AI News

Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners confident of turning South Korean technology startups into ‘unicorns’

Venturing & Investments
Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners confident in South Korean tech startups
Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners confident of turning South Korean technology startups into ‘unicorns’
Products & Services
Movistar Living Apps extend AURA on 800,000 STBs
Telefónica talks-up connected home capabilities with new apps from partners, but with limited reach. ‘Home‑as‑a‑computer’ a technological focus for the Group, although commercial demand unproven, and early gloomy indications of Movistar Home performance. Latest announcement bolsters Microsoft position as key AI partner for Telefónica.
Enterprise (B2B)
ContactEngine and BT Enterprise in award-winning partnership
BT Enterprise and ContactEngine, in partnership to create AI-based conversations, win at UK Customer Experience Awards 2019.
Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone gives Hadoop the heave-ho, turns to Google
Vodafone nearly half-way through migrating its Hadoop‑based big data analytics platform, serving eleven countries, onto Google Cloud Platform. “Cloud-native” Neuron systems leans on Google’s expertise in AI and ML. Full migration from Hadoop to Neuron slated before 31 March 2020.
Products & Services
Vodafone Group revamps MyVodafone; puts app to work selling
Refreshed MyVodafone app launches; 16 markets targeted. Promises better personalisation. Leadership takes yet another shot at reducing retail costs. Forms part of Digital First strategy to upend retail channel model.
Partnerships & Alliances
Orange-backed SoundHound helping Deutsche Telekom find voice
New buddy for DT’s vaunted ‘voicification’ strategy.
Innovation (R&D)
T-Labs hints at future tech moves with IBM Watson AI
Closer AI collaboration on cards between T‑Labs and Big Blue.
Innovation (R&D)
LUCA turns three, with AI embrace
Third edition of LUCA’s annual innovation event focuses on big data and AI solutions for partners. Movistar Living Apps and Aura voice-control in the spotlight.
Venturing & Investments
Telefónica Open Innovation developments, October-November 2019
Round-up of recent activity among Telefónica‑backed startup and venturing ecosystems
Partnerships & Alliances
Swrve builds AI influence with Telefónica
Telefónica formed an enhanced technology partnership with US‑based Swrve, with the aim of improving digital customer engagement across its footprint.
Innovation (R&D)
T-Labs secures government backing for AI projects
Telekom Innovation Laboratories (T‑Labs) secured government backing and kudos for two partnership-based artificial intelligence (AI) projects.
Suppliers & SCM
Altran ties with Vodafone Portugal on AI and data science
French engineering and industrial consultancy Altran flagged a tie‑up with Vodafone Portugal (VfP) that aims to “increase the skills and know‑how” of the two partners in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.
Strategy & Change
Vodafone’s analytics team starts looking outward
Vodafone ready for long-trailered Location Intelligence services expansion. Five-year IT and organisational update ensures so-called ‘single version of truth’. IoT and security use-cases also in focus.
Innovation (R&D)
Vodafone Portugal and TechSee working on Vodafone Visual Support
Vodafone Portugal (VfP) is working with TechSee, a visual assistance solutions specialist, on an augmented reality-based customer support tool.
Innovation (R&D)
BT Group beefs up security credentials
BT focus on security intellectual property highlighted by influential researcher, as BT plays a part in the cybersecurity arms race.
Operations
Digital transformation (DTW19): culture change, reskilling crucial
Reskilling employees fundamental to Wind Tre’s digital transformation strategy. Cultural and organisational change critical for digital transformation to be adopted at scale and to succeed. Operators must change their corporate identity to attract vital new talent. Wind Tre CIO sceptical of vendor marketing of new technologies.
Operations
Telefónica embraces short-term pain for data flexibility
Telefónica Mexico provided insights on building momentum on creating replicable data-driven local systems, with potential for wider deployment. Groundwork on establishing principles, and ensuring standardisation, vital to ensuring benefits can flow through to subsequent use cases. Real-world implementation of a standardised approach can cause initial localised pain, but is ...
Products & Services
Telefónica ramps up AURA
Telefónica provided insights into its AURA strategy, including more market launches. Microsoft’s position as a partner remains a core element of the project. Commitment reiterated to overcoming the challenge of combining local services with a central unified vision.
Events
TM Forum’s DTW19 event underlines need for collaboration and speed
The telecoms industry’s annual pilgrimage to Nice on the French Riviera is set to take on a somewhat different tone in 2020. France has become inextricably linked with the flagship TM Forum (TMF) event – apart from two forgotten years in Dublin – but, following its rebranding as Digital Transformation World in 2018, the event now looks set to transfer to Copenhagen, apparently in order to provide more space.
Innovation (R&D)
Benjamins on Telefónica’s AI ethics and data development
Telefónica confident in the flexibility of its AI approach for adapting to local requirements while maintaining Group standards and expectations. Commercialisation of data analytics and AI capabilities gathering steam through LUCA projects with public sector bodies and multinational customers. Baked-in ‘ethics by design’ seen as fundamental to developing viable ...
Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone Group’s TOBi goes to Turkey
Vodafone partners with Microsoft for a Turkish TOBi version.