Orange's HDMI key finally coming to market this spring
As we wrote about mid last year, Orange has been preparing its own HDMI to compete with Google Chromecast. It looks like Orange will finally be bringing its competitive connected HDMI key to market this April. Given their growing footprint in eastern Europe, they’ve already been testing this same type of key in Romania, which given the […]
SNCF launches its ambitious, transformative #DIGITALSNCF agenda
SNCF embarking on an ambitious, multi-year agenda to drive the complete digital transformation of their business. #DIGITALSNCF comprises several big initiatives focused on 4 principal areas including Open Data, Big Data, Design and Connected Objects. Some of the key initiatives include using tablets for maintenance of their train system, partnering with startups to develop and launch new […]
Reaching 80 million SIM cards in 2014, France's mobile market posts another strong year
The mobile market in France continues to remain strong and robust, driven by continued low pricing, interesting features, services and offers, and a public becoming more and more attached to their mobile devices. Arcep, France’s telecom regulatory authority, just announced the 2014 figures on France’s telco sector. Here are the highlights: There are nearly 80 […]
iDATE predicts 123 million Wearables by 2018
Today there are roughly 20 million Wearables sold around the world (total 2014), but France-based tech think tank iDATE anticipate that the Wearables will explode in the coming years, reaching a total of 123 million devices sold by 2018. Of that 123 million they predict that connected watches will account a majority, 65% of […]
Predictions are hard, especially about the future
The previous RudeVC column on predictions from smart European VCs generated a lot of feedback. Many readers apparently liked the diverse, pan-European nature of the perspectives. Some zoomed in on the granularity of them, agreeing with some and questioning others. One reader questioned the relevance of limiting the predictions to a one-year period. It’s a […]
Giift seeks to disrupt the multi-billion dollar Loyalty program market
The Loyalty point market is massive and seems to show now signs of slowing. With seemingly every type of merchant you can think of offering some form of Loyalty program, managing all these outstanding points and miles has become a daunting challenge for both program members and vendors alike. There have been many solutions launched in […]
Orange, star of the CAC40 in 2014
Having suffered in the past, 2014 proved to be Orange’s year…at least on the CAC40. Orange posted the most impressive share price turnaround in 2014, posting a 60% jump in their share price over the course of the year. As CEOs of listed companies often spend a disproportionate amount of their time, Stephane Richard had cause […]
La Poste successfully tests delivery by drone
What started as a joke earlier in the year looks to be moving into the realm of realism. The French postal service, La Poste, has completed a first, successful round of mail delivery by drone tests. The first tests were run by their subsidiary Geopost and all aspects of delivery including take-off, actual flight, landing […]
Paris Founders Event alums ‘Where are they Now’: Phonotonic
At our spring Paris Founders Event (PFE), Phontonic (incubated by Agoranov) launched Music Battle, a unique and playful connected gaming experience based on music. The way it works is that one connected object, a ball, gives rhythm and the other, the second ball, is the lead. Both balls are connected via an app. You can […]
Ifeelgoods launches the first rewards fulfillment API enabling on-demand e-gifting
The leader in digital distribution of branded rewards, Ifeelgoods, has just launched a new rewards fulfillment API which is the first to automate and streamline the process of e-gifting. From now, brands can drive acquisition, engagement a and retention through seamlessly deliver users on-demand their choice of rewards from Ifeelgoods’ catalog of 100,000+ downloadable gifts covering a wide-range of categories, […]