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Verily now has more than 1,000 volunteers from across Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) working on COVID-19 as it readies a ramp-up across additional regions.
The life sciences unit launched a coronavirus screening website last week, which directs people to local testing centers, and has opened “drive-thru” locations itself, manned by employees.
Next step? Verily co-founder Jessica Mega said the company is considering integrating the screening process through wearables in the future.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) will hire Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) drivers to deliver packages and groceries or work in its warehouses, according to an email viewed by Bloomberg.
The tie-up can help Lyft workers earn extra money as the coronavirus puts pressure on ridesharing. Lyft lacks the in-house delivery vertical of rival Uber and its Eats service.
Amazon benefits from having more workers to keep up with the demand that has forced the tech giant to focus on essential items and pause its Prime Pantry service.
Last week, Amazon announced plans to hire 100K additional workers and gave U.S. workers an extra $2/hour in pay.
Yesterday, news broke that Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) would acquire Affirmed Networks for undisclosed terms.
Bloomberg sources say the deal values the mobile network solutions company at $1.35B.
Affirmed Networks was founded in 2010, and last month reportedly raised money at a $1.35B valuation.
Affirmed builds virtual networks for telecoms using 5G technology.
In an update on its media business, AT&T (T -1.8%) says viewership during the coronavirus crisis has seen upticks in the areas of children’s, family and news programming.
“With more people social distancing and staying in, numbers across the board have jumped – and this is a trend we expect to continue,” says AT&T’s Rick Welday.
While sports viewing is down amid a spate of shut-down seasons, “this is being offset by upticks in News, Kids, and general Entertainment viewing.” Live viewership on weekdays is up 15%, and free video on demand is up almost 25%, across AT&T TV and DirecTV.
Movie buying/renting volume has almost doubled, the company says, and there’s a tripling in titles geared toward family viewing.
Meanwhile, CNN daytime viewership is up 150% Y/Y and CNN Digital has averaged more than 50M daily unique multiplatform visitors over the past 15 days, and daily average is more than double last year’s; Tuesday, March 17, was CNN Digital’s biggest day since the 2016 election.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Flipkart (NYSE:WMT) are among the e-commerce companies experiencing issues three days into India’s lockdown.
Reuters sources say that differing local regulations have created evolving hurdles, such as the companies obtaining curfew passes for their delivery drivers.
Most of Amazon’s warehouses in the region are closed down, but the company is speaking with the government in hopes of reopening soon.
The lockdown is set to last for 21 days.
