Tech Brew Ride Home Tue. 05/05 – UK’s Contact Tracing App Won’t Work In the Background
May 5, 2020
The UK's contact tracing app faces major hurdles, struggling to function effectively due to a centralized design against Google and Apple's guidelines. Uber is considering a significant investment in Lime, while Microsoft re-evaluates its Windows 10X strategy. Sensor Tower secures $45 million for app market research, illustrating rising interest in app data. Additionally, tech giants like Facebook and Google are making moves to enhance their offerings in the remote work environment, showcasing the dynamic shifts within the industry.
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UK Contact Tracing App Failure
- The UK's NHS developed a centralized contact tracing app, ignoring Google and Apple's framework.
- It fails because it requires the app to run in the foreground and asks for location data.
Privacy vs. Public Health
- Apple and Google's contact tracing framework prioritizes user privacy by prohibiting location data collection.
- This raises concerns about limiting the usefulness of contact tracing for public health purposes.
Uber's Potential Lime Bailout
- Uber is considering a $170 million investment in Lime, valuing the e-scooter company at $510 million.
- This deal might involve Uber selling its Jump division to Lime and potentially acquiring Lime later.