Gracee's Lifestyle Journal

Global tech giants HONOR and Nokia recently signed a new patent cross-license agreement in pursuit of significant inventions in 5G and other cellular technologies.  “We are delighted to have concluded an amicable patent cross-license agreement with HONOR, one of the leading players in the Chinese smartphone market. It is the fourth major litigation-free smartphone agreement that Nokia has concluded over the past twelve months and highlights once again the strength of Nokia’s patent portfolio and decades-long contributions to cellular standards and other technologies,” Nokia Chief Licensing Officer Mobile Devices Susanna Martikainen said.  “As both 5G SEP holder and implementor, HONOR highly respects IP rights and strongly believes that reasonable value of IP is important to the development of mobile industry. The conclusion of the patent cross-license agreement shows HONOR's commitment on innovation to enabling a smart life across all scenarios and all channels, for all people,” H

As fund sufficiency remains a  major challenge for MSMEs , particularly in emerging markets, 917Ventures’s loan aggregator Fundspace is offering  MSMEs and local entrepreneurs a swift, user-friendly, and easily accessible digital solution to bridge the financing gap in the Philippines. “No one can deny the outsized impact of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). According to the United Nations Development Programme, these businesses contribute  40% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP)  and employ 63% of the local workforce . Despite their substantial contributions, many MSMEs continue to be underfunded. This hinders the growth of these businesses, and in turn may hinder the growth of the economy,” said Martin Luchangco, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at 917Ventures. Straightforward Application Process FundSpace caters to enterprises of all sizes, ensuring easy access to the funding to ensure business growth and sustainability. It connects borrowers to different lending part

The beautiful city of Patra along the Pelopponese peninsula | Source:  visitgreece.gr Golden Visa Centrale  (GVC), a leading international property marketing consultancy specializing in residency by investment, has announced its latest offering tailored for Filipino investors looking for opportunities in Greece through its new Greek Golden Visa program.  “Residency-by-investment programs have been getting traction for investors across the world, including the Philippines. These programs not only grant investors and their families the freedom to travel, to study, to work, but also offer opportunities for wealth diversification,” said Vicky Luis, President and Founder of GVC.    Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows individuals and their families to obtain foreign residency or citizenship by meeting a minimum investment requirement indicated by the country’s government. It offers benefits like unrestricted travel and potential tax advantages. It is estimated that m

Moneybees, a leading virtual asset service provider, has expanded its over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency exchange service with its latest collaboration with the newly-opened JK BitcoinHub, a new venture managed and operated by PSulit Money Changer and located in the bustling Molito Commercial Complex of Alabang, Muntinlupa City. “The opening of JK BitcoinHub, operated and managed by PSulit, will help increase access to crypto markets. Working with PSulit Money Changer, one of the most trusted money exchange companies in the Philippines, demonstrates our dedication to providing greater accessibility and convenience to our consumers while embracing the developing world of digital assets and financial technologies,” Moneybees Chairman and CEO Jay Ricky Villarante stated. This latest development with JK BitcoinHub in Molito, Alabang, is an addition to the existing network of crypto service hubs that Moneybees has established in partnership with PSulit Money Changer.  These include strat

PepsiCo today announced the launch of the second Greenhouse Accelerator program in Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Following the success of last year’s program, PepsiCo is looking to make an even greater impact on the food and beverage sector in the region by collaborating with and supporting entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions in sustainable agriculture, climate action, and the circular economy. As the Asia Pacific experiences a notable shift towards more sustainable supply chains in an effort to reach net zero, PepsiCo understands its position to influence and be a part of this transition. The Greenhouse Accelerator APAC Sustainability Edition is an initiative to partner with innovative entrepreneurs in the region to advance the company’s goal to be net zero by 2040. As part of the program, PepsiCo will select up to 10 applicants to receive US$ 20,000 in grants as well as mentoring from subject-matter experts from PepsiCo’s executive bench and broader leadership team.

FedEx Express proudly announces the commencement of the FedEx Cares Purple Tote Bag program in the Philippines. With the aim of empowering employees to make a significant impact on local communities, the program was launched on December 7, 2023, at the Action for the Care and Development of the Poor (ACAP) office in Paranaque City where  FedEx  donated school supplies to 100 beneficiaries under ACAP's programs. These donations of supplies were made as part of the annual FedEx Cares Purple Tote Campaign which ran between October - December 2023 to empower FedEx team members to come together and support the NGOs they value most in their local communities. FedEx volunteers from 18 markets in the region including Australia, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Namibia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines took part in the program.  As part of FedEx Cares, team members around the gl

Bayad, the pioneer brand in the outsourced payment collection system in the Philippines, officially sealed its partnership with GoTyme Bank, one of the country’s fastest growing digital banks.   GoTyme Bank is a joint venture between the Gokongwei group of companies and the multicountry digital banking group Tyme . This time, through its partnership with Bayad, GoTyme App enables bills payment services covering household utilities, tollway RFID load, e-loading, telco, internet, government contributions, and many others.   Tailor-made for the increasingly e-payment savvy Filipino market, GoTyme App provides the convenience of one-stop-digital-shopping experience. Once customers open a GoTyme Bank account, they can also avail of a free GoTyme Bank Visa debit card in kiosks that are located within the retail footprint of the Robinsons group such as Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace, Robinsons Department Store and more across the country. These GoTyme Bank Visa cards can be used for o

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, has recently released its 2024 cybersecurity predictions for Asia Pacific – 5 key insights from industry leaders to help organisations ensure a secure future. 2023 saw organisations witness unprecedented levels of cybercrime. Palo Alto Networks’ State of Cybersecurity Report found that the Philippines experienced the highest number of disruptive attacks in Southeast Asia, with 29% of local organisations experiencing a 50% or more increase in incidents. Furthermore, the firm also received   the most number of calls to its incident response team  ever in October 2023. Cybercriminals have used ransomware to target critical infrastructures and found novel techniques to exploit emerging technologies like generative AI to ill-effect.    Predicting cybersecurity trends for 2024 will be especially important if organisations want to get ahead of modern cyberattackers. With stakes higher than ever, organisations need to take a holistic approac

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines organized a one-of-a-kind Thanksgiving event for its media partners and content creators on 18 January 2024 at the BGC Immersive Exhibit in Taguig City, an event dedicated to expressing gratitude for their unwavering support of the tourism industry and their attendance and coverage of TPB events throughout the year. Guests witnessed an immersive experience of the country’s tourism campaign “ Love the Philippines” from a tableau of cultural performances from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to a visual-auditory 180-degree experience with the Philippine Virtual Tours. The main hall had a 360-degree immersive screen, showing a vibrant and interactive presentation of TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor-Nograles on the agency’s 2023 achievements and upcoming programs. “ The keys to any successful endeavor are strong partnerships and collaboration. We hope that we can continue to count on your support as we promote our beautiful