Technology Roundup – Apple Podcasts come to Amazon Echo, SoftBank will maintain Latin America investment pace

苹果播客 软银
Published on: December 13, 2019
Author: Amy Liu

Apple Podcasts come to Amazon Echo

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) podcasts are now available through Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Alexa devices.

Echo devices are the first third-party devices to support Apple Podcasts without using AirPlay.

Spotify Free and Premium users will be able to ask Alexa for podcasts and set Spotify as the default player.

The SPOT integration was revealed in September at the Amazon hardware event, but the company made the announcement today.

SoftBank will maintain Latin America investment pace

SoftBank (OTCPK:SFTBF,OTCPK:SFTBY) plans to maintain its investment pace in Latin America in 2020, according to managing partner Andre Macie.

In March, SoftBank launched a $5B fund focusing on emerging tech companies in the region.

The tech giant made 19 investments in Latin America this year and looked at around 300 companies.

Foxconn won’t amend Wisconsin contract – The Verge

Foxconn (OTCPK:HNHAF,OTCPK:HNHPD) is refusing to amend its contract for the project it’s building in Wisconsin, according to documents viewed by The Verge.

The original plan was to construct a $10B, 22 million-square-foot LCD plant, which was to earn Foxconn a record $4.5B in taxpayer subsidies.

Foxconn has since nixed the LCD plant idea, though it still plans to build some type of facility for some type of work. The details are murky, at best.

Wisconsin officials have warned Foxconn that the current project is too far away from the original deal to receive the subsidies. The contract needs to be amended if Foxconn wants the money.

Officials say Foxconn has “refused by inaction” to amend the deal.

During the contract talks, Foxconn claimed it could apply for the subsidies regardless of what it builds.

Ant Financial, Vanguard form investment advisory JV in China

Alibaba (BABA +0.4%) affiliate Ant Financial and Vanguard, the $5.9T U.S.-based asset manager, form a joint venture to bring a streamlined and broadly available investment advisory service to retail consumers in China.

The two companies’ joint venture will provide a fund investment advisory service, as approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, to Chinese individual investors.

Ant Financial, operator of the popular Chinese payment platform Alipay, focuses on using technology to bring inclusive financial services to the world, and Vanguard has significant experience serving investors and investment management expertise.

Nokia, TIM sign IoT agreement

Nokia (NYSE:NOK) will provide IoT services to TIM Brazil’s enterprise customers.

The agreement marks Nokia’s first deal for its Worldwide IoT Network Grid in Latin America.

TIM customers will gain real-time monitoring and management of their IoT devices.

Nokia shares are up 0.3% pre-market to $3.58.

Technology