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HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2 Wireless Headphones, Blue, Bluetooth, Up to 40 Hours Battery Life, Lightweight and Comfortable, Balanced Sound, AU Version
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Telstra and Optus have chosen not to renew or form new contracts with Google for pre-installing its search services on Android devices. This choice follows an inquiry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The previous agreements expired at the end of last month.
The ACCC began the investigation as a part of its continuous digital platform services inquiry. The ACCC stated that Telstra and Optus had been engaging in these agreements with Google since at least 2017. The commission contended that these arrangements restricted the capacity for competing search engines to be pre-installed and promoted on Android devices, ultimately impacting consumer choice and innovation.
The ACCC has agreed to enforceable commitments from both Telstra and Optus. These commitments are anticipated to give Australian consumers a wider range of options concerning digital platforms and services they utilize. Furthermore, it seeks to promote increased competition within these markets.
“Engaging in practices like forming agreements to guarantee exclusivity can restrict consumer options or hinder innovation,” stated ACCC commissioner Liza Carver.
Even after this change, Google Search continues to dominate the Australian market, maintaining a steady 98% market share from September 2021 to February 2024. Alternative search engines, such as Microsoft’s Bing, have only a minimal presence. This dominance has led to concerns among regulators about the suppression of competition and innovation.
The ACCC’s investigation into digital platforms has explored different facets of the technology behind social media platforms and their possible negative effects. To date, multiple reports have been generated on these topics. The ninth report from this investigation is anticipated to be published in March 2025 and may offer additional recommendations to promote fair competition in digital markets.
For additional information on similar reports from the ACCC, check out TechBest’s piece on data transparency for major platforms: Data Transparency for Major Platforms.
Telstra and Optus have decided to end their long-term agreements with Google to pre-install its search services on Android devices. This change comes after an ACCC investigation aimed at promoting more consumer choices and competition within the market. While Google still leads the Australian search engine market, this shift could offer opportunities for competing search engines to establish themselves. The ACCC will carry on with its digital platforms inquiry, with the next significant report scheduled for March 2025.
The discontinuation came after an ACCC investigation revealed that these agreements restricted consumer choice and hindered competition by stopping competing search engines from being pre-installed on Android devices.
This decision aims to give consumers more options for the search engines they can use on their devices, which could lead to increased competition and innovation in the market.
As of February 2024, Google Search commands a remarkable 98% market share in Australia, showcasing its substantial dominance over other search engines such as Bing.
The ACCC’s inquiry into digital platforms explores different facets of technology utilized by social media channels and other online services, zeroing in on topics such as market competition and consumer protection. The inquiry is set to publish its ninth report in March 2025.
If successful, this initiative could create a more competitive market, allowing alternative search engines to flourish and provide enhanced services and innovations to consumers.
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Jabra Elite 8 Active Black
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The Australian federal government has allocated $6.4 million to enhance cybersecurity in the healthcare sector. This funding will be used to create a new information-sharing network aimed at reducing the risks of cyber threats.
Inspired by effective models from the financial and critical infrastructure industries, the pilot Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC) will concentrate on detecting and mitigating cyber threats, along with enforcing preventive actions. The ISAC strives to establish a collaborative atmosphere that allows health organizations to exchange crucial information to improve their cyber security resilience.
Clare O’Neil, the Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, emphasized the urgent necessity of this initiative. She pointed out the healthcare sector’s access to sensitive information and its continuous challenges in developing and financing effective cyber defenses. “The past two years have signified the start of an important national effort to enhance cyber security across the country, aiming to better safeguard our citizens,” O’Neil remarked.
O’Neil highlighted that the healthcare sector is dealing with a “vulnerability trifecta,” which makes it a tempting target for cyber criminals. “Cyber criminals are aware that every Australian relies on these critical services and that they can’t afford long periods of downtime.”
The minister stated that government action to initiate networks similar to ISAC in other high-risk areas is long past due. This initiative supports broader efforts to strengthen Australia’s cyber resilience.
The health sector has persistently led the Australian Information Commissioner’s data breach reports. Recent notable incidents involving electronic prescription provider MediSecure and Monash Health highlight the critical necessity for improved cyber security measures.
The Australian government has allocated $6.4 million towards a trial Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC) to enhance cyber security within the healthcare industry. This project seeks to tackle the specific vulnerabilities of the sector by emphasizing cooperative information exchange and threat reduction methods.
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JBL Endurance Peak 3 TWS Sports Earbuds, Black
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The New South Wales (NSW) Government’s bold $300 million Regional Digital Connectivity program (RDCP), designed to improve mobile network coverage, has significantly missed its targets. Initially set to enhance mobile connectivity over an area of 36,000 square kilometres by June 2023, the project successfully covered just 700 square kilometres, as revealed by a recent audit.
Introduced in 2019, the RDCP also encompasses the $100-million Gig State program aimed at enhancing internet connectivity in regional areas. Nevertheless, the initiative has encountered significant criticism for its mismanagement and underestimated cost forecasts. An audit by NSW revealed that the overall goals of the RDCP are still not clearly defined, and inconsistent business cases have further complicated the implementation of the program.
The RDCP aimed to offer grants to commercial telecommunications companies for mobile and internet initiatives. Nonetheless, every RDCP project missed its deadline. The audit office was unable to find any proof showing how the department tracked project advancement, resulting in considerable hold-ups. Certain projects were extended by more than a year past their intended completion dates.
The report indicated that inadequacies in project and risk management have led to delays in the program’s implementation. Although some delays were outside the government’s influence, others might have been better handled with proactive risk management tactics.
Auditors highlighted one particular project: the construction of a fiber network in the Wamboin, Bywong, and Sutton regions. Despite initial higher cost estimates, the Department of Regional NSW proceeded with a budget of $5 million. Ultimately, costs escalated to over $12 million, necessitating additional funding to finish the project.
“The auditor noted that the budget was inadequate, leading to a more complicated and lengthy process, and stressed that following earlier advice could have made operations more efficient.”
Following the audit results, the NSW government has established new objectives. They now plan to provide 12,279 square kilometers of additional mobile coverage by December 2024, with an expansion to 60,000 square kilometers by December 2028. These updated targets aim to address previous deficiencies and improve mobile connectivity throughout regional NSW.
The $300 million Regional Digital Connectivity program by the NSW Government has encountered considerable challenges in meeting its ambitious objectives. As of June 2023, merely 700 square kilometres have been covered out of the intended 36,000 square kilometres. The endeavor has suffered from ineffective management, fluctuating business cases, and notable cost overruns. New targets have been established for December 2024 and December 2028 to tackle these problems and enhance mobile connectivity in regional regions.
The primary objective was to enhance mobile coverage over an area of 36,000 square kilometres in New South Wales by June 2023.
By the specified deadline, only 700 square kilometers of mobile coverage had been attained.
The audit uncovered key issues such as inadequate management, inconsistent project business cases, major delays, and budget overruns.
The updated goals are set to achieve 12,279 square kilometres of new mobile coverage by December 2024 and increase this to 60,000 square kilometres by December 2028.
The installation of a fiber network in the Wamboin, Bywong, and Sutton areas faced substantial cost overruns, rising from an original budget of $5 million to more than $12 million.
Shortcomings in project and risk management resulted in considerable delays in finishing projects, with several being postponed by more than a year past their intended deadlines.
The Gig State project is a $100-million endeavor as part of the RDCP, focused on enhancing regional internet connectivity in New South Wales.
To learn more about this subject and other technology updates, check out TechBest.
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CMF by Nothing Buds Wireless Earbuds with 42dB ANC, Transparency Mode, Ultra Bass Technology 2.0, Dirac HD Audio, IP54 Dust and Water Resistance and Dual Device Connection – Orange
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German software firm TeamViewer disclosed a cyberattack earlier this week, blaming the breach on the Russian hacker group APT29, which is also referred to as “Cozy Bear” or Midnight Blizzard. This group is infamous for its connections to Russia’s foreign intelligence agency.
APT29 is an advanced cyber espionage organization thought by Western intelligence to be working on behalf of Russia’s foreign intelligence service. This group has been associated with numerous significant cyberattacks, such as the notorious SolarWinds breach.
In March, Alphabet’s Mandiant cyber unit discovered that APT29 was trying to trick significant German political figures with phishing emails. This event highlights the group’s ongoing attempts to penetrate high-value targets.
TeamViewer focuses on cloud-based technologies that facilitate remote computer access and control. They reported that hackers breached their corporate IT infrastructure, but did not reach the product environment or any customer information. This containment averted potentially disastrous outcomes for the company and its users.
This attack underscores the persistent danger presented by hacking groups backed by nation-states. Organizations globally need to continually improve their cybersecurity protocols to safeguard sensitive data and uphold the integrity of their operations.
The recent cyberattack on TeamViewer, executed by the Russian-linked hacker group APT29, highlights the ongoing and evolving threats within the digital realm. Although TeamViewer managed to control the breach, the event emphasizes the critical need for strong cybersecurity strategies for organizations worldwide.
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Nokia has unveiled an ambitious AU$3.6 billion proposal to purchase the US-based optical networking equipment manufacturer Infinera. This strategic action places the Finnish telecom leader in a prime position to capitalize on the substantial investments flowing into data centres, spurred by the growth of artificial intelligence (AI).
Through this acquisition, Nokia intends to overtake Ciena and become the second-largest provider in the optical networking industry, capturing a 20% market share. This strategy positions Nokia just behind Huawei, which enjoys a dominant market presence due to the limited competition from Western companies in China.
Telecom equipment manufacturers, such as Nokia, are experiencing a decrease in sales for 5G products. Diversification into burgeoning sectors like AI has become strategically essential. By acquiring Infinera, Nokia can broaden its product range to cater to major tech firms like Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft, which are significantly investing in new data centers to enable AI initiatives.
“This is an excellent time for a deal like this, as it coincides with the anticipated market recovery,” Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark stated in an interview with Reuters. “AI is fueling major investments in data centers… a major advantage of this acquisition is that it greatly enhances our presence in the data center sector,” he added.
The acquisition is projected to result in cost savings of €200 million ($320.7 million) by the next year. While the purchase multiple may appear high given Infinera’s inconsistent growth, realizing these synergies will validate the investment. Infinera’s expertise in intra-data center communications complements Nokia’s extensive market reach, making this a mutually advantageous deal.
Nokia’s AU$3.6 billion acquisition proposal for Infinera represents a crucial strategic endeavor to leverage the AI-induced surge in data center investments. This purchase places Nokia as a strong competitor in the optical networking industry, coming in just behind Huawei. The acquisition not only broadens Nokia’s market presence amid decreasing 5G sales but also paves the way for technological synergies and potential cost reductions.
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Meta, the owner of Facebook, is contemplating the removal of news content from its Australian platform if the government mandates licensing fees. This information was disclosed by Mia Garlick, Meta’s regional policy director, at a parliamentary session.
The possible action arises from an untested law enacted in 2021, which gives the Australian government the authority to impose fees on US tech companies for linking to domestic media content. Garlick noted that Meta is awaiting Canberra’s decision on whether this law will be put into effect.
This strategy reflects Meta’s response in Canada in 2023 when a comparable law was enacted. The technology corporation adopted a stringent position by restricting news sharing to evade the licensing fees.
Although Meta had earlier established agreements with Australian media organizations such as News Corp and the ABC, these contracts will conclude by the end of 2024, and Meta does not plan on extending them. As a result, Australia’s two major free-to-air TV broadcasters, Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media, have declared job reductions owing to projected revenue declines.
Australia’s assistant treasurer is still consulting on whether to implement the law. He suggested that Meta seems to only follow laws that are in its favor. In reaction, Garlick mentioned that restricting news content would also be a way of complying with the law, though it would differ from adherence to other rules such as tax and privacy laws.
Garlick stood up for Meta’s methods in handling complaints related to harmful misinformation or scams. However, she pointed out that all content moderation centers are based outside of Australia. This issue gained significance in light of the ongoing lawsuit by Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, who is suing Meta for displaying cryptocurrency scam ads that used his image.
At the hearing, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young challenged Meta’s classification as an advertising company, given that some advertisements spread misinformation. Garlick replied that Meta uses policies and tools designed to prevent misleading ads.
Meta is considering the possibility of restricting news content on Facebook in Australia if required to pay licensing fees mandated by a 2021 law. This mirrors a strategy previously employed in Canada in 2023. The ultimate decision lies with Australia’s assistant treasurer, who is currently gathering recommendations on the issue. In the interim, leading Australian television networks are experiencing financial strain due to the impending expiration of their existing agreements with Meta.
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