Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 —Amazon devices will soon automatically share your internet with neighbors.
Beginning on June 8, Amazon devices such as Echo, Alexa, and others will be enrolled automatically in the tech giant’s recently released wireless mesh service called Amazon Sidewalk. The service will allow a small share of bandwidth with nearby devices that are not connected but have Sidewalk capabilities. According to Amazon, its new Sidewalk feature will currently only be available in the U.S., and a list of all Sidewalk compatible devices can be found on Amazon’s website. (Source: ARS Technica)
Why this is important for your business:
This seems troublesome for home offices, employees working from home and even small businesses in congested areas that are using Amazon devices. Amazon does give you the ability to de-enroll if you desire. You should also ask your IT professional to review your network security. Any way in is an opportunity for hackers.
2 — Etsy is targeting Gen-Z shoppers with a $1.6 billion Depop acquisition.
Etsy announced this past week that it recently acquired Depop, which is a secondhand shopping app based in the U.K. Acquired for $1.6 billion, Etsy will now have access to the growing, young user pool of Depop. According to Etsy, over 90% of individuals using Depop are considered Gen-Z, or younger than 26. While Etsy and Depop’s models both include selling secondhand clothing, Depop is geared more toward a younger audience with on-trend pieces. With the acquisition, Depop will be able to follow Etsy in scaling on an international level while giving Etsy access to its young users. (Source: The Verge)