KR — ZDNet Korea

Blockspoon and Educloud.com Sign MOU to Collaborate on Digital Badge Sales and Marketing

SoftwareNovember 3, 20261 min read

Blockspoon, which runs the digital badge platform Kolleges, signed a deal with EduCloud.com to sell and market digital badges in education. EduCloud.com will bring in customers, and Blockspoon will handle setup and support.

What happened

Blockspoon, the company behind Kolleges, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU, a written agreement to work together) with EduCloud.com. The two companies will sell and promote Kolleges to schools, companies and other groups. The deal was announced on the 3rd.

Key facts

Kolleges has been adopted by more than 300 organizations, including universities, public agencies, education companies and associations.
Kolleges uses the 1EdTech Open Badges international standard.
The companies plan four joint steps: sales for schools and public bodies, offers to EduCloud partners, use of Kolleges badges for their own events and programs, and new AI business ideas.

Background

Digital badges are online certificates that prove a person learned or completed something. Anyone can check them to confirm they are real. EduCloud.com is an education technology (edtech) firm that helps other edtech companies with cloud and growth consulting, and it focuses on AI in education, such as an AI music teaching model.

Why it matters

Schools and edtech firms can issue and manage proof of learning more easily. The deal also links Blockspoon's product with EduCloud's customer network, which could help Kolleges reach many more education groups.

What to watch

Whether EduCloud signs new Kolleges customers.
Which organizations start using Kolleges badges for their own programs.
Whether the companies launch the new AI digital badge business they plan to explore.

Glossary

Kolleges: A platform that issues, shares and manages verified digital badges for learning and skills.
Blockspoon: The company that runs Kolleges and sets up and supports its digital badge service.
EduCloud.com: An edtech company that offers cloud and growth consulting and works on AI in education.
MOU: A memorandum of understanding, a written agreement that two parties will work together.
1EdTech Open Badges: An international standard for making digital badges that can be checked and trusted.

Apple Tightens Age Ratings for Dating Apps and Location Sharing

From November 16, developers must disclose whether their App Store submissions include dating or matchmaking features and location sharing, and answering yes to any of these can lead to a higher age rating. Dating apps will additionally require users to be of legal adult age, and virtual companions that involve romantic or sexual content are also covered. Apple says the disclosures must be provided for all App Store apps by January 12, 2027.

SoftwareZDNet KoreaNov 3

S-Fintech Technology Earns Microsoft Azure Data Analytics Expertise Certification

Cloud and AI platform company S-Fintech Technology has obtained Microsoft's "Analytics on Microsoft Azure" advanced specialization certification, the company announced on the 3rd. The certification covers Azure-based data analytics, data warehouse migration, and business intelligence, and it follows a May certification for Azure infrastructure and database migration. The company plans to expand support across cloud transition, data analytics, and AI environment setup using Microsoft Fabric and Azure Databricks.

Softwareheise onlineNov 3

Astragon shuts down its development studio: end for the makers of "Seafarer" in Hamm

Düsseldorf publisher Astragon Entertainment is closing its development studio Astragon Development in Hamm, with operations to be wound down in a controlled manner by the end of November, according to GamesWirtschaft. Around 30 employees will lose their jobs, and the company says it will fully meet all existing contracts and liabilities. Astragon cites a strategic refocus on its core publishing business, following the recent release of the ship simulation "Seafarer: The Ship Sim."