LATEST TECH NEWS: 5 things you need to know today, March 24, 2020

These 5 latest stories from the tech space will keep you updated with trends today.

1) Amazon Care joins in fight to contain Coronavirus outbreak

Logistics company, Amazon, has made public its intent to join forces with a research initiative in Seattle to contain Coronavirus outbreak. The research initiative, according to the reports, is backed in part by the Gates Foundation.

The partnership is to see how Amazon Care can help in the distribution of at-home coronavirus assessment kits, and then deliver the collected samples to FDA-approved test facilities. It has been stated that the Amazon Care drivers who are doing the test kit drop-offs and deliveries are specifically trained in proper handling of sensitive medical materials, hence, assuring qualitative service delivery.

2) GM and Tesla step in to tackle ventilator shortage amid coronavirus pandemic

Automobile makers, GM and Tesla, have stepped in to tackle the challenge of ventilator shortage as COVID-19 outbreak persists. These automakers have pledged to boost production of key medical equipment necessary to help combat the spread of the coronavirus by repurposing their plants to manufacture ventilators.

Like General Motors and Tesla; Ford, the American multinational automaker, is also considering to take similar step. It is, however, not certain how quickly the automakers could ramp up production on these critically needed ventilators. In a tweet, recently, the U.S. President, Donald Trump, has equally pleaded with the companies to see to the production as fast as possible.

3) Cisco’s Webex witnesses increasing use as COVID-19 persists

Leading IT company and the biggest maker of gear that directs Internet traffic, Cisco Systems, has revealed noticing the increasing usage trend of its Webex collaboration service as COVID-19 persists. Cisco attributed this staggering jump in use to the turn of event as companies look to find a way to securely connect workers confined to their homes.

Read also: LATEST TECH NEWS: 5 things you need to know today, March 23, 2020

According to Cisco, Webex daily meeting volume has more than doubled since the beginning of March and expanded two-and-a-half times from February. It added that “at peak hours, volume is up 24 times more than normal. The new trend might redefine work life as more company might consider to adopt remote culture where possible. Should this happen, teleconferencing might continue to soar as a new digital space to invest.

4) Kenya’s Pezesha wins Best Catapulter Award at LHoFT

Kenya’s fintech Pezesha has emerged winner of the Best Catapulter Prize, a bootcamp hosted and organised by the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT). Following this success, Pezesha, which is a micro lending marketplace, has been celebrated and praised by other Fintech players.

The 4 year old startup received the award from Luxembourg’s Minister of the Economy and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Franz Fayot. It was further reported that the bootcamp was sponsored by PWC and Luxembourg Aid and Development

5) Stock brokers eye Zoom as share price swells

Stock brokers have reportedly been picking interest in shares of video communication company Zoom, a market reaction to the recent surge in the use of the platform for virtual meetings. According to emerging reports, the shares of the video communication company have jumped for a sixth straight session on Monday. Financial experts have said that this is happening since investors have continued to bet that the teleconferencing company would be one of the rare winners from the coronavirus pandemic.

Zoom’s shares, as reported, have spiked as much as 22%, trading almost twice its daily average volume, in their biggest one-day percentage gain since June 2019. Market review has further revealed that the stock is up more than 40% over the six days, and it has more than doubled this year, with recent gains coming on signs of higher usage.

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