- Skype Signs Off: The Original Video Call MVP Hangs Up for GoodSkype, the blue bubble that once connected continents and conference rooms with a single click, will fall silent for good on Monday (May 5). For millions who remember the iconic ringtone and the thrill of seeing a loved one’s pixelated face appear on screen, the news lands with a bittersweet pang: after more than two […]
- Amazon’s Alexa+ Voice Assistant Draws 100,000 Users as Rollout ContinuesAmazon has rolled out Alexa+, the new version of its voice assistant, to more than 100,000 users so far, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Thursday (May 1) during the company’s quarterly earnings call. Alexa+ will be made available to more users in the coming months, Jassy said. It is now starting to roll out in the U.S. and will […]
- Apple and Anthropic Building AI-Powered Coding PlatformApple and Anthropic have reportedly partnered to create a platform that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to write, edit and test code for programmers. Apple has started rolling out the coding software to its own engineers, Bloomberg reported Friday (May 2). The company hasn’t decided whether to make it available to third-party app developers. The tool generates code or alterations in […]
- Temu Stops Shipping Products From China Directly to US ConsumersTemu has reportedly stopped shipping products from China directly to U.S. consumers due to the elimination of the de minimis exemption that had shielded small packages from U.S. tariffs. “This shift is part of Temu’s ongoing adjustments to improve service levels,â€� a Temu spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in a report posted Friday (May […]
- Will Apple’s Services Momentum Be Blunted by New Epic App Store Ruling?For several years, Apple has been leveraging its hardware and services to forge an ecosystem, as phones, tablets and computers are an on-ramp to higher margin subscriptions, streaming and apps. This week, the company posted earnings that showed headwinds to its top-line growth (to 5% on a consolidated basis). The services businesses grew by 11.6%, to […]
- Merchant ConfidentialCarl Brabander, EVP of Strategy for IOU Financial, will be speaking at Broker Fair on May 19 in New York City. Brabander will be sharing data and tips on how to build trust and win deals in the small business finance industry. This is a can’t-miss session for brokers. Registration for the full-day conference ends […]
- Square Originated $1.59B in Business Loans in Q1Square Loans, a subsidiary of Block, originated $1.59B in business loans in Q1, according to the company’s latest earnings report. Despite being the largest online small business lender that deBanked tracks, the company spent most of the quarterly call talking about its new consumer lending product, Cash App Borrow. Square’s Q1 business loan figures puts […]
- Getting Backdoored? Put Your Mark on the DocsChristina Duncan was once working on a renewal as an MCA broker when things turned south. Her client suddenly received so many calls with offers for funding that they had to turn their phone off. “[The client] eventually reached out to us via email and basically said, ‘Hey I don’t know what’s going on but […]
- Enova: SMB Loan Demand and Performance Remains NormalEnova originated $1.2B in small business loans in Q1, a 27% increase year-over-year. Despite noise in the media about economic disruptions, Enova CEO David Fisher said during the earnings call that “We are monitoring both demand and portfolio performance even more closely than normal and continue to see the level of demand we would expect […]
- How to Prepare for Outside SyndicatorsDavid Roitblat is the founder and CEO of Better Accounting Solutions, an accounting firm based in New York City, and a leading authority in specialized accounting for merchant cash advance companies. To connect with David, email [email protected]. There’s a clear gap of knowledge in our industry, and how merchant cash advance businesses need to prepare […]