Friday☕️

Nov 10, 2023 • 4 min read

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Amazon Healthcare:

Amazon is expanding into the healthcare sector by integrating medical services through One Medical, a provider of both in-person and telehealth services. Amazon is now offering Prime members a discounted annual subscription to One Medical. The new rate for Prime members is set at $99 per year, which is $100 less than the standard annual fee for One Medical.
This initiative represents Amazon's efforts to broaden its services and compete against rising healthcare prices. By providing Prime members with a discount to One Medical, Amazon is not only enhancing the value of its Prime membership but also extending its reach into the healthcare industry. This step aligns with Amazon's strategy to diversify its offerings and leverage its existing customer network.

Signal Username Upgrades:

Signal, the encrypted messaging app, is testing a new feature that allows users to create usernames. This update, planned for official release in early 2024, lets users communicate without having to share their phone numbers. The feature is currently in a 'pre-beta' phase, as announced by Signal’s VP of Engineering, Jim O’Leary, who cautioned about possible issues like crashes and notification glitches during testing.
The introduction of usernames is a significant move for Signal, which is known for its focus on privacy and security. While setting up an account will still require a phone number, the username option will provide an alternative way to connect with others. This enhances user privacy, as it allows for contact without sharing phone numbers. Users can share their usernames via QR codes or links and can even make their username the main contact method on Signal.
Signal has been developing this feature for a while, with early signs appearing as far back as 2019. President Meredith Whittaker has been vocal about the feature's development. For those interested in trying out the pre-beta version, it's available across Android, Desktop, and iOS platforms, but keep in mind that it's meant for testing and might not be suitable for regular use yet.

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