Author: Feritter Owich

Microsoft is planning to double the number of people that can participate in a Skype group video call. The software maker is testing a new change to Skype that will raise the limit from 25 people all the way up to 50 participants. This is definitely a change that will help small companies that rely on services like Skype to hold meetings, and it pushes past Apple’s limit of 32 people in FaceTime group video chats. They are also adding the notification feature to all group video calls, by making ringing completely optional. When you start a video call in these…

There is definitely no doubt that 2007 marked the dawn of a new era in the global smartphone market. Industry giants like Nokia, Microsoft, and BlackBerry, which was at the time called Research In Motion, all scoffed when Apple first debuted the iPhone. The device was so simple and basic compared to phones that ran older smartphone platforms, including BlackBerry OS, Windows Mobile, and Symbian which was by far the most popular smartphone operating system on the planet at the time. The question then was, how could such a simple device compete when it lacked all of the complex features…

Early this month, Samsung Electronics unveiled a new line of premium smartphones: Galaxy S10. With four unique devices, the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ , Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10 5G. While late last year, Apple Inc. released three upgrades to the existing iPhone X—the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. All three phones vary in screen sizes with the iPhone XR being the least specced model with an LCD screen and single rear camera instead of the OLED panel and dual rear cameras on the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. The trio, however, feature the same…

Huawei Mobile is taking the Kenyan smartphone market by storm with launch of new devices-flagship or entry level phones every month. At the end of January, Huawei launched a new Y7, an addition to the Y series devoted to the middle income segment targeting youth across the country. The Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 followed last years’ Huawei Y7 2018. There was a Y9 2019 launched last year too, a budget Y5 Lite and the Y5 Prime. Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 is retailing at Kshs.17,999 in official offline retail stores across the country as well as online on Jumia Kenya and…

Technical specifications of Huawei Y5 Lite (2018) Price: Kes. 9,300.00Model: Y5 Lite 2019 CPU: Quad-Core 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A53Chipset: MediaTek MT6739GPU: PowerVR GE8100, 570 MHzCamera: 8 Megapixel with Single-LED Flash and AF Rear Camera; 5 Megapixel Front CameraMemory: RAM- 1GB LPDDR3, 667MHz | ROM 16GB External Memory Support up to 128GBDisplay: Screen size 5.45 inches IPS HD+ Display (1440 x 720 Pixels)Battery: Non-Removable 3,020mAhSIM: Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)Color: Black, BlueOperating System: Android 8.1 Oreo Go EditionDimensions: 71 mm x 147 mm x 8.3 mmWeight: 142 Grams (With Battery)Versions: Single (1GB/16GB) What’s in the boxThe white cardboard box is not so…

Going big on screen, battery life and imaging with dual rear cameras at an exceptional value. Key Specifications Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm)3GB RAM32GB internal storage3500 mAh batteryDual (13MP + 5MP) rear & 8MP selfie6.0 inches (15.24 cm)Dual, Nano-SIMAndroid v8.1 (Oreo) HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announced on the 28th of January, 2019 that the new Nokia 3.1 Plus is now available to buy from Ksh.17,500. Commenting during the announcement, Mark Misumi, HMD Business Manager East Africa said, “with a lot of people sending us positive feedback about our Nokia 3.1, we have decided to take the experience…

Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 specs- 6.26-inch 19:9 HD+ (1520 x 720) LCD display- Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor- 3GB or 4GB RAM- 32GB or 64GB expandable storage- Dual 13MP + 2MP main camera- 16MP front camera- 4000mAh battery- Android 8.1 Oreo- Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5mm audio jack, micro USB port, 5V/2A 10W charging, etc. Colours available: Aurora Blue, Midnight Black and Coral Red Huawei Mobile Kenya has today launched Y7 Prime 2019 that will be retailing at Kshs.17,999 in the retail stores across the country. The device will also be available online respectively. Huawei has also partnered with Lipa Later, a…

Huawei recently introduced the all new Huawei Y5 Lite smartphone, an Android Go device packed with entry-level specifications. With the highlights being its camera and audio features, the Y5 Lite retails at a price of Kes. 9,300/- and is available on Jumia and at offline stores across the country.Its rivals include the TECNO Camon 11 (Ksh. 14,999) and Infinix Smart 2 (Ksh. 12,999) Huawei Y5 Lite Specifications and Features Display & Design The Huawei Y5 Lite has a generic Huawei budget smartphone design. There is nothing in particular that makes the smartphone stand out in terms of design.The Huawei Y5…

The much-hyped Huawei Mate 20 Pro was anticipated to have a powerful configuration with a polished curved screen, having the look of any high-end smartphone. Well, it did not disappoint! The highly anticipated Huawei flagship smartphone was launched last week in Nairobi, and here is what we think of it. Sporting a display of 6.39″ (16.23 cm) with a screen resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels, Huawei Mate 20 Pro functions on Android v9.0 (Pie) operating system with processor combination of Octa-core (2.6 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A76 + 1.9 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A76 + 1.8 GHz, Quad core,…

Andela, the company building distributed engineering teams with Africa’s top software developers, today announced the completion of a $100M Series D funding. The round was led by Generation Investment Management with participation from existing investors including Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, GV, Spark Capital, and CRE Venture Capital. The most recent financing brings Andela’s total venture funding to $180M. Andela was founded in 2014 to connect Africa’s engineering talent with the demand for software developers worldwide. In four years, Andela has assessed more than one hundred thousand applicants, hired one thousand software developers, and integrated them into hundreds of companies, such as…

Today, January 22, 2019, Huawei Mobile Kenya unveiled the much-anticipated HUAWEI Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro in Kenya, touted as the best Android smartphones in the market, right now. The Huawei Mate 20 will retail at Kes. 74,999.00, while the Mate 20 Pro will retail at Kes. 99,999.00. The phones, under the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series, pack the world’s first Leica ultra-wide-angle triple camera, reverse charging and more exciting features in collaboration with DTCM. According to Steven Li, Head of Eastern Africa at Huawei Mobile, “The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro offers consumers a compelling combination of high performance, longer…

High quality and luxurious, supercars offer a larger capacity for performance and power than any other automobile on the market, which is why many aspire to own one. It is unsurprising, therefore, that people lucky enough to have these vehicles want to learn the most effective ways of ensuring their continued value. So, how can the devaluation of supercars be avoided? These simple tips can help owners to achieve this. Avoid Making Mess at All Costs Coffees, takeout meals and all other consumables can be immensely difficult to clean up when spilt in any vehicle – not designed to be…

Technological advances are changing the way businesses operate across the globe. As the world turns ever more digital, consumers have an expectation that their requests can be met instantly at the touch of a button. Businesses must adapt and change to meet these increasing demands, with the logistics industry in particular facing challenges that new technology brings. So, what are the key technological advances that have changed the industry? 24-hour Tracking It may seem a distant memory now, but previously, customers who ordered a product would only receive a rough delivery date. They would not be able to gain more…

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has today announced that the Nokia 5.1 Plus will now begin receiving the latest Android operating system, Android 9 Pie. With Android 9 Pie upgrade arriving on the Nokia 5.1 Plus, a total of seven Nokia smartphones would be running the latest Android OS, giving users access to the latest features from Google. The Android 9 Pie update ensures that Nokia smartphones improve with time, thanks to intuitive AI which learns user habits to ensure the most effective and efficient experience. Users combining Nokia handsets with Android 9 Pie will enjoy ever improving…

Samsung Galaxy J4 Core is Samsung’s second phone running on ultra-light Android Go platform optimized for low-cost devices. Android Go is gentle and optimal. Android Go Edition is a refined version of the operating system for low-end smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy J4 Core, so all experience on the device is quite smooth. Some default applications are also omitted so that the device becomes lighter and does not jerky lag during use. Samsung Electronics East Africa has today launched the Samsung Galaxy J4 Core smartphone. The Galaxy J4 Core raises the bar of most entry-level smartphones, with optimized storage capacity, processor performance, data…

New solution to offer cybersecurity and consulting services Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) enterprise customers can now access a wide range of security solutions to protect their information technology (I.T) systems. The services include Managed Security Solutions, Security Assurance and Advisory services as well as Managed Security Operations Center solutions. With the new service, companies, enterprises, and individuals can secure their emails, websites, manage vulnerabilities, test and audit I.T systems and access real time monitoring among other services “We realise that customers all have unique needs and different budget levels. Our I.T cybersecurity solutions are designed to cater for each customer’s needs…

Ford Motor Company, Huayou Cobalt, IBM, LG Chem and RCS Global announced plans to use blockchain technology to trace and validate ethically sourced minerals. The group, which includes participants at each major stage of the supply chain from mine to end-user, will begin with a pilot focused on cobalt and explore the creation of an open, industrywide blockchain platform that could ultimately be used to trace and validate a range of minerals used in consumer products. Cobalt is in high demand for its use in lithium-ion batteries, which power a wide range of products such as laptops, mobile devices and…

Helios Towers Ltd. (“Helios Towers”), the independent telecoms tower infrastructure company, today announces that it has entered into an agreement whereby it will create a South African infrastructure platform with South Africa’s Vulatel (Pty) Ltd. (“Vulatel”). The infrastructure platform, Helios Towers South Africa (“HTSA”), will build out wireless and fixed line open-access infrastructure in South Africa. As a leading independent tower company, with over 6,500 towers in four key markets (Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”), Ghana and Congo Brazzaville), Helios Towers has long considered South Africa an attractive opportunity due to its economic growth, population demographics and demand for…

AIIM, a member of Old Mutual Alternative Investments, has been investing in the African infrastructure sector since 2000 with a track record extending across seven African infrastructure funds. 10 million people will gain energy access following a deal between BBOXX, a next generation utility platform, and Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM). AIIM, though its AIIF3 fund, is investing USD 31 million for a minority stake in BBOXX’s operations in Rwanda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The deal with AIIM – Africa’s largest and most experienced infrastructure-focused private equity fund manager and a member of Old Mutual Alternative…

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, is now accepting applications for the 2019 cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. The Programme is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs. The Programme’s objective is to generate at least 1,000,000 new jobs and create at least $10 billion in new business revenue across Africa. Now in its 5th year, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has empowered 4,470 entrepreneurs, using a bespoke and robust selection, training and implementation process to create visible and sustainable impact across all 54 African countries. Outstanding African entrepreneurs running existing start-ups with high growth…

Wakanow Limited, Nigeria’s struggling travel business with a strong presence in West Africa and an increasingly growing reach across the African continent has raised funding from the Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager with $212 billion of assets under management. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The group invested $40 million in Wakanow.com Limited, for an undisclosed stake. According to Idris Mohammed, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group,: “Wakanow has experienced incredible growth since inception,…

Showmax, an online subscription video on demand service with over 35 000 movies, series episodes, kids’ shows and documentaries, is working with TransCentury IMAX at Garden City to reward movie goers and new subscribers with free popcorn when signing up for Showmax for only KSH 250 for three months. New subscribers who sign up at IMAX Garden City will get free popcorn and have access to its amazing movies and series to stream during the holidays at just Ksh 250 for three months when paying via M-Pesa, Kenya’s popular mobile payment service with over 21 m users. The campaign has…

I’m sure most of us do not even know what or when Black Friday is, let alone how it came about… Let us fill you in on the info so that you can join in on the Jumia Black Friday Bandwagon. Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving. It’s an informal name from the United States, for the fourth Thursday of November, which has been regarded as the beginning of the country’s Christmas shopping season since 1952, although the term “Black Friday” did not become widely recognised or used until the early 2000s. What happens on this day is…

Late last month Huawei Mobile launched its Huawei Y9 (2019) smartphone for the Kenyan market. This was Huawei’s biggest media and public launch yet in the Kenyan market,with hopes to grow the phone manufacturers’ market share among Kenya’s growing middle class. The HUAWEI Y series is known for its powerful battery life, delicate appearance and seamless user experience. Targeting the “Young and Excellent” , the Huawei Y9 2019 is the firm’s “Entry-level Flagship Phone” and comes with an upgraded CPU, both front and rear dual cameras, and the notched HUAWEI FullView Display to the entry-level models for the first time.…

Last week we told you about the launch of the Huawei Y9 2019, a new addition into the Y Series. If you are familiar with the Huawei Y7, the Huawei Y9 2019 is not something new for you. Like the Y7, this one packs industry’s top features like a bezel-less display with an overall 82.8% screen to body ratio, quad cameras, an FHD+ screen, etc. All these come for a price of just Ksh. 24,990 (approximately $250). So, is this phone as good as it really looks or there’s something off about it? Let’s find out in our Huawei Y9…

Yesterday Huawei  unveiled one of its affordable mid-range smartphone, the Huawei Y9 (2019)  which comes with a powerful Kirin 710 processor and 4AI cameras and long lasting battery life. Our friends at Huawei were kind enough to provide us with a pre-launch model of the Y9 and we took it for a quick test drive. The Huawei Y9 2019 is a Kes.24, 990.00 (approximately $250) smartphone – more class for less money. I must say that naturally, we were quite curious to know not only how the phone feels, but also the first impression you get right after the purchase. Considering…

Huawei Mobile today launched its latest mid-range smartphone, the Huawei Y9 (2019) in Kenya. The Android phone is available in 2 Colors; Midnight Black and Sapphire Blue and will retail at Kes. 24,990/-. The phone is available on Jumia Kenya and other key Huawei distributors’ country wide for pre-orders from today till the 27th of October when a public launch will be done at Two Rivers Mall and Thika Road Mall. When pre-ordering you get a free gift worth Kes.8, 000/- and an extended warranty period. The Huawei Y9 (2019) sports a 6.5-inch Full View Display with a 3D curved design…