This afternoon, the global association, the Mobile Ecosystem Forum announced the results of its Board elections. The Board represents the diversity of businesses, regions, and markets of the mobile ecosystem.
Elections have been taking place over the last two weeks and the results were announced at the MEF Global Forum taking place at Casa Lotja in Barcelona during MWC 2024.
There were four positions up for election, and the newly elected Directors are:
Anurag Aggarwal – Chief Revenue Officer, Enterprise Business at GMS
Dr. Marco Lafrentz – Vice President, Business and Market Development at NetNumber
Robert Gerstmann – Chief Evangelist & Co-Founder at Sinch
Amira Akra – Product Manager, Messaging at Vodafone Germany
They will join existing Board members:
Jason Lunn – Global Connectivity and CPaaS at Cisco, UK
Rajiv Singla – CEO Global Messaging at Globe TeleServices, India
Waheed Adam – Executive Chairman of iTouch Messaging Services, South Africa
Valeria Magoni – Senior Director, Product and Corporate Marketing, Kaleyra in Italy
Dario Betti – CEO, Mobile Ecosystem Forum
Rafael Pellon – Partner, Pellon de Lima Advogados
Tim Ward, VP Number Information Services at Xconnect, UK
Each new Board member serves a two-year term on the MEF Board, whose role is to shape the strategy and governance of MEF activities globally. Over the coming year the role and future opportunities associated with messaging will be a key focus, alongside antifraud, privacy and consumer trust.
Voting took place online and all full members were eligible to vote. There were 10 candidates for the four positions.
Each candidate submitted a short video outlining what they can offer the Board, and MEF members voted for their preferred candidates.
“I am thrilled to welcome our four new Board members and look forward to working with them over the coming year to help address the challenges and opportunities in the mobile ecosystem. I’d like to say a personal thanks to our departing Board members Jimmy Jones and Matteo Gatta, and in particular, to Andrew Bud who is a founder of MEF and has been the Chairman of the Board for the last 16 years.
“MEF’s Board plays a central role in setting the strategy for the organisation and ensuring good governance. It is important that the MEF Board reflects its members with a wide range of expertise, both in terms of sector and geography.” commented Dario Betti, CEO of MEF.
The Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) is a global trade body established in 2000 and headquartered in the UK with members across the world. As the voice of the mobile ecosystem, it focuses on cross-industry best practices, anti-fraud and monetisation. The Forum provides its members with global and cross-sector platforms for networking, collaboration and advancing industry solutions. https://mobileecosystemforum.com/
The new and re-elected Board members will start their tenure on March 12th when the first meeting of the new Board takes place.
HP has announced new pro-grade audio and video solutions with AI-driven software to bring meetings to life.
“HP is thrilled to bring the next generation of audio and video technology, enhanced with innovative AI capabilities to the Irish market, so everyone can be virtually seen and heard with clarity. We are committed to delivering solutions that eliminate the barriers inside and outside the room so users can look and sound their best,” said Val Gabriel, Managing Director, HP Ireland.
Be Seen
As more people return to the office, the Poly Studio X52 all-in-one video bar maximises the virtual meeting experience in mid-sized meeting spaces. New Poly DirectorAI smart camera technology offers automated camera framing modes like group, speaker, and people framing. The 4K, 20MP camera ensures clear visibility of every participant, reaching even the farthest corners of the conference room without any image distortion. Updates to the AI-driven software for group and speaker framing capabilities include the new Poly DirectorAI Perimeter feature and other audio enhancements. The Poly Studio X52 is certified for Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, with pending certification for native support for BlueJeans by Verizon, GoTo, and RingCentral.
The Poly Video OS provides a unified experience across all Poly video conferencing devices. With its latest update, Poly Video OS 4.1 delivers new features and improvements:
For better meeting room experiences with glass walls, Poly DirectorAI Perimeter technology ensures precise participant framing. IT administrators can input room dimensions, allowing AI-powered technology to define parameters accurately and prevent capturing faces beyond glass walls or windows. Additionally, Sound Reflection Reduction minimises echo and reverberations caused by glass and hard surfaces.
The Poly Studio E70 smart camera can now connect directly to the Poly G7500 modular video conferencing system using a standard Ethernet cable for flexible room configurations and easier installation. The Ethernet cable can power the Studio E70 camera and extend up to 100 meters.
The Poly TC10 touch control panel now supports meeting control for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android. It can also function as a room scheduling panel for Microsoft Teams, allowing better visibility into room availability and on-the-spot room reservations. The TC10 control panel is now certified for Microsoft Teams.
Poly Solutions for Large Rooms
The Poly G7500 Modular Video Conferencing System and the Shure Microflex Large Room Bundles deliver a seamless multi-vendor solution for large meeting spaces and have been jointly certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android. Customers now have the option of a tested and certified multi-vendor solution that seamlessly integrates video, compute, and DSP audio solutions, ensuring an optimal Microsoft Teams Rooms experience.
The Poly Studio E70 and HP Mini Conferencing PC have been Zoom-certified for large meeting rooms, offering customers a complete intelligent solution for Zoom Rooms on Windows. The powerful combination of dual camera sensors and 12th generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor enable Zoom Room features, including a Zoom-verified Intelligent Director experience, to deliver more equitable meetings for in-person and remote participants.
Be Heard
The new Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC empowers employees to focus and sound their best with immersive rich audio and adaptive ANC. It is the first boomless headset certified for Microsoft Teams Open Office due to its outstanding performance in noisy environments. The Bluetooth enterprise headset offers a sleek design for complete comfort, featuring soft ear cushions and an adjustable headband for an ultralight fit. Users can stay in command with up to 21 hours of talk time, convenient on-ear controls, and smart sensors for automatic call answering.
IT Management – Poly Lens
With companies striving to enhance the in-office experience and adapt workspaces to evolving utilisation trends, the Poly Lens remote device management provides enhanced visibility and insights across company workspaces. IT professionals can remotely monitor, troubleshoot Poly devices, and streamline device management under one platform.
Poly has expanded its growing portfolio of API integration partners with Ubiqisense and Vyopta to deliver insights for customers leveraging the power of Poly Lens on the Poly Studio X30 and Studio X50 video bars.
Ubiqisense provides rich, actionable insights into room occupancy, usage patterns, and footfall across office floors, meeting rooms, open spaces, and shared desks.
Vyopta provides insights on space utilisation, UC device monitoring, troubleshooting, and meeting experience analytics.
“Organisations seeking to bridge the gap between on-site, remote, and flexible workers will need tools and technologies designed to meet the challenge,” said Val Gabriel, Managing Director of HP Ireland. “HP | Poly have extensive experience deploying a collective suite of AI-enabled audio and video solutions, which offer an immersive collaboration experience for all end users.”
Pricing and Availability
The Poly Studio X52 is expected to be available worldwide in late Summer for a starting price of €4,437.
The Poly Video OS 4.1 is expected to be available worldwide across the Poly Studio X Series of video bars and the Poly G7500 modular video conferencing systems in late Summer.
The Poly Studio E70 featuring Zoom’s Intelligent Director on Windows is expected to be available worldwide in October 2023.
The Poly Voyager Surround 80 is expected to be available worldwide in August for a starting price of €459.95.
The Poly Lens App is currently available worldwide.
TechBuzzIreland was present at the Discover Xiaomi 2023′ European launch event, held today in Milan, the company announced new AIoT products to enhance the smart experience indoors and outdoos. Among the novelties presented are four new vacuum products, Xiaomi Robot Vacuum E12 (E10 in Ireland), S12 (S10 in Ireland), S10+, X10 and X10+; Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 and 4 Lite, which expand the range of products dedicated to smart mobility; and Xiaomi Pad 6, the all-in-one, powerful and versatile tablet ideal for work and leisure. We had a chance to take a look at pretty much everything what the company has to offer and there is some really cool tech building an excellent ecosystem.
“Xiaomi has always placed its users at the core by providing devices that aim to improve their daily lives, offering the best technology and an increasingly easy and engaging experience. With these new products, we renew our commitment to bring innovation and quality to the industry as we continue to expand our offering and optimise our product portfolio across Western Europe markets” – says Ou Wen, General Manager Xiaomi Western Europe.
When it comes to household chores, an ever increasing number of people are looking for products that can clean quickly, with the option of controlling the parameters via their smartphone. Today, Xiaomi brings four new products to European markets to meet every need, not only in terms of efficiency, but also in terms of price. From entry level to premium devices to give users the widest possible choice.
New Xiaomi Robot Vacuum: increasingly smart, increasingly easy
Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10, the latest in Xiaomi’s line of robot vacuum cleaners, is designed to simplify cleaning while ensuring top performance. Equipped with a 5200mAh battery, it provides 180 minutes1 of autonomy on a single charge at maximum suction power.
Combined with its intelligent base station, this versatile cleaning device is also specifically adapted to clean all types of floors thanks to a suction power of 4,000Pa. It is a perfect ally for thorough house cleaning, allowing users to enjoy some free time after a long working day.
Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10+ and Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12(Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10 in Ireland) which expand the S-series and like all S-series and X-series products are equipped with LDS technology for planning an efficient cleaning path, regardless of the size and layout of the home. For those looking for a product with an ultra-slim design, but without sacrificing high suction power, there is Xiaomi Robot Vacuum E12 (Xiaomi Robot Vacuum E10 in Ireland) which allows easy access even under the sofa or bed.
All new models are certified by TÜV Rheinland, guaranteeing the privacy protection for every user.
Prices and availability:
The recommended retail price for Xiaomi Robot Vacuum E12 with accessories (Xiaomi Robot Vacuum E10 in Ireland) is 307.95 Euros and 249.99 Euros for vacuum only. The early bird price will be available from May 22nd to May 28th at 249.99 Euros including accessories.
The recommended retail price for Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S12 with accessories (Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10 in Ireland)is 417.94 Euro and 349.99 Euros for vacuum only. The early bird price will be available from May 22nd to May 28th at 349.99 Euros including accessories.
The recommended retail price for Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10+ is 499.99 Euros for vacuum only.
The recommended retail price for Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10 is 549.99 Euros for vacuum only.
All vacuums will be launching in Ireland, with Harvey Norman, DID and Euronics
Xiaomi also reveals new scooters and the Xiaomi Pad 6 and again we had some hands on with these at the event and cast your mind back to the first e-scooter the brand launched which flew off the shelves and i have had one myself.
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 and 4 Lite: Ride in comfort
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 line-up expands with two new models, Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 and 4 Lite, respectively equipped with a 600W and 300W motor capable of reaching a maximum speed of 20km/h2. With a capacity of 7,650mAh, Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 is able to cover distances of up to 35 km on a single charge, easily overcoming gradients of up to 16%. The capacity of 4 Lite version, on the other hand, is 5,200mAh, providing a range of 20km.
The drum brake on the rear wheel of Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite, together with the E-ABS system on the front wheel, reduce the braking distance, thus ensuring greater safety. Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4, on the other hand, features an improved dual-action disc brake on the rear wheel for optimised control efficiency; together with the E-ABS system on the front wheel, the braking distance will be much shorter.
Both products can be connected to the Xiaomi Home app via Bluetooth to check speed and charge in real time, update firmware and monitor driving data.
Xiaomi Pad 6: Built for work, designed for ease
Xiaomi Pad 6 features a thinner and lighter unibody design compared to the previous version and an elegant metal finish. The device is powered by Snapdragon 870 Mobile Platform and is equipped with an 11″ LTPS LCD screen with WQHD+ resolution, up to 144Hz refresh rate, 309 ppi, Dolby Vision® and HDR10 support.
Xiaomi Pad 6 features a 13MP main camera and an 8MP front camera, and is equipped with quad speakers for immersive stereo sound thanks to Dolby Atmos, which guarantees the best experience. The battery has a capacity of 8,840mAh (typ), providing up to 16 hours of video playback, and supports 33W fast charging. Furthermore, thanks to the USB 3.2 Gen 1 supporting speeds of up to 5Gbps and 4K video output at 60fps with DP interface, transferring files to your laptop will be even easier and faster.
Xiaomi Pad 6 front – techbuzzireland
Xiaomi Pad 6 rear – techbuzzireland
Thanks to MIUI Pad 14, the software of the device is optimised to offer the best connectivity and new ‘conference tools’5 such as noise cancellation or the ability to keep faces centred during video conferences by following their movements thanks to the FocusFrame function. Xiaomi Pad 6 is therefore a very versatile device and thanks to the Xiaomi Smart Pen (2nd generation) and Xiaomi Pad 6 Keyboard, the experience can be even smarter! Comfortable then for working, watching videos or movies on the go, but also taking notes in university or drawing outdoors.
The Xiaomi Pad 6 will be available on the European market in three colour variants – Champagne, Gravity Gray and Mist Blue. Prices and availability will be unveiled when sales start as of now the device is not scheduled to release in Ireland
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD joined Dell Technologies to officially launch the company’s Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab at the company’s campus in Ovens, Co. Cork.
As the company’s only Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab outside the US, the facility provides an innovation testbed for telecoms and technology leaders across Europe,
the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The first-of-its-kind facility in Ireland connects leading engineers at Dell with telecom providers as they drive digital transformation forward. The other lab is located in Round Rock, Texas.
In addition to having access to Dell’s expertise and technology, customers and industry partners will be able to test and deploy open telecom solutions at the heart of 5G and 6G networks. By unlocking the business potential of 5G, the new Lab can help accelerate the development of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0, smart mobility solutions and digital cities.
The €2m investment in the new Lab further reinforces Ireland’s position as a global strategic location for Dell Technologies. The company’s team members at its three campuses in Cherrywood, Cork, and Limerick have been at the forefront of embracing new technologies. In recent years, Dell has opened an Innovation Lab in Limerick and its redeveloped Customer Solutions Centre in Cork.
“As emerging technology accelerates the pace of change within every sector of our economy, it has never been more important for technology leaders and telecom providers to work together to advance Ireland’s position as an innovation leader,” said Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD at the opening of the new facility. “This investment by Dell Technologies in its new Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab is welcomed as it not only strengthens Ireland’s position as a hub for emerging technology but will also help create new business opportunities linked to 5G and the future roll-out of 6G. I want to congratulate Dell Technologies on this important milestone and look forward to seeing the Lab evolve and grow.”
“We’re delighted to open Dell’s first ever Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab outside the US here at our campus in Cork,” said Bob Savage, Regional CIO for EMEA and Cork Site Leader at Dell Technologies. “As telecoms providers look to accelerate the pace of digital transformation within their sector, the new Lab will provide an important space to collaborate, innovate and push the boundaries of an open and modern telecom system. This new investment places Cork at the heart of Europe’s open telecom ecosystem. Our talented team of engineers and leading industry partners such as Vodafone, Ericsson, VMware and Druid Software can accelerate the roll-out of next-generation services.”
IDA Ireland’s Executive Director Mary Buckley who attended the event said: “Dell’s decision to locate its second Open Telecom Ecosystem (OTE) Lab here at its Cork campus is very welcome news. This new lab adds engineering consultation, partner testing, and a new Ireland location for global telecom ecosystem collaboration meaning that Dell customers and partners will now have an EMEA location to collaborate across the globe on open innovation projects. I wish Dell continued success.”
Jabra, a leader in professional audio and video solutions, will be the first to market with its PanaCast 50 Video Bar System leveraging the new Microsoft device ecosystem platform, as announced on the Microsoft blog today: What’s new in Teams Rooms and Devices at Enterprise Connect. Microsoft collaborated with Jabra to optimise the platform to leverage Microsoft Teams Room for Android as the first industry market solution.
The Microsoft device ecosystem platform brings together the best of Microsoft and Android, tailored for shared spaces and optimised for Teams devices. Built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), the platform delivers the security, reliability, management and deployment that Microsoft is known for, along with the diversity of hardware and software support that comes with Android. It is designed for innovation – with the extensibility and customisation that manufacturers need to deliver innovative products with both hardware and software extensions.
The Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is an integrated solution. It includes a Qualcomm Technologies Inc. state-of-the-art system-on-chip (SoC) for IoT running Android, which will be upgradable to the new Microsoft OS. It also includes other SoCs, as well, speakers, microphones, video cameras, with network and display interfaces for easy deployment. The solution comes with a 10.1” touch controller to manage the room experience. The system natively and securely runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android.
Aurangzeb Khan, SVP for Intelligent Vision Systems at Jabra said, “We are delighted to have contributed to the development of this enterprise grade Android platform and to deliver it with the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System as the first video solution for this Microsoft ecosystem platform for Android. Together Jabra and Microsoft present a video solution that combines the Microsoft heritage in platforms, security, management, and scale with Jabra’s leading video technology, for the benefit of our customers.”
With a hardware-based root of trust and attestation, built on Microsoft’s PKI cryptography and Qualcomm® Trusted Execution Environment, the platform delivers security and tamper resistance with attestation by enabling secure identification of the device and its configuration. This is built with the advantage of the Qualcomm® QC8250 SoC for IoT supporting multiple concurrent instances of VPU-based hardware offload, with up to 8K video encoding and decoding. The Qualcomm QCS8250 SoC also allows for up to 64-megapixel video capture for exceptional high-definition videos.
“Qualcomm Technologies is proud to be a part of the collaboration to create the Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System, featuring the premium Qualcomm QCS8250 SoC,” stated Dev Singh, Vice President, Business development, and Head of Euilding & enterprise, and Industrial Automation, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “The PanaCast 50 Video Bar System utilises the SoC’s advanced security and video processing functions to bring to market this first-of-its-kind collaboration system.”
“We are excited to partner with Jabra to bring the Microsoft device ecosystem platform to our customers and as its first adopter from the partner ecosystem building devices Certified for Microsoft Teams,” said Dave Kearney, General Manager of Program Management at Microsoft. “Security, reliability, management, and performance are critical for businesses globally and by building on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and partnering with Qualcomm we are pleased to offer a solution designed for shared spaces which brings the best Microsoft has to offer across those fronts while providing flexibility and diversity in the hardware and software offered.”
Security is backed by Microsoft – with government-grade secure development environment, state of the art code analysis, threat detection, and software updates customers can depend on for shared meeting spaces. Matching this, the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is designed to adapt to the evolving UC experiences and hybrid workplace needs with its AI-powered software-defined platform. It is easy to install, manage and use with everything needed for video meetings embedded in the PanaCast Control for a one-touch start/join without requiring any additional devices, allowing simple, secure, and scalable deployment and management in any small-medium sized rooms.
For more on the Microsoft device ecosystem platform, please visit the Microsoft blog here:
Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is today announcing that its digital mapping system is being used by Bord na Móna to restore and rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of peatlands over a five year period.
Bord na Móna is a climate solutions semi-state body helping Ireland to achieve a net carbon zero future. Now that commercial peat extraction has ceased, the organisation is leading the way in restoring and rehabilitating precious peatland ecosystems. Having previously worked with Esri Ireland on other projects, Bord na Móna is now using Esri’s ArcGIS system to support and optimise its rehabilitation efforts.
Bord na Móna is currently planning or implementing rehabilitation schemes on 19 sites annually throughout Ireland. Using Esri’s digital mapping capabilities, its ecologists can analyse and examine the ground level to identify which rehabilitation measures are most appropriate on different areas of bogland. This enables them to devise specific map-based solutions such as drain-blocking or bunding to optimise hydrological conditions to re-wet peat and restore peatland function.
Through their collaboration, Esri Ireland has helped Bord na Móna transform their rehabilitation operations, as all employees have access to real-time information on a central system which saves time, helps to improve workflows, and allows constant updating. ArcGIS Online dashboards provide greater visibility on the progress of all projects, wherever they are happening in Ireland. Teams can also use the dashboards to generate automated, accurate reports for stakeholders, such as the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The technology also enables effective working in remote, wild landscapes, as apps can be used in the field to capture data. This eliminates the need for paper use and improves the accuracy of data collection. In areas with little or no mobile coverage, maps can be downloaded to mobile devices and updates synchronised later.
Michael Lenihan, GIS Manager, Bord na Móna said: “ArcGIS is engrained in our bog rehabilitation process. Using ArcGIS, we can quickly visualise the existing conditions across thousands of hectares of bogs using numerous datasets and design and implement the most appropriate rehabilitation measures to restore peatland function and deliver climate action benefits.
“With ArcGIS Online, everyone sees the most up-to-date plans, whether they are working in the office or in a bog, and this helps to ensure that ecology plans are carried out as intended. Without the dashboards, we would have to spend a lot of time producing PDF maps and reports. Instead, we can output progress data in a matter of minutes.”
Phil McLaughlin, Client Manager, Esri Ireland: “Having worked extensively with Bord na Móna, they knew that we were the natural fit to deliver on this next stage in their journey. Esri’s technology has provided the organisation with an effective way of analysing, capturing and storing data to help them renew and rehabilitate our precious peatlands. It is already starting to deliver very positive results supporting Ireland’s ambitious climate goals and protecting our rich biodiversity.
“We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Bord na Móna as it carries out this vital work.”
