Japan is famous for being technologically advanced and is known for its brilliant innovations. Starbucks in Japan is also following the trend and has been introducing various technologically driven products. These products are quite useful and help make the customers’ shopping experience better. Starbucks’ stores in Japan have a whole range of products which can be used by the customers to pay from a digital wallet. The range of products comes under the “Starbucks Touch” category and includes items like a flask, phone case and a wallet called The Hug.
Now, Starbucks added another product, a pen, to their Starbucks Touch collection. Starbucks collaborated with Japanese stationery company Zebra to release the pen. Called Starbucks Touch The Pen, the pen is designed as a drip coffee machine and includes coffee brown gel ink, which is a constant reminder of a perfect cup of coffee.
The pen, just like other products in the collection, comes with a near field communication (NFC) reader embedded in it. NFC is a kind of technology which allows the transfer of information between two devices, when placed next to each other. The pen works using the FeliCa technology, which is a smart card system introduced by Sony and is widely used in Japan. The FeliCa technology is also used in the Starbucks domestic card system.
The pen is available in black, white and silver and can only be purchased from the Starbucks online store. The pen is priced at 4,000 yen ($ 37.46) and includes a preloaded amount of 1,000 yen ($ 9.37,) which is stored in a digital wallet.
Although the Touch Pen is not that different from the existing online payment options, the device can be considered a part of new technologies which can contribute to saving customers’ time.
Meta is developing its first true AR glasses, set to launch in 2027. Before the public release, employees will test the device starting in 2024. The company is also releasing new generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023 and 2025 with enhanced features like a “viewfinder” display.
Specifications and Features
The AR glasses are expected to feature OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, offering sophisticated AR and AI capabilities. They will enable users to interact with virtual objects and project high-quality holograms of avatars onto the real world.
Design and Competition
Meta aims for a sleek design, potentially building on its Ray-Ban partnerships. The AR glasses market is competitive, with Apple and Google also investing heavily. Meta seeks to make its AR glasses a game-changer by offering a unique user experience.
Future Plans
In addition to AR glasses, Meta is expanding its VR offerings with new headsets like the Quest 3 and exploring other wearable technologies. The company is focused on reducing costs to make the AR glasses more consumer-friendly by launch.
MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.
MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.
As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.
This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service
Nazara Technologies has sold its entire 71.54% stake in Sports Unity Private Limited, the company behind the multiplayer quiz game ‘Qunami’, for INR 7.15 lakh. This divestment, effective March 25, 2025, signifies a strategic shift for Nazara, which had previously acquired a controlling interest in Sports Unity in 2019 for INR 7.5 crore.
The decision to offload the stake comes as Sports Unity has faced financial difficulties, reporting no active business operations and a negative net worth of INR 0.45 crore at the end of FY24. This move aligns with Nazara’s broader strategy to streamline its operations and concentrate on more profitable ventures within the gaming sector.
This sale follows Nazara’s recent divestment of a 94.85% stake in another subsidiary, Open Play, to Moonshine Technologies for INR 104.33 crore. Despite reporting record quarterly revenue of INR 544.7 crore in Q3 FY25, Nazara experienced a 53.5% decline in net profit year-over-year.
Nazara continues to focus on enhancing its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and investments in high-potential gaming platforms while navigating the competitive landscape of the gaming industry.