Page 29 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

design covering servers, storage systems Google are both investing in their own smartphones. Currently, all the public
and networking equipment. Bloomberg server chips. AWS claims its Graviton cloud providers rely on Intel, AMD and
reported Filippo will work under Rani processors are ideally suited to handle Nvidia for many of the processors used to
Borkar, corporate VP of Azure hardware its public cloud workloads and Google power cloud-based servers.
systems and infrastructure. Public cloud is working with Intel, after successfully
rivals Amazon Web Services (AWS) and launching its Tensor processor for Pixel

Microsoft Agrees $69B Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Microsoft struck a $68.7 billion deal to
acquire Activision Blizzard, citing the
game publisher’s strong presence in
mobile as one of the primary motivators.
The Xbox games console creator stated
its biggest ever deal will make it the
world’s third-largest gaming company by
revenue after Tencent and Sony. The deal
will bring Microsoft access to key mobile
titles including Candy Crush, along with
console-oriented hit Call of Duty. Microsoft
aims to boost its presence in the mobile,
PC and console sectors, though CEO
Satya Nadella stated gaming “will play a
key role in the development of metaverse
platforms”. Nadella said Microsoft’s
focus areas for investment in gaming are
“content, community and the cloud”. The CEO Phil Spencer. Kotick has been under after Take Two Interactive penned a $12.7
deal is expected to close in Microsoft’s pressure to resign in the wake of reports he billion deal to acquire games developer
fiscal 2023, which commences on 1 July. failed to adequately respond to allegations Zynga.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will of sexual harassment against employees.
remain, reporting to Microsoft gaming Microsoft’s move comes around a week

Microsoft, GNIoT Partner to Expedite Digital Transformation in Jordan

Ali Shibli, Chairman of GNIoT, adding
that it would enable the government to
achieve aspirations and benefit from IoT
technology to push digital transformation
into all sectors. Regional Business Group
Director at Microsoft Maher Al-Khaiyat
said that GNIoT, supported by Microsoft,
will install IoT networks across the
campus of Princess Sumaya University for
Technology in Amman, delivering access
to IoT technologies, which will be taught
through the university’s newly introduced
specialization course in Internet of
Things Communications Engineering. The
second agreement with the Hashemite
Microsoft announced a strategic Commission (TRC) of Jordan, enabling University will provide practical, field and
partnership with the General Network- it to equally provide services to the applied training opportunities in partner
IoT (GNIoT) to accelerate Jordan's public and the government, according institutions for engineering students in
digital transformation mission through to a Microsoft statement. "Through the university, he said, indicating that the
IoT technologies. GNIoT was recently this strategic partnership, GNIoT and employment priority, when partners have
granted a class communications license Microsoft will establish IoT infrastructure relevant job opportunities, will be for the
by the Telecommunications Regulatory to provide coverage across Jordan," said university's graduates.

29 JANUARY 2022