Sprint's 'Curiosity' Aims to Advance an IoT-Connected World
*By Samantha Errico*
As our world becomes more digital, companies are increasingly turning to the "internet of things" to inform their business practices. One such company is cellphone-service provider Sprint, which recently announced a "Curiosity IoT" platform ー a network designed to turn sensor data into "actionable intelligence," according to the chief of products and solutions at the IoT division, Ricky Singh.
Although the project is still in its early stages, Singh hopes that this core network will "create an intrinsic part of the ecosystem that helps bring solutions to bear that do impact our lives positively."
The internet of things, Singh told Cheddar, is enabling smart homes and smart buildings to be safer and more efficient. For example, IoT sensors can send users a phone notification when a person arrives at office ー those censors can also dim the lights when that user leaves a common area in his or her office building.
On a fundamental level, Singh said, IoT aims to create new experiences and services for guests, up the levels of efficiency for building owners, and reinforce safety and security for tenants.
"We're seeing traditional work spaces being evolved in more collaborative fashions ー you go there to interact with your co-workers rather than sit at a desk and work," Singh said. "And for the gig economy specifically, we're seeing the rise of companies like WeWork that provide co-sharing spaces that are all sort of powered in many ways by IoT. "
"Digitization of everything has really impacted what going into the office or building means for us," Singh said.
Creator commerce platform LTK raised $300 million in a recent funding round, now valuing the company at $2 billion. LTK is the world's largest influencer marketing platform and is known for helping to pioneer the so-called 'creator economy.' The company helps content creators make money off of their social media posts by hosting them on one central marketplace. LTK says more than $3 million in products are bought each year on its website and app. Now, the company is looking to continue its growth. LTK co-founder and president Amber Venz Box joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Microsoft recently announced the standalone Teams Essentials as businesses continue to update their practices for the new norm of hybrid work life. Jared Spataro, corporate VP at Microsoft Modern Work, joined Cheddar to talk about solutions the tech giant has rolled out in order to help underserved small and medium-sized companies continue operations seamlessly. "We're excited about the opportunity to serve their needs better, and that, in particular, is focused on their meeting and communication needs," he said. "We start with Teams, which has been a wildly successful product for us up in the enterprise space, and now we have created a form of Teams that is particularly suited for small businesses."
No matter what you're in the market for this holiday season, there is one way that you can put some cash back in your pocket and stretch your gift budget a little bit further this year. With Lolli, for every gift you buy for someone else, you get the gift of free bitcoin back. CEO of Lolli, Alex Adelman, joins Cheddar News.
Iwao Fusillo, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, GM, joins Cheddar News to dispel myths and cut straight to the facts about GM's role in an all-electric future.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Elon Musk warned SpaceX employees in a leaked email that the company could be forced to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy if its raptor engine program fails. Musk then commented on the previous statement adding the detail that a recession could make such a bankruptcy possible.
Goldman Sachs is rolling out an Amazon Web Service for trading firms called GS Financial Cloud for Data with Amazon Web Services. The move comes as Wall Street looks to keep up with today's evolving tech.
Online ad-tech company Innovid made its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange. CEO and co-founders Zvika Netter joined Cheddar's "Opening Bell" to discuss factors that drove the company to launch an IPO via a SPAC deal. He noted that the rapid growth of connected TV advertising (CTV) made it an opportune time for his business to go public. While the company is profitable, Netter also explained the various avenues it will take to increase total revenue.
Reese Mozer, CEO and co-founder of American Robotics, joins Cheddar News to discuss innovations in edge computing and how drone technology can maximize its potential.