Tech predictions for 2018: Drones, crypto, and the rise of the robots January 15, 2018 The pace of technological change can seem exciting and daunting in equal measure. 2017, while seeing continued financial growth in the tech sector, brought even more sharply into focus the challenges inherent with the inexorable march of progress. From Amazon to Uber, tech giants saw their practices and business models scrutinised more deeply than ever [...]
SoftBank’s Vision Fund backs online car marketplace Auto1 January 14, 2018 Another day, another SoftBank startup investment. The highly active Japanese firm with $100bn of its Vision Fund to spend is backing Auto1, a Berlin-based online marketplace for buying and selling cars. It is investing €460m in the five-year-old startup, one of the most highly valued in Europe at €2.9bn with the fresh investment and already [...]
TfL extends Addison Lee’s London licence by another five years as Uber’s licence battle continues January 12, 2018 Transport for London (TfL) has extended Addison Lee’s licence to operate in the capital for another five years, as Uber’s battle to regain its licence continues. Minicab firm Addison Lee said today that its licence “has been routinely renewed by Transport for London”. A spokesperson for the firm said: “Addison Lee looks forward to continuing [...]
Open Banking explained: Everything you need to know about the initiative but were afraid to ask January 12, 2018 You'll be hearing a lot of talk about Open Banking, which is set for take off this Saturday. Here's everything you need to know about it but were afraid to ask. What exactly is Open Banking? The markets watchdog told nine of the biggest banks that they must open up the information they hold so [...]
Uber rival Taxify launches in Lisbon as London licence wait continues | City A.M. January 11, 2018 A European startup hoping to take on Uber and which last year found its launch in London stalled by regulators, has pulled up in a new European city. Taxify has launched in Lisbon, Portugal, where it claims to have signed up more than 600 drivers and several thousand users. Read more: It’s official: Uber is [...]
Daimler invests in What3Words, a British tech startup mapping the entire world with words January 10, 2018 Daimler has taken a stake in an innovative British mapping startup that created an entirely new postcode system for Mongolia last year. The German carmaker behind Mercedes has taken a 10 per cent stake in What3Words, a startup creating a three word address for each nine square area on the planet. The deal, the value [...]
New Year’s Eve 2017: What is the London weather forecast? December 31, 2017 With parts of the UK bracing themselves to be lashed by Storm Dylan, revellers in the capital can expect a largely dry night of festivities. Some 100,000 ticket holders packing the banks of the River Thames later today will be rewarded with almost rain-free conditions, weather forecasters say. The traditional firework display – 10,000 fireworks [...]
New Year’s Eve 2017: How to avoid Uber surge pricing December 31, 2017 Uber prices are set to rocket across the country this evening, as New Year’s Eve promises to be one of the busiest times of the year for the ride-sharing firm. So-called “dynamic pricing” – which Uber claims is an automatic process to “incentivise licensed drivers to work during busy times and in busy areas” – [...]
Softbank shareholders give Uber deal the green light December 29, 2017 A consortium led by Japan’s Softbank has agreed to buy a 17 per cent stake in Uber, after shareholders approved the purchase. A deal between the ride-hailing app and the Softbank-fronted group was first floated around two months ago, and yesterday, Softbank investors gave it the green light. The transaction values Uber at approximately $48bn [...]
London travel, train strikes and closures: What’s closed from Boxing Day until New Year’s Day December 26, 2017 ‘Tis the season to avoid much of the public transport network, as engineering works take advantage of the holiday lull in passenger numbers. Here’s your post-Christmas run-down of what you need to know in London until New Year’s Day. The Tube The Tube will run a Sunday service on Boxing Day and on New Year’s [...]