News

Amazon Is Looking For A Digital Currency & Blockchain Expert

Amazon’s ideal candidate is someone who has at least 10 years of experience in product management and understands blockchain and related technologies.

Published

3 years ago

July 27, 2021

Joanna Melki

amazon is looking for a digital currency and blockchain expert

When the value of Bitcoin, and most other cryptocurrencies along with it, suddenly jumps up from just under $30,000 to nearly $40,000, you know that either Elon Musk has tweeted again or that some potentially groundbreaking cryptocurrency news is making the headlines. This time around, it’s the latter. Insider recently noticed that Amazon’s payments acceptance and experience team has posted a job listing for a Digital Currency and Blockchain Product Lead, and journalists and cryptocurrency advocates alike have immediately started speculating if Amazon is planning to start accepting cryptocurrency payments.

“The Payments Acceptance & Experience team is seeking an experienced product leader to develop Amazon’s Digital Currency and Blockchain strategy and product roadmap,” the job listing states. “You will leverage your domain expertise in Blockchain, Distributed Ledger, Central Bank Digital Currencies and Cryptocurrency to develop the case for the capabilities which should be developed, drive the overall vision and product strategy, and gain leadership buy-in and investment for new capabilities.”

According to Amazon’s qualifications requirements, the ideal candidate is someone who has at least 10 years of experience in product or program management, product marketing, business development, or technology and understands blockchain and related technologies.

Since the job listing was first noticed, Amazon has officially confirmed its validity. In May, a similar job listing was published by Apple.

Also Read: Instagram Fights Cybercrime With New Security Checkup Feature

Currently, Amazon doesn’t accept cryptocurrency payments, but the company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) division does offer a managed blockchain service, allowing anyone to easily create and manage scalable blockchain networks.

Microsoft is the biggest competitor that already accepts cryptocurrency payments that Amazon currently has, and there are many other large companies across a variety of different industries doing the same. If Amazon decides to join their ranks, it would be the black swan event so many people in the cryptocurrency industry are currently waiting for.

News

Viasat Satellite Messaging Tech Showcased In Saudi Arabia

The direct-to-device (D2D) demonstration highlighted the technology’s potential to revolutionize remote communication.

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2024

Nour Nasir

viasat satellite messaging tech showcased in saudi arabia

Satellite communications firm Viasat announced yesterday that it had completed its first demonstration of direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity technology in Saudi Arabia. The live broadcast took place during the “Connecting the World from the Skies” event in Riyadh, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) alongside the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Attendees witnessed successful satellite-based two-way messaging and SOS alerts sent using commercial Android smartphones and a combination of Viasat’s robust L-band satellite network and the Bullitt over-the-top messaging app. Signals were transmitted using the company’s L-band spacecraft positioned over the Indian Ocean, while the infrastructure for 3GPP NTN services was deployed by Viasat’s partner Skylo.

Sandeep Moorthy, Viasat’s Chief Technical Officer, emphasized the significance of the demonstration, explaining, “By expanding our direct-to-device innovation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we’re showcasing the potential for D2D services in the fast-growing Gulf and Asia-Pacific region. D2D could help reduce barriers to connectivity in regions where terrestrial services are spotty and unavailable to help transform industries and supply chains, enable new opportunities, and to become more efficient, sustainable and safer. We’d like to thank the CST for their support in carrying out this exciting demonstration”.

Also Read: Joby Begins Construction Of Dubai’s First Vertiport For Air Taxis

D2D technology allows devices like smartphones, vehicles, and industrial equipment to connect seamlessly to both satellite and terrestrial networks. Unlike traditional satellite setups, D2D eliminates the need for extra hardware, thanks to emerging global standards that are gaining traction among satellite operators, mobile network providers, and tech manufacturers.

What makes this approach particularly promising is that Viasat uses a licensed, dedicated satellite spectrum to deliver its D2D services. This avoids any interference with existing terrestrial networks, allowing smooth integration with mobile network operators in the future.

The demonstration clearly showed the potential of D2D technology to bridge connectivity gaps in remote regions while opening up opportunities for innovation, improved safety, sustainability, and efficiency.