Microsoft readying to lay off 7,800 workers from mobile phone unit

The reign of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been punctuated by massive change in management and massive layoffs - Photo from Microsoft

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

More change is afoot at Microsoft which has seen various departures in management due to recent restructuring, the ripple effect of these changes and compressions is the loss of jobs. Microsoft announced today that it will lay off 7,800 workers, majority of these coming from the declining smartphone unit, which it acquired from an already weakend Nokia just last year for US $7.2 billion. Microsoft is the third largest player in mobile behind Apple and Google, but it holds a tiny 2.5 per cent market share, with no indication of moving up.

These layoffs are separate and in addition to the expected 18,000 employees that Microsoft announced would be laid off a year ago as part of the larger restructuring plan. It must be remembered that Microsoft inherited 25,000 employees as a result of the Nokia acquistion last year. This latest development questions what the future of Windows on Mobile Phone will be. Microsoft also relayed it is writing off $7.6 billion related to its acquisition of Nokia and resulting restructuring costs which comes off as a loss for the company.

Click to read more ...

Onyx Motion introduces basketball coaching app for smartwatches

Onyx Motion Inc., a developer of sports technology, launched its funding campaign for Swish, the world’s first digital basketball coaching app for smartwatches. This new sports-tech uses motion sensors to analyze an athlete’s technique and provides easy-to-understand tips. With a goal to bring high caliber coaching to players at all levels in training, Onyx Motion has partnered with NBA Athlete, Ben Gordon, as Swish’s director of innovation.

“Here at Onyx Motion, we are building the next generation of AI for sports coaching,” said Marissa Wu, CEO of Onyx Motion. “Swish allows mobile devices to break into physical interaction to a point where it can tell you what to do to get better. Our goal was to create a health and fitness device that would give personal recommendations, not just churn out numbers.” 

Click to read more ...

July 15 is Amazon Prime day with bigger sales expected than Black Friday

Amazon.ca shoppers, specially those that have Prime accounts should take note that the biggest shopping event on the popular e-tail website is coming on July 15. Celebrating Amazon's 20th year, the Prime Day sales are expected to be enormous, with various items at heavily discounted prices although, likely, in limited numbers. Amazon.ca is saying the sales will be bigger than Black Friday.

Prime Day is a global shopping event, offering more deals than Black Friday, exclusively for Prime members. On Wednesday, July 15 new and existing members will be able to shop hundreds of Lightning Deals, Deals of the Day, and will receive unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping. Members will find deals starting at midnight PST. Not a Prime member?Try Prime today and get immediate access to deals on July 15.

On Prime Day (July 15), Prime members will find $60 savings on the Fire HD 7 and $30 savings on the Kindle as well as find a Bose headphone at the lowest price ever on Amazon.

Financeit offers businesses and their customers ease and flexibility of financing

Peer-to-peer payments are currently gaining popularity, but what about peer-to-peer lending? Financeit is preaching the benefits of financing and the company’s point of sale options and services now have over 4,000 partners. 

The benefits they hope businesses, including Independent merchants, sole proprietors and mom and pop shops and these businesses’ customers, include no fees or penalties for paying out early as well as making initial payments.

Click to read more ...