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TECHNOLOGY

PayMaya introduces ‘PayMaya Verified Sellers’ to make online shopping safer

December 7, 2021 9:02 p.m.

To further boost the growth of e-commerce in the Philippines and protect customers from online scams, PayMaya introduced PayMaya Verified Sellers, a feature that makes transactions safer for both buyers and sellers using the PayMaya app.   

With this another first from PayMaya, legitimate and trustworthy sellers using the PayMaya wallet as the preferred mode of payment can get a special badge that marks them as PayMaya Verified Sellers.    

To get this special badge, PayMaya Verified Sellers will undergo another layer of screening to ensure that they are legitimate online businesses and are on good standing, on top of the standard registration and upgrade process for PayMaya app users. For sellers, this badge from PayMaya is a stamp of approval – a way to let consumers know that they are legitimate and trustworthy businesses that have passed the financial institution’s rigorous background check.  

Once verified, the badge will appear beside the seller’s name that customers can easily spot right before they transfer their payments in-app.   

PayMaya sees that this feature will boost consumer trust for online transactions and will serve as an added security against online scammers, a pain point currently experienced by sellers and buyers alike.   

“Filipinos are naturally enterprising – we have seen accelerated growth in the number of online sellers who are utilizing our PayMaya consumer app amid the pandemic. Online sellers need all the support they can, and we are very excited to provide them with embedded features such as the first verified sellers mark for an e-wallet app,” said Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya President.  

“With PayMaya Verified Sellers, we aim to grow the number of online sellers and buyers as we promote trust within this ecosystem,” he added.  

Real-time transactions from the top-rated e-wallet  

On top of providing an added layer of protection for customers with the PayMaya Verified Sellers feature, PayMaya is also doubling down on enhancing its overall app experience to equip small business owners.    

By utilizing PayMaya as the payment method, sellers can track their transaction history in real-time – allowing them to instantly check the payments transferred to their account and not fall prey to bogus buyers sending fake transaction receipt screenshots.    

With PayMaya’s 99.9% uptime rate, online sellers and buyers can be confident that transactions will go through, especially when they need it most. This high uptime rate and enhanced features have translated to a more reliable and smooth customer experience, making PayMaya the top-rated e-wallet in the Philippines for both Google Play and App Store.      

Flexible, inclusive payment methods   

On top of boosting sellers’ credibility, PayMaya also provides the broadest payment acceptance options. Sellers can use their PayMaya QR codes, easy-to-use personal payment links, and money transfers via Smart Padala by PayMaya.    

Sellers utilizing PayMaya can seamlessly accept fund transfers from other PayMaya users and account holders of other financial institutions via their PayMaya QR, enabled by QR PH. To date, PayMaya is one of the few financial institutions that offer QR Ph person-to-person sending and acceptance as default features.    

Online sellers can also take advantage of the app’s Request Money feature as a payment link- allowing PayMaya upgraded users to generate a Request Money QR code that integrates the amount their buyer needs to pay for faster and more convenient transactions.    

They can also accept money transfers for personal payments from even those without a bank account via Smart Padala by PayMaya agents.   

Useful features to boost business   

PayMaya Verified Sellers get to enjoy additional benefits to help boost their business. To start, they can be featured on PayMaya’s official social media pages and in-app Maya Mall to reach millions of PayMaya users and potential customers.    

When they’re ready to expand their business, PayMaya is prepared to support them as they can increase their monthly limit up to P1,000,000 – allowing them to grow their business even further. PayMaya Verified Sellers can also enjoy exclusive discounts on bills, groceries, deliveries, and waived bank transfers by simply using their PayMaya app for their everyday transactions.    

Signing up to be a PayMaya Verified Seller is fast and easy—business owners simply need to fill out the online form at https://www.paymaya.com/survey/verified-seller.  Sellers can be verified within five business days.   

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. It provides more than 41 million Filipinos access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 380,000 digital touchpoints nationwide.    

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 60,000 partner agent touchpoints serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country, including “every day” merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants, as well as government agencies and units.    To know more about PayMaya’s products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on Smart Padala, visit https://smartpadala.ph/

TECHNOLOGY

Xiaomi introduces Redmi A5: Powerful camera, performance upgrades wrapped in new design

3:34 p.m. May 23, 2025

XIAOMI Corporation, a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an Internet of Things (“IoT”) platform at its core, has unveiled Redmi A5, seamlessly blending an extensive array of generous upgrades that make advanced smartphone features accessible to a broader audience. 

With a refreshed design, a significantly improved camera, and a larger display, Redmi A5 transforms the essentials into an experience that feels effortlessly refined, crafted for those who value both practicality and aesthetics in their everyday smartphone.

Design and Display

Redmi A5 introduces a sleek new design, elevating its visual appeal with a stylish flat frame and an enhanced camera deco with an all-new metallic-feel surround. This smartphone comes in sophisticated color options, each evoking a distinct sense of character. Midnight

Black and Sandy Gold feature a matte, smudge-resistant finish that offers a timeless, understated elegance. Lake Green and Ocean Blue take inspiration from nature, their veined patterns reminiscent of ripples on a tranquil body of water. With its slim 8.26mm body, Redmi A5 balances modern elegance with a comfortable grip.

Despite its slim profile, Redmi A5 expands possibilities with an up to 120Hz large 6.88-inch display, offering a truly immersive experience whether watching videos, browsing, or reading. Even when hands are damp, wet touch technology helps to maintain responsiveness, further improving usability. Meanwhile, for those longer sessions, TÜV Rheinland-certified eye protection and DC dimming help to minimize strain, making extended screen time easier on the eyes.

Camera and Performance Upgrades

Complementing the display, Redmi A5 introduces a substantial leap in camera capabilities through its powerful 32MP AI dual camera, allowing users to capture moments with remarkable clarity. With a larger sensor that takes in 18% more light4 than the previous generation, night photography stands out with improved detail, delivering brighter, clearer shots in low-light settings. The camera keeps photos crisp and vivid even when confronted with challenging backlit settings. Turning to the front, the upgraded 8MP selfie camera delivers natural-looking portraits with fresh detail. At the same time, the soft-light ring, achieved from the display’s illumination, allows users to take well-lit selfies even in dim environments. Thanks to these thoughtful innovations, Redmi A5 makes capturing and preserving memories effortless, whether a scenic view or a fleeting moment.

Building on its impressive camera upgrades, Redmi A5 has been designed to seamlessly fit into your fast-paced lifestyle, offering features for reliability and convenience at every turn. Powered by the octa-core UNISOC T7250 processor and supported by up to 8GB of RAM5 through memory extension, Redmi A5 easily handles multitasking, providing smooth app performance even during demanding tasks. Yet with its powerful performance, Redmi A5 doesn’t compromise battery life. Equipped with a 5200mAh battery, it supports over 20 hours of video playback and over hours of gaming on a single charge, keeping you going throughout the day.

For further added convenience, Redmi A5 also offers secure access through a side fingerprint sensor and face unlock. Plus, with the 3.5mm headphone jack, users can continue enjoying high-quality wired audio.

Pricing and Availability

Redmi A5 arrives in the Philippines in four colors—Midnight Black, Sandy Gold, Lake Green, and Ocean Blue—offered in two variants: one with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage at only P3,599, and another with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage at just P4,099.

It has been available online starting May 20 via Xiaomi’s official Shopee and Lazada stores, and in authorized Mi Stores nationwide beginning May 23.

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TECHNOLOGY

Chevron champions program to help Filipino pros upskill in Cloud Computing

10:03 a.m. May 21, 2025

Chevron, marketer of Caltex and lubricants, has joined forces again with education technology platform Edukasyon.ph to sponsor a second batch of Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/Start scholars and help unemployed Filipinos upskill in cloud computing. Their joint efforts culminated in April 2025, when all 50 students graduated from the program with flying colors.

The AWS re/Start program is a skills development and job training program that prepares unemployed or underemployed individuals for information technology careers. In 9-12 consecutive weeks, learners gain both technical knowledge as well as behaviors, mindsets and employment essentials, preparing them for entry-level careers in the cloud.

The program also links graduates to in-demand tech jobs, allowing them to apply their new skills and provide for their families. Employers that were present at this year’s exclusive career fair include Chevron, Bayad Center, Kuehne Nagel, Stratpoint, Boss Jobs, Promotexter, Software One, ECloud Valley, Absi and Maverick. 

According to Chevron Philippines Senior Corporate Advisor Raissa Bautista, Chevron values its partnership with the AWS re/Start program and Edukasyon.ph as their tie-up offers learners opportunities to continue their education and personal growth. This would also prepare graduates to enter the dynamic field of cloud computing and innovate in their respective companies.

She told the graduates, “This program has created a full circle of education and gives everybody a second chance if they had to stop for a while. I am also fascinated with the age of digitization because I think it’s really the future. I know the possibilities are limitless, so just spread your wings and good luck.”

Meanwhile, Edukasyon.ph Strategic Account Manager Joshua Toquero said that Edukasyon and Chevron renewed their partnership for AWS re/Start because they both value helping young professionals reach their dream careers.

He also hopes that AWS re/Start graduates realize they no longer have to struggle alone because multiple stakeholders are willing to help them reach their dreams. “I hope they believe that no man is an island and that you can achieve your goals if you work hand-in-hand with other people in the community.” 

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TECHNOLOGY

Vertiv accelerates AI Infrastructure Evolution in alignment with NVIDIA 800 VDC Power Architecture Announcement

12:11 p.m. May 20, 2025

Designed for next-generation AI factories, Vertiv’s 800 VDC solutions planned for 2026, in support of NVIDIA rack-scale compute platforms

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, today confirmed its strategic alignment with NVIDIA’s announcement of an AI roadmap to deploy 800 VDC power architectures for the next generation of AI-centric data centers. Paving the way for future-ready designs, Vertiv’s 800 VDC power portfolio is scheduled for release in the second half of 2026 — ahead of NVIDIA Kyber and NVIDIA Rubin Ultra platform rollouts.

Vertiv aligns with the NVIDIA AI roadmap to stay one GPU generation ahead, enabling customers to deploy their power and cooling infrastructure in sync with NVIDIA’s next-generation compute platforms. Vertiv provides end-to-end power, cooling, integrated infrastructure and services to support AI factories and other data center deployments.

As rack power requirements in AI environments scale beyond 300 kilowatts, 800 VDC enables more efficient, centralized power delivery by reducing copper usage, current, and thermal losses. Vertiv’s upcoming portfolio will feature centralized rectifiers, high-efficiency DC busways, rack-level DC-DC converters, and DC-compatible backup systems, expanding its broad, end-to-end power management portfolio that already includes a robust AC power train.

“As GPUs evolve to support increasingly complex AI applications at giga-watt scale, power and cooling providers need to be equally innovative to provide energy-efficient and high-density solutions for the AI factories. While the 800 VDC portfolio is new, DC power isn’t a new direction for us, it’s a continuation of what we’ve already done at scale,” said Scott Armul, executive vice president of global portfolio and business units at Vertiv. “We’ve spent decades deploying higher-voltage DC architectures across global telecom, industrial, and data center applications. We’re entering this transition from a position of strength and bringing real-world experience to meet the demands of the AI factory.”

Vertiv’s experience in DC power spans more than two decades of ±400 VDC deployments, broadened by strategic acquisitions during the early 2000’s. These solutions support critical loads in global telecom networks, integrated microgrids, and mission-critical facilities. This foundation establishes Vertiv as a trusted leader in the safe design, deployment, and operation of higher-voltage DC architectures, with proven scale, portfolio, and long-term serviceability.

Designed for homogeneous AI zones in hyperscale environments, Vertiv’s 800 VDC portfolio is a key pillar of its “unit of compute” strategy — a systems-level design engineered to enable all infrastructure components — to interoperate as one modular and scalable system, matching infrastructure demands of next-generation GPUs. Vertiv’s support for both AC and DC architectures is a strategic differentiator in the evolving AI data center landscape.

For more information about Vertiv’s DC power solutions and end-to-end power and cooling solutions, visit www.vertiv.com.

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