Verizon’s latest push in connected cars will include more than just Wifi.
“The connected vehicle ecosystem is so much more than that,” Andrés Irlando, CEO of Verizon Connect, told Cheddar. “What we do is essentially help customers to optimize their connection to their vehicles and their mobile resources more generally.”
The telecom giant invested $5 billion to launch “Verizon Connect” for consumers and companies on Tuesday. It’s a merger of three fleet management and mobile software brands, Telematics, Fleetmatics, and Telogis, which together will provide logistics and data analytics.
Irlando said the technology has already helped clients boost safety and productivity. He pointed to one customer in particular, online grocer FreshDirect.
“To improve driver behavior, they’re able to track speeding, harsh braking, harsh turns, seatbelt usage,” he said. “We provide solutions that are focused on safety and security, so think about solutions like automatic crash notifications.”
New claims for state unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week and they come as a surprise for those witnessing yet another round of layoffs from the tech sector.
Paul Knopp, the U.S. chair and CEO of accounting giant KPMG, joined Cheddar News to discuss key issues such as global cooperation on technology and ESG investing from the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Amazon is discontinuing its decade-old philanthropic program, AmazonSmile, which allowed customers to donate 0.5 percent of the cost of their purchase to select charities.