In this feature, S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a bi-weekly global roundup of the latest developments in technology.
TOP STORY
* Nokia Corp. and the Orange Group agreed to work together on developing 5G-based services, according to a Jan. 30 news release. The two companies will also establish 5G innovation platforms in France, among other tasks.
CLOUD
* Oracle Corp. said Jan. 24 that it will open seven new centers worldwide for its Startup Cloud Accelerator program, which targets early-stage technology and tech-enabled startups.
* New Zealand-based startup Banqer, which offers cloud software designed to teach children financial literacy, is expanding into Australia, according to a Jan. 23 news release posted on Scoop.
* Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. said Jan. 19 that struck a long-term partnership through 2028 with the International Olympic Committee. Under the deal, Alibaba will provide cloud computing infrastructure and cloud services for the Olympic Games; create a global e-commerce platform for Olympic stakeholders; and leverage the company's digital media technologies to develop and customize the Olympic Channel for a Chinese audience.
* Hulu LLC is adding a download functionality for its video content "in a few months," Multichannel News reported Jan. 18, citing Adweek. The company is also set to offer a cloud-based DVR.
5G AND THE INTERNET OF THINGS
* Denmark's TDC A/S achieved speeds above 70 Gbps in its 5G tests conducted in partnership with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Telecompaper reported Jan. 30.
* Oi SA and América Móvil SAB de CV unit Embratel are planning to launch smart cities projects in Brazil, Telecompaper reported Jan. 30, citing O Globo. Oi's project seeks to improve transportation, while Embratel will focus on an integrated utilities monitoring solution.
* Cellcom Israel Ltd. and Nokia agreed to establish an IoT apps lab in Israel, Globes reported Jan. 29. The lab will serve as a testing facility for in-house apps before their commercial rollout.
* Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission plans to auction a total of 380 MHz across four spectrum bands by 2020, the Bangkok Post reported Jan. 26. The spectrum sales would cater to growing demand for online services and IoT.
* Ericsson AB said Jan. 25 that it teamed up with China Mobile Group Shanghai Co. and Chinese bike-sharing service Mobike to test its cellular IoT technology.
* South Korean cosmetics company AmorePacific Corp. and SK Telecom agreed to jointly develop IoT and Big Data-based beauty products and services, Telecompaper reported Jan. 25.
* SK Telecom Co. Ltd. signed a contract with Vietnamese telco MobiFone to help the latter build a nationwide LTE network by 2020, Telecompaper reported Jan. 24. The two companies will also co-develop 5G and IoT solutions.
* U.S. chipmaker Semtech Corp. said Jan. 17 that its technologies are used as part of an IoT security sensor for endangered black rhinoceroses in Tanzania. The sensor can monitor the location and activities of the animals.
VIRTUAL REALITY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
* Apple Inc. joined AI research group Partnership on AI, the latter said in a Jan. 27 official blog post.
* Former Xiaomi Inc. global Vice President Hugo Barra joined Facebook Inc. to lead its VR efforts, including the Oculus VR Inc. team, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. Barra will serve as the company's vice president of virtual reality, Bloomberg News reported Jan. 26.
* Nintendo's augmented reality game "Pokémon Go" was launched in South Korea, six months after its original debut, Reuters reported Jan. 24. The delay was caused by security concerns surrounding the game's use of Google Inc.'s Google Maps. Alphabet Inc. owns Google.
* Alibaba invested $6 million in Israeli augmented reality lens maker Lumus, Deal Street Asia reported Jan. 20. The startup supplies lenses for the business-to-business AR market.
DRONES AND OTHER DEVICES
* Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. said Jan. 23 that an investigation of its Galaxy Note 7 found that a defect in the design of the batteries and manufacturing issues caused the smartphones to overheat and catch fire.
* Amazon.com Inc. offered a glimpse of its vision of self-driving technology in a patent granted Jan. 17 for a "roadway management" system to help autonomous vehicles navigate reversible lanes. Under the plan, self-driving vehicles would be directed by an automated system into specific lanes and speeds that could vary depending on how traffic is flowing.