Airbnb Announces New Upcoming Services and Luxury Experiences - 1

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Airbnb Announces New Upcoming Services and Luxury Experiences

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced new services and experiences for the platform during Airbnb’s earnings conference call for the second quarter of 2024 this week.

Airbnb will launch a new co-hosting feature in October and will relaunch previous experiences and expand to new services in 2025

“I want Airbnb to be one of the most important companies in our generation,” said Chesky in the call. “This fall, this October, we’re going to be launching a new host service, which is really important. It’s essentially a co-hosting marketplace.”

The new co-hosting experience will allow property owners—who don’t have much free time— to connect with people who have more time for hosting and management but not a property. Airbnb will ideate a way to match these users to increase short-term rentals.

“Then, next year, we’re going to begin to expand Airbnb truly beyond a core business,” shared Chesky in the call. “We’re going to relaunch experiences.”

Chesky explained that the company has learned great lessons from previous experiences and services, and that will reinvent current features like new guest and host services.

According to TechCrunch , just a few days ago, Airbnb told Bloomberg that the company has been considering luxury experiences like massages and personal chefs as part of the customer’s in-home experiences and a strategy to gain leverage against hotels.

Chesky also highlighted the company’s achievements and expansions like a “41% free cash flow margin”—and mentioned that Airbnb is one of the most profitable companies in tech— and has a presence in 220 countries and regions. However, the company also acknowledged a 15% profit fall during this quarter.

California Is Set To Join The List Of States Supporting Digital IDs In Apple Wallet - 2

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California Is Set To Join The List Of States Supporting Digital IDs In Apple Wallet

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Yesterday, a report by Benjamin Mayo at 9to5Mac revealed that California is set to support digital IDs in Apple’s Wallet app. This development follows Ohio’s recent announcement of its support for the feature. Despite being introduced in 2021 , digital ID adoption in Apple Wallet has been slow, with only five states—Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio—embracing the technology so far.

The report notes that California’s move comes after the state tested its own digital ID app. According to Mayo, Apple Wallet’s support for digital IDs is currently in private beta testing with DMV employees, who are also working on creating landing pages for the new feature. While an official release date is still pending, this progress signifies a major step towards broader acceptance.

The integration of identification cards into Apple Wallet represents a significant advance in accessibility. Just as digital credit cards simplify payments through an iPhone or Apple Watch, digital IDs can streamline the process of proving one’s identity.

For individuals with disabilities, accessing a physical ID card can pose challenges due to cognitive, visual, or motor difficulties. As Steven Aquino, a Forbes contributor with disabilities, points out , a digital ID in Apple Wallet can be a game-changer. By eliminating the need to carry and present a physical card, it empowers people with disabilities to more easily navigate everyday tasks that require identification.

Aquino remarks, “Depending on one’s needs and tolerance in terms of their condition(s), it can be adventurous to try to dig through a physical wallet and pull out their driver’s license or ID card. Any combination of a person’s cognitive, visual, and/or fine-motor abilities can be put to the test; what is ostensibly a mundane task for an able-bodied person can be a Mt. Everest-sized mountain to climb for a disabled person.”

The expansion of digital IDs into Apple Wallet marks an advancement in technology of convenience. As more states consider adopting this feature, it could contribute to a more streamlined and accessible process for managing identification.