All video streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar and others, have jointly decided to offer only standard definition (SD) quality content on cellular networks, suspending high definition (HD) and ultra HD effective immediately. The digital services also decided to lower the bitrates to 480p, which will put less stress on telecom networks as India […]
Archives for March 2020
Demand for audio streaming spikes 42% amid lockdown
As large parts of the country go under a lockdown forcing people to stay at home, audiostreaming services such as Gaana, JioSaavn, Spotify and YouTube Music are witnessing a spike in the time that users are spending by listening to music and podcasts, shows a study. The first fortnight of March has seen a 42% […]
IRS posts FAQs about coronavirus-related filing and payment extensions
In response to practitioners’ questions about the filing and payment deadline extension announced Friday in Notice 2020-18 (discussed here), the IRS posted 24 questions and answers on its website Tuesday. The answers clarify that only payments that are actually due on April 15 are delayed. Therefore, first quarter 2020 estimated income tax payments and Sec. […]
IRS alters certain operations in effort to protect employees, taxpayers during outbreak
The IRS has announced that, to protect employees and taxpayers during the current coronavirus pandemic, it is scaling back some of its operations to focus on what it describes as “mission-critical activities.” Many IRS offices have closed in areas hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak or have reduced their operations, and many IRS employees are […]
Facebook in talks to acquire 10% stake in Jio: Report
Facebook is said to be in negotiations to acquire a stake in Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm, the Financial Times reported, citing two people with knowledge of the matter. It said the social media giant was close to an initial agreement to pick up a 10% stake but discussions hadn’t moved forward on account of […]
Despite govt clearance, ecomm firms find it difficult to deliver essentials
Delivery of essential items such as food, groceries and medical supplies, ordered by customers from e-commerce sites, has been disrupted even after state governments exempted e-commerce services from the ongoing widespread lockdowns till March 31, prominent e-tailers told ET. “We are not operational due to restrictions imposed by local authorities on the movement of goods […]
Supporting Small Businesses – Intuit QuickBooks Joins GoFundMe as Co-founder of the Small Business Relief Initiative for COVID-19 Support
Companies come together to provide support during crisis, with resources, tools and funding to help small businesses MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today, GoFundMe, the world’s largest social fundraising platform, and Intuit QuickBooks, the world’s largest small business network, co-founded an initiative to help small businesses raise money to overcome the challenges caused by COVID-19. The […]
Pelosi says there is ‘real optimism’ Congress can reach a stimulus deal in the next few hours
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sounded a hopeful tone Tuesday about Republicans and Democrats striking an agreement on a staggering stimulus package to blunt the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic. “I think there is real optimism that we could get something done in the next few hours,” the California Democrat told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” […]
G7 finance officials say to maintain fiscal expansion as long as necessary to beat virus
WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) – G7 finance ministers and central bank governors on Tuesday pledged to expand fiscal and monetary actions for as long as necessary to restore growth and confidence battered by the coronavirus. In a statement issued after a weekly call on Tuesday morning, the group said: “We will do whatever is necessary […]
Microsoft is expanding the Azure Stack Edge with NVIDIA GPU preview
We’re expanding the Microsoft Azure Stack Edge with NVIDIA T4 Tensor Core GPU preview during the GPU Technology Conference (GTC Digital). Azure Stack Edge is a cloud-managed appliance that brings Azure’s compute, storage, and machine learning capabilities to the edge for fast local analysis and insights. With the included NVIDIA GPU, you can bring hardware […]