HONG KONG, May 14, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - As search becomes increasingly AI-led and zero-click, brands need new strategies to shape how they appear in answers, not just in links. APAC has emerged as a global leader in AI Search adoption, with 78% of users reporting weekly usage. Increasingly, AI Search Experiences shape brand discovery and consideration before users ever visit a website.

In response, global omnichannel media agency Assembly today announced the rollout of Stagwell Search+ in APAC - a new system designed to help brands understand and influence how they are represented across AI-driven search environments.

The launch marks a fundamental shift away from treating search as a standalone channel. Instead, Stagwell Search+ operates across a full ecosystem of paid, owned, earned, and shared media, where AI-generated answers determine visibility and performance. This shift is especially complex in APAC, where a fragmented landscape of large language models, spanning multiple languages and cultural contexts, creates inconsistent brand visibility. A brand may appear authoritative in one model while remaining invisible or misrepresented in another, introducing a new and largely unmeasured risk for marketers.

Built by Assembly in partnership with emberos, Stagwell Search+ is powered by the industry's first agentic operating system for AI search. The platform continuously monitors how brands appear across models and languages and orchestrates & measures the lift from actions across content, media, and digital channels to improve visibility. Rather than automating changes directly into platforms, the system is designed to guide human decision-making with AI agents - helping teams take precise, strategic action while protecting the quality and integrity of brand experiences.

Stagwell Search+ is currently integrated with leading global models from OpenAI, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, and Anthropic with additional integrations across regional platforms such as DeepSeek planned for later this year.

"AI is already making brand decisions without marketers in the room - and in APAC, that challenge is amplified by language and cultural complexity," said Yi En Chye, VP of Experience and Activation, APAC. "Success is no longer defined by rankings or clicks, but by a brand's ability to secure share of prompt. Stagwell Search+ gives brands the visibility and control they need to compete in this new environment."

ABOUT ASSEMBLY

Assembly is a global omnichannel agency built for brands that want a more modern approach to building brands that perform. Backed by the Stagwell network, we are a literal assembly of data, talent, and technology built to unlock smarter, faster, and better-performing outcomes from the bottom up -not the top down. Curious, collaborative, and driven by change, we are an agency of builders who believe the better the experience, the better the performance. We don't see brand and performance as an either/or. For us, it's always both. The +\ symbol in our logo, known as the ORAD, represents this mindset. It's a mark of how we think, how we build, and how we deliver results across the full funnel. Assembly's foundation is built on three core elements: our purpose-built STAGE Experience Engine, the strategic product it powers-Brand Performance Planning (BPP) - and an organizational design built for speed, depth, and the demands of modern marketing. Together, they enable us to build better brand experiences that reimagine how brands connect, engage, and grow across data, tech, media, creative and commerce. With over 3,000 experts in 44 offices worldwide, Assembly delivers full-funnel solutions that help the world's most ambitious brands perform. Learn more at assemblyglobal.com.

ABOUT STAGWELL

Stagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Kelvin Lee
Marketing Director, APAC
Kelvin.lee@assemblyglobal.com

SOURCE: Assembly

MUMBAI, INDIA, May 12, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - CleverTap, the all-in-one customer engagement platform, has won Silver at the Thailand MarTech Awards 2026 in the Impact MarTech category, in partnership with Rabbit Rewards, the loyalty and lifestyle platform for Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain and a widely used commuter ecosystem in Southeast Asia.

The recognition highlights how CleverTap and Rabbit Rewards have transformed customer engagement by building a real-time, agentic engagement model powered by autonomous decisioning, designed to serve millions of commuters in a high-frequency environment.

Rabbit Rewards operates at the intersection of daily commuting, payments, and lifestyle services, where user behavior shifts constantly based on routine, timing, and location. Traditional campaign-led approaches, built on static segmentation and fixed schedules, were unable to keep pace and often resulted in delayed or irrelevant engagement.

To address this, Rabbit Rewards partnered with CleverTap to implement a real-time decisioning layer that continuously interprets live behavior and determines the next best action for each user.

With CleverAI™, and its suite of tools — including IntelliNODE and Best Time Optimization among others — Rabbit Rewards deployed trigger-based, omnichannel journeys across push notifications, in-app messaging, email, and SMS. These journeys span onboarding, renewals, promotions, and re-engagement, and adapt continuously to commuter behavior.

The shift to real-time, behavior-led engagement delivered clear, measurable outcomes:

• 85% uplift in click-through rates (CTR)
• 62.6% week-4 repeat transactions among engaged users, compared to 18.7% for non-engaged users
• 2.4% of total transactions directly influenced by CleverTap-powered engagement

Beyond these results, Rabbit Rewards significantly improved the quality of customer engagement. Communication became more timely, contextual, and aligned with commuter needs, strengthening trust and positioning the platform as a more intuitive, lifestyle-oriented companion for daily users.

“Our vision has always been to make everyday commuting more seamless, rewarding, and relevant for our users. Through our partnership with CleverTap, we have successfully transitioned from traditional campaign execution to a real-time engagement model that understands and responds to commuter behavior in the moment.

CleverAI™ has enabled us to deliver more personalized and timely experiences at scale, strengthening both customer engagement and long-term loyalty. This collaboration goes beyond technology — it is about ensuring Rabbit Rewards shows up for our members in ways that feel personal, timely, and genuinely useful throughout their daily journeys,” said Kamolwan Korphaisarn, Program Director, Rabbit Rewards

“Enterprises today sit on a surplus of data, but turning those data points into timely, meaningful action remains a big challenge. With CleverAI™, we’re enabling brands to move beyond static campaigns to intelligent systems that continuously interpret behavior, determine the next best action, and deliver truly personalized experiences in real time. Our work with Rabbit Rewards shows how this approach drives stronger engagement while enabling seamless, context-aware customer journeys at the scale of the individual,” said Anand Jain, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, CleverTap.

About Rabbit Rewards

Rabbit Rewards is Thailand’s leading loyalty and lifestyle platform built around Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain ecosystem, one of Southeast Asia’s busiest urban transit networks serving millions of daily commuters.

The platform connects commuting, payments, and everyday lifestyle experiences into a single ecosystem, enabling members to access rewards, offers, and partner benefits across Bangkok.

As part of BTS Group Holdings, Rabbit Rewards serves a diverse member base ranging from daily riders and students to tourists and lifestyle-focused members, making it a deeply embedded companion in Bangkok’s urban lifestyle.

Rabbit Rewards continues to evolve its customer engagement capabilities to deliver more contextual, real-time experiences that align with the rhythm of everyday commuting and lifestyle needs.

For more information, visit rabbitrewards.co.th

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the world’s leading AI-first, all-in-one customer engagement and retention platform, helping brands turn data into lasting customer relationships. Powered by its proprietary CleverAI™: Decisioning Engine and Agentic AI-verse, CleverTap enables organizations to maximize customer lifetime value at scale. Its unified platform brings together AI-powered segmentation, personalization, experimentation, journey orchestration, and deep analytics—seamlessly integrated with 100+ leading martech solutions.

Leading brands such as Burger King, Levi’s, IKEA, Decathlon, Domino’s, Jio, Carousell, AIA Thailand, Sasom, 12Go, and Ngern Tid Lor,  rely on CleverTap to drive measurable growth through meaningful customer engagement. With backing from global investors including Accel, Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, CDPQ, and 360 One, CleverTap has presence across  US, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/
X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap

For more information:
ADITYA SANYAL
Director, Digital Marketing, CleverTap
+91 9177110080
aditya.sanyal@clevertap.com

ASHMIT CHAUDHARY
Associate Consultant, Archetype
+91 8850752121
ashmit.chaudhary@archetype.co

MUMBAI, INDIA, May 6, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - KPMG in India and CleverTap today announced a strategic alliance to embed advanced customer engagement capabilities into enterprise transformation programs. The alliance brings together KPMG in India’s Connected Enterprise and advisory capabilities with CleverTap’s customer engagement and retention platform, enabling organisations to explore greater personalisation, while staying aligned with governance, security, and key business priorities.

The alliance will focus on organisations across the BFSI (Banking and Financial Services), retail, and consumer markets. By integrating CleverTap’s analytics and orchestration capabilities into KPMG in India–led initiatives, the alliance is intended to provide organisations with pathways to more effectively connect customer data with execution and to explore more coordinated, lifecycle-based approaches to engagement.

Together, KPMG in India is expected to contribute its consulting experience across operating model design, governance, risk, and compliance, alongside CleverTap’s integrated platform capabilities including  real-time analytics and AI-driven engagement enablement, aimed at supporting organizations in strengthening customer engagement, retention initiatives, and customer lifetime value.

Building on these complementary strengths, the alliance is designed to support companies in their efforts to reduce churn, strengthen customer engagement, and pursue sustainable revenue growth, while also helping them navigate and align with relevant regulatory requirements.

“Our alliance with CleverTap strengthens our ability to help organisations activate insights responsibly and scale customer engagement in a measured, sustainable way. By bringing together our transformation-led consulting approach with CleverTap’s analytics-driven platform, we aim to support companies as they work to deepen customer relationships in a rapidly evolving digital and regulatory environment,” said Ram Seshadri, Partner, Digital Cloud Solutions, KPMG in India.

“Enterprises don’t just need more data; they need intelligence to deliver personalized experiences. By combining KPMG in India’s transformation expertise with our all-in-one customer engagement platform, powered by CleverAI™, we’re equipping brands to deliver true 1:1 personalized journeys that increase customer lifetime value,” said Anand Jain, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, CleverTap.

By combining strategic advisory insights with advanced engagement technology, the alliance aims to help organisations develop stronger, more resilient customer ecosystems for the future.

About KPMG in India

KPMG entities in India, are professional services firm(s). These Indian member firms are affiliated with KPMG International Limited. KPMG was established in India in August 1993. Our professionals leverage the global network of firms, and are conversant with local laws, regulations, markets and competition. KPMG has offices across India in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida, Pune, Raipur, Trivandrum, Vadodara and Vijayawada.

KPMG entities in India offer services to national and international clients in India across sectors. We strive to provide rapid, performance-based, industry-focussed and technology-enabled services, which reflect a shared knowledge of global and local industries and our experience of the Indian business environment.

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the world’s leading AI-first, all-in-one customer engagement and retention platform, helping brands turn data into lasting customer relationships. Powered by its proprietary CleverAI™: Decisioning Engine and Agentic AI-verse, CleverTap enables organizations to maximize customer lifetime value at scale. Its unified platform brings together AI-powered segmentation, personalization, experimentation, journey orchestration, and deep analytics—seamlessly integrated with 100+ leading martech solutions.

With backing from global investors including Accel, Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, CDPQ, and 360 One, CleverTap has presence across US, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. Leading brands such as TD Bank, Burger King, Paytm, Levi’s, IKEA, Decathlon, Vodafone, Domino’s, Jio, Carousell, Banco Azteca, Zomato, StockX, and Emirates NBD,  rely on CleverTap to drive measurable growth through meaningful customer engagement.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/
X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent KPMG in India’s and CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. Both KPMG in India and CleverTap caution that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.

Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. KPMG in India and CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will KPMG in India and  CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.

For more information:

ADITYA SANYAL
Director, Digital Marketing, CleverTap
+91 9177110080
aditya.sanyal@clevertap.com

ASHMIT CHAUDHARY
Associate Consultant, Archetype
+91 8850752121
ashmit.chaudhary@archetype.co

JAKARTA, May 5, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Indonesia is the most spammed country in the world. In 2025, Truecaller identified 79 percent of all unknown calls in Indonesia as spam or fraud. Chile follows at 70 percent, up from 51 percent in just six months. Vietnam, Brazil, and India round out the top five. The data comes from Truecaller, the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication, with over 500 million users globally and over 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025.

Behind each country’s ranking is a different story. In Indonesia and Mexico, over 40 percent of spam calls are identified as financial institutions – banks, lenders, and loan services. In Chile, the dominant category is not sales or scams but debt collection, which accounts for 38 percent of all spam, the highest concentration of any single category in any market globally. In Brazil and Nigeria, calls from Telcos flood the landscape, making it nearly impossible for users to distinguish a genuine carrier message from fraud. These findings point to a broader global shift — as automated spam scales, trust in unknown calls continues to decline.

"The scale of what this data shows should concern everyone. Fraud, impersonation, and scams are affecting people's daily lives in a way we have never seen before. In some countries, most unknown calls are now spam — that is a fundamental breakdown in how communication works. Our mission is to build trust in communication, and in 2026, we are focused on stopping fraud before it reaches people," said Rishit Jhunjhunwala, CEO of Truecaller.

On March 31, 2026, Truecaller crossed 500 million monthly active users, with more than 150 million outside India. The full Spam and Fraud Report, including the complete top 10 ranking and regional breakdown, is available at the Truecaller Insights page.

About Truecaller

Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for 500 million active users worldwide, with more than one billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. For more information, visit www.truecaller.com.

For more information, please contact press@truecaller.com. 

HONG KONG, Apr 29, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Asia’s annual flagship licensing events, the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and the Asian Licensing Conference, concluded successfully today. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the three-day extravaganza for the licensing trade ran from 27 to 29 April, attracting more than 330 exhibitors and showcasing over 600 brands and licensing projects. The Asian Licensing Conference brought together some 20 international licensing experts to explore key industry topics, including global licensing trends and the industry outlook, intellectual property (IP) licensing strategies for overseas expansion, sports licensing, location-based entertainment, food and beverage licensing, and creative marketing strategies. The two events served as cross-regional and cross-sectoral business expansion platforms across multiple categories, creating global business opportunities for participants and promoting regional IP trade development.

Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Under the support of the national 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong continues to deepen its role as a regional IP trading hub. As one of Asia’s most mature licensing markets, the city boasts a well-established industry ecosystem, with the licensing sector serving as a core engine for IP trade. We are pleased to see licensing applications expanding from traditional character merchandising to cover location-based entertainment, food and beverage, e-commerce and a host of other fields, forming a complete licensing industry chain that helps to create more business opportunities for the industry globally.”

In response to the rapid development and growing popularity of e-commerce, this year’s Licensing Show introduced the new IP and e-Commerce Support Services Zone. In collaboration with the E-commerce Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong eCommerce Supply Chain Association and the Hong Kong Federation of E-Commerce, the zone hosted multiple workshops on building online shops, digital marketing and livestream commerce, helping small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) capitalise on e-commerce to sell their IP products globally.

Among the participants was Digitify Online Growth, an e-commerce platform specialising in digital marketing and e-commerce operation solutions. Kay Leung from the company said: “The greatest value of this new dedicated zone lies in ‘promotion’ and ‘education’. In the current economic climate, industries across different sectors are actively seeking new avenues to expand their business. This zone serves as an essential foundation for SMEs, raising awareness of how to effectively leverage e-commerce as a springboard to promote their brands and sell their IP products to the global market.” Prof. Charles Ng from another exhibitor, StarLite IPC Limited, said: “This year's Licensing Show has truly played the role of an ‘all-rounded accelerator’ in driving industry growth. During this critical period of economic recovery in the Asian market, the show has successfully brought together leading licensors, licensing agents and brand owners from around the world, providing an efficient business matchmaking platform for IP licensing-focused enterprises like ours."

Commenting on the impact of the new IP and e-Commerce Support Services Zone, Jenny Koo said: “This aligns well with the direction of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s policy to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong SMEs in relation to cross-border e-commerce. The HKTDC will continue to provide an ideal platform for the global licensing industry to showcase more diversified brand licensing projects, strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international licensing hub.”

The Licensing Show continued to feature the DLAB Hong Kong Pavilion, bringing together nearly 40 exhibitors to showcase multiple Hong Kong original brands and IPs. Among them, local designer Kirsten Lie presented her original IPs and secured collaboration opportunities with overseas shopping malls. She said: “The current negotiations are highly encouraging, with enthusiastic responses all around. We are now in serious discussions with two overseas shopping malls and will meet with their senior management next week to move the partnership forward.” Another participating designer, James Ho, said “This year's Licensing Show provides an excellent brand promotion platform for local designers, enabling us to reach and engage with potential partners from diverse sectors on a broad scale.” In addition, this year’s Hong Kong Licensing Force Showcase featured The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with the newly participating Hong Kong Design Institute joining to showcase creative designs by emerging local talents.

Key topics at this year’s Asian Licensing Conference included how non-traditional toy IPs resonate with young consumers in the emotional economy along with new development models for food and beverage licensing. George Wood, Managing Director of The Luna Entertainment Group, shared on location-based entertainment during the session, saying: “We learned that one of the non-negotiables has to do is with the depth of affection, which is often related to the number of hours the audience has spent with the IP”. He also expressed his belief that transforming entertainment brands into experiences is one of the revenue engines offering long-term value. In another session, Mark Kingston, CEO and Co-founder of Libertas Brands Ltd, mentioned the rising popularity of non-traditional toys such as Fugglers, whose deliberately designed “ugly-cute” appearance echoes the rise of the emotion economy. “We want to ensure that every Fuggler engages different individuals, and that every individual can find a Fuggler that suits their personality or particular mood. That is key to the storytelling nature of Fugglers,” Mr Kingston said.

Mainland institutions exhibit with distinctive cultural and creative brands

The Chinese Mainland Pavilion brought together more than 150 institutions from regions including Beijing, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Sichuan and more. Popular IPs such as Nailoong, Suchao, Tang Fugui, the Sun and Immortal Birds made their debut at the event, demonstrating the innovative vitality of the mainland’s cultural tourism IPs. Among the exhibitors in the pavilion were more than 20 cultural and museum institutions including Guangdong Museum, Nanjing Museum and the Xu Beihong Memorial Museum, showcasing the richness of the nation’s historical and cultural resources. This year, the distinctive Beijing Museums brand from the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau made its first overseas appearance. World cultural heritage sites such as the Great Wall and the Summer Palace collectively presented the unique character of Beijing’s heritage.

Multiple MoUs signed to deepen collaboration and exchange in the licensing industry

Several memoranda of understanding were signed during the two major licensing events, including one between the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau and the HKTDC. Building on their longstanding cooperation, both parties now aim to continue deepening cultural and economic exchange and collaboration under the broader framework of Beijing-Hong Kong cooperation. The MoU encourages both parties to actively build a cultural and museum cooperation platform, facilitating Beijing institutions to make use of the HKTDC’s platforms to explore aligning Beijing’s cultural and museum IPs and museum collections with Hong Kong’s professional strengths in the areas of creative design, IP transformation and licensing services, promoting the commercialisation, internationalisation and digital development of cultural and museum resources, and providing an effective way of telling China's stories.

Another MoU was signed between the Innovative Entrepreneur Association (IEA) and the Shantou Cultural and Creative Tourism Industry Association, aiming to strengthen cultural and creative industry collaboration between Hong Kong and Shantou and promote the deep integration and coordinated development of the two cities’ cultural, creative and tourism industries. This collaboration was facilitated by the HKTDC following a study mission by a Hong Kong licensing industry delegation to the Greater Bay Area and South China market in January this year to explore development opportunities and business prospects. The signing of the MoU represents a further deepening of exchange and cooperation between industry players in both cities.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3QDbhJJ

Websites

Hong Kong International Licensing Show: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en
Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en/programme'category=all&date=all
HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

Media enquiries

For more information, please contact Raconteur:

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels.

SINGAPORE, Apr 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Sinch Mailgun, part of Sinch, has released its Email Impact Report 2026, introducing new industry benchmarks across 10 high-volume sending sectors and revealing a gap between email performance and execution.

Based on insights from more than 400 billion emails sent in 2025 and a global survey of over 1,200 email senders, the report shows that while email remains a critical, high-performing channel, poor deliverability is leaving significant revenue on the table. Nearly 18% of emails fail to reach the inbox, putting up to a fifth of potential return on investment at risk for many organisations.

78% of respondents say email is critical to business success. At the same time, the research highlights a growing disconnect between performance and execution, driven by gaps in measurement, deliverability practices and AI application.

“APAC businesses rely heavily on email to drive sales, loyalty and customer experience but many are not set up to capture its full value,” said Ginger Kidd, Vice President Marketing & Communications APAC at Sinch. “What we see in this data reflects what’s happening locally: brands are investing in email and seeing strong returns, yet there is still a high number of messages that never reach inboxes. For instance, in a market as competitive and cost-conscious as Australia, marketers simply can’t afford for emails to get lost in inboxes. When budgets are under pressure, fixing deliverability is one of the fastest ways to unlock more value from the spend they already have.”

AI adoption is widespread, but its impact remains uneven. Many teams focus on basic use cases such as content generation, while higher-impact applications such as optimisation, segmentation and deliverability remain underutilised. Organisations that use AI more effectively are significantly more likely to report improved email performance.

Ginger Kidd said: "Across the diverse markets of APAC, we’re seeing a common theme: marketers are enthusiastically adopting AI, but the initial focus has primarily been on content creation. The true opportunity now lies in leveraging AI for smarter decision-making. For instance, who to send to, how often, and with what level of risk. This strategic shift is the key to ensuring every campaign improves performance, not just adds volume.

“The most sophisticated teams are already using AI to predict which subscribers are at risk of disengaging, to fine-tune send times and to protect sender reputation. That’s where we’re seeing a real uplift in performance, not just faster content production.”

Key findings of the report include:

• 60% of companies measuring email ROI report returns above $10 for every $1 spent
• More than 1 in 10 achieve returns as high as 40:1
• 46% say AI improves speed and efficiency
• 41% of teams use AI to generate email content
• 23% say AI has not improved their email programs
• 49% report improved email performance year-over-year
• 79% plan to maintain or increase investment in email
• Fewer than half of organisations can confidently measure email ROI

About the report

The Email Impact Report 2026 combines:

• Data from 400+ billion emails sent in 2025
• Insights from 1,200+ email senders globally
• Benchmarks across 10 high-volume industries

Read more about the report here.

About Sinch

Sinch’s vision is to connect every business with every customer, everywhere in the world. With the industry’s most trusted foundation for intelligent customer communications, Sinch powers over 900 billion customer interactions annually for more than 200,000 customers across the globe. Leading global companies, including AI innovators, rely on Sinch to strengthen customer relationships and deliver seamless experiences across messaging, email and voice. Profitable since its founding in 2008, Sinch generated net sales of USD 3 billion (SEK 27 billion) in 2025 and has over 4,000 Sinchers in 60 countries, with headquarters in Stockholm. Sinch is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (XSTO: SINCH). Visit us at sinch.com.

About Sinch Mailgun

Sinch Mailgun is the email infrastructure platform built for developers and businesses that demand reliable, high-performance delivery at scale. Trusted by companies worldwide, Mailgun powers transactional, marketing, and programmatic email through a developer-first API, advanced deliverability tools, and real-time analytics. As part of Sinch — the industry’s most trusted foundation for intelligent customer communications — Mailgun connects businesses to their customers through every send, at every scale. Visit us at mailgun.com.

For more information, please contact:
Tracey Choo
Communications Manager, APAC at Sinch
E-mail: tracey.choo@sinch.com

WATERLOO, ONTARIO, Apr 21, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - BlackBerry Secure Communications, a division of BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB)(TSX:BB), today released The State of Secure Communications 2026, a survey of 700 security decision-makers across government and critical infrastructure in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore. The findings reveal a widening gap between confidence in communications security and the reality of risk exposure - with significant national security implications. Among the most striking findings: 83% of security leaders report that WhatsApp is being used for sensitive discussions inside their organizations.

The Sovereignty Paradox

Ownership and control of the infrastructure behind sensitive communications is emerging as a critical blind spot, exposing gaps in data sovereignty. While 55% prioritize sovereign control, virtually all (98%) rely on foreign-hosted platforms not built for confidential communications or high-security environments. Meanwhile, 52% are concerned telecom networks could be monitored or disrupted - a tangible risk already demonstrated by espionage campaigns targeting network operators, such as Salt Typhoon and more recently, UNC3886 in Singapore.

"Consumer messaging apps were never designed to handle sensitive communications, protect confidentiality, or meet the demands of high-security environments," said Christine Gadsby, Chief Security Advisor, BlackBerry Secure Communications. "They rely on phone numbers, not verified identities - and encryption protects the channel, not who is on it. That gap is already being exploited, as recent intelligence warnings show, and governments and critical infrastructure organizations are responding by moving toward communications infrastructure they own and trust."

Confidence Built on Misunderstanding

These findings come as intelligence agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe issue fresh advisories about state-backed espionage attacks targeting Signal and WhatsApp accounts of public officials and journalists. This highlights how the threat surface is shifting from networks to consumer messaging platforms now embedded in daily critical operations.

Yet 88% of security leaders surveyed expressed confidence in their current messaging app security. That confidence is built on a fundamental misread of what these platforms actually protect, significantly increasing risk exposure. The report reveals critical gaps in encryption literacy among the very leaders responsible for safeguarding communications:

• 52% mistakenly believe encryption protects metadata - including location data, IP addresses, and communication patterns
• 47% believe it prevents impersonation, deepfake, or spoofing attacks
• 41% assume communications remain secure, even after a device has been compromised

This gap between perception and reality is now playing out in real-world incidents, with governments increasing restrictions and warnings about the use of consumer apps for sensitive communications, recognizing that encryption alone does not address the full risk.

The Risks of Improvised Crisis Response

These gaps become most visible when organizations are under pressure. While 90% say they are confident in managing major incidents, fewer than half (49%) have a unified platform to coordinate response.

In practice, the survey shows many rely on a patchwork of everyday tools - from group chats (54%) and email threads (51%) to shared spreadsheets (29%) and phone trees (19%). Familiar as they are, these tools were never designed for crisis coordination, and cannot deliver the real-time visibility, command and control or secure cross-agency communication that major incidents demand.

Limits of "Good Enough" Security

Overall, the findings point to a consistent pattern: security leaders across government and critical infrastructure are relying on communications platforms not designed for the security, sovereignty or crisis demands they now face. The issue is not encryption alone, but architecture. Many consumer platforms generate and retain metadata, operate under foreign data-access laws, and lack the controls required for high-value or classified communications.

As threats evolve, from account compromise to large-scale surveillance, what may appear "secure enough" can quickly become a costly attack surface. The question is no longer whether these platforms are being exploited. It is whether the organizations relying on them recognize the risk.

To learn how BlackBerry Secure Communications is protecting governments and critical infrastructure worldwide with interception-resistant, government-grade secure voice and messaging, visit BlackBerry.com/SecureCommunications.

Survey Methodology

The State of Secure Communications 2026 was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of BlackBerry. The survey included 700 security decision-makers across government and critical infrastructure organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE:BB)(TSX:BB) provides enterprises and governments the software and services that power the world around us. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, its high-performance foundational software enables automakers and industrial leaders to unlock new applications and business models without compromising safety, security, or reliability. With a deep heritage in Secure Communications, BlackBerry delivers a highly secure, extensively certified portfolio for mobile fortification, mission-critical communications, and critical events management.

For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.

Media Contacts:
BlackBerry Media Relations
+1 (519) 597-7273
mediarelations@BlackBerry.com

SOURCE: BlackBerry

Milestone deployments strengthen 5G connectivity, enhance digital access in urban developments and transport networks.

SARAWAK, Malaysia, Apr 21, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Demanlink Connexion Sdn. Bhd. (“Demanlink”), a Sarawak-based telecommunications infrastructure company, today announced the successful deployment of two tailored connectivity solutions for communities in Siburan and Bintulu. The Company deployed Sarawak’s first telecommunications smart pole, a multi-function street infrastructure in Siburan, and Demanlink’s first built-to-suit (B2S) site in Kampung Jepak, Bintulu. Both solutions comprise future-ready 5G equipment and serve to enhance connectivity coverage in the state’s growing urban areas and transport networks.

Situated at the heart of Taman Impiana, Siburan, the smart pole delivers seamless 5G connectivity for residents and commuters in the area. Its compact, multi-functional design supports 5G-ready equipment and enables co-location for multiple Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), optimizing infrastructure use and network coverage. It also functions as a lamp pole, enhancing visibility for both drivers and pedestrians alike.

In addition, Demanlink’s maiden B2S site in Kampung Jepak, Bintulu will deliver seamless network coverage for the surrounding residential and commercial areas as well as a nearby transport network. The new telecommunications site is also strategically located close to six schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres, enabling students and educators to access digital learning platforms and online educational resources with high-speed connectivity. The tower is also expected to strengthen mobile coverage along nearby stretches of the Pan Borneo Highway, improving connectivity, navigation and safety for users of the state’s key transport corridor.

Hanad Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of Demanlink said, “Technology is a powerful socioeconomic catalyst. These deployments are about more than coverage. They are about giving communities in Siburan and Bintulu the digital foundation to participate in Sarawak's growth. As the state works toward its 2030 digital economy ambitions, Demanlink's role is to make that infrastructure a reality, one community at a time."

Following these deployments, Demanlink continues to expand its footprint across Sarawak in partnership with key local and industry stakeholders. Most recently, the company completed an In-Building Coverage (IBC) deployment at One Shell Square Miri, bringing high-speed 5G connectivity to one of the state's key energy sector hubs. Building on this momentum, Demanlink is also currently deploying several high-speed 5G IBC sites across Sarawak, further growing its portfolio of macro sites, smart poles, and in-building solutions to serve the state's evolving connectivity needs.

With a clear focus on delivery excellence, speed-to-market, and local collaborations, Demanlink aims to play a long-term role in strengthening Sarawak’s connectivity landscape and enabling inclusive economic growth across communities and enterprises.

About Demanlink Connexion Sdn. Bhd.

Demanlink is an independent Sarawakian telecommunications infrastructure company focusing on providing shareable and future-ready telecommunications solutions in Sarawak. Demanlink aims to be a key player in Sarawak’s growth journey through achieving its digital goals and ensuring digital equity throughout the state, in partnership with investor(s) such as EdgePoint Infrastructure.

For more information, visit https://edgepointinfra.com/demanlink.

Media contact:

Annushia Balavijendran
Communications, EdgePoint Infrastructure
Email: annushia@edgepointinfra.com  

Nur Amalia Binti Rosshaimi
Narro Communications
Email: amalia@narrocomms.com

Timothy Gunapalan
Narro Communications
Email: timothy@narrocomms.com

TOKYO and TAIPEI, Mar 31, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - JCB Co., Ltd., the only international payment brand originating from Japan, together with its international operations subsidiary, JCB International Co., Ltd. (collectively, “JCB”), today announced that JCB-branded credit cards issued by Union Bank of Taiwan and Bank SinoPac will, for the first time outside Japan, support JCB Contactless payments via Google Pay, starting from March 31, 2026.

About Google Pay

Google Pay is a contactless mobile payment service available on Android™ smartphones and other compatible devices. By adding credit cards or other payment methods, users can make payments conveniently using their smartphones and other devices. With built-in authentication, transaction encryption, and fraud protection, Google Pay helps keep your money and personal information safe.

> Learn more about Google Pay (URL)

Google Pay requires the Google Wallet app to be downloaded.
Android, Google Pay, and Google Wallet are trademarks of Google LLC.

About JCB Contactless Payments

JCB Contactless is a contactless payment solution that enables cardmembers to complete payments simply by tapping their JCB Contactless-enabled cards, or smartphones with JCB Cards registered, on compatible contactless terminals. JCB Contactless can be used at a wide range of merchants and public transportation systems in Japan and overseas.

For payments above a certain amount, cardmembers may be required to verify their identity by providing a signature or by inserting the card and entering a PIN, depending on the transaction conditions.

> Learn more about JCB Contactless

About Union Bank of Taiwan and Bank SinoPac

Union Bank of Taiwan and Bank SinoPac provide comprehensive financial services in Taiwan, including the issuance of credit and debit cards.
JCB has partnered with Union Bank of Taiwan since 2000 and with Bank SinoPac since 1998 to issue JCB-branded credit cards, and both banks have issued a substantial number of JCB Cards in the Taiwanese market.

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 71 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are now issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 175 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/

Contact
Anna Takeda
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5778-8353
Email: jcb-pr@info.jcb.co.jp

HONG KONG, Mar 30, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Asiaray Media Group Limited (“Asiaray” or the “Group”; stock code: 1993.HK), an established out-of-home (“OOH”) media company with a strategic focus on advertising media management at mass transportation hubs, has announced its annual results for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 (the “Year”), delivering a second consecutive year of net profit growth and a third consecutive year of gross profit margin improvement. Profit for the year rose by 101.8% to RMB21.0 million, compared with RMB10.4 million in 2024 and a net loss of RMB9.9 million in 2023, while gross profit margin increased to 33.8%, from 28.7% in 2024 and 21.9% in 2023. Gross profit reached RMB309.8 million (2024: RMB306.7 million), supported by the Group’s ongoing portfolio optimization, asset upgrading and disciplined execution, despite a still-challenging operating environment.

During the Year, the Group continued to improve the quality of its media portfolio and strengthen operational efficiency. Revenue was RMB916.1 million, compared with RMB1,069.2 million in 2024, reflecting the Group’s deliberate focus on higher-quality assets and more profitable growth. The Group also maintained a healthy financial position, with cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, amounting to RMB200.3 million as at 31 December 2025, providing a solid foundation for future development. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to RMB363.6 million.

Business Highlights

Metro Lines and Billboards Segment Posts Strong Results via Innovation and Optimized Operations

The segment delivered strong results, supported by continued demand for prime advertising resources and the Group’s disciplined operating approach. Segment revenue increased to RMB497.5 million, while gross profit rose to RMB187.0 million and gross profit margin expanded to 37.6%, up from 26.0% in 2024, increased by 11.6 percentage points. The improvement reflected stronger performance across Hong Kong billboards, metro media in Mainland China and Singapore’s Thomson-East Coast MRT Line.

During the Year, the Group’s billboards in prime locations in Hong Kong continued to attract strong advertiser interest, with bookings fueled by mega events and stronger market activity. Building on this momentum, the Group was granted the exclusive concession for advertising media resources at the Eastern Harbour Crossing, further strengthening its footprint across the city’s key transport arteries. Meanwhile, expanding beyond traditional billboards, the Group introduced innovative formats such as building wraps and ferry-pier coverings, pushing the boundaries of OOH advertising. These initiatives solidified the segment’s position as a key growth driver for the Group.

Bus and Other Segment Revitalizes through Merging Creativity with Engineering Excellence

The segment continued to improve profitability through portfolio refinement and stronger operating discipline. Segment revenue was RMB236.9 million, while gross profit reached RMB96.0 million and gross profit margin increased to 40.5%, compared with 25.2% in 2024, improved by 15.3 percentage points. This reflected the Group’s continued focus on asset quality, return enhancement and a more efficient operating structure.

With a refined portfolio, the Group revitalized the segment by delivering creative, impactful advertising, such as immersive bus shelter campaigns for beverage brands that engaged commuters through “five senses” experiences and interactive installations. Leveraging its solid experience with Sydney bus shelters, the Group successfully delivered several advanced engineering projects, including an 820m² rooftop LED retrofit. It also upgraded city-wide bus shelters into a smart Digital Out-of-Home (“DOOH”) network featuring panels with real-time performance and cutting-edge technology enabling context-aware, data-driven creative adjustments. These improvements have boosted campaign effectiveness and reinforced the segment’s long-term value.

O&O New Media Strategy and DOOH+ Platform Enhance Value for Advertisers, Media Resources Owners and Audiences

The Group continued to advance its Outdoor and Online (“O&O”) New Media Strategy and DOOH Plus (“DOOH+”) platform which remain central to its long-term growth plan. By combining premium OOH resources with online and data-driven capabilities, the Group has been able to deliver more measurable and more effective advertising solutions.

One of the key highlights during the Year was a multi-month bus shelter takeover for a leading beverage brand, in which the Group regularly refreshed creative concepts with interactive games, multi-sensory installations, and 3D setups. By maintaining high engagement over an extended period, the campaign demonstrated the Group’s ability to turn individual projects into longer-term partnerships through sustained creative excellence and O&O-enabled audience experiences.

Moreover, the Group further strengthened its programmatic DOOH capabilities and deepened cooperation with key ad-tech partners. One such campaign for a contact-lens brand used dynamic creative optimization at bus shelters, displaying real-time temperature and UV-index data and automatically adjusting content to current weather conditions. This context-aware execution showcased the Group’s ability to deliver precise, real-time O&O solutions that create added value for both brands and audiences, reinforcing O&O as a key driver of optimization and profitable growth.

Prospects

Asiaray will continue to pursue disciplined growth through portfolio optimization, operational excellence, and selective investment in high-potential media assets. Building on its proven strategies and positioning O&O as the central driver of growth, the Group believes this approach provides a sound foundation for sustainable development, even amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. Looking ahead, the Group will remain focused on strengthening its core platforms across transport hubs, expanding data-driven solutions, and creating long-term value for shareholders and stakeholders.

Mr. Vincent Lam JP, Chairman and Executive Director of Asiaray, concluded, “We are pleased with the continued improvement in our profitability and margin performance. These results reflect the discipline of our strategy and the commitment of our team. While the market remains challenging, we believe our stronger operating foundation and clearer strategic direction position us well for the future.”

About Asiaray Media Group Limited (stock code: 1993.HK)

Established in 1993, Asiaray is an out-of-home media company in Greater China with a strategic focus on managing mega transport advertising media, including airports, metro lines, and high-speed rail lines. As of now, the Group’s business network spans nearly 40 cities in Greater China, with advertising media resources available at over 25 airports (including exclusive concession rights at 22 airports); providing exclusive advertising media resources in a total of 15 metro lines, including the Singapore Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), and a total of16 high-speed rail line and railway stations, including the High-Speed Rail Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the China-Laos Railway (Yumo Line). Additionally, the Group has been granted exclusive advertising media resources at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (Zhuhai Port), as well as on KMB and LWB bus shelters. In recent years, the Group has actively engaged in programmatic advertising transactions with various ad-tech partners such as Hivestack by Perion, and Vistar Media by T-Mobile.

Asiaray is also dedicated to investing in corporate social responsibility and environmental protection initiatives. The company has received the “Hong Kong Green Organisation” award and has been recognised as a “Caring Company”.

For more detailed information about Asiaray, please visit its official website: www.asiaray.com or follow the Group’s WeChat official account via the QR code provided (ID: asiaray_airport).