Technology

SoftBank Group Corp founder Masayoshi Son's dream of a global tech empire is unravelling, with the coronavirus crisis compounding losses at his $100 billion Vision Fund and distress at his big bets portending more pain.

Zoom video conferencing app's user base grew by another 50% to 300 million in the last three weeks, as the company fought to quell a backlash around security and safety that has seen a number of governments and firms ban its applications.

SK Hynix warned on Thursday that demand for chips will remain volatile, while restrictions on global movement, if prolonged, could disrupt production, sales and product development across the industry.

Britain's competition regulator on Thursday cleared online food delivery company Takeaway.com's takeover of UK rival Just Eat, saying the 6.2 billion pound ($7.7 billion) deal would not reduce competition.

Europe's largest online food ordering service Just Eat Takeaway.com NV moved quickly to shore up its finances with an overnight share and convertible bond issue, as Britain's competition watchdog gave the company's merger final approval.

China ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is upbeat that business overseas has turned a corner after dropping to a mid-March low amid the coronavirus pandemic, a senior executive said, and is already looking into new markets and payment firm acquisitions.

Senator Edward Markey, a Democrat and online privacy advocate, said in a letter released Wednesday that any digital coronavirus contact tracing should be voluntary, transparent and collect only the information needed to identify who might be at risk of contracting the respiratory ailment that has killed more than 45,000 people in the United States.

Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers.

Xilinx Inc on Wednesday forecast first-quarter revenue below estimates and refrained from providing an annual outlook, citing the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus outbreak.    The pandemic has ripped through the semiconductor industry, with lockdown orders interrupting operations and supply chains, even though many plants were eventually allowed to remain open.    Xilinx shares, which closed 5% higher on Wednesday, shed most of those gains in extended trading.

Facebook is set to spend $5.7 billion to buy a 9.99% stake in Reliance Industries' digital arm, as it looks to roll out services for India's grocers and small businesses by capitalizing on WhatsApp's extensive reach in the country.

Google's cloud-based game streaming service, Stadia, has witnessed a surge in users after the tech giant gifted two months of free access to its premium version for gamers sheltering at home to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Shopify Inc said on Monday it would provide cash advances to small businesses in Canada that are struggling due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the global economy.

An Israeli parliamentary oversight committee on Wednesday suspended police use of cellphone data to enforce coronavirus quarantines, with one lawmaker citing privacy concerns.

Ericsson posted better than expected quarterly earnings on strong demand for 5G network equipment even as the coronavirus wreaked havoc, lifting the Swedish telecoms company's shares 5% in early trade.

The Swiss government will keep current safety standards for fifth-generation (5G) mobile frequency emissions, it said on Wednesday, settling a debate that has delayed the rollout of the new technology.

Facebook will spend $5.7 billion to take just under 10% of Reliance Industries' digital unit, seeking to roll out services for India's grocers and other small businesses by capitalising upon WhatsApp's extensive reach within the country.

SoftBank Group-backed OYO Hotels and Homes has cut salaries of all employees in India by 25% for four months starting in April and also put some of its staff on leave without pay, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.

Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and JD have each launched booking services for COVID-19 tests, the companies announced.

Hackers working in support of the Vietnamese government have attempted to break into Chinese state organisations at the centre of Beijing's effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak, U.S. cybersecurity firm FireEye said on Wednesday.

China has allowed 200 employees from South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to enter the country to work on an expansion of the firm's NAND memory chip factory, the company said on Wednesday.