EQT to acquire WSO2, a leading global provider of digital transformation technologies

  • WSO2 is a leading provider of application development and identity and access management software to enterprises globally, with over 80% of revenue coming from blue-chip customers in the Americas and EMEA
  • WSO2’s technology enables thousands of enterprises, including the world’s largest corporations, universities, and governments, to drive their digital transformation evolution rapidly, efficiently, and more securely
  • Drawing on its extensive experience of supporting global software businesses, EQT will support WSO2’s management team in the next phase of their growth journey

STOCKHOLM, May 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — EQT is pleased to announce that BPEA Fund VIII (“EQT Private Capital Asia”) has agreed to acquire WSO2 (the “Company”) from existing shareholders. WSO2 is a leading provider of application development and identity and access management software to enterprise companies globally, with over 80% of revenue coming from blue-chip customers in the Americas and EMEA. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

WSO2 was founded in Asia and has established a global footprint, enabling thousands of enterprises, including the world’s largest corporations, universities, and governments, to drive their digital transformation rapidly, efficiently, and more securely. WSO2 does this through a comprehensive portfolio of offerings spanning Application Programming Interface (“API”) Management, API Integration, and Identity and Access Management (“IAM”).

Both the API Management and Integration as well as IAM markets are witnessing significant tailwinds, driven by long-term trends such as the transition to hybrid and multi-cloud workloads, rising API volumes, accelerated adoption of Generative AI, and increasing sophistication of cyberattacks. WSO2 is well-positioned to capitalize on this robust market growth on the back of their strong product suite and entrenched customer relationships.

EQT Private Capital Asia will support WSO2’s next phase of accelerated growth and innovation, drawing on EQT’s deep experience in the software space, global network of industry experts and dedicated digital value-creation team. WSO2 joins EQT’s extensive global portfolio of enterprise software companies that already includes firms such as Billtrust, IFS, SUSE, Storable, and Waystar.

Hari Gopalakrishnan, Partner in the EQT Private Capital Asia advisory team, said: “Software is a key focus sector for EQT, and WSO2 is a strong company that has scaled globally with an enterprise customer base spread across the US and Europe. We are excited to partner with WSO2 and believe that the Company is well-positioned to capitalize on long-term trends such as digital transformation and rising GenAI adoption. We are confident of drawing on EQT’s proven software value creation playbook to further accelerate WSO2’s growth momentum.”

“We are thrilled to partner with EQT as we embark on the next phase of WSO2’s journey,” said Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, CEO and Founder of WSO2. “With EQT’s support and expertise, we are well-positioned to accelerate our innovation agenda, expand our global footprint, and continue empowering enterprises to thrive in the digital economy.”

EQT Private Capital Asia was advised by Ropes & Gray and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. The selling shareholders were advised by JP Morgan and Cooley.

With this transaction, BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII is expected to be 45 – 50 percent invested (including closed and/or signed investments, announced public offers, if applicable, and less any expected syndication). The transaction is expected to close in H2 2024.

Contact

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

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CleverTap launches Clever.AI, the AI-Driven Edge for Customer Engagement & Retention


Clever.AI will help brands achieve 66% higher conversion rates and 35% boost in operational efficiency

SAN FRANCISCO and MUMBAI, India, May 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — CleverTap, one of the leading all-in-one customer engagement and retention platforms, today announced the launch of Clever.AI, its AI engine. With Clever.AI, CleverTap seeks to enable brands with the next generation of AI capabilities required to build human-like understanding of customers and deliver personalized experiences efficiently that resonate with them, ultimately maximizing customer lifetime value.

Clever.AI is built on the foundation of three core AI pillars – Predictive, Generative, and Prescriptive. Clever.AI propels these three pillars to transform the way brands engage with customers and make customer interactions more intelligent, and efficient.

Clever.AI enables brands to become:

  • Insightful: With Predictive AI capabilities, it forecasts precise business outcomes, helping brands to anticipate customer needs. Clever.AI’s insights are powered by CleverTap’s proprietary TesseractDB which ensures data granularity with an extended lookback period, making predictions more accurate, and enabling brands to make informed decisions, resulting in improved marketing ROI
  • Empathetic: Taking GenAI forward, Clever.AI merges creativity with emotional intelligence, crafting content that resonates on a human level. This empathetic approach helps brands drive higher conversions and engages customers with hyper-personalized experiences
  • Actionable: Leveraging Prescriptive AI capabilities, it provides actionable recommendations to maximize conversions throughout the customer journey by helping brands identify the optimal engagement strategies in real-time

Peter Takacs, Digital Product Manager, Burger King said, “I would rate it 10 for its ease of use and numerous possible use cases. We uplifted our marketing campaigns by easily experimenting with multiple possibilities and quickly converging on the optimum one. It opens up a new era of continuous experimentation for us.”

Anand Jain, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, CleverTap said, “We’re thrilled to unveil Clever.AI, a testament of our pursuit over the last several years in leading the way in adopting the latest tech to transform customer engagement. We will continue to innovate CleverTap’s All-in-One engagement platform with Clever.AI enhancing its precision in predictions, its ability to prescribe intelligent customer experiences strengthened by advanced product analytics and deeper persona profiling to ensure brands can build highly personalized experiences, and campaigns more effectively, ensuring every customer interaction is personalized and outcome driven.”

With Clever.AI, brands have already experienced a boost in conversion with significantly higher operational efficiency. They witnessed a 66 percent increase in conversion rates, 35% boost in operational efficiency and a 3x improvement in click-through rates (CTRs), with an increase across metrics such as purchases, and average order values (AOVs). Moreover, Clever.AI enhanced operational efficiency by simplifying campaign roll-outs, content creation, and experimentation at scale. Clever.AI has helped leading brands like TouchnGo, Swiggy, Burger King add efficiency to their campaigns.

CleverTap will unveil its new AI capabilities through its Spring Release ’24 event slated from 6th May to 9th May, through a series of thought-provoking sessions on how AI can make campaigns more intelligent, efficient, and engaging for brands.

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the all-in-one engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value by helping them create personalized experiences to retain their most valuable customers. The platform empowers businesses to orchestrate experiences for individuals across their lifecycles and design personalized journeys that span a lifetime. It offers analytics that encompasses every aspect of the lifecycle, enabling businesses to measure and optimize each experience in real-time. Its unique AI capability is insightful, empathetic, and prescriptive, facilitating smarter and faster decisions. The all-in-one platform unifies experiences from every touchpoint, paving the way for a new era of customer engagement.

The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.

CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.

Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with presence in New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Singapore, Jakarta, and Ho Chi Minh.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/
X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.

Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.

DNB & Ericsson Spearhead Enterprise Digitalization With Malaysia’s World-Class 5G Infrastructure

Malaysia is poised for a digital revolution, and at the forefront of this transformation is a powerful combination: a world-leading 5G network and a collaborative program designed to unlock its potential for businesses.

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and Ericsson have joined forces to launch a groundbreaking initiative that will catalyze the digitalization of enterprises across Malaysia. This program, formalized through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with industry leaders like eMooVit Technology, Scania, SKF Malaysia, and Intel, paves the way for advanced technologies to empower businesses of all sizes.

DNB x Ericsson

Leveraging World-class Infrastructure with Wide Coverage

Malaysia boasts one of the most impressive 5G networks globally, with over 80% population coverage and exceptional performance. This robust infrastructure, as Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid, DNB’s Chief Strategy Officer, highlights, positions Malaysia uniquely to accelerate its digital journey.

“The network already covers more than 80% of the population and has one of the best experiential and consistent performances in the world,” says Zahid. “To further drive the adoption of 5G amongst enterprises, DNB and Ericsson have initiated this program.”

Creating “Lighthouses” to Propel Digitization and Adoption

This program focuses on establishing “lighthouse” projects across key industries. These projects will showcase the transformative potential of 5G integration, acting as catalysts to inspire and guide widespread digitalization efforts.

Intel, a leading technology provider, brings its expertise to the table as a partner in this initiative. Ms. AK Chong, VP of Foundry Manufacturing & Supply Chain and Intel Malaysia MD, emphasizes the crucial role of 5G in driving industry transformation.

DNS x Ericsson 5G Entreprise
MoU signing ceremony. (From left to right) Mr David Hägerbro, Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; Mr Nunzio Mirtillo, Former Head of Market Area South East Asia Oceania and India; Mr Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson; Mr Andrés Vicente, Head of Market Area South East Asia, Oceania & India; Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid, DNB Chief Strategy Officer; Mr Börje Ekholm, Ericsson Group CEO; YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital; Tuan Ma Sivanesan, Deputy Secretary General (Strategic Policy), Ministry Of Digital; Mr Nasution Mohamed, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Nasional Berhad; Ms AK Chong, VP of Foundry Manufacturing & Supply Chain and Intel Malaysia; Dr. Hairi Zamzuri, CEO of eMooVit Technology; Ms Heba Eltarifi, Managing Director of Scania Southeast Asia; Mr Vignesh Sakthinathan, Managing Director of SKF Malaysia

“As 5G becomes a catalyst for industry transformation,” says Chong, “Intel’s technology is at the heart of this change, catalyzing AI at the edge and breaking down barriers in the 5G core space.”

The program focuses on developing customized solutions for various industries. Here are some exciting collaborations already underway:

  • eMooVit Technology: This collaboration will explore the use of 5G for autonomous vehicles, a technology with the potential to revolutionize urban transportation. Dr. Hairi Zamzuri, CEO of eMooVit, highlights the significance of this partnership: “This exciting collaboration with Ericsson will be key to bringing these solutions to life through enterprise adoption, and in the long-term, revolutionize urban transportation together.”
  • Scania: With Scania, the focus is on optimizing assembly lines and fleet management systems using 5G’s Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) capabilities. As Ms. Heba Eltarifi, Managing Director of Scania Southeast Asia, explains: “With 5G technology, Scania Malaysia aims to explore further optimizing our assembly and our fleet management system to deliver greater efficiency and effectiveness to our customers.”
  • SKF Malaysia: This collaboration will leverage 5G to enable wireless digitalization on the manufacturing shop floor. This will allow for real-time data collection and analysis, leading to increased efficiency and innovation. Mr. Vignesh Sakthinathan, Managing Director of SKF Malaysia, expresses his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to embark on this journey… As the world’s leader in Bearing, Seals, Lubrication systems and technologies, SKF Malaysia’s manufacturing arm is committed to embracing digitalization to drive innovation and deliver value to our customers.”

This initiative by DNB and Ericsson, along with their industry partners, presents a significant leap forward for Malaysia’s digital transformation. By harnessing the power of 5G, businesses across the nation can unlock new levels of efficiency, productivity, and innovation. As David Hägerbro, Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, concludes: “The digitalization of industries in Malaysia will enable the country to leapfrog as a Digital Nation. But they need to begin planning and investing in their digital journey now.”

Realme Unveils the Realme 12x 5G in Malaysia

Realme has launched the Realme 12x 5G, a powerful new smartphone designed for the masses. Living up to their “5G for Everyone” motto, the Realme 12x 5G boasts impressive performance, an AI Boost feature, and a smooth 120Hz display, all wrapped in a stylish design.

Realme 12x 5G 3

The Realme 12x 5G comes with the Dimensity 6100+ 5G processor that promises smooth performance. Realme boasts that the 12x 5G can achieve an Impressive AnTuTu benchmark score exceeding 415,800. The synthetic benchmark indicates that the phone should be able to deliver smooth performance. The smartphone comes with 360° Surround Six-Antenna 5G Layout, Signal Enhancement Technology, and Dual-channel Network Acceleration which can help achieve fast download speeds of up to 3.27Gbps. Gamers will appreciate the AI Boost Engine that optimizes resource allocation for a lag-free gaming experience.

The 6.67-inch display prioritizes user comfort by reducing harmful blue light emissions. This has been certified by TUV Rheinland. The display goes as low as 1 nit in brightness, perfect for nighttime viewing. It also offers a peak brightness of 625 nits for clear visibility outdoors.

Realme 12x 5G 2

The Realme 12x 5G brings flagship-level features like Air Gestures for hands-free phone control, Rainwater Smart Touch for operating the phone in the rain, and the Dynamic Button for quick app launching. A TÜV SÜD 48-month Fluency Certificate ensures long-lasting smooth performance, while IP54 water and dust resistance offers peace of mind.

The Realme 12x 5G comes with a Light Feather Design in Feather Green and Glowing Black. The back features hundreds of thousands of hyper-realistic feather motifs and a flagship-inspired middle-round camera layout. The phone boasts a 50-megapixel primary camera for capturing stunning photos. All of these specs are housed in a slim 7.89mm body and powered by a massive 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging.

Pricing & Availabilty

The Realme 12x 5G will be available in two versions the 8GB+128GB version will be priced at RM899 and the 8GB+256GB version will set you back RM1099. Both will be available in two colourways: Feather Green and Glowing Black.

Realme 12x 5G 1

It will be available through teleco partners CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, Yes, redONE, and TM starting May 3rd, 2024. Pre-orders for the phone begin May 5th on Realme’s official Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok stores.

Huawei Pura70 Series Goes on Pre-order in Malaysia; Prices start at RM3,699

Huawei Unveils the HUAWEI Pura 70 Series in Malaysia: Power, Beauty, and Exclusive Pre-Order Deals

Huawei Malaysia has sneakily announced the pre-order of the Huawei Pura 70 Series. This announcement comes on the heels of its recent launch in China. This new flagship series will succeed the popular P series. It keeps all the best parts of the P series and pushes into the future with a brand-new focus, design and ethos.

Huawei Pura70 preorder

Three models from the Pura 70 Series will be available in Malaysia – the vanilla Pura 70, the Pura 70 Pro, and the Pura 70 Ultra. Each phone in the series showcases a captivating fusion of artistry and cutting-edge technology. The HUAWEI Pura 70 stuns with various colour options including pink, white and black, while the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro comes in classic black and white. The top-of-the-line HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra offers green, brown, and black with the now signature vegan leather finish.

Pre-ordering your HUAWEI Pura 70 Series device comes with exciting benefits. From May 2nd to 24th, 2024, pre-orders on the Huawei Official Website or selected stores will qualify for complimentary gifts valued at over RM2,000. Additionally, these pre-orders unlock exclusive offers worth over RM500 in savings. Enjoy gym memberships, complimentary coffee, movie tickets, and more from popular brands like AirAsia, Dadi Cinema, and Ogawa.

Pricing & Availability

Pre-orders are now open on the Huawei Official Website and selected Huawei Experience Stores until May 24th, 2024.

Pura70 Preorder Endframe

The Pura 70 will be available with 256GB of internal storage and 12GB Of RAM. This will be priced at RM3,699. During the pre-order period, you will be entitled to freebies worth RM2,036. This will include a pair of the Huawei Freebuds Pro 3, an RM300 exclusive trade-in rebate or voucher (for existing Huawei users), a regional warranty valid in Asia Pacific and exclusive App Gallery freebies.

Pura70 Pro Preorder Endframe

Pre-ordering the Pura 70 Pro will entitle you to a similar package with a higher rebate value of RM500 instead; valued at RM2,336. The Pura 70 Pro will be priced at RM4,899 for the variant with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage.

Pura70 Ultra Preorder Endframe

The Pura 70 Ultra will be available with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. It will be priced at RM6,599. You will get similar freebies as the Pro and vanilla Pura 70 with an overall value of RM2,376.

Clarivate Enhances Cortellis CMC Intelligence with Post-Approval Module to Accelerate Regulatory Success


Enhancements enable pharma, biotech and generics companies to streamline regulatory tracking and optimize life cycle management for small molecules and biologics 

LONDON, May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announced the launch of the newly enhanced Cortellis CMC Intelligence™ solution, featuring a new post-approval variations module. The module for post-approval variations covers regulatory changes across multiple countries, offering meticulously curated requirements to streamline tracking. With this update, pharmaceutical, biotech, and generics companies can effortlessly navigate the regulatory process and prioritize essential actions.

CMC activities account for nearly 18% of the entire R&D budget, emphasizing the importance of optimization and validation. Cortellis CMC Intelligence for post-approval variations enables clients to compare requirements across 64 countries, reducing tracking time and increasing submission rates with organized, timely, and accurate information.

Justin Hubbard, Vice President, Product Management, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Clarivate, said: “This enhancement underscores our commitment to simplifying the complexities of CMC regulatory dossier submissions for our clients. By offering transformative insights, Clarivate accelerates their path to markets and patients. With the ability to efficiently compare regulations across countries for small molecules and biologics, as well as automate CMC regulatory monitoring through user-configured alerts, clients can navigate the process with confidence.” 

With its new module covering both pre- and post-approval documents, Cortellis CMC Intelligence offers comprehensive lifecycle information for drugs and biologics. Serving as a single-platform solution for CMC requirements, it effectively reduces tracking time and unnecessary costs.

About Cortellis CMC Intelligence

Cortellis CMC Intelligence curates and tracks official CMC regulations and local practices for more than 135+ countries, territories and organizations for small molecules and 64 countries, territories and regions for biologics, with pre-and post-approval module coverage. Robust data is available for 25+ product and regulatory-related filters based on eCTD structure, including 6K+ source documents and over 2K links to Cortellis Regulatory Intelligence, providing access to expanded detail and in-depth summaries from experts in local regulatory practices, paired with reference source documents, to offer a complete picture. The addition of a new post-approval module now makes a comprehensive CMC solution with complete lifecycle information for drugs and biologics to increase submission rates and avoid costly delays. To learn more about Cortellis CMC Intelligence, visit here.

About Clarivate
Clarivate™ is a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. We offer enriched data, insights & analytics, workflow solutions and expert services in the areas of Academia & Government, Intellectual Property and Life Sciences & Healthcare. For more information, please visit www.clarivate.com 

Media Contact:
Luna Ivkovic
External Communications, Life Sciences & Healthcare
newsroom@clarivate.com

Lenovo & Austral Techsmith Join Forces to Revolutionize Smart Cities in Malaysia

Lenovo and Austral Techsmith, a leading provider of 5G smart pole technology, have announced a strategic partnership to empower Malaysian cities with next-generation video analytics capabilities. This collaboration integrates Lenovo’s ThinkEdge AI solution with Austral Techsmith’s 5G smart poles, marking a significant leap forward in smart city development.

Enhancing Smart Cities with Video Analytics with Lenovo’s ThinkEdge

Austral Techsmith’s 5G smart poles will now incorporate the robust ThinkEdge technology, equipping city authorities with unparalleled AI-powered video analytics. Designed for intelligent edge computing, the ThinkEdge SE50 is powered by the Intel® Core™ i7 vPro® processor, making it the ideal choice for advanced video analytics. This powerful combination delivers cutting-edge features and exceptional data processing performance.

Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50 Austral Technologies 1

Varinderjit Singh, Lenovo Malaysia’s General Manager, said, “We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with Austral Techsmith, as mobility is an essential part of the smart city blueprint for Malaysia. Together, we look forward to paving the way towards smarter and safer cities, by harnessing the power of AI video analytics.”

As Malaysia progresses towards a smarter and more connected future, video analytics technology plays a crucial role in addressing urban challenges. This solution analyzes vast amounts of video footage with precision, enabling efficient searches and the development of intelligent transportation systems for safer and more streamlined traffic management.

Real-Time Traffic Management: Reducing Congestion and Boosting Efficiency

Urbanization often leads to increased traffic congestion. The ThinkEdge SE50, equipped with mounting kits for lamp posts, facilitates traffic monitoring at congestion hotspots. This data allows for dynamic adjustments to traffic light control systems, ultimately reducing accidents and traffic jams.

Furthermore, the ThinkEdge SE50 boasts flexible IO ports, including four NICs on embedded compute nodes, for enhanced connectivity. This translates to superior real-time data collection, empowering informed decision-making and automation to streamline traffic flow and improve urban mobility.

Enhanced Safety Measures: Prompt Intervention and Evidence Collection

Engineered for minimal latency, the ThinkEdge SE50 brings increased processing power, storage, and networking capabilities directly to where data is generated. The system can detect dangerous situations in real-time, including unauthorized vehicles, wrong-way driving, erratic behavior, and accidents. This enables prompt intervention, accident prevention, and efficient evidence collection, fostering safer city environments.

Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50 1

“Austral Techsmith has been a key player in Malaysia’s ambitious 5G infrastructure expansion since 2022,” said Azfar Zubri, The Chief Executive Officer of Austral Techsmith. “Through our innovative ELAB solutions and comprehensive engineering services, we’ve significantly contributed to the nationwide telecommunications infrastructure. Our partnerships with Lenovo’s ThinkEdge devices integrated into our 5G smart pole solutions represent an instrumental collaboration in propelling the country’s 5G capabilities forward.”

Aligned with its commitment to social impact through innovation, Lenovo offers Austral Techsmith and its customers an attractive Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) option for ThinkEdge. This solution eliminates upfront costs, making cutting-edge technology more accessible and cost-effective for city councils and organizations looking to implement AI video analytics.

Lenovo works together with Austral Techsmith to innovate when it comes to smart cities and also video analytics thanks to the powerful Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI powered solutions from Lenovo. To further explore the company’s offerings, visit the Lenovo ThinkEdge website or contact the Lenovo Malaysia Marketing Team Representative, Nicole Lim at hlim4@lenovo.com

Agora Launches Advanced Video Technology to Enhance Live Stream Quality

Agora’s Adaptive Video Optimization™ (AVO) technology dynamically optimizes performance at every step, from capture to playback, to deliver exceptional live video quality.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), a pioneer and leading platform for real-time engagement APIs, today unveiled its latest innovation, Adaptive Video Optimization™ (AVO) along with support for the AV1 video codec. This advanced technology harnesses the power of machine learning to dynamically adjust parameters at every step from capture to playback to deliver an enhanced live video streaming experience.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, live video calling and streaming often encounters hurdles such as unstable network conditions, packet loss, and limited bandwidth. These challenges can result in freezing, stuttering, grainy video, and dropped connections, diminishing the real-time video experience and negatively impacting user engagement. Adaptive Video Optimization™ uses a series of advanced machine learning algorithms to address these common issues. By optimizing video quality in real time based on network conditions, device capabilities, and available bandwidth, AVO ensures the highest possible video quality and optimal performance even under varying network scenarios.

“Reliable and high-quality live streaming is essential in today’s video-dominated media landscape,” stated Tony Zhao, CEO and Co-Founder of Agora. “Our Adaptive Video Optimization technology enables smooth delivery of every video call and livestream—despite network variability, user’s location or device type. These improvements empower Agora’s customers to provide the highest-quality live video user experience.”

Agora’s commitment to delivering a seamless real-time video experience with AVO rests on three core pillars:

  • Optimized Image Quality: Ensures that every frame is crisp, with enhanced contrast and vibrant details that make the viewing experience clearer and more engaging.
  • Unmatched Video Fluency: Eliminates common streaming issues like buffering and stuttering, providing a smooth and natural flow.
  • Ultra-Low Latency: Allows users to interact in real-time, whether with hosts or other viewers, and enjoy quick loading times and instant first-frame rendering for seamless transitions between video streams.

AVO™ takes a comprehensive machine learning approach to ensure the highest quality video streaming experience by optimizing every stage of the video processing pipeline — pre-processing, encoding, transmission, decoding, and post-processing. A key component of this solution is Agora’s Coding Technology (ACT), designed to optimize user experiences by dynamically selecting the best video codec (like AV1 or VP9) based on device capabilities and interoperability requirements. By employing advanced techniques and cutting-edge compression methods, the technology adapts, configuring parameters dynamically and ensures crisp visuals, efficient bandwidth utilization, and a consistent, high-quality experience for all users, from the moment the video is captured to the final display on the viewer’s screen.

From video capture through playback, the technology continuously adapts to changing network conditions and device capabilities, guaranteeing a seamless streaming experience. Any imperfections that may arise during transmission are rapidly mitigated, and the final video is polished to provide lifelike clarity, delivering a superior real-time video experience for scenarios ranging from telehealth consultations to live shopping and social media.

“Agora’s Adaptive Video Optimization™ (AVO) drastically improved the real-time video experience in our app,” said Ellard Capiral, VP of Engineering at social live streaming app KUMU. “Users get smooth, high-quality video without freezes—even on slow connections and older devices. Since implementing AVO, we’ve seen a 30% increase in session length and engagement.”

To learn more about Agora’s Adaptive Video Optimization™ technology, check out this blog on Optimizing the Live Video User Experience and watch a side-by-side video comparison demonstrating superior real-time video quality.

About Agora 
Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Agora is a pioneer and global leader in Real-Time Engagement Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), providing developers with simple, flexible, and powerful application programming interfaces, or APIs, to embed real-time voice, video, interactive live-streaming, chat, whiteboard, and artificial intelligence capabilities into their applications.

Source: Agora, Inc.

Touch ‘n Go eWallet Unveils First-in-Malaysia In-App Visa Exchange Rate Calculator for Savvy Travelers

TNG Digital Sdn. Bhd. (TNG Digital) is looking to revolutionize cashless travel experiences for Malaysians. The company has introduced a new in-app foreign exchange rate calculator integrated with the Touch ‘n Go eWallet Visa card.

This first-of-its-kind feature in Malaysia allows users to calculate and track exchange rates for various currencies directly within the TNG eWallet app. No more surprises after your trip! You can now check the exchange rate before making any overseas purchase, ensuring a smoother and more transparent experience.

TNG Visa Converter

The calculator empowers you to become a savvy traveller. Save up to five favourite currencies for easy monitoring, allowing you to proactively manage your travel expenses at a glance.

Alan Ni, CEO of TNG Digital, highlights, “Over half of Malaysians use TNG eWallet. We’re committed to fostering seamless cashless travel experiences. With the exchange rate calculator, our users can spend globally like locals. We equip them with the tools to effortlessly manage travel expenses and make informed decisions.”

The Touch ‘n Go eWallet Visa Card not only comes with a conversion rate calculator, it also has 0% foreign exchange conversion fees. In addition, users will also be earning GOrewards points with every Ringgit spent abroad, maximizing the value of their travel budget. These points can also be redeemed for fantastic rewards and discounts available in the catalogue. The Visa card can also be used for ATM withdrawals abroad.

Apple’s HomePod Lineup Lands in Malaysia Bringing Audiophile Sound for Every Room

Apple is bringing its acclaimed HomePod speakers to Malaysia. The HomePod lineup offers stunning audio experiences for every corner of your home. Starting May 10th, both the full-sized HomePod (2nd generation) and the compact HomePod mini will be available for purchase.

Apple HomePod and HomePod mini
Source: Apple

The lineup delivers powerful, room-filling audio that will elevate your listening experience. The larger HomePod boasts rich bass and crisp highs, perfect for audiophiles. It utilizes advanced computational audio and a custom-engineered woofer to deliver clear vocals and immersive instrumentals. Additionally, room sensing technology adjusts the sound based on its placement, ensuring optimal acoustics in any room.

Apple HomePod mini color lineup
Source: Apple

The mini, despite its size, packs a punch. Its Apple-designed acoustic waveguide delivers rich 360-degree sound, while the S5 chip and software work together to optimize volume and clarity.

Your Smart Home Command Center

Both models go beyond just music. With Siri built-in, you can control your smart home with simple voice commands. Set lights, adjust thermostats, or even check the temperature in a room – all hands-free. They also act as a smart home hub, allowing you to connect and manage various smart home accessories through the Apple Home app.

Apple HomePod HomePod mini ecosystem
Source: Apple

The HomePod lineup integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem. Handoff allows you to transfer music playback between your iPhone and HomePod effortlessly. Multiroom audio lets you play the same song throughout your house or create different sound zones with multiple HomePods. Additionally, pairing with Apple TV 4K unlocks a powerful home theatre experience, complete with enhanced dialogue clarity.

Pricing and Availability

The HomePod (2nd generation) will be available in Malaysia for RM1,549, while the HomePod mini comes in at RM529. Pre-orders start May 1st through Apple’s online store and app, with in-store availability starting May 10th.