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How did Microsoft and Google grow faster than AWS in third quarter?

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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How did Microsoft and Google grow faster than AWS in third quarter?
  • AWS, the market leader, grows 32% in the third quarter while Microsoft grows over 50% and Google by 54%.
  • Hyperscalers have now shifted focus to advancing industry-specific service portfolios and growing their channels to successfully bring these increasingly diverse sets of products to market.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), maintaining its leadership position, accounted for 32 per cent of the total cloud infrastructure services spend in the third quarter of this year but Microsoft and Google Cloud grew more than 50 per cent on an annual basis.

AWS grew 39 per cent on an annual basis but Microsoft Azure, the second-largest cloud service provider with a 21 per cent market share, grew over 50 per cent for the fifth consecutive quarter while Google, the third-largest provider with eight per cent of the market, grew 54 per cent in the third quarter.

Blake Murray, Research Analyst at Canalys, said that overall compute demand is out-growing chip manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure expansion may become limited for the cloud service providers.

According to the research firm, cloud infrastructure services spending continued in high demand and grew 35 per cent to $49.4 billion in the third quarter, driven by a range of factors, including the ongoing remote working and learning, and the growing use of industry-specific cloud applications.

 The latest estimates show expenditure has grown $12.9 billion over a year ago and $2.4 billion since last quarter. 

“Cloud services spending are still being affected by the digital transformation efforts required to maintain business continuity during pandemic-related disruptions. In response, the major cloud services providers have emphasized geographic data centre expansion to meet rising demand,” Murray said.

Industry-specific offerings

Due to the imminent shortage of chips, he said that data centre component providers are seeing longer lead times and higher prices that will be passed on to the largest providers. 

“The hyperscalers have now shifted focus to advancing industry-specific service portfolios and growing their channels to successfully bring these increasingly diverse sets of products to market,” he said.

AWS recently announced AWS for Health, which combines industry-specific offerings with cybersecurity and compliance solutions.

It has been successful in the public sector, winning key deals with US and UK governments. It has also led channel development through its competency programs, with its government competency becoming the largest industry-focused competency among its partners. 

Microsoft continued to focus on industry cloud service customisations and expanded capabilities in financial services and manufacturing. It also reported new customer success in its cloud service suites for healthcare and sustainability.

Microsoft has worked on its position around data governance and also announced Azure Purview, a unified data solution designed to support data management in multi-cloud environments while Google Cloud also emphasized its channel partners and released new incentives in its partner program.

It [Google Cloud] advertised a 175 per cent increase in customer engagements through partners during the first half of this year and also advanced its positioning around data sovereignty with the release of Google Distributed Cloud, which gives customers options to extend Google Cloud’s infrastructure to the edge and customer data centres.

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Jabra aims to be a force to reckon with in video conferencing solutions

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Jabra aims to be a force to reckon with in video conferencing solutions
  • Expects to gain market share by reinventing the video space by offering intelligent solutions.
  • MEA is a very small market and contributes about 7% to its EMEA business and Jabra has  a big role to play in the next three years, a top regional official says.
  • Jabra expects a growth of between 20% and 40% in the region this year as the demand is huge.

Jabra aims to become one of the top leaders in the video conferencing space in the next three years and give tough competition to the big giants in the market, a top official said.

Speaking to Tech Channel News, Nicolas Bliaux, Managing Director for Eastern Europe, Russia & CIS, Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Jabra, said that the video conferencing market is growing due to the hybrid work model and video has become part of people’s daily routine.

Nicolas Bliaux, Managing Director for Eastern Europe, Russia & CIS, Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Jabra.

Many know Jabra as a leader in the TWS space but 80 per cent of its business comes from the B2B space after the acquisition by GN Audio, a division of the Danish company GN Group, in 2000.

In 2019, GN Audio acquired Altia Systems to add video conferencing products to their line-up and the first video product from the acquisition was named Jabra PanaCast.

GN Group has also been responsible for several developments, including laying the first intercontinental telegraph connections in the 19th century, developing 2.4GHz technology in hearing aids for direct connectivity and producing the world’s first made-for-iPhone hearing aid with direct stereo sound streaming.

GN’s current roster includes Jabra, ReSound, a hearing aid brand, and wireless headset-maker BlueParrot.

Expanding its portfolio

 “We forayed into the video conferencing solutions to expand and complete our portfolio and to make sure we offer a full collaborative experience. We have poured some big investments into this space as the video conferencing market is growing due to the hybrid work model and would become one of the top leaders in the next three years,” Bliaux said.

The big leaders in the video conferencing space are Microsoft, Cisco, Zoom and Avaya, to name a few.

MarketsandMarkets forecasts the global video conferencing market size is expected to grow from $9.2 billion in 2021 to $22.5 billion by 2026, at an annual growth rate of 19.7 per cent.

Bliaux said that the hybrid work structure is here to stay even after Covid and it has been there for a long time.

Call to invest in right technology

“It is not something new for Jabra when compared to some industries but it has become a reality for many. Many employees want personal technology to take with them wherever they wish to work and prefer companies to select and provide that technology to make the hybrid experience equal,” he said.

Moreover, he said the work structure is going through a significant change and today, there is no one solution fitting for all as each case is different.

“The way we collaborate has changed significantly and most of the people would like to work from home. 68 per cent of the employees prefer a hybrid work structure.

“As companies evolve their hybrid working strategies, organisations can deliver a better working experience for employees by continuing to invest in the right technology and giving employee’s autonomy over the working day. People want more quality and to communicate easily,” he said.

Bliaux said the video conferencing market is huge and like to compete with the giants.

“Video is one of the key pillars of our strategy. Today, our penetration in the market is very small. We know that we can gain market share by reinventing the video space by offering intelligent solutions,” he said.

He added that the Middle East and Africa [MEA] market is growing a lot and there is big growth potential.

Seeks to acquire more brands

“From the enterprise point of view, MEA is a very small market for Jabra and contributes about seven per cent to its EMEA business and we a big role to play in the next three years,” Bliaux said.

Out of 80 per cent of the B2B business, Jabra is present in three main regions – North America, EMEA and the Asia Pacific. North America and CALA (Central America and Latina America) and EMEA contribute about 60 per cent from the 80 per cent.

“2021 will be a fantastic year for Jabra after the slowdown in 2020 despite global chip storage. We expect a growth of between 20 per cent and 40 per cent in the region this year as the demand is huge,” Bliaux said.

When asked about the aim of acquiring gaming peripherals-maker SteelSeries from Axcel for $1.2 billion, he said that it is pretty new for the group but represents a strong growth opportunity.

“The acquisition will bring developments in software, product offerings and a great IP to GN. The DNA of SteelSeries is similar to us and it will benefit from our commercial and operational expertise and SteelSeries will continue its strong growth trajectory in the PC and console gaming market,” he said.

The acquisition will give GN access to SteelSeries’ headsets, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals for PC and console gaming, as well as its sub-brands, like Nahimic.

“We are financially very strong and will be looking to acquire more brands to expand our portfolio,” he said.

GN employs 6,500 people and reported annual revenue of 13.4 billion Danish Krone ($2.08 billion) in 2020 while the Jabra brand accounts for about 8.7 billion Danish Krone ($1.45 billion) and employs 1,900 people.

Jabra will be showcasing its professional headsets, intelligent video conferencing devices and technologies designed to help organisations deliver and overcome challenges that come with the adaptation to a hybrid work environment at Gitex, taking place from October 17-21 in Dubai, UAE.

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How to buy Ray-Ban smart glasses when it is not available in your country?

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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How to buy Ray-Ban smart glasses when it is not available in your country?
  • New York-based Apple Buddy delivers the latest gadgets straight to your doorstep direct from the US.
  • The startup was founded to bridge the gap in cross-border shopping, giving a chance to anyone in the world to access the latest tech products directly from the US.
  • The company handles the entire process for the client from order to delivery.
  • Company charges a minimum service fee of $50 per order for this personalised shopping experience.

The Facebook/Ray-Ban Stories Smart Glasses just got released in the US, Canada, Australia, Italy, Ireland and the UK but unfortunately, a release date has not yet been announced for other countries.

How can people buy these glasses without the wait?

A New York-based e-commerce company – Big Apple Buddy – is allowing buyers to use its concierge service to order the Ray-Ban Stories or other tech products immediately.

The company has partnered with reliable shipping carriers – FedEx and DHL – so that customers can receive their new gadgets in as little as a week.

Eliminating international barriers

Phillis Chan, Co-founder of Big Apple Buddy, said that it was founded to bridge the gap in cross-border shopping, giving a chance to anyone in the world to access the latest tech products directly from the US.

He said the process is easy and consumers can visit the company’s shopping platform and place their order.

“Big Apple Buddy will then arrange for the product to be personally sourced from a US retailer and shipped to their doorstep. We have already developed a loyal client base in over 100 countries around the world. Their clientele is mainly professionals and tech enthusiasts, who want the latest products quickly and hassle-free,” he said.

The company handles the entire process for the client from order to delivery. They will source the item from a reputable US retailer, check and repackage the goods upon arrival at their facility, prepare all necessary customs documentation and have the parcel safely shipped to the clients’ doorstep.

The company charges a minimum service fee of $50 per order for this personalised shopping experience. 

 “Big Apple Buddy has a mission to eliminate international shopping barriers, giving consumers access to the latest tech products as soon as they are released in America, regardless of where they are in the world,” Chan said.

Vedantu is the new kid on edtech block to attain unicorn status

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Vedantu is the new kid on edtech block to attain unicorn status
  • Bengaluru-based startup raises $100m Series E funding and the proceedings will be used to expand into newer categories through both organic and inorganic routes.
  • The startup becomes the fifth edtech to join the $1b club this year after, BYJU’s, Unacademy, UpGrad and Eruditus.
  • Education is still very early, much more transformation is still to come which we wish to drive forth, CEO says.

India’s first live online tutoring app – Vedantu – attains unicorn status with the $100 million Series E funding and the proceedings will be used to expand into newer categories through both organic and inorganic routes.

The latest round was led by Singapore-based ABC World Asia, and existing investors such as Coatue, Tiger Global, GGV Capital and Westbridge, among others.

The Bengaluru-based startup becomes the fifth edtech to reach unicorn status this year after, BYJU’s, Unacademy, UpGrad and Eruditus.

The Rainmaker Group acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Vedantu on their fundraising.

In July 2020, Vendatu raised $100 million in the Series D round.

Vedantu offers tutoring courses to young students from 3 years old to 18 years old, as well as preparation for competitive exams such as IIT-JEE, NEET, Commerce, CBSE, ICSE, and state exams such as Maharashtra boards.

Innovation to continue

“We will continue to innovate to reach as many students as possible and create 10x better experiences and outcomes for every child. Even though we have made quality teaching affordable and enabled it to reach masses since our inception, it’s still very early, much more transformation is still to come which we wish to drive forth,” Vamsi Krishna, CEO and Co-Founder, Vedantu, said.

He believes that education has a long cycle, and changes take time to manifest.

“Our vision is simple: Unleash the potential in every child. Seeing any significant change requires patience and the tenacity to sustain long term. With that in mind, we want to create a company that outlasts our lives and continues to innovate for decades to come,” he said.

Edtech experiences meteoric growth

The edtech startup was launched in 2014 by Anand Prakash along with Vamsi Krishna and Pulkit Jain, and catered to over 200,000 paying students last year, a 300 per cent increase year on year.

Its revenues increased 4.5x over the previous year, making it the fastest growing online education company in this space and the overall second-largest company in K-12 in terms of revenue and number of students.

Sugandhi Matta, Chief Impact Officer at ABC World Asia, said that online education in India has the potential to extend the scope of ‘right to education’ to students in the underserved community and capture the ‘next half billion’ income group, representing over half of the country’s student population.

With edtech experiencing meteoric growth in India, she said that Vedantu is driving the tectonic shift towards online learning.

“Vedantu’s innovative platform empowers teachers who have delivered excellent results to offer personalised education to many students at once, creating the potential for impact at scale. We are pleased to partner with Vamsi and the Vedantu team as they continue to scale and shape learning outcomes for students in India.”

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Alma Health: Transforming healthcare experience for people with chronic conditions

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Alma Health: Transforming healthcare experience for people with chronic conditions
  • Abu Dhabi-based healthcare startup provides a fully digital experience, from a virtual doctor consultation at the tap of a button to prescription delivery and ongoing care.
  • About 20m people in the region are living with at least one chronic condition, co-founder about 20 million people in the region are living with at least one chronic condition says.
  • The startup to enter Dubai and Saudi Arabia soon.

Many people live with chronic conditions that can not only be stressful and lonely but also filled with prescriptions, appointments, and wasting hours in crowded waiting rooms to see a doctor and finally with eyes popping out to an unexpected medical bill.

Necessity is the mother of all inventions, as said by many experts, and it turned out to be true in the case of Khaldoon Bushnaq, Co-founder of Abu Dhabi-based healthcare startup – Alma Health.

Bushnaq suffered a herniated disc or a slipped disc in his neck and back and had an inefficient experience at the hospital.

“I went to a doctor and a pharmacy and I realised how inefficient the experience is, from a booking time to see the doctor and then going down to the pharmacy. I realised how inefficient the processes are and thought about other people who have much more serious chronic conditions such as heart problems, diabetics, hypertension, etc.,” he told TechChannel News in an exclusive interview.

After recognising that there is a gap in chronic condition management, he said that he and his partner – Tariq Seksek – started the company in May 2020 to transform the lives of people with chronic conditions.

“The goal is to limit the time you spend managing your condition to an absolute minimum for the rest of their lives with a fully digital experience,” Bushnaq said.

Seamless experience

Alma Health was created to have a “seamless healthcare experience” from doctor consultation, to delivery of medication, to ongoing care and started offering their services in Abu Dhabi in January this year.

“Our vision is to create a world in which your chronic conditions do not complicate your life while managing your health is as easy as a click of a few buttons,” he said.

The top five chronic conditions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are diabetics, hypertension, heart diseases, asthma and obesity while diabetes and hypertension are the two main conditions people live with within the UAE, Bushnaq said.

Unfortunately, he said the region has the highest number of chronic conditions in the world.

According to the ministry of health authorities in the region, about 20 million people in the region are living with at least one chronic condition.

“We own healthcare assets and healthcare licenses and have our teams. Alma is accredited by many reputable insurance providers in the region such as Thiqa, Daman, NAS Neuron and Oman Insurance,” he said. 

The user’s healthcare specialists, insurance providers and Alma Health’s physicians and pharmacists are all connected through the Alma Health Operating System.

On a growth trajectory

Bushnaq said that their doctors are based in Abu Dhabi, licensed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, and seeing patients in the Emirate.

Alma has five full-time GPs and partners with many specialists on a part-time basis.

The startup is entering Dubai and Saudi Arabia soon.

“We are in the process of finalising several healthcare licenses in different GCC countries. Saudi Arabia is a major market as at least 12 million people are living with at least one chronic condition and we believe that Alma can play a big role,” Bushnaq said.

Moreover, he said that they are on a growth trajectory and would like to maintain the 10 per cent growth week on week that currently is, if not accelerating.

“We are growing the team, in terms of clinicians and software developers. We are patiently obsessed, following Amazon’s mantra to be customer-obsessed. What differentiates us from the crowd is that we are not a platform, we are a healthcare company.”

The platform does the hard work to fulfil the patient’s prescription, bill the insurance provider, prepare various medications and deliver them straight to the doorstep within 24 hours.

“We will also remind you when your prescription is due for a renewal,” Bushnaq said.

Telehealth is future of healthcare

Since its launch, Alma Health has received two funding from Hambro Perks – the Oryx Fund, a global venture fund backing early-stage companies with a particular focus on healthtech, other investors include the Oman Technology Fund – Wadi, an Omani sovereign wealth fund, as well as strategic angel investors from Saudi and the UAE. 

“We plan to raise the next round soon and are speaking to investors,” Bushnaq said.

He added that the telehealth concept has changed a lot due to Covid-19 and believes that telehealth will become the future of healthcare and the adoption rate will accelerate.

“Covid-19 was a trigger to try telehealth and the pandemic give a fire to grow faster. Once people get the taste of telehealth, there is no way of going back to the offline world.

“We see a future where 90 per cent of the healthcare services provided to a person with a chronic condition are offered either digitally or offered at home. There is no need for a person to go to a hospital for urgent care,” he said.

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When the going gets tough, the tough gets going for Vodafone Idea

Mohammed Fahad
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When the going gets tough, the tough gets going for Vodafone Idea
  • Indian telco operator sustains hiring momentum during uncertain times.
  • Job listings in Mumbai and Pune were around 800 jobs between September 2020 and August 2021.
  • The Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial, commercial and consumer space is one of the key aspects where VI is creating products and use cases.
  • VI is targeting OTT, insurance/fin-tech services, digital security, cloud, ed-tech, and digital health categories to develop products.

Amid rising questions on Vodafone Idea’s (VI) future as a telecom operator in India, the company’s job postings soared from 26 in September 2020 to 391 in August 2021.

VI’s postings grew steadily in 2021, listing around 2,200 jobs between September 2020 and August 2021. 

The company’s hiring activity shows a tilt towards maintaining operations and staffing to provide products and services to government projects. Interestingly, 37 per cent of the total listings during the period were in Mumbai and Pune.

 “VI’s hiring comes at a time when the company is looking to maintain its market share of 21.9 per cent total mobile subscriptions in 2021, close to Airtel India’s 27 per cent,” Ajay Thalluri, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, said.

He said the company is focusing on major cities to expand the 4G network capacity and efficiency.

Moreover, he said that Pune is one of the cities allocated to the company by the Government of India to conduct 5G trials.

Major projects won

The company is significantly hiring in West India that includes cities like Mumbai and Pune. Listings in the two cities during the period were around 800 jobs.

During the same period, the company listed 569 roles in other leading metro cities of New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

VI’s corporate office in Mumbai manages its operations from where it is also creating products and services.

The Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial, commercial, and consumer space is one of the key aspects where VI is creating products and use cases.

A September 2020 role for ‘GM-Head NPD (CIoT and Smart Mobility)’ shows the company is developing innovative solutions around CIOT, smart mobility and automotive.

In the capital city of India, VI bagged a project from the Government of India’s Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) to deliver five million IoT SIMs and a total content value of Rs4,000 million ($54.3 billion), AGM – Lead IoT Strategic Projects role shows.

The company was appointed by the Assam government to implement the Guwahati Smart City initiative. For Hyderabad, VI looks to engage with government, SMEs and public sectors to support multiple propositions across connectivity and collaboration, the ‘AGM-Solution Manager Govt & SME’ role shows.

More retail franchise outlets

Thalluri said the company is looking to build a sales network and have more retail franchise outlets in tier two cities such as Kolhapur, Solapur, Ludhiana, Haridwar and Mohali.

Intending to monetise the platform, he said that VI is targeting OTT, insurance/fin-tech services, digital security, cloud, ed-tech, and digital health categories to develop such products.

Moreover, the company is creating a digital store and plans to set up a new API platform to sell partner products and services as customised or white-labelled products, ‘AGM – Product & GTM Lead Digital Store’ role shows.

 “Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced a relief package that provides a four-year moratorium on payment of government dues. Going by the company’s interventions, contracts, and operational focus areas, cash strapped VI could get a new lease of life,” Thalluri said.

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