February 2026 - Business Micro

business

Omdia: Apple and HONOR Claim Record Market Shares as Europe’s Smartphone Shipment Dips 1% in 2025

Feb 23, 2026 admin 0 Comment

Business Wire India

The latest research from Omdia reveals that the European smartphone market declined by 1% in 2025 to 134.2 million units, marking the end of a disruptive year defined by subdued demand and new regulations requiring eco-design and USB-C.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223432918/en/

Europe (excluding Russia) smartphone market shipment, 2014 to 2025

Samsung remained Europe’s largest smartphone vendor, with shipments marginally growing to 46.6 million units. After a slow 1H25 caused by the absence of the Galaxy A0x series, Samsung bounced back in 2H25, particularly by leveraging a discounted version of the Galaxy A16 alongside strong momentum for the Galaxy A56, which was the top-selling model in Europe in 2025.

Apple grew 6% to 36.9 million in 2025, reaching a record-high 27% market share in Europe, as iPhone refresh demand surged, boosted by strong interest from both consumers and businesses. Its performance was particularly driven by iPhone 16, the Pro Max version of both iPhone 16 and iPhone 17, and iPhone 16e. Compared to other markets worldwide, iPhone 16e was among Apple’s top-shipping models, largely driven by it replacing iPhone 14 and earlier models, which were discontinued in late 2024 due to the USB-C regulation.

Xiaomi remained third in the ranking at 16% market share as it declined 1% to 21.8 million units, largely driven by its budget-friendly Redmi series. Towards the end of 2025, Xiaomi’s overseas expansion of the ‘new retail strategy’ reached Europe, highlighted by several Xiaomi Stores opening and the company’s wider ecosystem portfolio expanding.

Motorola remained fourth despite declining 5% to 7.7 million units. Its shipments dipped in 1H25 as demand remained subdued, but recovered with strong momentum in the second half, highlighted by double-digit growth in 4Q. Its resilient performance was driven by continued successful expansion in key markets, including Poland, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

HONOR climbed into Europe’s top five for the first time as it grew 4% to 3.8 million units, particularly by leveraging its affordable X-series. The higher X-series focus highlights an increased focus on growing share, presence and relevance within its key channel partners –helping to build a foundation to support its premium ambitions.

“Europe’s five largest smartphone vendors continued to gain combined share, reflecting the importance of scale for long-term success in the region,” commented Runar Bjorhovde, Senior Analyst at Omdia. “Even though shares continue to shift towards the largest players, fierce competition within the channel continues to reign across all markets, increasing the need to differentiate and understand how to most effectively capture customers. The fierce channel competition has also created a growing willingness amongst sales partners to introduce new vendors with attractive products and differentiated brands into their portfolios. Even though many vendors beyond the top 5 faced big hurdles last year, vivo, London-headquartered Nothing and Amsterdam-headquartered Fairphone grew by high double digits. These vendors are excellent examples that there are opportunities through strong differentiation even in such an established, mature and highly competitive region.”

“In 2026, concerns around memory pricing have created a challenging outlook. In Europe, which made up just 10.8% of all smartphones shipped worldwide in 2025, the biggest question is which vendors are most likely to prioritize the region if hit by price increases or supply shortages,” added Bjorhovde. “We expect the largest vendors to be more resilient due to their scale and price-band coverage. However, for many vendors, it will be critical to find the right balance between different regions and markets. Scaling a smartphone business within Europe can be very gradual and challenging, requiring consistent investment over time, making it very costly to scale back. Europe’s large premium segment makes it attractive to many vendors in the long-run alongside a less price-sensitive mass-market segment.”

“However, even in the face of short-term difficulties, capturing interest and demand from customers must be the top priority for all industry players. Both vendors and channel partners need to find key differentiation points, target core influence stages in the buying journey, and retain customers more effectively than ever before.”

Omdia’s analysts will be at Mobile World Congress 2026: Book a meeting or interview here to discuss these findings and more.

Europe (excl. Russia) smartphone shipments (market share and annual growth) Omdia Smartphone Market Pulse: 4Q25
Vendor	4Q25 shipments (millions)	4Q25 market share	4Q24 shipments (millions)	4Q24 market share	Annual growth
Apple	13.4	34%	12.7	33%	6%
Samsung	12.4	31%	11.2	29%	10%
Xiaomi	5.5	14%	5.9	15%	-7%
Motorola	2.5	6%	2.2	6%	13%
HONOR	1.3	3%	1.0	3%	24%
Others	4.7	12%	5.8	14%	-17%
Total	39.8	100%	38.8	100%	3%

Note: Xiaomi includes Redmi and POCO. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Source: Omdia Smartphone Horizon Service (sell-in shipments), February 2026

Europe (excl. Russia) smartphone shipments (market share and annual growth) Omdia Smartphone Market Pulse: 2025
Vendor	2025 shipments	2025 market share	2024 shipments	2024 market share	Annual growth
Samsung	46.6	35%	46.4	34%	0%
Apple	36.9	27%	34.9	26%	6%
Xiaomi	21.8	16%	22.2	16%	-1%
Motorola	7.7	6%	8.0	6%	-5%
HONOR	3.8	3%	3.7	3%	4%
Others	17.4	13%	20.9	15%	-17%
Total	134.2	100%	136.1	100%	-1%

Note: Xiaomi includes Redmi and POCO. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Source: Omdia Smartphone Horizon Service (sell-in shipments), February 2026

ABOUT OMDIA

Omdia, part of TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, make our market intelligence our clients’ strategic advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223432918/en/

business

Lenovo Unlocks Data Potential with Next Generation of AI-Driven ThinkEdge Solutions

Feb 23, 2026 admin 0 Comment

Business Wire India

Lenovo™ expanded its ThinkEdge portfolio with a new generation of AI-driven edge computing solutions, including the compact and reliable ThinkEdge SE10n Gen 2, the AI-ready ThinkEdge SE30n Gen 2, the AI-powerhouse ThinkEdge SE60n Gen 2, and Lenovo’s first industrial all-in-one (AIO) Panel PC, the ThinkEdge SE50a.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223166717/en/

ThinkEdge SE10n Gen 2

As enterprises push intelligence closer to operations to improve resilience, reduce latency, and keep sensitive data local, edge computing has become a critical layer between devices, infrastructure, and cloud. Lenovo’s ThinkEdge solutions are purpose-built, industrial-grade edge systems designed to run reliably in harsh, space-constrained environments where traditional servers or PCs are impractical.

Powered by Intel Core processors with scalable AI options, the fanless rugged lineup features industrial design ideal for 24/7 operation in factories and warehouses, seamless connectivity with options for Wi-Fi 6E, cellular connectivity and more. Backed by Lenovo’s global supply chain, long lifecycle support, and enterprise-grade services, ThinkEdge solutions are engineered not just to deploy at scale, but to operate consistently over years of continuous use.

“Edge computing is where we turn insights into outcomes, and our next-generation ThinkEdge solutions place the power of AI exactly where decision making happens,” says Marc Godin, Vice President & General Manager, WW OEM Solutions – IDG Commercial. “Powering real-world AI applications delivering real-time data means loss prevention and instant inventory insights in retail; visual inspection and predictive maintenance in manufacturing; imaging workflow support and operation insights in healthcare; and even crowd management and infrastructure monitoring in cities and venues.”

“Our latest ThinkEdge portfolio delivers a truly comprehensive suite of solutions designed with AI in mind, from intelligent gateways to high-performance edge computing systems,” states Sanjeev Menon, Vice President & General Manager, Desktop Computing Business. “AI at the edge must be intelligent, protected and manageable at scale, and our lineup delivers by combining the latest computing core components, critical manageability and protection capabilities, and vertical industry ruggedization to help customers turn insights into recommendations and action.”

Edge AI – More Adaptability and Less Latency

Lenovo’s newest ThinkEdge lineup delivers optimized on-device AI, enabling businesses to act faster while removing reliance on cloud connectivity, decreasing latency, strengthening data privacy, and lowering operational costs. Spanning lightweight gateways to high-performance AI edge systems and operator interfaces, the ThinkEdge portfolio integrates seamlessly into existing environments and can be remotely managed, allowing customers to start small and scale edge intelligence with confidence as their use cases evolve. The latest ThinkEdge portfolio includes:

ThinkEdge SE10n Gen 2, a compact intelligent gateway that provides reliable mobile management where needed. Built for connectivity, data capture and lightweight edge analytics, the fanless nano gateway is easy to deploy and delivers essential performance for customers of all sizes without the commitment of large investments.
ThinkEdge SE30n Gen 2, a versatile AI-ready gateway that turns data into decisions with real-time inferencing right next to the equipment. A rugged yet compact device built for real-world edge conditions, the fanless gateway optimizes the Intel Core processor to streamline device orchestration and fleet-level manageability for complex edge deployments.
ThinkEdge SE60n Gen 2, a high-performance edge computer solution with AI capability that supports multi-camera vision, predictive analysis and autonomous workflows across industry and enterprise edge deployments. Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors with integrated AI accelerators delivering up to 97 TOPS, the device brings reliable edge AI to the most demanding conditions, including industry automation, commercial autonomous robots, smart retail, healthcare, transportation, and more.
ThinkEdge SE50a, Lenovo’s first industrial all-in-one Panel PC that embeds local AI intelligence into operator stations, reducing complexity while enhancing visibility, control, and insight at the point of interaction. Built for demanding environments, the rugged AIO is available in three different sizes (12.1”, 15.6” or 21.5”). It can be expanded to fit individual needs and is Lenovo’s most intuitive interface for frontline operations.

With its latest ThinkEdge portfolio, Lenovo is extending AI from the data center to the point of action, helping businesses turn operational data into real-world outcomes at the edge.

Lenovo’s latest generation of ThinkEdge devices now on display at EuroShop 2026, a major international retail fair held in Düsseldorf, Germany from February 22^nd to 26^th. To experience a complete ecosystem of solutions, including 11 interactive demos, visit the Lenovo booth at Hall 6 A22.

Availability¹

Lenovo ThinkEdge SE10n Gen 2 will be available in select markets worldwide starting July 2026.
Lenovo ThinkEdge SE30n Gen 2 will be available in select markets worldwide starting April 2026.
Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50n Gen 1 will be available in select markets worldwide starting June 2026.
Lenovo ThinkEdge SE60n Gen 2 will be available in select markets worldwide starting April 2026.

Visit the ThinkEdge web page to find out more or contact your local Lenovo sales representative.

¹ On-shelf dates and color options may vary by geography and products may only be available in select markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

LENOVO and THINKEDGE are trademarks of Lenovo. ©Intel, the Intel logo and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Wi-Fi is a trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2026 Lenovo Group Limited. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223166717/en/

business

Hiver Appoints Gaurav Bhadoria as Chief Product Officer to Advance Its AI-Powered Product Strategy

Feb 23, 2026 Neel Achary 0 Comment

Bangalore, Karnataka Feb 23: Hiver, an omnichannel, AI-powered customer service platform built for fast-growing businesses, today announced the appointment of Gaurav Singh Bhadoria as Chief Product Officer (CPO).

Gaurav brings deep experience in building and scaling global SaaS products, with a strong track record across product strategy, growth, and AI-powered platforms, reinforcing Hiver’s focus on delivering enterprise-grade customer service that remains intuitive and fast to adopt. As Chief Product Officer, Gaurav will lead Hiver’s product vision and strategy, overseeing roadmap planning, AI-native platform innovation, and close alignment with go-to-market teams.

Gaurav joins Hiver at a pivotal stage of growth, as the company expands its AI-native capabilities and deepens its product readiness for mid-market and enterprise teams. As demand grows for customer service platforms that scale without becoming complex, Hiver is strengthening its product leadership to accelerate innovation, deepen enterprise readiness, and maintain its hallmark speed to value.

“Gaurav’s experience building large-scale SaaS platforms and AI-powered products makes him a strong addition to Hiver’s leadership team,” said Niraj Ranjan Rout, Founder and CEO of Hiver. “His background at Salesforce and his ability to translate complex systems into simple, real customer value will be critical as we continue to evolve Hiver into a leading AI-native customer service platform.”

“Hiver is building a customer service platform that applies AI in a practical, human-centered way. Reducing complexity for teams while preserving the human element behind every interaction,” said Gaurav. “The company’s focus on simplicity, speed, and real operational impact strongly aligns with how I approach product leadership. I look forward to working with the team to scale the platform and help organizations deliver high-quality customer service without added complexity.”

Prior to joining Hiver, Gaurav held senior product leadership roles at Salesforce and Capillary Technologies, where he worked on enterprise-grade platforms spanning CRM, ecommerce, marketing, loyalty, and revenue lifecycle management. Across his career, he has built and scaled multiple global products, driving significant user adoption and revenue growth across large, complex SaaS ecosystems.Gaurav’s appointment underscores Hiver’s continued investment in senior leadership as the company scales its AI-native product innovation, expands its enterprise footprint, and grows its global customer base.

business

Check Point Software Earns Leader & Fast Mover Position in GigaOm Radar for Cloud Network Security

Feb 23, 2026 Neel Achary 0 Comment

New Delhi, Feb 23: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced that it has been named a Leader and Fast Mover in the GigaOm Radar for Cloud Network Security 2025, marking the company’s third consecutive year in the top position. GigaOm recognized Check Point for its prevention-first architecture, unified cloud security platform, and consistent pace of innovation – further strengthened by the company’s Open Garden strategy, which enables a growing set of native integrations across public and private cloud environments.

“Our research shows that Check Point is maintaining a strong pace of innovation, using its core networking strengths to build a unified platform that adapts to how modern organizations operate,” said Andrew Green, analyst at GigaOm.

This year’s ranking highlights Check Point’s ability to deliver consistent, high-efficacy protection while reducing complexity for enterprises securing applications across hybrid and multicloud environments. GigaOm placed Check Point in the Innovation / Platform Play quadrant, citing the company’s unified Infinity architecture, strong prevention capabilities, and operational simplicity. Key strengths recognized include:

Advanced Threat Prevention for Cloud Applications: CloudGuard WAF’s machine-learning analysis, behavioral validation, and contextual ML were praised for accurately blocking malicious traffic, bot attacks, brute-force attempts, and scraping.
Automation-Driven, Business-Aligned Policy Management: The CloudGuard Controller’s ability to continuously poll cloud environments and automatically adjust network security policies was highlighted as reducing manual effort and misconfigurations.
Deep, Context-Rich Visibility Across Multicloud Environments: GigaOm called out Check Point’s integration with Wiz, which provides customers with a connected graph enabling faster detection of risk blind spots and prioritization of remediation.

“We are thrilled that GigaOm has once again recognized Check Point as a Leader and Fast Mover in cloud network security,” said Paul Barbosa, VP of Cloud Security at Check Point Software Technologies. “We’re proud of this accolade, but even more excited about what it means for our customers: stronger digital trust, less complexity, and better protection for the applications that run their business.”

GigaOm recognition reinforces Check Point’s commitment to delivering strong cloud security with unified visibility, operational simplicity, and a seamless customer experience. As part of its Open Garden strategy, Check Point continues to expand choice and interoperability across the cloud ecosystem, enabling organizations to integrate best-of-breed tools without compromising on security efficacy. To explore the latest cloud security integrations available through this strategy, visit our dedicated blog post.

business

Revolutionizing Performance Measurement: Industry-First Methodology for Testing 5G Network Slices Enabled by Ookla and Ericsson

Feb 23, 2026 admin 0 Comment

Business Wire India

Ookla^®, a global leader in connectivity intelligence, and Ericsson, a world leader in communications technology, demonstrate an innovative solution allowing users to measure and validate 5G network slicing performance. This collaboration marks a major milestone in the 5G-Advanced era, providing a way to validate the Quality of Experience (QoE) essential for the next generation of mobile applications and use cases.

Historically, measuring the performance of an individual network slice from a consumer or enterprise device has been a significant technical challenge. Traditional speed tests measure the default internet connection.

Through this collaboration, Ookla and Ericsson developed a methodology that enables the Speedtest app to identify and test specific network slices. This breakthrough demonstrates how Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for differentiated services can finally be verified in real-time by both consumers using the Speedtest app and service providers.

Crucially, this puts the power of verification directly into the hands of the consumer, allowing them to use the unique Speedtest app to independently validate that the performance they’ve purchased is being delivered as promised.

“Network slicing is no longer a future concept; it is a commercial reality. However, you cannot manage what you cannot measure,” said Tibor Rathonyi, Senior Advisor at Ookla. “Our work with Ericsson is a pivotal first step in providing the transparency needed to prove the value of these premium 5G services to both consumers and enterprises.”

As 5G Standalone (SA) deployments scale globally, network slicing has emerged as the critical catalyst for 5G monetization. The technology allows operators to create multiple virtual networks (slices) over a single physical infrastructure, each tailored to specific requirements:

Ultra-low latency for gaming,
High-bandwidth for 8K video streaming,
Mission-critical reliability for industrial IoT and emergency services.

MWC 2026 Live Demonstration

The results of this collaboration between Ookla and Ericsson will debut during Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026. Attendees can visit the Ericsson pavilion, in Hall 2, to experience a live demonstration of a specialized test version of the Speedtest® app, featuring:

Side-by-Side Comparison: Visualizing the performance gap between a standard 5G connection and a service-specific slice within Ericsson’s live 5G network at the venue.
SLA Verification: Real-time reporting on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within a dedicated slice to prove guaranteed quality of service.

About Ookla®

Ookla, a global leader in connectivity intelligence, brings together the trusted expertise of Speedtest®, Downdetector®, Ekahau®, and RootMetrics® to deliver unmatched network and connectivity insights. By combining multi-source data with industry-leading expertise, we transform network performance metrics into strategic, actionable insights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223609962/en/

business

UNIVEST Unveils Its Mutual Fund Advisory Vision at Wealth Multiplier Summit 2026

Feb 23, 2026 Neel Achary 0 Comment

UNIVEST Unveils Its Mutual Fund Advisory Vision at Wealth Multiplier Summit 2026

New Delhi, Feb 23: Univest, India’s Biggest Advisory First Broking SuperApp with a host of SEBI-registered Analysts (RAs) and Investment Analysts (RIAs), successfully hosted the Wealth Multiplier Summit 2026 on 20 February at The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

The expansion marks a calibrated move by the company to broaden its advisory framework, its strategic entry into the Mutual Fund Advisory segment, positioning UNIVEST at the forefront of India’s next phase of disciplined, research-backed wealth creation.

The event brought together some of the most influential voices in India’s financial sector to deliberate on the future of wealth creation and the evolving mutual fund landscape.

Sponsored by HDFC Mutual Fund, presented by Mirae Asset, and co-powered by ICCL and NSDL, the summit convened policymakers, asset management leaders, market infrastructure institutions, and SEBI-registered research experts under one roof.

The evening commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Pranit Arora, Co-Founder & CEO, UNIVEST, who also extended a warm reception to Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, the Chief Guest of the summit.

The event featured distinguished industry leaders including Pankaj Makkar (Managing Director, BII); Yashpal Arora (Head of Research, Uniresearch); Sushant Majhi (CRO, ICCL); Harish Narayanan (CMO, HDFC AMC); Shrinivas Khanolkar (Head of Digital Business, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund); Ashu Madan (MD & Co-Head – Business Affiliates, JM Financial); Saurabh Arora (National Digital Head, HDFC MF) and Sameer Patil (CBO, NSDL) among others.

The discussions spanned a range of critical topics affecting investors and wealth managers alike, including discussions on navigating volatile and flat market cycles, the transformative role of technology in mutual fund advisory. Through keynote sessions, fireside chats, and thought-provoking panel discussions, the summit fostered high-quality conversations around the structural shifts shaping India’s wealth management ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Pranit Arora, Co-Founder & CEO, UNIVEST, said

“The Wealth Multiplier Summit 2026 is not just an event, it is a declaration of intent. At UNIVEST, we believe the future belongs to investors who are empowered with institutional-grade insights, not speculation. Our entry into Mutual Fund Advisory marks a structural shift, from fragmented advice to integrated, research-led wealth strategy. We are building a future where every Indian investor, whether in a metro city or a Tier-4 town, can access the same depth of research, risk frameworks, and disciplined asset allocation that institutions rely on. Wealth creation should not be accidental. It should be engineered.”

The strong participation from leading AMCs, policymakers, financial strategists, and market infrastructure institutions underscored a shared industry mandate: to build a resilient, research-led wealth ecosystem for India’s expanding investor base. With its entry into Mutual Fund Advisory, UNIVEST signals not just business expansion, but a structural commitment to redefining how retail investors engage with capital markets.

business

Reltio Achieves Microsoft Azure Certification, Accelerating Trusted Data Delivery for Enterprise AI and Digital Transformation

Feb 23, 2026 admin 0 Comment

Business Wire India

Reltio®, the leader in context intelligence, today announced it has earned the Azure Certified Software designation. This distinction validates that Reltio Data Cloud meets Microsoft’s rigorous standards for security, reliability, and performance, enabling enterprises to confidently unify their data estates and fuel their AI agents with trusted, real-time business context.

The certification reinforces the value of Reltio’s long-standing availability on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. By accessing Reltio Data Cloud through the Marketplace, Azure customers can streamline procurement and count their Reltio investment toward their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC), simplifying budgeting and accelerating time-to-value.

“Achieving Microsoft Azure certification is a significant milestone for Reltio and a testament to our commitment to providing secure, seamless, and high-performance data solutions for enterprise customers,” said Manish Sood, CEO and Founder of Reltio. “This recognition validates Reltio’s architecture and capabilities and enables us to deliver unified data and real-time data intelligence supporting AI and digital transformation initiatives of businesses using Microsoft Azure.”

Easier Access to a Carefully Vetted Industry Data Solution for Azure Customers

To secure the Microsoft Azure certification, Reltio went through a rigorous technical and business review in which it demonstrated its Certification makes it easier for Azure clients to work with Reltio and access its vetted solutions within the Azure environment, providing a seamless, secure experience.

The Azure Certified Software status assures buyers that Reltio is fully compatible with the Azure ecosystem, including specific integrations that accelerate AI readiness, such as Microsoft Fabric, which enables zero-copy data sharing for direct access to unified data without complex ETL, and Microsoft Purview, which deeply integrates data quality insights for end-to-end governance visibility.

Proven Innovator in Data Governance and Context Intelligence

Reltio works closely with customers to unify and govern their data to deliver context intelligence across their enterprise, enabling better decision-making. As the first cloud-based data management technology company, Reltio has over a decade of experience working with business customers in key industries, including life sciences, financial services, hospitality and manufacturing, to help them achieve their goals.

Reltio is available on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. To learn more about Reltio’s expertise, visit www.reltio.com.

About Reltio

Reltio (reltio.com), a leader in real-time data intelligence, believes data is the key to powering your organization’s success in the AI era. Reltio Data Cloud is the agentic data fabric for enterprise, powering real-time data intelligence and AI transformation with enterprise-grade security and governance. Our AI-native platform delivers unified, trusted, and context-rich data across domains through secure, governed pipelines. Organizations gain 360-degree views of their customers, products, suppliers, and other critical data sets, mobilized in milliseconds to any application, user, or AI agent. Trusted by the world’s largest organizations, including those in regulated industries, Reltio helps fuel frictionless operations, reduce risk with robust data protection, and drive innovation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223808668/en/

business

Ant Group’s Alipay AI Pay and AI Health App AQ Each Surpass 100 Million Users During CNY as AI Adoption Accelerates in China

Feb 23, 2026 admin 0 Comment

Business Wire India

As AI adoption gained momentum during the 2026 Chinese New Year, Ant Group announced today that both Alipay AI Pay and its AI health app AQ have each surpassed the 100 million user milestone.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223266559/en/

A Chinese consumer paying with Alipay AI payment solution while ordering coffee

AI Payment Adoption Accelerates amid CNY AI Shopping Boom

From ordering bubble tea and coffee to buying movie tickets, Chinese consumers embraced AI-powered services in everyday scenarios during this year’s holiday, driving a surge in Alipay AI Pay usage.

Alipay AI Pay has surpassed 100 million users on February 23, becoming the world’s first AI-native payment product to reach this milestone. This surge highlights the broad commercial adoption of AI-powered payments. During the week of February 5-11, Alipay AI Pay processed over 120 million transactions.

Launched in 2025, Alipay AI Pay is an innovative payment solution that enables secure and seamless transactions through AI agents. By allowing consumers to pay via voice command and eliminating the need to switch between pages, Alipay AI Pay delivers a frictionless and more intuitive payment experience.

As agentic commerce accelerates in China, Alipay AI Pay has expanded into various use cases, including AI agents in apps and mini programs for brick-and-mortar retailers like Luckin Coffee, as well as AI smart glasses like Rokid and Alibaba’s consumer-facing AI application Qwen.

AQ Becomes the World’s Largest AI-Native Health App

This Chinese New Year, AQ gained traction through word of mouth and a series of marketing initiatives. During the holiday period, the standalone AQ app surpassed 100 million total users, making it the world’s largest AI-native health app.

A standout trend during the holiday was young people returning to their hometowns and introducing AQ to their families. Data shows that between February 9 and February 21, 52% of new users came from third-tier cities and below, highlighting the app’s rapid expansion beyond major urban centers. The most frequently used features included health Q&A, AI skin analysis, voice call consultations, personalized health goals, and digital health records.

This momentum translated into a sharp rise in downloads, with AQ ranking No. 1 on China’s Apple App Store overall download chart for several consecutive days during the holiday period.

In China, using AI to manage personal health is becoming increasingly common during both everyday life and during travel. According to AQ app data, usage among Chinese users traveling overseas during the holiday period from February 9 to February 21 increased by 106% compared with the same period in January prior to the holiday. Travelers relied on AQ to manage potential health concerns, including discomfort caused by changes in climate, diet, and environment.

A Focused AI Strategy

These milestones build on Ant Group’s distinctive AI strategy. While many companies compete for general-purpose AI entry points, Ant has focused on specialized, high-barrier sectors such as payments and healthcare—areas that demand deep expertise and, above all, user trust.

This approach is a natural extension of Ant Group’s business philosophy over the past two decades: leveraging technology to solve real-world livelihood challenges in specific scenarios, meeting societal needs while building durable competitive advantages.

About Ant Group

Ant Group is a global digital technology provider and the operator of Alipay, a leading internet services platform in China, connecting over one billion users to more than 10,000 types of consumer services from partners. Through innovative products and solutions powered by AI, blockchain and other technologies, Ant Group supports partners across industries to thrive through digital transformation in an ecosystem for inclusive and sustainable development. For more information, visit www.antgroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260223266559/en/

business

MSSI Delhi Chapter Celebrates India MS Day, Spotlighting the People Behind Multiple Sclerosis

Feb 23, 2026 Neel Achary 0 Comment

New Delhi, 23 Feb: The Delhi Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) marked India MS Day with a celebration at Dilli Haat, INA, bringing together people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), caregivers, families and the MS community. The event was centred on the theme ‘Celebrating the person behind Multiple Sclerosis,’ shifting the focus from the disease to the lived experiences, resilience and aspirations of individuals navigating life with MS.

Accessibility remained a key priority throughout the event. The venue was wheelchair-friendly and equipped to support the mobility needs of attendees. The event created a warm, inclusive space allowing participants to momentarily step beyond the challenges of the condition. The programme featured interactive and community engagement activities, cultural performances, patient storytelling sessions along with music and surprise elements designed to foster camaraderie and positivity. The India MS Day event closely aligned with the “Walk In My Shoes” campaign, a joint initiative with Roche and MSSI India launched in 2025, which was established to put empathy front and centre in addressing the often unseen and unspoken struggles faced by individuals living with MS.

Beyond celebration, the event also served as a platform to deepen public understanding of Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. People living with MS often experience symptoms such as fatigue, vision problems, cognitive changes, numbness, balance difficulties and speech challenges, many of which are invisible to others. This invisibility can contribute to delays in recognition and diagnosis.

Speaking on the occasion of India MS Day ’26, Bipasha Gupta, Chairperson MSSI – Delhi, “Multiple Sclerosis may be called both a visible and invisible illness, but the strength, determination, and spirit of those living with it are deeply visible. MSSI Delhi today celebrated India MS day 2026 at the Dilli Haat INA with around 100 MS patients and caregivers. Through this celebration, we aimed to create a space where individuals felt freedom of movement, seen, heard and supported. For many people, the journey to diagnosis and effective care is marked by uncertainty and misunderstanding. Building awareness, empathy and community support can make that journey less isolating and help people access care earlier. We want to place people and not disease at the centre of this narrative- while MS may shape lives, it does not define them.”

Meenakshi Bhujwala, Hon. Treasurer of MSSI Delhi Chapter, commented, “For the last 40 years, MSSI has continued to spread awareness and assist MS patients with medical appointments, counselling sessions, amenities, regular caregiver assistance and physiotherapy; the latter is supported by a team of 15-16 dedicated physiotherapists in Delhi alone. As we celebrated India MS Day today, we have ensured the venue at Dilli Haat was made completely accessible and in line with MS patients’ needs. Today’s celebration was a tribute to every individual living with MS – a day to honor their strength, let them feel truly seen, and build a community that stands with them.”

MS remains under-recognized in several parts of India, often due to low awareness and the subtle nature of early symptoms. The India MS Day event served as a reminder that increased visibility, informed conversations and timely diagnosis can significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for those living with the condition.

business

Mitsubishi Electric India hosts 6th ME Cup, Sona College of Technology emerges winner among 35 selected teams

Feb 23, 2026 Neel Achary 0 Comment

Pune, 21st February, 2026: Mitsubishi Electric India, a global leader in Electric & Electronic Equipment, announced the winners of the 6th Mitsubishi Electric Cup on Saturday, 21st February 2026. The two-day National Level Automation Competition, returning after a five-year gap post Covid, saw 35 teams compete on the theme ‘Automating the World through Digital Innovation’. Organised annually, the competition challenges engineering students to design, build, and demonstrate innovative working models using Mitsubishi Electric factory automation technologies.

The virtual registration for the 6th Mitsubishi Electric Cup began in July 2025 and received 288 proposals from 140 institutions across 19 states and 2 Union Territories. Participating teams were mentored by Mitsubishi Electric India’s technical team and provided with essential Factory Automation products such as PLCs, HMIs, Servo Motors, VFDs, and CNCs to develop smart manufacturing solutions.

“The Mitsubishi Electric Cup’s core vision is to cultivate future-ready engineers who can innovate, automate, and contribute to a technologically advanced and sustainable world. The idea is to strengthen students’ innovative consciousness, cooperative spirit, and engineering practice abilities by encouraging hands on technological and automation-based projects,” said Mr. Atsushi Takase, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Electric India, speaking of the 2026 edition. “Response for the event was very positive, and quality of received proposals were in various domains such as IoT, Energy efficient automation, Smart manufacturing solutions, AgriTech, and Application-specific industry problems that are suitable for a host of industries, besides accruing social benefits like energy management and reusable waste management,” he added.

The competition featured innovative project models addressing areas such as building automation, industrial manufacturing processes, and societal challenges. Team “Nexus AI” from Sona College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, won the 6th Mitsubishi Electric Cup, receiving Rs. 1,00,000 and a Winner Trophy. “Recycron” from MKSSS Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune secured second place with Rs. 75,000 and a Runner-up Trophy, while Team “Pegasus” from COEP Technological University, Pune secured third place, receiving Rs. 50,000 and a Trophy. The ‘Most Popular Team’ award went to Team “Trisense Innovators” from Dr Vishwanath Karad MIT-WPU, Pune. The top 15 teams received appreciation prizes of Rs. 10,000 each along with certificates. The winning team will represent Mitsubishi Electric India at the global MECA competition. All participating teams received participation certificates.

Teams were evaluated on two key parameters: System Design (innovation, implementation, safety, and digitalisation concepts) and Overall Presentation (system demo, presentation skills, and FA knowledge). Teams were required to design and build complete working models aligned to the competition theme, ‘Automating the World through Digital Innovation’ using Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation products, based on the e-F@ctory concept, while demonstrating strong product and application understanding. The participating teams had to independently design and produce a complete set of devices/models using Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation products. The control system was to be built based on the-F@ctory concept.

“The 2025-26 Mitsubishi Electric Cup centred on the theme ‘Automating the World through Digital Innovation’, which directly mirrors the current transformation underway in global and Indian manufacturing. The competition’s focus areas highlight several critical industrial challenges that companies are actively trying to solve today,” said Dr. S. Sriram, Director & Head, Factory Automation & Industrial Division (FAID), Mitsubishi Electric India. He referred to the students receiving hands on training and mentorship from Mitsubishi engineers, strengthening their practical understanding of automation technologies. “Through this platform, students were exposed to modern Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 environments. By building complete working models, students learned how advanced technologies interact in real factory ecosystems, fostering industry ready skills. Mitsubishi Electric is not only helping a world of industries, but also a world of societies to apply automation for the greater benefit,” he emphasized.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Team Nexus AI from Sona College of Technology, for emerging as the winners of the 6th Edition of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup. I would also like to commend all participating teams for demonstrating exceptional technical capability, creativity, and innovative thinking throughout the competition. Mitsubishi Electric India is proud to engage with young talent and academic institutions across the country, fostering the development of innovative automation solutions that have the potential to create meaningful societal impact. Through platforms like the Mitsubishi Electric Cup, we aim to empower young minds to transform ideas into practical solutions, while gaining valuable mentorship from experienced professionals in the field of Factory Automation,” said Mr. Atsushi Takase, summing up the proceedings of the 6th edition of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

Competitions like the ME Cup support India’s national skill development initiatives and contribute to building a highly skilled workforce capable of driving industrial and technological growth. Mitsubishi Electric India will continue to inspire young innovators to push boundaries, excel in advanced technologies, and strengthen India’s position on the global innovation landscape.

Archives February 2026