This was a sidebar to a story about a then new way for domestic and overseas migrants to send money home using mobile phones. Explains how Myanmar migrants prefer the traditional means, although many have since gone digital.
* Eko chat app blends corporate email with mobile messaging—Digital News Asia
From 250 applications, Korawad’s team was the only one among the eight selected that comprised high school students. Each team received US$20,000, a mentor, and a crash course in pitching, fund-raising, term sheets, lean management, company visits and paintball combat.
* Grab Usage in Freefall in Singapore Since Uber Exit—The Star
Actual taxi and private-hire vehicle bookings by the app may be even fewer, if Grab customers make much use of the extra services like food delivery, payments, insurance and videos that Grab has added to its hailing services in its quest to interest South-East Asians in a super app.
* Safety questions and shady sales tactics are chilling the China-Tesla love affair—TechNode
Then there are more than ten recent accidents that Tesla drivers have blamed on mechanical malfunctions, which early this year drew the attention of Chinese regulatory authorities. Some of the accusations of malfunctions are similar to those made by Tesla owners in the US. Through it all, Tesla executives have appeared little concerned about the tarnishing of the company’s once dazzling brand image in China
* How the TechNode community sees China tech in 2021
Fintech, monopolies, regulation, electric cars, privacy, trade wars ... Sources and other friends of news site TechNode reflect on Chinese tech trends in 2020 and suggest what to expect in 2021.
Susan J Cunningham 