Category: News

New York City votes to limit ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft

Early on 8th of Aug, the ride-hailing service providers like, Uber Technologies, Lyft found themselves in the eyes of the storm. This time, it is New York City that has hit the brakes over the growth of the app-based ride-sharing companies.

What is the cap proposed on Uber?

The City Council has voted to halt new vehicle licenses for ride-hail services. The lawmakers have approved the proposal to freeze the new licenses for car service drivers for one year. By doing this, New York has become the first city in the US to impose such a restriction.

Along with the cap, another bill would require ride-hailing companies to provide data on usage and charges or face a fine $10,000 for noncompliance. Geographic restrictions and a $15 minimum wage for ride-share drivers were also approved.

New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted saying he would sign the bills into law, “Our city is directly confronting a crisis that is driving working New Yorkers into poverty and our streets into gridlock. The unchecked growth of app-based for-hire vehicle companies has demanded action – and now we have it.”

In addition to this, the legislation passed will even set minimum pay levels for the cab drivers and minimum fares. These factors are currently only regulated for the traditional cabs. In a statement to CBS News, Uber said that the decision will “Threaten one of the few reliable transportation options while doing nothing to fix the subways or ease congestion.”

Joseph Okpaku, vice president of public policy at Lyft, was more heat than light over the City Council. Following the vote, he said in a statement, “These sweeping cuts to transportation will bring New Yorkers back to an era of struggling to get a ride, particularly for communities of color and in the outer boroughs. We will never stop working to ensure New Yorkers have access to reliable and affordable transportation in every borough.”

On the other hand, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance are on cloud nine. Having a whale of the time, Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the NYTWA, said in a statement, “This victory belongs to yellow cab, green cab, livery, black car, Uber and Lyft drivers who united together in our union to transform our shared struggle and heartbreak into hope and strength. And this victory belongs to New Yorkers and our allies who have stood with us to say, not one more death, not one more fallen driver crushed by poverty and despair.” NYTWA has pushed hard for the freeze as the taxi industry has been long decimated by Uber’s rise. As per reports, the price of a taxi medallion has plunged from more than $1 million to less than $200,000.

Final Word

The industry experts are saying that a cap on new licence would reverse the progress of the app-based services to the neighborhoods that are poorly served by traditional taxis. However, the cap is definitely in the favor of traditional taxi services that were affected by the tech companies like Uber and Lyft.

 

Without batting an eye, Apple says it has paid two third of its Irish tax bill

The tech giant, Apple on 1st August 2018, revealed in a regulatory filing that they have paid two-third of the $15.1B which as per EU Entrust regulator, it owes to Ireland in the back taxes.

The whole story:

European Commission alleged Apple of an illegal tax deal with the Irish tax authorities in the year 2016. Apple was fined $15.1B for receiving favorable tax rates from Ireland with the hopes that it brings more business to the country.

As of June 30, 2018, 4.5 billion Euros of the total amount were funded in the escrow. Apple owes a total of 13 billion Euros plus an extra 1 billion Euros in interest. Apple has paid more than half of the imposed fine, yet this lawsuit will extend for a few more years. Funds will be kept in the escrow account while this case works their way through the court.

Why was Apple fined?

In August 2016, the European Commission ordered Ireland to claw back $15B from Apple in a landmark ruling. The commission found out that iPhone maker Apple has benefited itself from the Irish tax rulings. Apple was alleged for saving huge sums of tax over a few years. It was found that not only the tax ruling was generous but also violated competitor laws.

Looks like EU’s huge tax bill hasn’t hurt Apple’s money-making machine a bit. $15 billion is no big deal when you’re worth $1 trillion. EU commissioner quoted that lawsuit will be dropped as the Apple pays the whole amount. Lately, Google has also been fined by EU over Android Abuse, read here.

Article Source: https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/apple-says-it-has-paid-two-thirds-of-the-15-1-billion-irish-tax-bill-4882571.html

Qualcomm asks for Blueprints to Intel chips used in Apple smart phones

In the patent dispute with Apple, Qualcomm says it still wants the blueprints of the chips used in Apple’s iPhones after Intel went back to providing documents related with the latest radio frequency components being used in recent Apple phones.

Qualcomm and Apple in Patent battle: the complete story

This all started in last year when Apple filed a lawsuit against chip biz Qualcomm for $1Bn. Apple alleged Qualcomm with unfair licensing terms for its technology. Apple said they are being charged by wireless chip maker for trying every new innovation.

Qualcomm reverted by suing Apple with Patent infringement and asked for a ban on iPhone sales. Don Rosenberg, executive vice president of Qualcomm said, “Apple could not have built the incredible franchise, without relying upon Qualcomm’s cellular technologies.” Late last week, Qualcomm filed a motion asking Intel to supply it with technical files and coding specifications involved with cellular modems used in Apple’s smart phones. After several meetings and conferences, Intel agreed to cooperate with the Qualcomm over certain demands and requests.  

“But Intel reneged the deal. It failed to produce the required documents even after the two months time“, says Qualcomm. Qualcomm also said Intel also refused to cooperate with them because of depositions against  Intel’s current generation of RF components. Qualcomm quoted that Intel thinks it would be overly burdensome on them, but their RF components are already undisclosed to people.

It might be possible that Intel is trying to pay off Apple’s favors, so, it is not producing the documents and getting this lawsuit delayed.

Article Source: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/08/01/qualcomm_intel_modem_specs/

Apple also deserves an EU fine for its anti-competitive practices, like Google

On July 18th, 2018, Google was hit with a fine of $5B by the European Commission over Android Antitrust Abuse. Google is alleged to have pushed the users to its search engine and weakening its competitor search providers and app developers. But considering the consumer opinions and current scenarios, EC should have gone after Apple too.

Why is Google guilty of Android abuse?

Google violated one of the major EU law by making illegal agreements with smartphone development organizations. Thus, they dominated their search and browser apps in the smartphone. European Commission alleged Google of favoring Android and paying the manufacturers to install its apps on all Android devices for a Play Store license. This reduced the ability of other search providers and browser developers to compete in the market. Google licensed its operating system to smartphone manufacturers with the motive of enfeebling its competitors and favoring their own applications.

Why does the same apply to Apple?

Leonid Bershidsky, opinion columnist covering European politics and business said that “If Google is guilty in Android Antitrust Abuse, Apple should also be held to account for a similar violation”.  Although an Android user can easily shop in a few alternative stores, an iPhone user cannot go to any other alternative of Apple’s App Store without disabling operating system updates. Earlier, even US Court agreed to hear a case on the dominant position of Apple. This suit was on the behalf of those consumers who were forced to pay commission to Apple for every app’s price.

Apple is a sole seller in the iPhone market and it behaves exactly like one. In Apple’s iPhone, there is no way to delete the browser and even the users are forbidden from going for an alternative app. Google Chrome and other apps are available on iPhone, but they can’t be used for default purposes. You can specifically open these apps, but the default one would be of Apple’s. Google, however, gives it’s user the freedom to choose the desired one.

Along with app dominance, Apple software also provides very rough deals for the users. Unlike Google, it doesn’t even give us the luxury to switch applications if any of the Apple’s app fails. I think it’s even more anticompetitive of Apple that it simply pre-installs own software and hopes that the users will keep it because it’s good enough.

Final Words

This latest decision of the European Commission is the beginning of boosting the chances of success of the app developers. Others, who do the same, should also be fined or it will seem as a target on a U.S. organization rather than a step of stopping anticompetitive behaviors.

Being a monopoly in the iPhone market, Apple is favoring itself and locking out its competitors. So, the question arises that while kicking US tech giant Google, why haven’t the EU fined Apple too? Well, right now there isn’t any signs of EU going after Apple. However, with the arguments of Leonid Bershidsky and continuous antitrust inspection of Google, it seems that Apple will be in murky waters soon.

Read more about EU’s fine on Google at:

EU fined Google with $5B over Android Antitrust Abuse Case

Google to appeal against $5 billion fine by EU in Android antitrust case

Tech giant Google has confirmed that they will appeal against European Commission $5B fine over Android Antitrust Abuse asserting that Android operating system has created more choice for everyone, not less. India-born CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai defended Android, the popular OS by saying that rapid innovation, wide choice, and falling prices are classic hallmarks of robust competition and Android has enabled all of them.

Read more at:

EU fined Google with $5B over Android Antitrust Abuse Case

EU fined Google with $5B over Android Antitrust Abuse Case

On Wednesday, July 18th 2018, the European Union Commission imposed a fine of $5 billion on Google over antitrust of Android’s dominance in smartphone market. It’s being said that Google has pushed the users to its search engine with the motive of enfeebling its competitor search providers and app developers. Even last year, Google was slapped by EU regulators for market abuse and now it has happened again and this time it’s the tight one.

What is Google’s Android Abuse?

The EU commissioner for the competition Margrethe Vestage said,” Google has controlled Android to dominate its search engine and weaken its rivals from having the chance to innovate and compete as per the merits.” She added that Google offers services which we all like, but they can’t misuse their powers and favor their services over the competitors.

Basic reason behind EC imposing fine of Google are the agreements of Google with the Android smartphone developer organizations. European Commission has alleged Google of having their control over Android and forcing manufactures to install Google Search application and Chrome browsers in all Android devices for a Play store license. Although Android is an Open Source mobile software, which is available for free, yet they prevented manufacturers from pre-installing its apps if the Android version wasn’t pre-approved by the company which violates the competition rules.

In the Smartphone market, Android has 80% shares among mobile operating systems and Google’s search share in the EU market is over 90% in most countries. The EC also stated that Google’s investment in Android is because of the reason that it’s users’ shifted from the desktop to mobile devices. So, they planned it all along to dominate Android for the sake of boosting their search engine’s popularity.

What does Google has to say?

Google has denied all these allegations and said that they would appeal the commission’s decision of anti-competitive behavior. Google spokesman Al Verney said, “Android has always provided more choice for everyone, not less“. Google CEO Sundar Pichai argued that Android has expanded the choice for the users. The Android has enabled many app developers, including European ones, to make a living through the platform.

Final Words

Android antitrust abuse is about restricting competition from other search services to gain huge market share on Android. The EC has given Google, a duration of 90 days to end all the ongoing illegal practices. If this is not done, they will face more penalty payments of up to 5% of the daily worldwide business of Google’s parent company Alphabet. EU’s fine of $5 B on Google is more about preventing them from rolling its services to Android, than forcing the company to change Android significantly.

Article Source:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/10/eu-hits-alphabet-google-with-android-antitrust-fine.html

2018 Holiday Calendar: A Marketing Guide for eCommerce Marketers

Gone are the days when the eCommerce sale was all about the holiday season. The marketing strategies earlier would revolve around the last quarter of the year. The new eCommerce promotional calendar presents an abundance of festivities and commemorations that can help the savvy e-marketers gear for the year-long marketing campaign.

We’ve created a quick promotional checklist of the holidays and sales dates of 2018. Identify which holidays and sales dates align with your brand and create your marketing campaign accordingly.

Do not wait for the holidays to begin. Instead, start marketing your business to your customers right from the beginning of the year. We at Knowband assist you in every phase of eCommerce marketing and sales. Our Spin and Win modules can help you double the customer base during the sales season. Stay in touch with your customers with our intuitive mobile app builder. Expand your reach and integrate your shop with the popular marketplaces like Walmart, Etsy, eBay, Jet, Newgg and many more with our marketplace integrators for Prestashop, Magento, Shopify as well as OpenCart.

Knowband becomes a Prestashop Partner Agency

Having made a mark as a leader in the eCommerce space, Knowband has always been focused on offering simple solutions to build, manage and develop a successful online store. Under the registered name of Velocity Software Solutions, we are already ranked 52nd amongst the Indian Companies appearing on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™ Asia Pacific list. Competing with other countries on the list, we have tiered the 421st position with a growth rate of 120%. Achieving yet another milestone, Knowband is overwhelmed to announce that we are now a Prestashop partner.

As far-seeing and progressive team, we were allocated the SuperHero Support Badge by Prestashop in the very beginning. One of our modules, One Page Checkout, was even marked as ‘Favorite’ on the addon store. With over 60 plugins on the addon store, we are successfully enabled 10000+ clients to thrive in a competitive market regardless of size, industry or revenue. We boast of top-grade solutions for the various eCommerce platforms – Magento, PrestaShop, Shopify, OpenCart and others.

Our expertise in Plugin Development services ensures functionally smart plugins for meeting the need of the competitive industry. The mobile app builder for iOS/Andriod designed and developed by our intuitive development team can help you stand apart from the crowd.

Some of our best selling plugins are:

Best-in-class services and the world-class solution can provide you the competitive advantage and this is what you can expect from Knowband.

Addon store: https://addons.prestashop.com/en/149_knowband