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Microsoft unveils Outlook Lite with SMS, local language support for Indian users

Microsoft unveils Outlook Lite with SMS, local language support for Indian users

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Microsoft has released Outlook Lite, an intuitive email and SMS application created especially for the Indian people. According to a press release from the firm, this service caters to people with lightweight smartphones on any network by combining email and SMS functionality in a small design.

Microsoft unveils Outlook Lite with SMS, local language support for Indian users

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According to Microsoft, Outlook Lite caters to the communication requirements of people in developing markets by providing SMS as well as assistance for Indian spoken languages. With services such as voice typing, transcription, and support for local languages, users may create and review emails in their favourite language with ease. Outlook Lite allows users to dictate emails in Hindi, compose emails in Tamil and then have them instantly translated to English, or view emails in Gujarati.

The software is now compatible with Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Marathi, as well as Gujarati, further languages may be added later.

By classifying messages such as transactions, advertisements, and interpersonal connections, the application also makes SMS texting simpler. Its simplified inbox makes it easier for customers to remember appointments, make travel reservations, pay bills and reserve fuel.

Users may quickly navigate between categories and read pertinent messages in one location.

This Function Comes With Functionalities Like Reminders, Trip & Gas Bookings And Many More

Additionally, this function will notify customers of upcoming appointments, reservations for trips, bills, and petrol, all of which often go overlooked in the deluge of information.

According to Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director, Microsoft India Development Centre, Outlook Lite attempts to give consumers a more practical and customised approach to remain informed and complete tasks.

Also Read: Tata Technologies IPO Fully Subscribed Within Minutes of Opening For Subscription

Outlook Lite will eventually enable users to translate SMS messages into various languages, making it simple to comprehend messages in one language and move between them. Users who connect with people from various locations or communicate in numerous languages may find this function especially useful.

Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director of Microsoft India Development Centre and Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Experiences and Devices, India Group, said “The evolution of Outlook Lite embodies our dedication to fostering inclusive digital experiences tailored for diverse communities in India. With SMS integration and vernacular language support, Outlook Lite redefines communication accessibility and provides users with a more convenient & personalized experience.”

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Google Didn't Rush Bard Chatbot to Beat Microsoft, Executive Says, Prioritizing Quality Over Speed

Google Didn’t Rush Bard Chatbot to Beat Microsoft, Executive Says, Prioritizing Quality Over Speed

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A top Google official denied claims that the business hastily released Bard, a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, Previously, this year to outperform competitor Microsoft Corp.’s product.

The Vice President of Search, Elizabeth Reid, said amid Google’s defence testimony in the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the search engine giant that Bard provided a wrong answer when it was first unveiled to the people in February. However, she disregarded David Dahlquist, a government attorney, who said that Bard was hastily released following Microsoft’s announcement that it would be incorporating generative artificial intelligence into the company’s Bing search engine.

“I don’t think you can make that conclusion,” Reid said. “Microsoft’s announcement also had several errors in it. The technology is very nascent. It makes mistakes. That’s why we’ve been hesitant to put it forward.”

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Google keeps its search engine monopoly by blocking competitors, DOJ Says

Google Didn't Rush Bard Chatbot to Beat Microsoft, Executive Says, Prioritizing Quality Over Speed

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The Justice Department is attempting to demonstrate in its historic competition case how Google keeps its search dominance by isolating competitors like Microsoft. Government solicitors have been attempting to demonstrate that, in addition to its supremacy, Google purposefully delayed technical advancements if they potentially jeopardise its position.

After years of developing Google Maps as well as local search tools, Reid joined Google, a division of Alphabet Inc., as a vice president of search in 2021. She discussed in her testimony the organization’s attempts to create local search and its latest foray into artificial intelligence (AI) with the Search Generative Service, a limited edition driven by generative Intelligence.

Throughout the trial, several Google officials have spoken about the business’s attempts to use machine learning and artificial intelligence in its products.

On Monday, February 6, Google revealed the release of Bard, referring to it as an essential next phase of its artificial intelligence a statement made by CEO Sundar Pichai. The next day, Microsoft announced that it was adding ChatGPT technology from Open AI to Bing.

Also Read: Mozilla ‘Failed’ Bet on Yahoo Takes Spotlight in Google Trial

The public display of Bard by Google failed to impress financiers. Bard was questioned once on recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope. False information was provided by the chatbot about the usage of the telescope to capture the first images of a planet outside of our solar system.

In 2004, NASA took the first images of a planet known as an exoplanet, however, the Webb telescope became the first to take a picture of a specific planet outside of our solar system. Alphabet’s shares fell sharply as a result of the error.

“It’s a very subtle language difference,” Reid said in explaining the error in her testimony Wednesday. “The amount of effort to ensure that a paragraph is correct is quite a lot of work.”

“The challenges of fact-checking are hard,” she added.

bnnbloomberg.ca
Microsoft’s Cloud Recovery Is Outshining Rivals Amazon, Google

Microsoft Overtakes Amazon and Google in the Cloud Computing Race

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In the competition to recover from a two-year slump in cloud computing expenditure, Microsoft Corp. is outpacing its main competitors, Google and Amazon.com Inc.

Microsoft’s Cloud Recovery Is Outshining Rivals Amazon, Google
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The September quarter revenue increase for Microsoft’s Azure cloud division was 29 percent, above experts’ projections. This rise was partly attributed to business clients’ engagement in emerging artificial intelligence technologies. Google parent Alphabet Inc. took a more measured stance in a separate report released on the same day in the previous week, stating that cloud customers are still in the process of decreasing costs. Additionally, Amazon.com Inc.’s cloud profit picture on Thursday was mixed, with operating revenues above analysts’ projections but sales were somewhat below expectations.

Following a frenzy of spending during the epidemic, firms devoted a large portion of 2022 and 2023 to what the largest software businesses metaphorically dubbed “optimization”, maximizing the usage of products they have paid for and seeking out areas where they might save costs. As a result, the largest cloud providers are searching for areas where they can cut costs as they compete for significant deals in an increasingly difficult climate. As a result, they are looking for new methods to attract companies, such as by incorporating the newest artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that guarantee increased productivity.

“The world is going to be driven by workloads accelerating into the cloud,” said Stefan Slowinski, an analyst at BNP Paribas’s Exane. “CEOs make that decision based on gut, and right now they’re still being cautious.”

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The latest business choices on which cloud provider to choose have most likely been affected by the growing interest in creating and deploying applications based on artificial intelligence. Microsoft provides methods for utilizing different artificial intelligence technologies and has established itself as a frontrunner in the rapidly expanding field because it collaborated with OpenAI, the company behind the well-known ChatGPT content generation tool.

Also Read: Early Black Friday Offers! Get the Apple MacBook Air 2023 for only $1,049

Microsoft stated that this partnership, which allows Microsoft’s cloud customers to utilize the startup’s technology for designing their apps through a service dubbed Azure OpenAI, has helped drive the rise of new clients. Microsoft profits from OpenAI’s growing need for processing power since it made investments of a total of thirteen billion dollars in the company and provides its cloud services.

TCS Seeks to Use Microsoft AI Partnership to Improve Margins

TCS Seeks to Use Microsoft AI Partnership to Improve Margins

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In a strategic move aimed at fostering growth, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), Asia’s largest outsourcing company, is intensifying its collaboration with Microsoft Corp to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI)-based software services. 

TCS Seeks to Use Microsoft AI Partnership to Improve Margins
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The partnership involves leveraging Azure OpenAI, a collaboration between Microsoft and OpenAI led by Sam Altman, as well as utilizing the cloud-based AI tool GitHub Copilot. The goal is to offer bespoke solutions, such as fraud detection for financial services clients and personalized customer services for retailers.

K Krithivasan, the Chief Executive Officer of TCS, highlighted the potential of these services to enhance margins in an interview with Bloomberg News. He emphasized that the company is working closely with Microsoft to build industry-specific solutions that can be jointly brought to market. However, Krithivasan acknowledged that it might take a couple of quarters before these initiatives reach a critical mass to significantly impact the overall market.

With over 100,000 generative AI-ready employees, TCS is integrating AI technology into various software offerings, a move that has reportedly contributed to the success of securing large deals. The company’s strategy aligns with a broader industry trend among Indian IT firms, including smaller rivals like Infosys, to shift focus from traditional outsourcing to high-value services encompassing big data, machine learning, analytics, cloud computing, and AI.

Krithivasan, who assumed the role of CEO in June, has undertaken structural changes within the company to tap into the business expertise of senior executives and enhance client connections. While expressing optimism about the partnership with Microsoft, he emphasized the need for sustained growth and the removal of organizational frictions.

Also Read: X Faces European Union Investigation for Israel-Palestine Content

The move towards advanced technologies is crucial for Indian IT firms as they face margin pressures due to global economic uncertainties and geopolitical events. Traditionally, these companies provided cost-effective back-office operations, but they are now positioning themselves as partners in digital transformation for global enterprises.

“We should be participating more where the customers are investing for the future,” Krithivasan stated, underscoring the firm’s commitment to enhancing capabilities in areas crucial for clients’ future investments. As the partnership with Microsoft evolves, TCS aims to navigate the dynamic landscape of the IT industry, adapting to emerging technologies to stay at the forefront of innovation and client satisfaction.

Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard deal cleared by Britain

Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal Cleared by Britain

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on Friday, Xbox creator Microsoft completed its 69-billion-dollar acquisition of Activision Blizzard, bolstering its position in the video gaming industry with top-grossing games like “Call of Duty” to more effectively fight with Sony, the sector’s leader.

Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard deal cleared by Britain
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The largest gaming merger, first announced in January 2022, overcame its final major barrier later in the day when Microsoft consented to sell off streaming licenses for Activision’s titles to ease competition concerns.

The accomplishment is a significant victory for the American tech company in its campaign to draw more customers to its Xbox systems and Game Pass membership service. Sony, whose PlayStation game systems sell more than the Xbox, generates more gaming income than Microsoft.

While Activision’s chief executive officer Bobby Kotick will continue in his position until the end of 2023, Microsoft Gaming’s chief executive officer Phil Spencer will be in charge of the company’s operations.

Spencer has hailed the acquisition as an opportunity for Microsoft to enter the greater than 90 billion-dollar mobile gaming industry.

Famous mobile games from Activision like “Candy Crush Saga” as well as “Call of Duty Mobile” were left out of the cloud streaming agreement that Microsoft made with Ubisoft Entertainment of France to win Britain’s permission.

“Microsoft instantly has more than $3 billion of mobile revenues,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter.

“The big benefit is that Microsoft has a vision that they are going to deliver games through a subscription, and they need more content to give subscribers. So, this is a big step toward having sufficient content,” he said.

finance.yahoo.com

The Federal Trade Commission of the United States continues to oppose the acquisition despite having been unsuccessful in doing so in the past. The FTC stated on Friday that it will assess Microsoft’s contract with Ubisoft while concentrating on its petition for review.

Analysts, though, predict that not much will change.

“The impact of an FTC challenge will be limited to incremental concessions in the future,” D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria said.

finance.yahoo.com

Also Read: Google’s Pichai Decried Bad ‘Optics’ of Search Engine Deal With Apple

The CMA believes that Microsoft’s streaming capitulation is a turning point and said that it was the sole rival agency in the world to achieve this result.

“The new deal will stop Microsoft from locking up competition in cloud gaming as this market takes off, preserving competitive prices and services for UK cloud gaming customers,” it said in a statement.

finance.yahoo.com
Amazon and Microsoft Cloud Units Face UK Antitrust Investigation

Amazon and Microsoft Cloud Units Face UK Antitrust Investigation

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In a significant move, Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has formally requested the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate the dominant positions of U.S. tech giants Amazon and Microsoft in the UK cloud market. 

Amazon and Microsoft Cloud Units Face UK Antitrust Investigation
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The regulator expressed concerns over features that hindered UK businesses from using multiple cloud suppliers, citing a lack of flexibility and increased difficulty in switching providers. According to Ofcom, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft jointly commanded a substantial 70-80% share of Britain’s public cloud infrastructure services market in 2022, leaving Google as their distant competitor with a mere 5-10% share. Ofcom contends that this concentration could have adverse effects on competition within the market.

“The CMA will now conduct an independent investigation to decide whether there is an adverse effect on competition, and if so, whether it should take action or recommend others to take action,” stated Ofcom.

Amazon responded with disagreement, stating that Ofcom’s findings were based on a “fundamental misconception of how the IT sector functions, and the services and discounts on offer.” The company warned that unwarranted intervention might lead to unintended harm to IT customers and competition but expressed willingness to work constructively with the CMA.

Similarly, Microsoft, holding a significant stake in the UK cloud industry, pledged its commitment to ensuring innovation and high competitiveness. A Microsoft spokesperson asserted, “We will engage constructively with the CMA.”

Ofcom’s move follows its earlier expression of concern in April, prompting speculation about a potential antitrust investigation. UK businesses, in their feedback to Ofcom, emphasized the difficulties in switching or combining cloud providers, leading to the decision to refer the matter to the CMA. Fergal Farragher, Director at Ofcom, stated, “So, we’re referring the market to the CMA for further scrutiny, to make sure business customers continue to benefit from cloud services.” The CMA welcomed the referral, acknowledging the critical role of effective competition in the £7.5 billion ($9.1 billion) cloud services market, upon which many businesses rely.

Also Read: Google’s New Virtual Assistant to Include Bard AI Tools

This move aligns with a broader global trend, as both the French antitrust authority and EU regulators have shown an increasing interest in scrutinizing practices within the cloud computing sector. Google’s Vice President, Amit Zavery, stressed the need for an open cloud market without vendor lock-in, reflecting the sentiments of UK government agencies, businesses, and consumers.

The CMA is expected to conclude its investigation by April 2025, marking a pivotal moment in shaping the landscape of the UK’s cloud services market.