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Google Cloud Announces New Regional Hub In Qatar
The initiative is expected to bolster the country’s economic output by $18.9 billion from 2023 to 2030 and will eventually generate an additional 25,000 jobs.
Google Cloud is working with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Qatar Free Zone Authority to establish a regional hub in the country’s capital, Doha.
The hub will be the company’s first in the GCC region. It will focus on the digital transformation of the company in Qatar and the wider Middle East, helping Google to develop its products and services.
The Doha hub was recently announced as part of Google Cloud’s global network of 37 regions and 112 zones. As a result of the expansion, Google Cloud services can now be used in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.
According to research by Google Cloud (conducted by Access Partnership), creating a new hub is anticipated to impact Qatar’s economy significantly. Between 2023 and 2030, the manufacturing facility will contribute approximately $18.9 billion to Qatar’s economic output and is also expected to create around 25,000 jobs by 2030.
Google says the new Doha regional hub will have three areas where users can submit apps and store them for better protection against attacks. The infrastructure will also include Google’s major cloud products, such as Computer Engine, Cloud Run, Cloud SQL, Google Kubernetes Engine, Spanner, and more. These products provide users with various tools and features to meet their cloud needs and support them with their digital processes.
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The official announcement was made at a launch event attended by Qatari cabinet officials and business leaders, highlighting the importance of Google’s regional expansion to local cloud infrastructure.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai welcomed the announcement, declaring that the new hub aligns with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, stating, “The new cloud region will contribute to giving impetus to economic and productivity growth, and will allow various government and private companies and institutions within Qatar the opportunity to achieve significant efficiency gains by adopting flexible features in dealing with digital technology”.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
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