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French Supermarket Launches Robot Delivery

This December 15, 2018, image courtesy of Amazon, shows the company's new delivery system robot 'Scout.' (Amazon/AFP/File).
This December 15, 2018, image courtesy of Amazon, shows the company's new delivery system robot 'Scout.' (Amazon/AFP/File).
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French Supermarket Launches Robot Delivery

This December 15, 2018, image courtesy of Amazon, shows the company's new delivery system robot 'Scout.' (Amazon/AFP/File).
This December 15, 2018, image courtesy of Amazon, shows the company's new delivery system robot 'Scout.' (Amazon/AFP/File).

A French supermarket group plans to use robots inspired by the famous Star Wars droid to transport food to customers in Paris, Reuters reported.

Stepping up the race for automated deliveries with online retailers such as Amazon, Casino's Franprix chain will test the delivery robots on the streets of Paris's 13th arrondissement for a year.

In the French capital, where Amazon has been running its Amazon Prime Now express delivery service since 2016, the speedy and convenient delivery of food has become a battleground among retailers.

Franprix Managing Director Jean-Paul Mochet said of the service, which will be free: "This droid will facilitate the life of city dwellers. We are going to test three droids in this store. If the test is successful, we may extend it to other Franprix stores."

Franprix and its partner, French start-up TwinswHeel which developed the as yet unnamed robot, are running the test after the city's authorities approved the southeastern arrondissement for the experiment.

Using a "Follow Me" button on the machine, the robot is paired with customers through visual recognition, so it can follow them in store and on the street. Initially, the robot will not go on the streets on its own, but will be followed by an operator because Franprix does not have permission for the machine to travel solo yet.

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Apple Takes Top Spot for First-Quarter Smartphone Sales, Data Shows

An attendee holds two iPhones 16 as Apple holds an event at the Steve Jobs Theater on its campus in Cupertino, California, US, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
An attendee holds two iPhones 16 as Apple holds an event at the Steve Jobs Theater on its campus in Cupertino, California, US, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
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Apple Takes Top Spot for First-Quarter Smartphone Sales, Data Shows

An attendee holds two iPhones 16 as Apple holds an event at the Steve Jobs Theater on its campus in Cupertino, California, US, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
An attendee holds two iPhones 16 as Apple holds an event at the Steve Jobs Theater on its campus in Cupertino, California, US, September 9, 2024. (Reuters)

Apple took the top spot for global smartphone sales in the first quarter on the back of the iPhone 16e's launch and strong demand in countries such as Japan and India, data from Counterpoint Research showed on Monday.

Apple had 19% of the smartphone market, despite flat or declining sales in the US, Europe and China, followed by Samsung with 18% of the market, according to Counterpoint.

The data suggests iPhone demand remains strong in emerging markets, even as sales struggle in China due to competition from local players such as Huawei and a lack of AI features.

Separately, International Data Corporation, which primarily tracks shipments rather than sales to consumers, said global smartphone shipments rose 1.5% in the first quarter, with Apple front-loading supply to sidestep potential tariffs under US President Donald Trump.

Apple's shares were up around 3.5%.

Trump's back-and-forth tariffs and escalation of global trade tensions has resulted in global financial market turmoil for the past two weeks, a worsening economic outlook and the possibility of stronger inflation.

Apple had chartered cargo flights to ferry 600 tons of iPhones, or as many as 1.5 million, to the United States from India in an effort to beat the tariffs.

However, Trump's decision to exclude smartphones, computers and some other electronics from the sweeping reciprocal duties on China led to a rise in global tech shares on Monday.

"The recent exemption by the US government pausing smartphone import tariffs from China offers temporary relief for US companies, but heavy reliance on China's supply chain persists amid ongoing tariff volatility," said Ryan Reith, group vice president, worldwide device trackers, IDC.

"Right now, the focus for US smartphone brands should be taking advantage of the exemption by building and shipping as much as possible."

Counterpoint, which expects the smartphone market to decline this year due to tariff-related uncertainty, said Xiaomi continued its sales momentum in third place, while Vivo took the fourth spot and OPPO was fifth.