Market Newsdesk

WILMINGTON, Mass., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today Analog Devices, Inc. unveiled the ultra-low power MAXQ1065 cryptographic controller featuring its proprietary ChipDNA™ physically unclonable functionality (PUF) technology, which offers the strongest protection for edge-to-cloud Internet of Things (IoT) nodes, including medical and wearable devices, against invasive security attacks. The security co-processor provides 30x lower power when compared to similar products and its extended lifetime and operating range make it well-suited for long-term deployments in harsh environments. 

• View the MAXQ1065 security co-processor product page, download the data sheet and order samples: https://bit.ly/MAXQ1065Product
• Learn more about ADI’s ChipDNA PUF technology: https://bit.ly/ChipDNA
• Watch a video about the MAXQ1065 security co-processor: https://bit.ly/MAXQ1065Video
• Download a high-resolution image: https://bit.ly/MAXQ1065Photo
• Learn more about ADI’s embedded security devices: https://bit.ly/MAXQ1065Security

The MAXQ1065 security co-processor provides turnkey cryptographic functions for root-of-trust, mutual authentication, data confidentiality and integrity, secure boot, secure firmware update, and secure communications. It includes standard algorithms for key exchange and bulk encryption, or complete transport layer security (TLS) support. The device integrates 8KB of secure storage for user data, keys, certificates and counters with user-defined access control and life cycle management functionality for IoT equipment.

“With billions of deployed devices and ongoing exponential growth, it’s common knowledge that IoT devices are a favorite hacking target, normally with malicious intent. The threats to the systems critical to society, such as infrastructure, medical and industrial, are very real and without proper protection they may be compromised,” said Scott Jones, Managing Director, Micros, Security and Software Business Unit at Maxim Integrated^®, now part of Analog Devices. “The MAXQ1065 with ChipDNA technology is designed to address these threats. Built with the most advanced security technology and targeting IoT applications, it provides a superior level of protection for your equipment and has the technology to future-proof designs against tomorrow’s system threats.”

The MAXQ1065’s low power consumption and wide operating range makes it suitable for battery-powered applications, and the very small footprint and low pin count enable easy integration into medical and wearable devices. The MAXQ1065 life cycle management allows flexible access control rules during the major life cycle stages of the device and end equipment, ensuring long-term operation in harsh environments. The device integrates Analog Devices’ proprietary ChipDNA PUF technology, which protects against invasive attacks since any attempt to probe the PUF cryptographic destroys its value. The MAXQ1065 is also supported by Analog Devices’ secure key preprogramming service for customers who want keys, data and life cycle state initialized prior to shipment to a contract manufacturer.

MAXQ1065 Security Co-Processor Features and Benefits

• Most complete and robust edge-to-cloud security: The MAXQ1065 includes a TLS/DTLS 1.2 command set built upon hardware-based ECDSA, ECDHE and AES for authentication, key exchange and secure communication. Additional countermeasures against security attacks include the irreversible ChipDNA PUF technology which is used to cryptographically protect all stored data from discovery.
• Lowest power: The MAXQ1065 operates at 100nA during power down mode, which is 30x lower than comparable products.

Pricing and Availability

About Analog Devices, Inc.
Analog Devices, Inc. operates at the center of the modern digital economy, converting real-world phenomena into actionable insight with its comprehensive suite of analog and mixed signal, power management, radio frequency (RF), and digital and sensor technologies. ADI serves 125,000 customers worldwide with more than 75,000 products in the industrial, communications, automotive, and consumer markets. ADI is headquartered in Wilmington, MA. Visit https://www.analog.com.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Follow ADI on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ADI_News
Read and subscribe to Analog Dialogue, ADI’s monthly technical journal, at: http://www.analog.com

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SOURCE Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

PALO ALTO, Calif. and LONDON, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Babylon Holdings Limited (“Babylon“), a world leading company reengineering how people engage with their health at every step of the care continuum, today announced its financial and operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Ali Parsa, CEO and Founder of Babylon said: “Babylon again passed many milestones in the first half of 2021, growing revenue by 472% year on year. We continued to execute, putting us amongst the fastest growing companies worldwide, including in the US, where since our initial launch last year, we gained millions of covered members and, as of today, over 100,000 value-based lives.”

“But I believe we have not even really begun. We are on the verge of a fundamental overhaul in the global system of delivery of healthcare, with finally everything that is solid melting into air as it did years ago with other sectors like retail, finance and information. Out of this the healthcare sector will also emerge some of the world’s most valuable and impactful companies by creating a more scalable, accessible and affordable value proposition worldwide.”

“We have the determination and the confidence to focus on this long-term goal, and not be distracted by short term glory. Babylon has one of the largest and most diverse collections of scientists, engineers and clinicians working together across the world, led by an accomplished management team with a proven track record, addressing affordability and accessibility of healthcare. We will continue to invest to create a powerful and unique combination of our digital-first, AI-enabled, comprehensive clinical services that will in time transform every touch point of the care continuum. I couldn’t be more proud of our Babylonian team and we look at these results that were delivered by every Babylonian as just a confirmation that we are on the right path,” said Parsa.

Financial Results and Operating Metrics Summary

Improvement in the following financial and operational metrics for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020:

• Revenue totaled $128.8 million compared to $22.5 million, an increase of 472% year over year
• Net loss improved to $75.7 million compared to a net loss of $90.8 million
• Adjusted EBITDA loss improved to $54.2 million compared to a loss of $76.2 million
• VBC member count in the U.S. was zero on June 30, 2020 versus ~84,000 on June 30, 2021
• Coverage of residents under UK Babylon GP at Hand grew to over 102,000 on June 30, 2021, now largest GP practice in UK
• In Rwanda, appointment volumes tripled from ~44,000 in June 2020 to ~132,000 in June 2021
• Users² increased 55% year-over-year to 8.2 million on June 30, 2021

H1 2021 and Recent Highlights

• On June 3, 2021, Babylon entered into a definitive merger agreement with Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: KURI), a special purpose acquisition company; this combination is further supported by a $230 million PIPE – funded over 85% from new, institutional investors
• In January 2021, TELUS acquired Babylon’s Canadian venture and concurrently signed a long-term licensing deal to continue offering Babylon’s innovative AI-driven digital health tools to TELUS’ customers. This is Babylon’s first long-term license of its digital platform including its telehealth capabilities and AI-tools together.
• In June 2021, Babylon entered into an agreement to make its Babylon 360 solution available to ~15,000 members across New York state commencing on July 1, 2021, and combined with more members in Missouri and California, total VBC Members in the U.S. grew to over 100,000
• Publication of peer-reviewed research in July 2021 affirmed that Babylon’s digital-first model in the UK delivered 15% – 35% lower hospital care costs than the regional average³ – confirming Babylon’s proprietary model of care can produce meaningful cost savings
• In August 2021, Babylon announced that it was extending its partnership with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to introduce an integrated and accessible digital-first healthcare experience to be made available to ~55,000 Wolverhampton residents in October 2021
• Babylon completed preparation for participation commencing January 2022 in one of the innovative VBC programs sponsored by CMS⁴ and CMMI⁵ and is awaiting finalization of CMS processes and approvals
• Babylon accelerated its rate of product revisions and releases 4-fold, putting it in a category with other world-class technology companies

¹ Including GP at Hand members
² Number of members who have joined our digital platform and complete all mandatory fields on the digital platform
³ Commissioned by Babylon Holdings and published in Journal of Medical Internet Research. Study compared spending per patient for Babylon GP at Hand to the regional average spending over a two-year period from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 in North West London
⁴ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
⁵ Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation

Leadership Development

Babylon has made substantial investment in its leadership team over the past year. These additions include:

• Paul-Henri Ferrand, former President at Google Cloud and Dell, North America as the company’s Chief Business Officer (CBO);
• Steven Davis, former SVP and GM of AI and data at Expedia as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO);
• Stacy Saal, former GM/COO of Prime Air at Amazon as the Chief Operating Officer (COO);
• Yon Nuta, former Chief Product Officer at Gaia, Inc as the Chief Product Officer (CPO);
• Samira Lowman, former VP, Organization and Talent Acquisition & Development at General Electric as Chief People Officer (CPO); and
• Darshak Sanghavi, former Chief Medical Officer at United Healthcare and Optum as Global Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $42.4 million.

In August 2021, Babylon completed a debt offering of $50 million which is due to be repaid at the completion of the transaction with Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp.

Financial Outlook

“We’re pleased with our first half results and strong execution of our growth plan, and we remain on track to deliver our 2021 revenue and adjusted EBITDA expectations,” said Charlie Steel, Chief Financial Officer of Babylon. “Our business and operational momentum continue to accelerate as we enter the second half, and our world class team has us well positioned to further our track record of robust growth to achieve our revenue growth and objectives for 2022 and beyond.”

FY 2021 Financial Guidance

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, the Company reiterates its previously provided outlook and continues to expect:

• Revenue of ~$321 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of ~ ($140) million

These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. Please refer to the Forward-Looking Statements disclaimer below for information on the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Upon the closing of the definitive merger agreement with Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp., which is expected in October 2021, subject to receipt of Alkuri stockholder approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the new company will become Babylon Holdings Limited and will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BBLN. The transaction reflects an initial pro forma equity value of approximately $4.2 billion and is expected to deliver up to $575 million of gross proceeds to fund Babylon’s pro forma balance sheet, including the contribution of up to $345 million of cash held in Alkuri Global’s trust account assuming no redemptions. The combination is further supported by a $230 million PIPE – funded over 85% from new, institutional investors.

A reconciliation of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and non-IFRS results has been provided in the accompanying tables. An explanation of these measures is included in the supplemental tables to this press release.

Accompanying supplemental information will be posted to the Investor Relations section of Babylon’s web site at https://www.babylonhealth.com/us/investor-relations.

About Babylon
 

Babylon is a world leading, digital-first, value-based care company whose mission is to make high-quality healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone on Earth.

Babylon is re-engineering healthcare, shifting the focus from sick care to preventative healthcare so that patients experience better health, and reduced costs. This is achieved by leveraging a highly scalable, digital-first platform combined with high quality, virtual clinical operations to provide integrated, personalized healthcare. We endeavor to support patients’ health needs, all from their devices, with the aim to promote longer and healthier lives. When sick, Babylon provides assistance to navigate the health system, connecting patients digitally to the right clinician 24/7, at no additional cost.

Founded in 2013, we have since delivered millions of clinical consultations and AI interactions, with c.2m clinical consultations and c.3.9m AI interactions in 2020 alone. We work with governments, health providers and insurers across the globe, and support healthcare facilities from small local practices to large hospitals. For more information, please visit www.babylonhealth.com/us.

EBITDA is defined as profit (loss), adjusted for depreciation, amortization, net finance income (costs), and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as profit (loss), adjusted for depreciation, amortization, net finance income (costs), income taxes, share-based compensation, impairment expenses, foreign exchange gains or losses and gains or losses on sale of subsidiaries.

We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful metrics for investors to understand and evaluate our operating results and ongoing profitability because it permits investors to evaluate our recurring profitability from our ongoing operating activities.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have certain limitations, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations as reported under IFRS. We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definition of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other issuers, because some issuers calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently or not at all, limiting their usefulness as direct comparative measures. 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination between Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp. (“Alkuri Global”) and Babylon Holdings Limited (“Babylon“) and the other parties to the Merger Agreement dated June 3, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), Babylon filed a registration statement on Form F-4 dated July 2, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to Babylon’s securities to be issued in connection with the proposed business combination (File No. 333-257694), and Alkuri Global intends to file a preliminary proxy statement in connection with Alkuri Global’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by Alkuri Global’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination and other matters as described in the proxy statement, as well as the preliminary prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Alkuri Global’s stockholders in connection with the completion of the business combination. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, Alkuri Global shall mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its stockholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed business combination. Alkuri Global’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/consent solicitation/prospectus, in connection with Alkuri Global’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination (the “Special Meeting”), because these documents will contain important information about Alkuri Global, Babylon and the proposed business combination.

Alkuri Global’s stockholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, or definitive proxy statement/prospectus once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed business combination and other documents filed with the SEC by Alkuri Global, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp., 4235 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37215, Attention: Secretary, (615) 632-0303.

Participants in Solicitation

Alkuri Global, Babylon, and their respective directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Alkuri Global stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Alkuri Global stockholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of Alkuri Global in Alkuri Global’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-251832), which was declared effective by the SEC on February 4, 2021. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to Alkuri Global stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination and other matters to be voted upon at its Special Meeting will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus for the proposed business combination when available. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed business combination will be included in the Registration Statement that Babylon intends to file with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains, and certain oral statements made by representatives of Babylon and Alkuri Global and their respective affiliates, from time to time may contain, a number of “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. When used in this communication, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, information concerning Babylon’s or Alkuri Global’s possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, debt levels, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, Babylon’s and Alkuri Global’s expectations with respect to the future performance of the combined company, including whether this proposed business combination will generate returns for stockholder, the anticipated addressable market for the combined company, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the business combination, and the timing of the transaction.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Babylon’s or Alkuri Global’s management’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors include, but are not limited to: (a) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement and the proposed business combination contemplated thereby; (b) the inability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Alkuri Global or other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement; (c) the ability to meet Nasdaq’s listing standards following the consummation of the proposed business combination; (d) the failure of investors in the PIPE to fund their commitments upon the closing of the proposed business combination; (e) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Babylon or its subsidiaries as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; (f) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (g) costs related to the proposed business combination; (h) changes in applicable laws or regulations, including legal or regulatory developments (such as the SEC’s recently released statement on accounting and reporting considerations for warrants in SPACs) which could result in the need for Alkuri Global to restate its historical financial statements and cause unforeseen delays in the timing of the business combination and negatively impact the trading price of Alkuri Global’s securities and the attractiveness of the business combination to investors; (i) the possibility that Babylon may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; and (j) other risks and uncertainties to be identified in the registration/proxy statement relating to the business combination, when available, and in other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Alkuri Global and Babylon and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Babylon and Alkuri Global caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, neither Alkuri Global nor Babylon undertakes any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

No Offer or Solicitations

This communication is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities pursuant to the proposed business combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

No Assurances

There can be no assurance that the proposed business combination will be completed, nor can there be any assurance, if the proposed business combination is completed, that the potential benefits of combining the companies will be realized.

Contacts:

Media

Adam Davison


[email protected]

Investors

Kathy Kress


[email protected]

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SOURCE Babylon

CHANGZHOU, China
, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — EZGO Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: EZGO) (“EZGO” or “we”, “our“, or “the Company“), a manufacturer of two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles in China, today announced it entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with China Railway Construction Property Management Co., Ltd. (“CRCPM”), whereby EZGO and CRCPM plan to jointly develop and promote all-round intelligent property management services aiming to increase safety and security measures for residents of densely populated high-rise buildings and neighborhoods.

On June 21, 2021, the Ministry of Emergency Management of China issued the Regulations on Fire Safety Management of High-Rise Civil Buildings (the “Regulations”), effective on August 1, 2021. The Regulations prohibit parking or charging of electric bicycles in public halls, evacuation walkways, stairwells, and safety exits of high-rise civil buildings. The Regulations also encourage the establishment of centralized storage and charging areas for electric bicycles in high-rise residential communities.

Pursuant to the Regulations and the industry’s overall efforts to improve general safety, EZGO and CRCPM have entered into this strategic cooperation agreement to leverage the technology advantages of EZGO and the management resources of CRCPM, with a goal of developing a comprehensive offering of intelligent property management service solutions. EZGO will provide products and related services such as unmanned patrol vehicles and smart charging piles , based on the needs of the specific communities under CRCPM management. The term of the cooperation agreement is five years, and the two parties plan to sign landing contracts based on specific cooperation for different business lines.

CRCPM is a mid- to high-end property management company serving clients across China. It has first-level qualifications for national property management and primarily engages in the management of mid- to high-end residential and commercial properties. CRCPM is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Railway Real Estate Group, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, a state-owned enterprise of China .

Management Commentary

Mr. Jianhui Ye, Chief Executive Officer of EZGO, stated, “We are excited to partner with CRCPM, which lays the foundation for our participation in large-scale intelligent property management services. We believe this cooperation with a major state-owned company is a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation and will open up opportunities for additional applications and scenarios of the Company’s existing product offerings, providing a powerful boost to our strategy of developing diversified, intelligent services. Together with CRCPM, we anticipate approaching the joint development of these intelligent community property management service offerings with the utmost attention to superior quality and look forward to helping drive progress in safety and security standards in our communities.”

About EZGO Technologies Ltd.

Leveraging an Internet of Things (IoT) product and service platform and two E-bicycle brands, “Dilang” and “Cenbird”, EZGO has established a business model centered on the manufacturing and sale of two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles, complemented by the E-bicycle charging pile business. For additional information, please visit EZGO’s website at www.ezgotech.com.cn. Investors can visit the “Investor Relations” section of EZGO’s website at www.ezgotech.com.cn/Investor.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the growth of the short-distance transportation solutions market in China and the other international markets the Company plans to serve; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and the international markets the Company plans to serve and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

For more information, please contact:

At the Company: 
Shawn Wen 
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+86) 13502829216 

Investor Relations:
Carolyne Sohn
The Equity Group Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (415) 568-2255

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SOURCE EZGO Technologies Ltd.

SEATTLE, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — RealNetworks^® (NASDAQ: RNWK) is proud to introduce MaskCheck™ Kiosk, a complete hardware and software solution to keep businesses and offices safer by automatically monitoring and encouraging mask usage. MaskCheck Kiosk is now available for purchase at https://getmaskcheck.com for the promotional price of $995.

With the rise of the Delta Variant, wearing a mask in public spaces is again one of the most effective tools in preventing transmission of COVID-19. Indeed, many municipalities, including the states of Washington and Oregon, are now requiring individuals in public places to wear face masks. The reinstatement of these mask mandates typically places the responsibility on individual businesses and/or office employees to enforce mask policies.

MaskCheck Kiosks can be installed in minutes and replace most human involvement to encourage and assess face mask usage. The custom kiosks are powered by the MaskCheck platform from RealNetworks to help communities stay open and operate safely.

“After launching our free MaskCheck app last December, we had many requests for a strong, reliable, and durable integrated MaskCheck solution,” said Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc. “MaskCheck Kiosk is that solution. It’s rugged and durable, battery powered so it can be used in any location a customer wants for a full day, and pre-configured with our easy-to-use MaskCheck app so that it’s truly plug and play. And with the rise of the Delta Variant, mask usage, especially in public indoor spaces, is extremely important and will likely continue to be for months to come.”

Key Features

• Provides a safer environment for employees and customers to continue to get back to normal faster.
• Displays instant notifications of mask detection to encourage indoor mask usage.
• Gives visual and audio prompts: “Please put on a mask.” “Please adjust mask.” “Good to go.”
• Enables workplaces to implement mask mandates and company health policies in a clear, authoritative way.
• Stays private and does not perform any facial recognition or share data outside your business.
• Works fully autonomously when connected to WIFI and placed in a high-traffic indoor location to monitor mask usage.
• Features in app reporting allows you to view mask wearing data at each kiosk location; optionally contribute and view nation-wide compliance data in the MaskCheck Map.
• Designed as durable kiosk after extensive testing and set up in landscape mode to scan a greater number of people.
• Fully assembled and ready to use in 5 minutes: Just screw on the base, set-up your account and you’re ready to go!
• Fully-functional iPad included. Once it’s time to put away or temporarily store your MaskCheck Kiosk, take out the fully-functioning iPad and use it for other purposes.
• Made in
  the U.S.A.Designed and manufactured in the Pacific Northwest.
• 30 day return, one year warranty.

This video shows how MaskCheck works: https://bit.ly/AboutMaskCheck

Availability and Product Details

MaskCheck Kiosk is immediately available for purchase at https://getmaskcheck.com

• Promotional Launch Price:
  $995 (Regular price: $1195).
• MaskCheck Kiosk components: iPad 8 pre-installed with MaskCheck app; External battery with power display; Lightning cord to connect iPad to battery; Power cord and charger to plug in battery; Autonomous, heavy-weight metal stand with lock loop at base to secure with your own cable; Allen wrench kit to lock iPad and battery into place; Set-up Guide.
• WIFI is required. The MaskCheck Kiosk must be connected to WIFI to work.
• Dimensions: Kiosk is 49″ high. Tablet case is 12″ wide. Depth: 5″. Base diameter is 13″. Weight: 27 lbs.
• One-year Warranty & 30-day Return Policy
• Post-COVID value: MaskCheck Kiosk is designed with post-COVID value once the pandemic is over. It can be repurposed as a customer kiosk with other apps; brought back out and placed in position to monitor masks during cold and flu season; and/or its fully-functioning iPad can be removed and used separately.
• NOTE: North America only: MaskCheck Kiosk is only available for purchase and use in the US and Canada at this time.

About RealNetworks  
Building on a legacy of digital media expertise and innovation, RealNetworks has created a new generation of products that employ best-in-class artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance and secure our daily lives. SAFR^® (safr.com) is the world’s premier facial recognition platform for live video. Leading in real-world performance and accuracy as evidenced in testing by NIST, SAFR enables new applications for security, convenience, analytics, and powers MaskCheck™ (getmaskcheck.com), as well as StarSearch™ by Real^® and RealPlayer^® 20/20 (real.com). For more information, visit: www.realnetworks.com.  

Media Contact: 

Lisa Amore, Amore PR for RealNetworks. Mobile: 206-954-8006. [email protected] 

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SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Demonstrating its commitment to exceeding Customer expectations, AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer today announced the opening of AutoNation USADenver 104, the second of 5 additional pre-owned vehicle stores that the company will open this year. AutoNation is projecting to have over 130 AutoNation USA stores in operation from coast-to-coast by the end of 2026. The AutoNation USA stores will continue to leverage the AutoNation brand, scale, and proven Customer-centric processes to capture a larger share of the used vehicle market.

“We are incredibly excited about the opening of AutoNation USADenver 104. We look forward to providing a peerless Customer experience and connecting with our community through our Drive Pink initiative, which has raised and donated over $28 million for cancer research and treatment,” said Jeff Thorpe, AutoNation Market President.

AutoNation USA offers a 1Price Pre-Owned model that features low, haggle-free pricing and a Customer-centric process that makes buying a pre-owned vehicle easy and allows Customers to enjoy a peerless Customer experience. Additionally, AutoNation offers “We’ll Buy Your Car,” which enables Customers to sell their vehicles directly to AutoNation, with no purchase necessary.

AutoNation USADenver 104 is the first of two AutoNation stores in Denver, that the company will open this year. The store is located at 759 W 104^th Avenue, Northglenn, CO 80234. AutoNation USADenver 104 is open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 9pm. The store can be reached at (720) 703-7900 or online at www.AutoNationUSA.com.

About AutoNation, Inc.
 

AutoNation, America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer, is transforming the automotive industry through its bold leadership, innovation, and comprehensive brand extensions. As of June 30, 2021, AutoNation owned and operated over 300 locations from coast to coast. AutoNation has sold over 13 million vehicles, the first automotive retailer to reach this milestone. AutoNation’s success is driven by a commitment to delivering a peerless experience through Customer-focused sales and service processes. Since 2013, AutoNation has raised over $28 million to drive out cancer, create awareness, and support critical research through its DRIVE PINK initiative, which was officially branded in 2015.

Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, www.twitter.com/CEOMikeJackson , and www.twitter.com/AutoNation , where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Please also visit www.autonationdrive.com , AutoNation’s automotive blog, for information regarding the AutoNation community, the automotive industry, and current automotive news and trends.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “goals,” “targets,” “projects,” “goals,” “plans,” “believes,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “could,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our strategic initiatives, partnerships, or investments (including the planned expansion of our AutoNation USA pre-owned vehicle stores); pending acquisitions; and our investments in digital and online capabilities and other brand extension strategies; as well as statements regarding our expectations for the future performance of our business (including with respect to new and pre-owned vehicle sales targets), and the automotive retail industry, and other statements that describe our objectives, goals, or plans, are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events, and they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: economic conditions, including changes in consumer demand, unemployment rates, interest rates, fuel prices, and tariffs; our ability to implement successfully our strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investments, including the planned expansion of our AutoNation USA stores; our ability to identify, acquire, and build out suitable locations in a timely manner; our ability to acquire and integrate successfully new franchises; restrictions imposed by vehicle manufacturers and our ability to obtain manufacturer approval for acquisitions; our ability to develop successfully our digital and online capabilities and other brand extension strategies; supply chain disruptions and inventory availability; our ability to maintain and enhance our retail brands and reputation and to attract consumers to our own digital channels; our ability to attain planned sales volumes within our expected time frames; new and used vehicle margins; our ability to successfully implement and maintain expense controls; the success and financial viability and the incentive and marketing programs of vehicle manufacturers and distributors with which we hold franchises; the response by federal, state, and local governments and other third parties to, and the economic impacts of, the COVID-19 pandemic; natural disasters and other adverse weather events; the resolution of legal and administrative proceedings; regulatory factors affecting our business, including fuel economy requirements; the announcement of safety recalls; factors affecting our goodwill and other intangible asset impairment testing; and other factors described in our news releases and filings made under the securities laws, including, among others, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.

MADISON, Wis., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — OneNeck is excited to announce its achievement of Nutanix Champion Reseller status in the Nutanix Elevate Partner Program.

The Nutanix Elevate Partner Program for the reseller community differs from traditional partner programs by providing a unique emphasis on partner capabilities and competencies to sell and support the Nutanix portfolio, rather than revenue targets.

Nutanix recognized OneNeck for demonstrating the highest level of Nutanix partner sales, technical and services expertise. Together, OneNeck and Nutanix deliver customer value with an industry-leading software platform that provides the benefits of private cloud with dedicated compute hosted in OneNeck data centers.

“We’re thrilled with OneNeck’s continued success with our customers,” said Christian Alvarez, SVP of Worldwide Channel Sales, Nutanix. “OneNeck’s ReliaCloud, built on Nutanix web-scale architecture, provides customers with an easy-to-consume package that delivers high-value services. Additionally, our partnership expands OneNeck’s solutions portfolio to their customers seeking the benefits of on-premises cloud.”

A Nutanix Champion Reseller partner is the highest competency level in the Elevate Partner Program and is achieved by partners who have invested into Nutanix experts with deep sales, technical and services delivery competencies who consistently sell the full Nutanix portfolio.

With this program Nutanix focuses on investments and tools that help enable partners to grow their business as they support customers in adopting hybrid multi-cloud solutions.

“OneNeck partnered with Nutanix to power our ReliaCloud EDGE, a hosted private cloud, because Nutanix technologies provided the scalability to meet our customer’s IT needs with the reliability, security and high performance that their business demands,” said Ted Wiessing, SVP Technology, OneNeck and Chief Security & Privacy Officer, TDS. “As we continue to expand our partnership with new services powered by Nutanix, the option to join the Nutanix Elevate Service Provider Program offers us additional benefits that will help us expand our customers’ ability to consume our data center services.”

As the demand for cloud services continues to grow, partnerships like OneNeck’s with Nutanix will only elevate the level of services available to customers seeking greater agility and diversified services that are required to succeed in an always-on, digital economy.

Additional Resources:

More details on the Nutanix Elevate Partner Program can be found at nutanix.com/partners/resellers.

About OneNeck

OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., employs nearly 450 people throughout the U.S. The company offers multi-cloud solutions, combined with managed services, professional IT services, hardware and local connectivity via top-tier data centers in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon and Wisconsin. OneNeck’s team of technology professionals deliver secure, modern platforms and applications for organizations embracing data-driven transformation and secure end-to-end solutions. Visit oneneck.com

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 1000® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services. TDS has approximately six million connections nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC and TDS Broadband Service. Recently, TDS has been named to three Forbes lists: America’s Best Employers for Diversity, Best Large Employers, and Best Employers for Women. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employs 9,400 people. Visit tdsinc.com 

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SOURCE OneNeck IT Solutions

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BNY Mellon and Citi have collaborated with Verizon to be the first company to send request-for-payment messages to consumers who bank with Citi. When using BNY Mellon’s new Real-Time E-Bills and Payments functionality, Verizon customers with Citibank accounts can pay their bills immediately, at any time of day, 365 days a year, and enjoy greater control over their finances to help avoid overdraft fees.

Additionally, Verizon customers who bank at Citi can use Citibank Online to schedule the payment to be made at a specified date and time in the future, such as on their next recurring payday or as an on-demand payout from a platform supporting a supplementary income stream, such as a ride-hailing or food delivery app.

“While setting up automatic bill payments is convenient for many customers, living with weekly budgets or irregular income streams can be a challenge,” said Kate Luft, Head of Retail U.S. Segments and Products at Citi. “Real-Time Bill Pay gives people greater control to pay the bills they want to pay precisely when they want to pay them. We look forward to expanding this program.”

Verizon’s use of BNY Mellon’s Real-Time E-Bills and Payments functionality presents a major enhancement over setting up standing payment instructions across the ACH network, since automated payments can encounter insufficient fund balances, generating overdraft fees and other expenses, adding undue frustration to consumers and creating exception scenarios for billers.

Unlike an ACH transaction or a paper check, Real-Time E-Bills and Payments are immediate and fully controlled by the consumer, who can authorize and schedule each payment to who they want to pay, when they want. The secure payment also provides the consumer with full transparency, including the ability to receive an instant acknowledgment confirming that a monthly obligation has been satisfied. This eliminates uncertainty around when funds will be debited from a consumer’s account and avoids the interchange fees charged for credit and debit card payments.

While real-time payments were previously available for bank-to-bank transactions for large organizations, this is the first at-scale use of the technology in production with retail customers. This innovative functionality revolutionizes the bill pay experience for both the biller and the customer, connecting BNY Mellon as the billing bank, Verizon as the biller and Citi as the customer’s bank, with the transaction transmitting in real time over The Clearing House’s RTP^® network.

“We are thrilled to be working with Verizon on rolling out our Real-Time E-Bills and Payments capabilities to retail customers for the first time,” said Robin Vince, Vice Chair of BNY Mellon and CEO of Global Market Infrastructure. “Retail customers have grown accustomed to using instant payment apps for small value purchases but have not had access to the same functionality or the enhanced security benefits Real-Time Payments provides for paying their phone, internet and other bills. Today’s announcement fills in this gap in the marketplace, and we look forward to rolling out Real-Time E-Bills and Payments to customers across the U.S.”

“Verizon is always looking to provide our customers with choices that can benefit their lifestyles. Real-Time Bill Pay allows our customers to choose when their payments are made and gives them more control over their personal finances. We are pleased to be the first and only provider to offer this product to its customers,” said Dan Gerola, Head of Order to Cash, SVP of Finance Operations at Verizon.

The commercialization of real-time payments for consumer bill pay expands the benefits of instantaneous payments for billers and retail customers alike and ushers in a new period of information-rich and intelligent transaction banking.   

The launch of the Verizon program underscores the importance of and investment into real-time payments being made by both BNY Mellon and Citi, which were among the first banks to connect into The Clearing House RTP^® network that launched in 2017, and is the first new core infrastructure introduced into U.S. payments since the ACH network launched in 1974.

Real-Time E-Bills and Payments represents just the latest enhancement BNY Mellon has rolled out in its continuing drive to make the global payments system more efficient. The firm was the first institution to originate a payment on the RTP^® network. In May 2021, the firm announced the launch of its Real-Time E-Bills and Payments capability, a functionality with the potential to transform the inefficient and antiquated processes underpinning the estimated 15 billion bills paid in the U.S. annually.

Citi’s retail bank is the first to offer full capabilities via RTP^® to support U.S. billers like Verizon, offering a comprehensive and end-to-end suite of Request for Pay capabilities. Citi now offers instant payments in 27 countries around the world and processes two million real-time-payments transactions daily.

ABOUT BNY MELLON
BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment and wealth management and investment services in 35 countries. As of June 30, 2021, BNY Mellon had $45.0 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $2.3 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

ABOUT CITI
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

Media Contacts:

BNY Mellon:
Peter Madigan: [email protected] +1 917 628 1204 
Tony Sicoli: [email protected] +1 908 578 2867 

Citi: Drew Benson: [email protected] 

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SOURCE BNY Mellon