Japan-based SoftBank Corp., U.S.-based Sprint Corporation, and U.S.-based TBCASoft, Inc. today stated the aim for a technology cooperation jointly developing blockchain technology for telecommunication carriers.

TBCASoft is a startup company developing consortium-based blockchain technology, specifically for telecommunication carriers. SoftBank, Sprint and TBCASoft will be promoting research and development with the purpose of building a cross-carrier blockchain platform for various services. Among those, are such services as secured clearing and settlement, personal authentication, IoT applications, and other services provided by telecommunication carriers.

Starting from June 2017, the three companies will aim to commence a technical trial that connects TBCASoft’s blockchain platform to telecommunication carriers’ systems. The three business organizations will collaborate closely on issues related to technology, business, and the regulations of various jurisdictions.

Taboola, the global major discovery platform, today unveils an exclusive, 3-year renewal agreement with India Today. Under the agreement, India Today will be integrating Taboola’s personalized content recommendations, Full Page Personalization, Newsroom, and Audience Exchange. The goal is to drive user engagement, audience development, and revenue.

India Today Group is India's leading and most diversified media conglomerate with magazines, newspapers, books, radio, television, print, and Internet. India Today first worked with Taboola in January 2014 with the primary goal of introducing high quality native advertising to consumers, whereby in the new agreement Taboola will work tightly with India Today to integrate its full Discovery platform across desktop and mobile devices.

The agreement will leverage Taboola’s suite of platform capabilities. In addition to continuing to serve sponsored content recommendations, India Today will launch Taboola’s Personalization in an effort to increase onsite user engagement. India Today’s properties will also utilize Taboola’s “audience exchange” architecture, which empowers publisher teams to strategically manage and optimize the flow of traffic across the India Today network, driving users to relevant off-site content and high-value video pages.

“We want to double down on serving content that is tailored to users interests and behaviors, so our readers remain engaged and excited about what they are reading,” said Kalli Purie, Group Editorial Director (Broadcast & New Media), India Today Group. “Taboola has already helped us achieve success, we look forward to working towards our goal of driving increased user engagement and audience development.”

Taboola works as a search engine in reverse. Instead of expecting people to search for information, Taboola helps information find people at the right time in the form of recommended content. Its predictive engine analyzes hundreds of real-time signals (including location, device type, referral source, social media trends and more) to match users with content they are most likely to be interested in consuming next.

Media consumption in India is on a steady rise and the country has remained a key priority for Taboola, which has established partnerships with several Indian publishers including Times of India, NDTV, Jagran, Bhaskar, Aajtak, Amarujala, Rediff and Deccan Chronicle.

CEPRES today reported about demonstration of PE.Analyzer³ at upcoming SuperReturn conference in Berlin. PE.Analyzer³ mixes three products, such as an advanced investment research tool, an innovative due diligence system, and an exclusive private investment network for high quality, verified GPs, into one secure online platform for private markets.

PE.Analyzer³ was developed with the combined thought leadership of 100s of leading LPs and GPs. It introduces an entirely novel user interface that puts decision makers in control of all the information they need - at their fingertips. PE.Analyzer³ also ushers in an era of investment data and sophistication never seen before in private markets. It completely redefines how investors make commitment decisions to funds, directs and co-investments.

“PE.Analyzer³ is a revolutionary and innovative product that is literally five years ahead of any tool for private equity”, says Dr. Daniel Schmidt, CEPRES’s founder and CEO. “We all want to be empowered and ensure that we make the best investment decisions — whether internally, or via a consultant or advisor. PE.Analyzer³ delivers this through the most revolutionary tools and data since private equity investing began”.

Additional important highlights are:

• Advanced Investment Research Tools Empower Analysts and Decision Makers
  • Quickly find answers to most demanded questions
  • Aggregates live data direct from 1000s of GPs
  • Over $4.2 trillion of PE-backed companies
• Innovative Due Diligence System Based on Thought-Leadership of 100s of Leading LPs
  • 1-click analysis for instant in-depth screening
  • Pioneering deal and operating company benchmarking
  • Build library of GPs and compare to own portfolio
• Exclusive Private Investment Network to Connect for Investments around the World
  • Only verified, high quality GPs
  • Fast access to new strategies
  • Save time and expense on initial screening 

Atom bank, the UK’s pioneer bank, built exclusively for mobile, announces a revision of its Fixed Savings products. The purpose is to offer a full range of market leading rates. The new rates will be available across several terms from Friday 24^th February.

• 1 year Fixed Saver                                    2.00% Gross  / 2.00% AER
• 1 year Fixed Saver (monthly interest)       1.98% Gross / 2.00% AER
• 2 year Fixed Saver                                    2.10% Gross / 2.10% AER
• 2 year Fixed Saver (monthly interest)       2.08% Gross / 2.10% AER
• 3 year Fixed Saver                                    2.20% Gross / 2.20% AER
• 3 year Fixed Saver(monthly interest)        2.18% Gross / 2.20% AER
• 5 year Fixed Saver                                    2.40% Gross / 2.40% AER
• 5 year Fixed Saver(monthly interest)        2.37% Gross / 2.40% AER

Atom has introduced a new generation of banking that simplifies the processes and provides fast, easy and secure service. Moreover, it is accessible to everyone through their smartphone. Customers can open and access all Fixed Savers via the Atom Bank App, the first banking app to allow users to customize the design of the platform and create a truly personalized, as well as pioneering banking security experience using biometric technology with both face and voice recognition.

Interested customers can download the Atom App from the Apple or Android Play stores to open their account in a few taps, or visit www.atombank.co.uk for more information.

Clare Framrose, Atom’s Head of Customer Propositions commented that savers had a tough deal with traditional banks, and there is determination to offer something better.

Furthermore, the company is absolutely delighted to offer a wider and more competitive range of Fixed Savers. It truly believes in giving customers the best products and experience, without the pain and frustration, as it happens in case of traditional providers. Being purely digital enables to execute lower cost model and pass these savings back through great interest rates. In addition, UK licensed Atom bank offers full FSCS protection on savings to provide extra reassurance to the customers.   

Insurance technology specialist SSP has introduced the Polaris imarket. It is a live-chat service on its commercial e-trade platform. Allianz Insurance is the first UK insurer to go live with this integrated web chat functionality, and other insurers are due to implement it soon.

The imarket live-chat service enables SSP's brokers to chat online with underwriters at Allianz in real-time to ask any questions about its rates and products. By being able to communicate easily and directly with an insurer without leaving the SSP application, brokers can get the answers they need to continue placing the business. With such increased ease of engagement, brokers have greater confidence in the rates and more trade will be kept within the e-trade space.

Ron Atkinson, Head of Distribution Relationships at SSP comments: "SSP has an excellent track record in the personal lines space, and we have brought all our functions together to employ the same methodology to commercial lines. The launch of the imarket live-chat service on our platform is confirmation of SSP's commitment to the commercial lines market and to getting things done quicker.”

“Furthermore, by revitalizing company’s approach and introducing innovative initiatives such as live-chat, we are helping to drive adoption of commercial e-trading. Our brokers offer a source of significant untapped GWP for insurer partners. As we add more insurers to the panel, our brokers will benefit from greater efficiencies, freeing them to provide the advice and support customers want in order to deliver the best service possible.”

Julie Tongue, Digital Trading Manager, Allianz Insurance also adds that Allianz is delighted to be the first insurer to deploy live-chat with SSP. Live-chat provides brokers with an alternative method to contact our team of expert SME underwriters and makes it easier for our customers to do business with us. It allows brokers to remain within the e-trading journey whilst contacting Allianz in real-time, providing operational efficiencies for both parties. 

ClearScore, the UK’s leading credit checking service provider, is aiming to help millions of people improve their credit score with the launch of ‘Coaching’ available for free to all today. Coaching is the first bot-based programme in the world to help Brits refine their credit credibility and ability to get the best financial deals available.

Depending on whether someone has a thin credit file, has faced financial challenges in the past or just wants to fine tune their finances, ClearScore will automatically recommend the right Coaching programme for them, accessible through their free ClearScore account.

The Programmes:

• Build introduces young people, who have little experience with credit and therefore thin credit files, to their credit score and report, and provides practical steps to help build a file from scratch. These people would typically have had limited access to good credit products (such as phone contracts or low-interest credit cards) because of their ‘thin file’ status. 
• Repair helps people whose score has been damaged in the past, for example by bankruptcy or a CCJ.
• Shape Up is a programme for anybody in a healthy credit situation who is interested in coaching to improve their finances in general.

The Coaching programme uses the latest bot-based technology and popular ‘chat’ format to help people get to grips with their finances. Each programme uses simple language to boost confidence, before recommending easy steps and small changes people can make to boost their credit rating in the form of tailored ‘To Do’ lists. Interactivity, GIFs and emoticons are included to make the five minute programmes engaging and relevant for the user. 

When ClearScore tested Coaching with a beta trial, it revealed high demand and engagement from the users. Nearly two thirds (63%) of those inexperienced with credit completed their personalised programme. More than four in five (81%) say they’ll come back every month, with more than a third (36%) of those saying they will do so weekly. The majority (80%) of those who tried Build say they will come back to complete the recommended actions to improve their finances. 

Eagle Alpha has appointed Bosham Capital Advisors (BCA), Investment, Advisory and Capital Markets Specialists to drive sales across the UK investment management industry for their alternative data solution. The primary focus will come on asset management and hedge funds.

The alternative data industry has prospered against the background of a dramatic increase in obtainable data over the past decade, covering everything from mobile-phone data to consumer transaction data to job postings to traffic data. Moreover, a recent study by Greenwich Associates cited the fact that 80% of investors want greater access to alternative data sources.

Founded in September 2012, Eagle Alpha was born with the vision to be the ‘one stop shop’ for all the alternative data needs of asset managers. They are the only firm worldwide that offers a database of more than 500 of the most interesting datasets worldwide, 1-on-1 advice that links datasets to specific research questions and data showcase events in New York and London. They are also one of only two firms worldwide that offer actionable insights based exclusively on alternative data.

Through a combination of teach-ins, thought leadership and bespoke projects, Eagle Alpha educates investment professionals on the power of alternative data in this sector. Curated news, data insights and analytical tools enable clients to harness this power and do proprietary analyses.

Emmett Kilduff, CEO & Founder of Eagle Alpha commented: “Bespoke projects are a new offering for Eagle Alpha. With over 4 years of experience working with alternative data Eagle Alpha is uniquely placed to work with buyside firms to facilitate their individual needs.”

Entersekt is a leader in next-generation digital banking security, today has uncovered an original equipment manufacturing agreement with Global Kinetic, a specialist in transaction processing software. Global Kinetic secures its custom-built solutions and product line with Entersekt’s mobile app security and push-based authentication. Already securing billions of digital transactions a year, this proven, regulatory-compliant technology helps service providers protect their customers’ money and data, while freeing their product development teams to focus on product innovation.

Financial institutions across the world build Entersekt’s technology into their mobile apps by means of a software development kit. To do so, they may elect to use in-house developers or contract a third-party like Global Kinetic for up-to-the-minute technical expertise and a faster time to market. A one-stop enterprise software developer, Global Kinetic designs, engineers, and supports cloud, on-premise, and hybrid solutions that meet the financial services industry’s exacting requirements for high scalability, high availability, and security. Its fully integrated suite of services extends to user experience design and creative support.

Global Kinetic and Entersekt cooperated on several customer-specific projects in the United States and South Africa upon formalizing their partnership. Global Kinetic has also licensed Entersekt’s technology for use in its own products, including FutureBank Platform, a feature-rich, easily customized mobile banking or payments starter pack for regional banks, credit unions, and FinTech startups in the United States.

Entersekt's superb security solution is a natural fit for the FinTech software that Global Kinetic builds, emphasizing the strategic importance of the partnership.

Licensed as an OEM service within FutureBank Platform, the product is secured by the best enterprise-grade solution available with the most natural and convenient user experience. Strategically, the partnership with Entersekt spearheads expansion into international markets.

“Partnering with best-of-breed companies like Global Kinetic is crucial to making the most of the opportunities we see in the global market” noted Dewald Nolte, SVP partnerships and alliances at Entersekt.

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), a leading global provider of real-time electronic payment and banking solutions, today announced that PayPlug, a rapidly-growing French payment service provider (PSP) with a targeted offering for the SME market, will utilise the ACI PAY.ON Payments Gateway to power its international expansion efforts.

PayPlug has grown quickly to become a leading PSP used by thousands of eCommerce businesses across France and Europe. Founded in 2012 to provide financial technologies that simplify online commerce, PayPlug chose ACI to power its expansion because of the strong international reach offered via its network of more than 350 card acquirers and alternative payment methods. Through a single technical integration with ACI’s eCommerce payments gateway, PayPlug can easily access the wide range of locally-preferred payment methods that are necessary in both traditional desktop and growing mobile channels.

“After carefully evaluating the competitive landscape, we ultimately selected the ACI PAY.ON Payments Gateway because of ACI’s vast network of payment methods and acquirers, as well as the flexibility of its RESTful open API. This complements our own REST API, ensuring fast go-live and reliable transaction processing for our merchants,” said Antoine Grimaud, co-founder and COO, PayPlug. “With ACI, we are in a strong position to rapidly expand into new markets across Europe, supporting small and medium merchants eager to capitalise on the growing eCommerce and mCommerce opportunities.”

“PayPlug supports merchants with a set of tools that are simple, efficient, and secure; with ACI, the payment provider is now bringing its PCI DSS Level 1 compliant solutions to a broader range of merchants across Europe,” added Andy McDonald, vice president, Europe, ACI Worldwide. “Our strong international reach gives PayPlug the ability to maximise conversion rates across all channels as they expand into new geographies now and in the future.”

The ACI PAY.ON Payments Gateway, combined with integrated ACI ReD Shield real-time fraud prevention, forms the UP eCommerce Payments solution. The white-label solution powers simple, global and secure payments for payment providers globally, utilising flexible, open API architecture.

Payment Cloud Technologies (PCT), London based FinTech business, has today announced the renewal of a long-term partnership with cloud-based payments software provider AccessPay to delivery its ‘next generation’ payments gateway.

Utilizing APIs and flexible cloud-based technologies, the new gateway is set to deliver significant business efficiencies for PCT and its clients.

Allowing the rapid creation of additional accounts on a new multi-tenanted platform, the latest collaboration between the two organizations eliminates the need to build further, bespoke systems when new users join the service.

The removal of the time and resource barriers means a friction-free model for growth has been established.

And building on the businesses’ existing solution, enables PCT to offer its clients a fully scalable platform, with real-time connectivity to the Faster Payments Direct Corporate Access, BACs, Direct Debit and BACs Credit services, for the delivery of next-generation digital bank accounts.

PCT and AccessPay had previously enabled this by delivering a ‘conditional gateway’ for Faster Payments access in 2014. The renewed partnership now enables this existing proposition to be developed into a full multi-tenanted solution, allowing new accounts to be established and connected within hours.

The new gateway will utilize APIs to maximize business efficiencies and save significant time and money for prospective financial service providers. It will feature improved exception handling, strengthened AML control, and enhanced systems resilience.

CEO of AccessPay, Anish Kapoor notices that since 2012, AccessPay has sought to drive positive, innovative, and rapid change in the financial services industry to redefine modern banking practices. Working with a like-minded organization, and with detailed expertise, PCT has accelerated that process tenfold in the past 18 months. The Faster Payments Service is a fantastic initiative, and the more providers that can be connected to that service, the better. Our ability to embed the AccessPay platform into a compelling and scalable proposition from PCT is key to delivering success for our joint clients going forward.