get on Android     Get on IOS

The Safety Instructions app is available to download on the Google Play or Apple App Store or through the CWSI website (cwsisecurity.com/solution/mobile-workforce-solutions/safety-app)

Game Changer Augmented Reality App Reaches User Milestone. #Fectar #Apps #AR

The game-changing augmented reality app Fectar has reached a 100,000 user download milestone just 100 days after launching. Available for iOS and Android, the app turns any mobile device into a fully immersive AR experience, with no expensive headset required.

The Fectar app pairs with Fectar Studio, a groundbreaking, cross-platform content management system (CMS) for both augmented and virtual reality. Creators use the CMS to design and create interactive AR and VR experiences, which can then be published to the free app.

Eugène Kuipers, CEO and Founder of Fectar says, “Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Fectar has grown substantially since our January launch. We are very proud to reach a landmark 100, 000 app installations in just 100 days. During what are challenging times for all business globally, we are very fortunate that users love our app and our content.

“Our unique benefit is that Fectar includes all kinds of AR experiences, such as life size cars, games, escape rooms, science projects and much more. Since this is user generated content, published by more than 100 unique content creators worldwide, we have new content added daily so there is always something to discover.”

The successful start-up’s app serves a multitude of applications, from offering enriched learning to students and enhanced training for business users to entertaining and informing those on the hunt for something fun. The abundance of user-created experiences on offer is diverse; app users could opt to explore an offshore windmill for example or discover the fossils of a Tyrannosaurus Rex before settling in to a hands-on lesson in the life-cycle of frogs and stopping by a chef’s kitchen to see what’s cooking.

Navigating the expansive library of AR content is also seamless for app users, with a holographic presenter on hand to showcase features. With a 360 Degree Bubble to discover new places on earth, 3D objects to explore and interact with and images and videos viewable from different perspectives and angles, there is always more to discover.

The latest app update has seen several new features added, including multi-language support (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Dutch) and a download functionality for access to content offline. There is also a Spatial Editing option, which empowers users to intuitively edit their own interactive 3D presentation in Augmented Reality using a smartphone by simply tagging and dragging content to the right place with no coding required.

To find out more about Fectar and Fectar Studio, visit www.Fectar.com

Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/spoton-experience-your-ar/id1447352798

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.spoton.viewer

A cyber security expert on @houseparty app. #Houseparty #Apps #Hacks

With everyone working from home and in self-isolation, the Houseparty app has rocketed to number 1 of the download charts.
But there’s a lot of hysteria (and scaremongering) out there about it stealing all your data and being ‘hacked’, so cyber security expert Jonny Pelter, founder of internet safety membership site  SimpleCyberLife wanted to set the record straight with a quick app review..

What is Houseparty?

Know the game ‘Fortnite’? Sure you do. The same guys (Epic Games) created this app. In short, it is a multi-person video calling app. Friends and family, or, even strangers (if you’d like) can connect with you and chat face-to-face much like Skype or FaceTime.

Is Houseparty safe?

1. I’ve Been Hacked – on Monday there were numerous rumours circulating on social media that the app has been hacked but all of these have been unjustified, with no evidence and Houseparty themselves have confirmed there hasn’t been a breach of any kind.
In fact, these claims that the app had been hacked were all so similar in nature to be honest it felt like a commercial smear campaign (probably by a competitor) and low and behold, about 30 minutes ago the BBC posted that the owner of Houseparty is now offering a $1 million reward for evidence that it is indeed a smear campaign.
In short, it hasn’t been hacked. Ignore the rumours, they are wholly unfounded.
2. Privacy – again, many on social media have claimed that Houseparty steals all your personal data. Houseparty does not access third-party apps like Netflix or Spotify, though it does ask for access to user’s contacts and connections on Facebook and Snapchat. This is basically to help them grow by inviting your friends to the app too – loads of apps do this. You can of course turn this off.
3. Gate-Crashers – yes it is true that friends-of-friends (so in effect, strangers) can gate-crash on your video calls. Yes, this is a little creepy especially if adults are crashing on your kids conversations. This is easily turned off in the settings by ‘locking rooms’ so that people have to be invited to ‘rooms’ in order to enter. Easy.
4. Cyber Bullying & Inappropriate Content – as the video chats are unmoderated, as with all social media there is of course a possibility for people to be nasty to one another or kids seeing inappropriate stuff. We suggest parents try to for themselves to assess this. With the settings below which restrict your chats to friends only, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Our Recommendation
1. Use Houseparty! In a covid-19 world in self-isolation, it’s a great way of catching up with the whole family all at once and you can even play some pretty fun games. Resist the scaremongering!
2. Turn Private Mode On…so strangers can’t walk into your or your kids’ chats.
When in the app, click the white smilie in the top left of your screen and then click the red cog icon in the top left of the screen.
3. Update Your Settings. Review settings and ensure you’re happy. Definitely turn location off. Camera and Mic is the only one that is absolutely necessary. The notifications can be highly irritating so you may want to turn them off too.
4. Reject Friends Requests From People You Don’t Know. Ensure your kids know that they should be denying requests from strangers too (even if they are a friend-of-a-friend).

Coronavirus lockdown: Massive surge in the use of fintech apps. #Fintech #Apps

Coronavirus-triggered social distancing, isolation and lockdowns have driven-up the use of financial apps in Europe by 72 per cent in a week, reveals deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations.

The sharp increase in the use of financial technology comes as the world readjusts to life fighting against the global health crisis and economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

James Green, deVere Group’s Divisional Manager of Europe, notes: “The world has changed in the last few weeks. The measures we’re now all taking to help the fight back against coronavirus are affecting the way we interact, live, work, and take care of our finances. 

“A new era has already begun, with digitalisation and new technologies driving the shift.  This can be seen by demand soaring for video-calling platforms such as Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime and Zoom amongst others, as more people from ever work remotely.

“Indeed, Zoom Video Communications has been a remarkable performer in recent times, with its shares gaining more  32% since the market began its decline in mid-February.”

“This new era has also been evidenced this week with a staggering 72 per cent jump in the use of our fintech [financial technology] apps from existing clients and a sharp increase in enquiries from potential ones.”

He continues: “Since the 2008-2009 financial crash, fintech has been filling the void left between what traditional financial services companies are offering and what clients are now expecting, especially in terms of customer experience.

“In broad terms, this means immediate, on-the-go, 24/7 access to, use and management of their money. It means personalised, on-demand services. It means lower costs.

“It can be expected that due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the steps being taken to combat it, this move towards fintech will be significantly accelerated.  Fintech is fast-becoming the new normal.”

deVere is one of the very few financial advisory organisations that has been actively pushing into fintech and is now widely regarded as one of the leaders in the sector.

Over the last three years, the company has developed and rolled out a suite of ground-breaking fintech apps.

 

These include deVere Vault, a global e-money currency app and multi-currency prepaid card; deVere Crypto, a cryptocurrency app to store, transfer and exchange major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin; deVere Core, an app that allows clients to monitor their investments in real-time on-the-go, keeping them informed with news and events that impact investor returns; and deVere Catalyst, a low-cost investment and savings app that offers best-in-class globally diversified funds.

James Green observes: “deVere Catalyst, in particular, has seen a surge in usage over the last week.  This app takes the hassle out of investing and gives those with little or no investment experience the opportunity to invest in well-balanced funds at a fraction of the price – thereby helping them to reach their life-enhancing long-term financial goals.”

Against the backdrop of Covid-19, last week, deVere Group, which operates in more than 100 countries worldwide, launched its Contactless Advice service.

At the launch deVere Group CEO and founder Nigel Green said: “Experts agree that very seldom is it a good idea to take a DIY-approach to something so fundamental to your life as your finances. With the financial and economic landscape shifting and evolving so rapidly, this, I suggest, is certainly not the time. 

“With this free service that offers professional, independent advice, there’s no need to do that.”

deVere’s Divisional Manager of Europe concludes: “Fintech – a significant driver of the so-called ‘fourth industrial revolution’ – is going to become an increasingly dominant part of our lives and coronavirus is fuelling the shift.

 

“I believe it’ll have a positive impact. Why? Because it is meeting evident and growing client demand for on-the-go service, it is speeding up the advance of financial inclusion across the world, plus it gives firms the opportunity to diversify, cut costs, meet regulatory requirements and further enhance the client experience.

You could also check out Cointstats

#Circle Payment App – Spark, New Markets, App Messaging, and Bitcoin Changes.

Today Circle has announced is the introduction of Spark, a new blockchain-based protocol to facilitate trusted, compliant money transfers between participating individuals and institutions over the Bitcoin network. As part of this launch, we are also eliminating the ability for customers to buy and sell bitcoin directly on Circle, and introducing a new preferred bitcoin exchange partnership with Coinbase. We actually had a chat with them this morning on the phone about this and the guys are pretty excited… Jeremy and Sean have said the following below

 

 

Today we’re announcing the launch of full messaging features in Circle’s apps and higher deposit limits for customers, forthcoming support for sending and receiving money between Circle and The Philippines and Korea, and the introduction of Spark, a new blockchain-based protocol to facilitate trusted, compliant money transfers between participating individuals and institutions over the Bitcoin network. As part of this launch, we are also eliminating the ability for customers to buy and sell bitcoin directly on Circle, and introducing a new preferred bitcoin exchange partnership with Coinbase.

 

Circle Messaging Features

We’ve rolled out new messaging capabilities to all Circle customers across all of our apps on Web, iOS and Android. We’ve long argued that social payments are best experienced in the context of the conversations and interactions we have with friends, colleagues, family members and individual sellers. Messaging provides context for a payment, whether that be with a funny image, a photo of a meal shared, a moment from a night out, or a picture of the product someone is selling.

The Circle Pay apps are now organized around people instead of solely by transactions. All payments to and from an individual exist in an ongoing conversation with that person, similar to popular messaging apps such as WeChat, Messenger and WhatsApp. This mirrors our support for Circle social payments natively inside of Apple iMessage on iOS 10.

There are no limits on spending and receiving money through Circle, but to help keep Circle safe for everyone, there is a limit on how much new customers can deposit into their Circle accounts within a seven-day period. Responding to one of the requests we hear most frequently, we have raised that initial deposit limit across all our supported currencies as part of these latest app updates, and now offer the highest initial deposit limits of any social payments service. As before, that initial deposit limit can increase the more you use Circle, and there are still no limits on payments or withdrawals.

Give our money messaging experience a try; it’s a significant improvement in the p2p payment experience.

Spark

When we founded Circle, we had a vision and belief that it was finally becoming possible for money to work the way the internet works. A big part of that was a long-term bet on blockchain and digital currency technology, which we thought held the potential to provide the missing layer of protocols needed for open value exchange.

We have never been focused on convincing consumers to replace their familiar native currencies with bitcoin, but instead wanted to bring the benefits of public blockchains and digital assets to consumers without requiring them to know the technical details. We made progress on that over the past year as we launched our social payment app in the US, UK, and parts of Europe, enabling direct payments across currencies, and also allowing people to send local currency to other digital wallets over the Bitcoin blockchain. This ‘hybrid digital money’ model has been in our sights for a long time.

We’re taking another major step forward today with the introduction of Spark, a set of protocol additions that provides a way for digital wallets to exchange value using blockchains, including Bitcoin, as settlement layers. There are many use cases for the technology, but the initial focus is on connecting digital wallets around the world while ensuring that full KYC/AML and compliance requirements can be met, and presenting a seamless experience that reflects local currency exchange rates and conversion rule contracts.

We plan to release Spark as an open source project that anyone in the world can use and implement, and intend to work closely with similarly-minded ecosystem participants to advance the technology and integrate it with additional public and private blockchains.

New Markets and Currencies

The first implementation of Spark comes via two new markets and currencies: We’re excited to announce partnerships with Korea’s Korbit and the Philippines’ Coins.ph. These two early market leaders in digital currency technology will connect to Circle through partnership and implementation of the Spark APIs.

This will allow Circle customers in the US, UK and Europe to send and receive value with customers in Korea and The Philippines seamlessly, with the speed, security and cost efficiency of distributed ledgers, but with a pure fiat-to-fiat consumer experience, and one that is compliant with international standards for KYC & AML. For customers using Circle, Korbit, or Coins, this makes sending international payments as easy as sending a message to a phone number or email address.

Bitcoin Changes and Exchange Partnership

With the introduction of these new features, Circle is now more than ever not a consumer bitcoin exchange, and we will continue to focus resources on global social payments and future next-generation blockchain technology rather than devoting those resources to supporting the buying and selling of bitcoins directly.

Circle customers who currently hold bitcoin instead of US dollars, pound sterling, or euros may convert instantly to any of those currencies (depending upon availability in the customer’s area). Customers who previously bought and sold bitcoin in the Circle apps may still sell, if they choose, by converting their bitcoin to dollars, euros, or sterling and then withdrawing the balance to their linked card or bank account. Once converted, the account will remain in dollars, euros, or sterling.

Consumers who seek to buy and sell bitcoin in the future may now leverage our new preferred partnership with Coinbase. Customers may still send their bitcoin to any wallet or exchange of their choosing, but Coinbase is our recommended consumer bitcoin exchange.

Circle customers holding bitcoin balances may also simply continue to hold their bitcoin with Circle and receive Circle’s full bitcoin insurance. All Circle customers can leverage Spark-enabled markets and currencies without needing to buy or hold bitcoin directly.

Our continued use of bitcoin as a settlement token and network behind the scenes means that Circle will continue to be a leading participant in the digital currency markets and ecosystem, with our focus on getting more digital wallets to adopt public blockchains as open transaction settlement networks.

Over the past three years, Circle’s treasury operation has evolved into a major liquidity provider and trading counterparty in both the exchange-traded and OTC digital currency markets. We will continue to promote the growth and maturation of such markets as we empower consumers to use digital assets and public blockchains seamlessly as payment rails and not merely as speculative trading instruments.

More info on Spark will be forthcoming. Meanwhile these new partnerships, additions and changes are effective immediately.