Google takes on Slack and WhatApp with ‘Spaces’ group sharing tool

Google takes on Slack and WhatApp with ‘Spaces’ group sharing tool

Google has launched Spaces, a collaborative messaging app similar to the increasingly popular Slack. Spaces features integration with other Google products, such as Chrome and YouTube, allowing users to share articles and videos without leaving the Spaces app. A ‘space’ can be started and maintained around anything: a weekend getaway, a love of comic books, […]

Google uses I/O to unveil app promotion tools to Apple developers

Google uses I/O to unveil app promotion tools to Apple developers

Google has opened this year’s I/O conference by unveiled the latest additions to its Universal App Campaigns offering, including the extension of the service to Apple developers, plus tools to help them find high value customers. The Universal App Campaigns suite is expanding beyond Android to help developers grow their iOS apps, meaning all app […]

Microsoft Sells Off Nokia for $350m

Microsoft Sells Off Nokia for $350m

Microsoft has sold off the Nokia brand and its feature phone business to FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group, for $350m (£243m). The deal also includes the company’s Hanoi manufacturing facility, Microsoft Mobile Vietnam. A further deal with Nokia will give FIH the exclusive rights to the Nokia brand until 2024, which […]

Google puts search functions directly into mobile keyboard

Google puts search functions directly into mobile keyboard

Google has launched a new keyboard for iOS devices that directly integrates search functions, such as maps, GIFs or shopping results, into user’s messages. Called Gboard, the keyboard features a button on the upper left that lets users perform web searches, look for images or GIFs, or even search for emoji without ever leaving the […]

Pret A Manger Hints At Imminent Android Pay Launch in UK

Pret A Manger Hints At Imminent Android Pay Launch in UK

Google’s launch of its Android Pay platform in the UK may be extremely imminent, according to tags seen on payment terminals at fast food chain Pret A Manger, which suggested that the brand was now accepting Android Pay. According to The Telegraph, multiple Pret A Manger branches in London have added tags to credit card […]

Facebook’s controversial facial-recognition app Moments launches in Europe

Facebook’s controversial facial-recognition app Moments launches in Europe

Facebook has launched its photo-sharing app in the EU and Canada after adapting its controversial facial-recognition software to work around each region’s privacy laws. The program – Moments – was released in some countries in 2015, but withheld elsewhere because of local data privacy rules. The company has created a different version of the software […]

Barclays Launching Mobile Payments Service to Compete with Android Pay

Barclays Launching Mobile Payments Service to Compete with Android Pay

Barclays is rolling out its own contactless payment service for Android phones this summer, enabling customers to pay at over 400,000 locations in the UK and placing the bank in direct competition with the upcoming launch of Android Pay. The service, simply called ‘Contactless Mobile’, will build upon the functionality launched to Barclaycard customers earlier […]

Uber rival Karhoo gives full-service account to VCCP

Uber rival Karhoo gives full-service account to VCCP

Taxi app Karhoo works like a price-comparison website and, unlike Hailo and Gett, allows any taxi company (except Uber) to sign up to its platform. Users can sort through the list of taxis available in their area, based on price, journey time or type of vehicle. Karhoo, unlike Uber, also allows users to pre-book cars. […]