WebProNews

Category: RemoteWorkingTrends

  • Q1 2021 US Cloud Infrastructure Spending Grew 29%

    Q1 2021 US Cloud Infrastructure Spending Grew 29%

    Cloud infrastructure spending grew a whopping 29% in Q1 2021, buoyed by the impact the pandemic has had on businesses.

    As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, organizations of all sizes accelerated their transition to cloud computing in an effort to stay productive. Especially as employees were sent home to work remotely, cloud computing became one of the single most critical factors in many businesses’ success.

    The accelerated digital transformation continues to impact the cloud market, according to data from Canalys. In fact, spending increased some 29%, hitting $18.6 billion.

    Cloud infrastructure services spend in the United States grew 29% in Q1 2021 to a record US$18.6 billion. Total expenditure increased US$4.2 billion in the last year and US$621 million in the last quarter according to the latest Canalys data. Dollar for dollar, annual expansion was the highest in two years, indicating robust demand for cloud services. The focus on digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic was the main factor behind the continued investment momentum, aided by the economic recovery and subsequent restart of some delayed projects.

    As the US rolls out the Biden administration’s modernization initiatives, Canalys sees cloud providers benefiting even more, especially with the addition of $1 billion added to the Technology Modernization Fund, part of the larger America Rescue Plan. AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud — with 37%, 23% and 9% of the US market respectively — are rapidly building out their infrastructure to keep up.

    “Cloud service providers have a big opportunity with the US government, not only with its stated desire to modernize technologies, but also its renewed focus on cybersecurity efforts,” said Canalys Vice President Alex Smith. “The recent SolarWinds hack affected nine federal agencies and the Colonial Pipeline hack exposed the high risk all organizations face. With intense competition over large government cloud contracts, such as the US$10 billion JEDI contract, a security advantage will pay off for bidding cloud service providers.”

  • Microsoft Launches Teams for Friends and Family

    Microsoft Launches Teams for Friends and Family

    Microsoft is making its personal feature in Teams available to the public in a bid to grow the platform beyond corporate use.

    Microsoft Teams has emerged as one of the premier methods of corporate communication, its popularity boosted significantly by the pandemic and remote work. The company wants to build on that and boost Teams’ popularity among individual users, much like Zoom and Skype.

    The company began rolling out personal features last year, and has been testing the features ever since. Today, the personal features are now officially part of Teams, and will make it easy for users to communicate and share content, such as photos, files, calendars, tasks and web links.

    Teams will allow one-to-one calls for up to 24 hours free, as well as free 60 minute calls for up to 100 participants. During the pandemic, however, Microsoft waiving that limitation and allowing up to 300 participants to speak for free for up to 24 hours.

    Liat Ben-Zur, Corporate Vice President, Modern Life, Search, and Devices, made the announcement in a blog post.

    Personal features in Teams are available today, for free, and for people around the world. If you’re using Teams for work, just click on your profile to add a personal account. If you’re new to Teams, you can download the iOS, Android, or desktop app to get started today. You can also use Teams on any web browser, including my personal favorite, Microsoft Edge. Learn more about personal features in Teams.

    We’re so excited that Microsoft Teams, which so many of us have come to rely on at work, can now help people connect and get things done with their family and friends. We can’t wait to hear your feedback and look forward to delivering more features over time.

  • Microsoft Outlook a Major Security Issue for WFM

    Microsoft Outlook a Major Security Issue for WFM

    Amid an unprecedented transition to work from home (WFM), Microsoft Outlook has come into focus as a security weak point.

    Microsoft 365 has been an important factor for many organizations, helping their employees stay connected and productive while working remotely. Unfortunately, using Microsoft Outlook is directly linked to a higher incidence of data breaches.

    Software company Egress found “that 85% of organizations using Microsoft 365 have had an email data breach in the last 12 months.” In addition, there was significant disparity between the number of data leaks experienced by companies using Outlook, versus those that weren’t.

    Organizations using Microsoft 365 have seen a 67% increase in data leaks via email since March 2020 – compared to just 32% of the businesses who don’t use it. And these aren’t one-off incidents. We also learned that 15% of Microsoft 365 organizations had been breached over 500 times during that same time period.

    Microsoft is already under scrutiny for its role in the SolarWinds breach. This latest report is sure to be an unwelcome one, and will likely increase scrutiny even more.

    In the meantime, organizations that rely on Microsoft Outlook would do well to read the Egress report in its entirety.

  • Coinbase Closing San Francisco Office, Going 100% Decentralized

    Coinbase Closing San Francisco Office, Going 100% Decentralized

    Coinbase has announced it is closing its San Francisco office, the company’s former headquarters, in an effort to be fully decentralized.

    In late February, the company announced it was transitioning to a decentralized company, going remote first. As part of the move, it relegated its existing headquarters in San Francisco to just a regular office, going HQ-free.

    Coinbase is now taking the next step, with plans to close its San Francisco office altogether. Although it no longer serves as the company’s HQ, there was concern that its very existence would put undo emphasis on it and take away from the company’s decentralization efforts.

    While many companies have transitioned to permanent remote work, Coinbase is certainly charting a unique path with its commitment to decentralized remote work.

  • Google Finally Embraces Long-Term Hybrid Work

    Google Finally Embraces Long-Term Hybrid Work

    Google has finally embraced long-term hybrid work, paving the way for employees to have more flexibility.

    Google was one of the first major companies to send employees home as a result of the pandemic, and has continued to push back its return-to-office date. Nonetheless, the company had previously sent clear signals that it was all-in on in-office work, even investing billions in new office space.

    The company’s move was unpopular with employees, many of whom started pushing back against the idea of returning to the office full-time. Some even threatened to quit if Google forced their hand. Further complicating the issue was the company’s own financial reports, showing it saves roughly $1 billion a year as a result of remote work.

    It appears Google is beginning to change its tune, finally embracing remote and hybrid work long-term. In a blog post, CEO Sundar Pichai outlined the company’s new policies.

    We’ll move to a hybrid work week where most Googlers spend approximately three days in the office and two days wherever they work best. Since in-office time will be focused on collaboration, your product areas and functions will help decide which days teams will come together in the office. There will also be roles that may need to be on site more than three days a week due to the nature of the work.

    In addition to the hybrid approach, Pichai says Googlers will have far more freedom to choose a different Google location to work from. This will give employees the ability to choose from the company’s many locations around the globe, rather than their job being tied to a single location that may not be ideal for them or their family. The only major limitation will be whether the proposed location has the infrastructure to support a given role.

    In addition, employees will be able to apply for completely remote work, depending on the job in question. As with the location transfers, remote work applications will be evaluated on whether the job can be adequately accomplished, and the team properly supported, remotely.

    Taken together these changes will result in a workforce where around 60% of Googlers are coming together in the office a few days a week, another 20% are working in new office locations, and 20% are working from home.

    With this adjustment to its work plans, Google joins a long list of companies that are fully embracing remote and hybrid work, furthering the workplace transformation the pandemic started.

  • T-Mobile Joins FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

    T-Mobile Joins FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

    T-Mobile has announced it is joining the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, to provide low-cost service.

    The FCC announced its Emergency Broadband Benefit program will start on May 12. The program is designed to provide a discount of up to $50 ($75 on tribal lands) to help low-income families have access to broadband internet. High-speed internet access is more important than ever, as countless individuals work from home and engage in remote learning.

    T-Mobile has joined the FCC’s program, making its services available under its main brand, as well as subsidiaries.

    When enrollment opens on May 12, qualified T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Assurance Wireless and Sprint brand consumer and government customers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands may be eligible for an up to $50 discount (up to $75 on tribal lands) per household on service each month on qualified plans for the duration of the program.

  • Microsoft Teams Hits 145 Million Daily Users

    Microsoft Teams Hits 145 Million Daily Users

    Microsoft Teams has hit a major new milestone, boasting some 145 million daily users.

    Microsoft Teams has become one of the most widely used programs in the pandemic, as business have relied on it for communication, collaboration and remote work. The software has benefited from being bundled with Microsoft 365, and has become an increasingly important part of Microsoft’s overall strategy.

    Thanks to the pandemic, Teams has experienced meteoric growth. In March 2020, Teams had 44 million users, and by October the platform had passed 115 million users. According to Microsoft Corporate Vice President Jeff Teper, Teams has now hit 145 million daily users.

  • FCC Announces Start Date for Emergency Broadband Program

    FCC Announces Start Date for Emergency Broadband Program

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the start date of its emergency broadband program.

    The FCC proposed emergency broadband measures to help low-income families have reliable internet access. The global pandemic has shone a spotlight on the need for high-speed access, although the cost associated with it can be a challenge.

    To combat this problem, Congress authorized the creation of a $3.2 billion initiative in 2020. The program will provide up to $50 for low-income households, and up to $75 for those on Tribal lands. The FCC has announced the program will begin on May 12.

    “Families in every corner of the country have been struggling to get online throughout this pandemic,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “For those families, we now say help is around the corner. In less than two weeks, we will have a new way for disconnected Americans to access the internet to carry out their day- to-day life, so they can reach the virtual classroom, take advantage of telehealth, and seek new employment opportunities. I’m proud of the work we’ve done as an agency to get this program off the ground in record time.”

  • Remote Work Saving Google and Alphabet $1 Billion a Year

    Remote Work Saving Google and Alphabet $1 Billion a Year

    Google executives may be eager to return to the office, but remote work is already saving the company $1 billion a year.

    In a blog post in March, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the company’s commitment to in-person collaboration.

    Coming together in person to collaborate and build community is core to Google’s culture, and it will be an important part of our future.

    Despite the company’s preference for in-person collaboration, remote work has had very tangible benefits for Google. According to Bloomberg, Google’s parent Alphabet saved $268 million in the first quarter, as a result of cuts to company promotions, travel and entertainment. Over a year’s time, that equals more than $1 billion.

    The revelation illustrates the issues many companies are facing. Even if they prefer in-office work, many companies are saving millions — or even billions — of dollars as a result of remote work.

  • Apple Reports Record March Quarter

    Apple Reports Record March Quarter

    Apple has reported its quarterly results, delivering an astounding 54% year-over-year revenue growth.

    The March quarter is not traditionally one of Apple’s strongest. This year, however, the company had a number of factors in its favor. The iPhone 12, with 5G support, was expected to cause a “super cycle” upgrade as individuals traded in older phones for the revolutionary new feature the 12 offered. Similarly, Apple’s move to its own custom silicon for its Mac line of computers have led to renewed demand.

    The company also benefited from the transition to remote work, as Macs, iPhones and iPads saw increased demand among remote employees and students.

    These factors resulted in a quarter that exceeded analysts expectations across the board, and accounted for revenue of $89.6 billion. The iPhone accounted for $47.9 billion, a 66% increase. The Mac saw a 70% increase, coming in at $9.1 billion. The iPad accounted for $7.8 billion, or a 35% increase.

    “This quarter reflects both the enduring ways our products have helped our users meet this moment in their own lives, as well as the optimism consumers seem to feel about better days ahead for all of us,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Apple is in a period of sweeping innovation across our product lineup, and we’re keeping focus on how we can help our teams and the communities where we work emerge from this pandemic into a better world. That certainly begins with products like the all-new iMac and iPad Pro, but it extends to efforts like the 8 gigawatts of new clean energy we’ll help bring onto the grid and our $430 billion investment in the United States over the next 5 years.”

    “We are proud of our March quarter performance, which included revenue records in each of our geographic segments and strong double-digit growth in each of our product categories, driving our installed base of active devices to an all-time high,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “These results allowed us to generate operating cash flow of $24 billion and return nearly $23 billion to shareholders during the quarter. We are confident in our future and continue to make significant investments to support our long-term plans and enrich our customers’ lives.”

  • Zoom Unveils Immersive View

    Zoom Unveils Immersive View

    Zoom has unveiled Immersive View, a way to bring together virtual participants into a single, cohesive view.

    Apps such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Skype and others have been instrumental to helping companies and individuals stay productive during the pandemic. In spite of their benefit, however, constantly being in virtual meetings has taken a toll on many employees, leading to what’s popularly called “Zoom fatigue.”

    Zoom is working to address that with its new Immersive View, designed to bring everyone together virtually in a way that feels more familiar and (hopefully) less taxing.

    Immersive View allows hosts to arrange video participants and webinar panelists into a single virtual background, bringing people together into one scene to connect and collaborate in a cohesive virtual meeting space.

    Whether you want to create the feeling of being in a classroom, a boardroom, a conference auditorium, or your favorite place to catch up with friends, Zoom’s Immersive View assembles up to 25 participants in one fun, consistent meeting environment.

    The new feature is similar to Microsoft Teams’ Together Mode, which the Redmond giant rolled out in July of last year. While Zoom may be nearly a year late to the party, at least it arrived with a catchier name.

  • Comcast Teases 4Gbps Speeds — Just Not Yet

    Comcast Teases 4Gbps Speeds — Just Not Yet

    Comcast has successfully broke the 4Gbps speed barrier in a lab test, holding out promise for substantially faster internet speeds.

    Internet speeds have become a much greater concern since the global pandemic, with remote work shining a spotlight on the need for fast, reliable internet access. While many companies offer download speeds in the upper double-digits, or even triple-digits, upload speeds are often substantially lower. This can pose a problem for videoconferencing, gaming, content uploads and more.

    Comcast is on the verge of revolutionizing internet speeds, delivering upwards of 4Gbps in a lab test.

    In the test environment, the research team demonstrated the ability of the SOC to deliver upstream and downstream throughputs of greater than 4 gigabits per second (Gbps). Future optimization is expected to drive even greater capacity.

    For the time being, Comcast customers will still be limited to 3 – 35Mbps uploads. Comcast’s test, however, shows just what’s possible in the (hopefully) near future.

  • GM Announces ‘Work Appropriately,’ Embraces Remote Work

    GM Announces ‘Work Appropriately,’ Embraces Remote Work

    GM is joining the list of companies, including its biggest competitor Ford, in embracing remote work.

    The pandemic has upended many industries, with remote work becoming an important element in keeping many businesses operational during lockdowns and quarantine. Remote work has been so successful that many in the tech industry have opted to embrace remote and hybrid work permanently. Companies outside the tech industries have started doing the same, with Ford making headlines in March with its decision to allow 30,000 employees to work from home permanently.

    GM has now joined that growing list of companies, with its “Work Appropriately” approach, unveiled by CEO Mary Barra in a LinkedIn blog post.

    The learnings and successes of the last year led us to introduce how we will manage the future of work at GM, called “Work Appropriately.” This means that where the work permits, employees have the flexibility to work where they can have the greatest impact on achieving our goals. The notion behind this approach – that our employees are capable of making smart decisions without overly prescriptive guidance – is the same notion behind our dress code, “Dress Appropriately.”

    Barra frames the decision in the context of attracting top talent. Numerous studies have shown that remote and flexible work options have become so important to many employees, that 29% would rather quit their jobs than go back to the office. More than 50% would be willing to trade vacation days for the ability to continue working remotely.

    GM recognizes the importance of flexible work options in the context of attracting the top talent needed for it to reach its long-term goals.

    Achieving our all-electric future will require attracting and retaining top talent, and we are excited to focus our employee engagement and hiring on the work, and not the where in many cases. We’re already adapting our recruitment efforts to include hiring positions that are designated specifically as remote.

    GM’s decision, along with Ford’s, will put further pressure on Toyota and other manufacturers to follow suit.

  • Ascend West Virginia Offering $12,000 to Relocate

    Remote workers looking to escape the city may be able to cash in on a $12,000 relocation package to move to West Virginia.

    Ascend WV is the brainchild of Brad D. Smith, former CEO of Intuit, and his wife Alys Smith. Brad Smith grew up in West Virginia and, following his success in the business world, wanted to return home — to the place John Denver famously called “Almost Heaven.” The Smiths provided a $25 million gift to help create the “talent attraction program,” in cooperation with Governor Jim Justice, the West Virginia Department of Tourism and West Virginia University.

    Having reached the greatest heights of business success in Silicon Valley and beyond, Brad Smith could not escape the magnetic pull of his home state. One thing became clear: West Virginia was drawing him back to the mountains that made him. With the minds of visionaries, Brad and Alys Smith made a transformational investment in Almost Heaven that is changing the landscape of remote work forever. Ascend WV was born with the mission of sharing West Virginia’s unbeatable quality of life with remote workers just like you.

    The program will pay participants $12,000 in cash to relocate. The first $10,000 will be paid in monthly installments over the first year, with the remaining $2,000 paid at the end of the second consecutive year after relocation. In addition, participants will receive $2,500 in free outdoor recreation. Coworking spaces, social programming and entrepreneurial assistance are also available.

    The program is currently accepting applications for Morgantown, WV. Lewisburg and Shepherdstown are also featured cities, although not accepting applications at this time.

  • iPad Pro’s Center Stage Will Work With Third-Party Video Apps

    iPad Pro’s Center Stage Will Work With Third-Party Video Apps

    Apple has answered a big question about the upcoming Center Stage iPad Pro feature, stating it will work with third-party video apps.

    One of the most frustrating things about videoconferencing on an iPad is the placement of the camera. Because the camera is placed at the top of the screen when held in portrait mode, it is off to the side when in landscape mode, such as when it’s in a keyboard case. As a result, looking at the screen during a video conference makes it appear as if the person is looking off to the side — because they are, in relation to the camera.

    When Apple unveiled the new iPad Pro at its Spring Loaded event, one of the most promising features was one called Center Stage. Using the iPad’s Ultra Wide camera, in combination with machine learning, Center Stage keeps the user centered in the screen, appearing to look directly at the camera.

    One of the biggest questions was whether the new feature would only work with FaceTime, or if it would support third-party apps, such as Zoom, Skype or Teams. Apple has clarified on its iPad Pro page that the feature will work with third-party apps.

    The all‑new Center Stage uses the Ultra Wide camera and machine learning to change the way you participate in video calls. As you move around, it automatically pans to keep you centered in the frame. When others join in or leave the call, the view expands or zooms in. Center Stage works with FaceTime and other video conferencing apps for an even more engaging experience

    The news will remove a significant irritation for anyone primarily using an iPad Pro for their work and virtual meetings.

  • Apple ‘Spring Loaded’ Event: iPad Pro and M1 Mac

    Apple ‘Spring Loaded’ Event: iPad Pro and M1 Mac

    Apple uses its “Spring Loaded” event to unveil the new iPad Pro and an M1 iMac.

    iMac

    New iMac - Credit Apple
    New iMac – Credit Apple

    Cook highlighted the revolutionary impact of the transition to Apple’s custom M1 silicon, before giving the stage to John Ternus to discuss the latest addition to the M1 family: the iMac.

    The new iMac is a throwback to the original iMac, coming in seven different colors. Unlike previous generations, however, the M1 allows the iMac to achieve an all new degree of thinness. In fact, the new model is only 11.5 millimeters thick.

    iMac stays under 10 decimals under most situations, barely audible to the human ear.

    Navpreet Koloty showed off the progress Apple has made on the iMac’s cameras, the best the company has ever put in a Mac. Cameras were always a weak point for the Mac, something that became more apparent during the pandemic, as people started relying on videoconferencing.

    The iMac’s speakers and microphones also received a major upgrade, resulting in the best sound system ever put in a Mac.

    The new machines are up to 85% faster than previous models, with up to 2x faster GPU performance and up to 50% faster than the fastest discrete graphics iMacs. Machine learning is up to 3x faster.

    The iMac is the first desktop to offer Touch ID. Touch ID can be used to log in, make purchases and activate fast user switching, to switch between user accounts.

    iPad Pro

    iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard
    iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard – Credit Apple

    Raja Bose took the stage to announce the iPad Pro now has the M1 chip as well. The M1 in the iPad Pro delivers 50% faster performance than the previous generation. The 8-core GPU delivers up to 40% faster GPU performance than the previous model.

    The new model includes support for the latest Playstation and Xbox controls, complete with haptic feedback.

    The new iPad Pro has 2x faster storage access, and is now available with up to 2TB storage. New model includes Thunderbolt support with USB 4.

    The new iPad Pro supports 5G, including mmWave in the US, giving it the ability to have 4Gbps download under ideal conditions.

    iPad Pro Center Stage - Credit Apple
    iPad Pro Center Stage – Credit Apple

    Fiona O’Leary showed the improvements Apple has made to the cameras. One of the biggest announcements was the introduction of Center Stage. Using the new 122-degree, Ultra-Wide camera and machine learning, Center Stage keeps the user in the center of the view, addressing one of the biggest complaints of the iPad’s current cameras.

    The new models also include the much anticipated mini-LED display, complete Liquid Retina XDR, a first for the tablet line. The Magic Keyboard is also available in white.

    The 11-inch model starts at $799, while the 12.9-inch starts at $1,099.

  • VMware Wants to ‘Empower Today’s Anywhere Workforce’

    VMware Wants to ‘Empower Today’s Anywhere Workforce’

    VMware has launched VMware Anywhere Workspace in an effort to help companies and employees thrive in a remote work environment.

    VMware’s virtualization platform already powers some of the biggest names in tech, and now the company is turning its expertise toward helping companies succeed with their remote workforce.

    “Work is what you do, not where you do it. As businesses reimagine where and how teams collaborate and innovate, they must do more than transform. They must reform their mindset to create a digital-first culture that puts employee experience first,” said Sanjay Poonen, chief operating officer, customer operations, VMware. “We developed VMware Anywhere Workspace with this new way of working in mind. It will play an important role in creating stronger, more focused, and more resilient businesses.”

    VMware Anywhere Workspace is designed to provide robust security and make it easier for IT to support remote employees. To achieve this, the platform combines three solutions in one: VMware Workspace One, VMware Carbon Black Cloud and VMware SASE.

    Together the three solutions provide unified endpoint management, desktop and app virtualization, cloud-native endpoint and workload protection, cloud-delivered security functions, and a host of employee productivity, experience and security solutions.

    “A truly hybrid workforce is one that is enabled to work in any location, across any network and device, and with no trade-offs when it comes to employee productivity. However, delivering against this ideal has proven challenging for businesses that often rely on a complex set of legacy security practices and technologies,” said Adam Holtby, Principal Analyst, Omdia. “New security, management, and employee productivity solutions and practices are needed if businesses are to optimally enable and secure a more hybrid, anywhere workforce. This value proposition is at the core of VMware’s new solution, and it is one that has great potential to help the vendor become an important partner for businesses looking to embrace the Future of Work.”

    VMware Anywhere Workspace is available today.

  • Zoom Launches $100 Million Fund to Stimulate Zoom Apps Ecosystem

    Zoom Launches $100 Million Fund to Stimulate Zoom Apps Ecosystem

    Zoom has launched a $100 million fund to help stimulate and grow the app ecosystem surrounding the videoconferencing platform.

    Zoom emerged as a front-runner in the early days of the pandemic, with companies, schools, religious organizations and individuals turning to the platform to stay connected. As a result, Zoom experienced meteoric growth, far outpacing some of its rivals.

    The company is looking to ensure its long-term success, by helping build out the ecosystem of apps, hardware and integrations that will continue to improve the service Zoom offers.

    “I founded Zoom in 2011, nearly ten years ago. Without the support of early investors, Zoom would not be what it is today,” said Eric S. Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom. “What I’ve learned over the past year is that we need to keep meetings productive and fun. My hope is that the Zoom Apps Fund will help our customers meet happier and collaborate even more seamlessly, and at the same time help entrepreneurs build new businesses as our platform evolves.”

    According to Zoom, portfolio companies will be eligible for investments “between $250,000 and $2.5 million to build solutions that will become core to how Zoom customers meet, communicate, and collaborate.”

  • Governor Cuomo Makes Low-Cost Broadband Mandatory

    Governor Cuomo Makes Low-Cost Broadband Mandatory

    Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill that would force companies to make broadband access available to low-income families for $15 a month.

    Internet access is more important than ever, as employees work from home and children learn remotely as a result of the pandemic. Unfortunately, standard broadband plans are out-of-reach for many low-income families.

    New York has taken a major step toward ensuring everyone has access to broadband, by capping the cost for low-income families, according to The Washington Post. A basic broadband plan will be capped at $15 per month, while upgraded plans would be capped at $20.

    Eric Schmidt, former Alphabet CEO, was on-hand with Cuomo at a briefing and was supportive of the new legislation.

    “Internet is no longer optional,” Schmidt said. “Think of the generation that we could be creating that are not learning because we didn’t give them Internet access.”

  • AT&T and WarnerMedia Launching Distance Learning Platform

    AT&T and WarnerMedia Launching Distance Learning Platform

    AT&T has announced it is launching AT&T Connected Learning, a distance learning platform, in partnership with WarnerMedia.

    Distance learning was kicked into overdrive as a result of the pandemic. Even post-pandemic, many teachers believe technology will play a larger role in education. AT&T sees an opportunity and is teaming with its subsidiary, WarnerMedia, to provide a platform teachers will be able to use now and in the future.

    AT&T Connected Learning is our multi-year commitment to help stem the tide of learning loss, narrow the homework gap, and create compelling educational content. The initiative builds on our previous investments and long-standing commitment to education. It includes multiple solutions to connect today’s learners with the skills, resources, and opportunities for success in school and in life.

    The companies plan on using exclusive content from WarnerMedia properties and talents, with a view to helping students succeed with their studies. The platform will also provide tools to assist students with critical thinking and socio-emotional learning.

    AT&T said the companies will also work with the Public Library Association in the furtherance of their goals.

    Together with Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association, we will offer a specially curated collection of digital literacy courses to help parents and families build the skills and confidence they need to help their child navigate distance learning and participate effectively and safely in today’s digital world. Courses will be available virtually for everyone and offered in-person at our Connected Learning Centers and public libraries and as part of PLA’s nationwide digital literacy initiative.

  • Salesforce Extends Remote Work, Opening HQ in May

    Salesforce Extends Remote Work, Opening HQ in May

    Salesforce has updated its work strategy, extending work-from-home (WFM) till the end of the year.

    Salesforce made headlines in February when it announced it was embracing remote work permanently, giving employees the option to have a hybrid work schedule. Under the company’s new plans, there would be three categories of workers: flex, fully remote and in-office.

    The company expects the majority of its employees to be flex workers, only coming to the office 1-3 days per week. In-office will comprise the smallest percentage, and be in the office 4-5 days. Fully remote workers would be those that live outside a reasonable commute distance, or those with roles that don’t require an office.

    Salesforce is working on reopening its offices, with some 22 locations around the world now open. The company’s first US office and HQ, Salesforce Tower San Francisco, will be open in May. In the meantime, the company is extending its WFM till at least December 31, making any return to the office optional until then.

    The company also shared several insights gleaned from its WFM efforts.

    Thursday has emerged as the most popular day for employees to come to the office, with many employees preferring to start their week at home.

    Productivity has also been impacted, as “employees are 16% more likely to agree they are more productive at home, and 13% more likely to agree that their teams are more productive at home than in the office.” In addition, 20% of WFM employees are more likely to take wellbeing breaks than their office-bound counterparts.

    At the same time, the office is still seen as a superior place for collaboration. In the company’s Sydney location, “64% of collaboration spaces like lounges and conference rooms were utilized; whereas only 24% of desk space was used. And employees working in the office were 19% more likely to have connected socially with a colleague compared to those working from home.”

    As a company that has embraced WFM, Salesforce offers important insights and a roadmap for companies wanting to make a similar transition.