Today’s topics include Sprint giving away Amazon Prime service with select Samsung smartphones, Microsoft’s acquisition of security specialist Secure Islands, IBM’s Spectrum Storage innovations, and the opening of Motorola’s first tech boutique in Chicago.
Sprint is giving new and current customers a free year of Amazon Prime when they activate one of Samsung’s latest smartphones on the Sprint network with the lease or purchase the handset.
The offer is good on a Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ or Samsung Note 5 smartphone, according to Sprint.
The year’s free service with Amazon Prime is valued at $99 and provides free two-day shipping for Amazon customers on thousands of items as well as free access to movies, television episodes through Prime Video and unlimited ad-free music streaming through Amazon Prime Music.
Microsoft announced today that it is acquiring Secure Islands, an Israeli data security specialist. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval, according to the companies. IQProtector, Secure Islands’ policy-based technology, “immunizes” corporate data by injecting protection within a file itself at the moment of creation, enabling businesses to classify, encrypt and manage sensitive information from the outset. Customers include Credit Suisse, HP, UBS and Vodafone.
IBM recently upped its storage game with a series of new innovations to its IBM Spectrum of software-defined storage systems.
The products aim to help organizations improve storage management, data security and reduce data costs as they deploy new technology to support cognitive and other data-driven applications across hybrid cloud environments.
New features include IBM Spectrum Virtualize storage virtualization, which helps users improve data security and reduce costs, the company said.
Motorola just opened its first temporary Moto Shop boutique, where smartphone and smartwatch buyers can try out the company’s products in person before buying them.
The Moto Shop opened in Chicago on Nov. 7 and will have a grand opening celebration on Nov. 14. Motorola describes the Moto Shop as an “experiential” store where consumers can come in to explore products in detail and get answers to questions about features and more.
