Eyeing this Year's Biggest Tech IPO and the Search for Quantum Questions

This week’s selection of our editors' favourite stories and reading recommendations embraces a variety of subject matter including a major technology IPO, mobile banking safety and....a lesson in quantum computing!

The new world of online trading, fintech and marketing - register now for the Finance Magnates Tel Aviv Conference, June 29th 2016.

We start with Steven Hatzakis’ recommended read of the week. Steven's contribution relates to an article that talks about a Japanese company that many readers might not have even heard of and which may be set for the biggest technology IPO in 2016…

This Year’s Biggest Tech IPO Debut

A headline that caught my eye this week is regarding the expected IPO for the Japanese company Line – known for its mobile

app which is immensely popular in Asia, even if relatively unheard of in parts of the Western world, as noted in this Bloomberg article.

Like other popular related apps including Skype, Whatsapp, Snapchat and other social media-like mobile-friendly communication apps, Line could become more popular globally as it seeks to raise a few billion via a dual-listing in Japan and the US.

The Bloomberg article noted the firm could fetch a valuation of $5-6 billion, and raise $1-2 billion from its IPO, according to people familiar that it referenced regarding the planned listing.

This follows Line's prior attempt to go public after its 2014 filing which didn’t materialize due to management changes. If achieved by Line, in terms of the funding/valuation targets for its latest IPO attempt, this would be the biggest technology IPO globally for 2016 so far, and the listing is expected to take place during the second half of July.

From IPOs and messaging apps, we move onto virus-threats in the financial industry. Rosemary Barnes recalls her anti-virus days...

Is Mobile Banking Safe?

Many moons ago, I worked in the anti-virus industry and although these days I write for the financial services sector, I still keep an eye on any developments in the area. Hence, this article entitled "Is Mobile Banking Safe?" caught my eye.

The article discusses how the use of mobile devices is at an all-time high with mobile digital media now outpacing desktop usage. A recent report stated that adults with access to digital media use mobile 51 percent of the time compared to 42 percent for desktop usage and 7 percent for all other devices. Not surprisingly, financial institutions seeking to remain competitive and keep customer satisfaction high must offer mobile access to their customer base.

The article goes on to talk about how with all this opportunity, there is risk involved and that financial institutions must assume the risk associated with mobile banking. These risks come in many forms, including malware specifically targeting mobile devices which has become a very real and prominent threat and may consist of viruses, Trojans and spyware.

While new technology has the ability to increase productivity and profits, with these benefits come risks. The article concludes by stressing the importance of getting in front of them before they strike, which I wholeheartedly agree with.

Next, as Google edges closer to a universal quantum computer, we check out Avi Mizrahi’s favourite article....

The Quantum Question

This week I will recommend that you read “Computing’s Search for Quantum Questions” by Stephen Ornes.

I have been following the claims of creating a real quantum computer by D-Wave for a while now but I was not able to figure out why scientists can’t unequivocally determine if they are true or false – this story really helped clear up the issue for me.

Now if you have never heard of quantum computers, D-Wave or otherwise, this is still a great read. It explains everything in an accessible way to the inquisitive reader and does not require you come with a physics degree to be able to understand the complex subjects discussed.

If you want to know how bodies like Google, IBM and NASA are hoping to create solutions for artificial intelligence, cancer research and Cryptography a 100 million times faster and have no prior knowledge in quantum computing, this is a good place to start. Plus, you’ll learn how to make the perfect ice cube along the way.

So, that wraps up another week of stories that our editors are reading. We hope you found their reading suggestions interesting and read-worthy.

We’d love to hear from you so feel free to share your views in the comment section and any recommendations of your own.

Check out our previous posts here:

Financial Efficiencies And Inefficiencies

The Bank Robber And The Psychologist

Fly Me To The Moon….And Bremain In The EU

Brexit: Ice-Cream Magic Or An Artistic Defeat

Virtual Reality and the Dark Side of Shaming

Insider Trading and the Dude Driving Istanbul Mad

On Valley Life and Opening Up AI