Insider Lite September 2024
Norway’s Got Talent: How Oslo Became the Videoconferencing Capital Of The World
When you think of cities renowned for their unique cultural or industrial outputs, certain places come to mind—Venice for canals, Las Vegas for gambling, and Times Square for Broadway theaters. But if you’re considering the global heart of videoconferencing technology, your mind should turn to Oslo, Norway. Unbeknownst to many, Oslo is home to “Video Valley,” a hub of innovation in video communication. This concentration of talent originated with the pioneering work of Tandberg, a company that once led the world in videoconferencing solutions and whose legacy continues to drive Norway’s dominance in the field.
After Cisco acquired Tandberg in 2010, they decided to leave the company’s R&D operations in Norway. This decision allowed the local talent pool to thrive and continue developing world-class video solutions. Cisco still plays a major role in the region, but other companies have since emerged from the same DNA. Neat, founded by former Tandberg employees, focuses on enhancing video experiences, often working with platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Pexip, another Oslo-based company, has become a leader in video interoperability solutions, as has Oslo-based Synergy Sky, with both enabling seamless connections across multiple platforms in different ways. Huddly, specializing in AI-powered video cameras, has also made its mark with innovative hardware solutions. Other players in the region have included such firms as Airthings, Appear, Confrere, Kahoot, Telenor, Videxio, Vidflow, Whereby, and I’m sure more.
But why does this small Scandinavian region produce so much innovation in video communications? Part of the answer lies in Norway’s strong emphasis on engineering, design, and technological innovation. The collaborative culture in Oslo, combined with the legacy of Tandberg and the decision to retain expertise locally, created the perfect environment for continuous innovation in video technology. As demand for high-quality, reliable videoconferencing grows globally, Oslo’s Video Valley continues to shape the future of the industry, making it the world’s go-to destination for cutting-edge video solutions.
Snippets from the August Insider Report that paid subscribers received weeks ago
Boardwalk, Park Place, and the Googleplex: In a landmark ruling on August 5, a US federal judge declared Google a monopolist, ending a years-long antitrust case against the tech giant…The case, brought by the Department of Justice in 2020, focused on Google’s practice of paying billions to companies like Apple to ensure its search engine remained the default on devices and browsers. This ruling will have lots of repercussions.
The court’s decision could significantly restrict Google’s business practice… we further discuss why the headlines are not nearly as important as how the hyperscaler(s) will react.
Free Speech: Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, was arrested for charges linked to Telegram’s moderation — or lack thereof. Does Europe really care about Telegram, or is this a show for Mr. Musk? Elon Musk and X are in the crosshairs of European regulators for letting hate speech run wild on X (formerly a good social network)….We further discuss what’s going on in Brazil and how Twitter has become a dumpster fire.
Massive Data Breach – The hacking group USDoD claimed responsibility for stealing 2.9 billion records from NationalPublicData.com, compromising sensitive information like Social Security numbers. This is one of the largest breaches in history. This is one of the largest data breaches in history. It compromised sensitive personal information (including home addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers) belonging to tens of millions of individuals, sparking widespread concerns about safety, privacy, and potential identity theft. We explain our opinion that – sadly – we don’t think very much will be done about it.
Microsoft MFA Requirement – Microsoft announced that multi-factor authentication (MFA) would be mandatory for all Azure sign-ins starting in late 2024, emphasizing the company’s heightened security measures in response to recent critiques. 2FA seems kind of obvious except in the cases we detail in the Insider Report where it doesn’t work.
Tech Layoffs Continue – Major companies like Cisco, Intel, and Five9 announced significant layoffs in August, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainty and a shift toward AI development in the tech industry. The Insider report contains our take on when we hit bottom.
Urgently Replace Some Old Teams Devices: We detail which legacy Teams devices running older Android versions will no longer function properly after September 30, 2024
Zoom Docs Launch – Zoom introduced its new Zoom Docs app. The Insider Report explains why the early coverage comparing it to Google Docs is wrong.
Meta Abandons Metaverse – Meta announced it is shutting down one of its platforms, signaling a retreat from its once-ambitious metaverse vision. Anyone who didn’t see this coming is probably struggling to see through some really expensive VR glasses.
AI Backlash – We list companies that are now pushing back against California’s proposed AI regulation bill (SB 1047), which aims to implement stringent safety controls, fearing it could stifle innovation and disproportionately affect smaller developers. Also, we detail how a recent survey shows that adding AI to product branding apparently diminishes its value.
Plus, insights from Dmitry at Benchmark Capital. Companies covered in the August report include: Acqueon, Alvaria Software, Amazon, Amelia AI, Anthropic, Aptiv, Apple, Aurora Multimedia, Avaya, and Avocor. That’s just the As. Enterprise and personal subscriptions are available.