Author: Richard Atkins

Richard Atkins is a senior contributor at Tech Insider covering online media, online travel, and video games. Richard has been with Tech Insider covering companies in these industries since 2011 and has authored numerous industry reports, including "Internet Video: Field of Dreams or Nightmare on Elm Street," "The Next Leg of Online Travel," and "Pwned: How Casual Games Changed The Gaming Landscape." Atkins was recognized as the No. 2 stock picker and earnings estimator in the 2011 Financial Times / StarMine Internet & Catalog Retail category and was ranked in the 2010 Wall Street Journal "Best On The Street" for the Leisure Goods & Services category.
Finance, Software

Bitcoin News: Bitcoin Startup Offers Prepaid Mobile to 100 Nations

Reaching the millions of unbanked consumers worldwide has long been a goal of the wider bitcoin industry, but to date, it has struggled to gain users outside of more developed countries. Crossing this awareness gap is the driving force behind Piiko, a prepaid mobile phone top-up service that currently serves consumers with select phone plans in more than 100 countries worldwide, including major markets such as the US, China, Brazil and India.

Launched in April as the first product from Dubai-based bitcoin startup Umbrellab, Piiko is part of the company’s larger plans to court consumers by allowing them to harness the power of bitcoin for everyday utility purchases.

Umbrellab co-founders Tarik Kaddoumi and Sergey Yusupov said, “We started with mobile recharge as there was already a necessity, and the market was ripe in terms of the bitcoin community spending on various services and products worldwide. The plan is to extend into other services such as TV, Internet providers and other types of utility and bill payments that can be paid online, but are currently not accepting bitcoin.”

News on Bitcoins

Despite its founders’ ambitions, Piiko has faced its share of difficulties, which saw the mobile top-up service relaunch just a few weeks ago after a lengthy blackout period.

Kaddoumi and Yusupov indicated that a third party had previously acted on its behalf, serving as the formal legal partner to the cellphone service providers it works with. In June, however, Umbrellab decided it was time to forge these relationships directly in a bid to cut costs.

With this objective complete, Kaddoumi is optimistic that the service will be able to continue to cater to its already dedicated user base.

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Richard Atkins
Finance

Stock To Buy: Google (NASDAQ GOOG) Remains Undervalued

Google Inc (NASDAQ GOOG) is really an undervalued growth story, says a recent research note from Bernstein Research. Google has so many promising ventures unrelated to search they are almost too numerous to count. Bernstein is infatuated with Google for good reason. The firm bestowed on the tech giant its “Best of Bernstein” label, making it a top pick at the firm. Bernstein notes that … Continue reading Stock To Buy: Google (NASDAQ GOOG) Remains Undervalued

Richard Atkins
Finance, Internet

Stock Update: Facebook’s Instagram Launches Hyperlapse

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ FB) has launched “Hyperlapse” a new video sharing app on Instagram for recording cinematic time-lapses. The app is easy to use with only a single setting for the speed. Hyperlapse is available on iOS for the iPhone and iPad users. The social networking company did confirm Android launch, but gave no specific details. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ FB) owned Instagram launched a new … Continue reading Stock Update: Facebook’s Instagram Launches Hyperlapse

Richard Atkins
Finance, Mobile

Stock in News: Apple (NASDAQ AAPL) Wins patent for Flexible Displays

Apple Inc (NASDAQ AAPL) recently won rights to another patent, this time it is for a flexible display with special functionality. The patent was awarded to Apple by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The new patent describes various controlled mechanisms that can be used for flexible displays. The patent also includes ideas to replace physical buttons with durable alternatives as well as a … Continue reading Stock in News: Apple (NASDAQ AAPL) Wins patent for Flexible Displays

Richard Atkins
Finance, Software

Bitcoin Report: A Look at the First Tax Exempted Bitcoin Charity

The BitGive Foundation announced today that it has become the first nonprofit bitcoin organization to achieve 501(c)(3) status, meaning the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officially recognizes it as a charitable organisation in the US. This means that any gains made by the foundation will not be taxed, thus directing more money to its supported causes.

BitGive executive director Connie Gallippi told that it is about more than just money, however, “It does give us legitimacy with the US government, which has been a huge struggle for bitcoin as far as businesses are concerned.”

BitGive is dedicated to improving the public health and environment worldwide by giving funds that it raises to various philanthropic organizations and projects. It accepts corporate and individual donations, and counts BitPay, Xapo, LibraTax and Roger Ver among its founding donors.

News on Bitcoins

Today the foundation also launches two new initiatives: the Founding Donors Campaign and a membership program for individuals. Each is open to donors worldwide.

The new campaign is aimed at one-shot donations from larger groups or companies to help get the foundation’s activity rolling, whereas the membership program is being offered to individuals on an annual basis to support the underlying operations of the organization. Furthermore, in the following year, the foundation plans to offer an annual component to corporations and larger donors.

Gallippi said that the organization’s long-term functionality is to have the equivalent of a multi-million-dollar investment trust, in bitcoin, from which it can give to causes and projects.

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Richard Atkins
BioTech, Finance

Biotech Stocks: Invest in Biotech, But at Your Own Risk

Fed Chair Janet Yellen testified before the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. She presented the Fed’s semiannual Monetary Policy Report (MPR) to the Congress. In her prepared remarks, she stated that while valuation seems “stretched” in some areas of the bond market, equities “remain generally in line with historical norms.” Yet in the MPR, which bears her signature, the following observation … Continue reading Biotech Stocks: Invest in Biotech, But at Your Own Risk

Richard Atkins