Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister has rejected the breaking calls of for the state-monopoly in telecoms services. He said that their governmetn needs the funding of revenue for unrelated railway project.

In order to access the World Trade Organisation (WTO) the liberalisation of the telecoms market in the country is required. WTO has been stalled for a decade by the telecoms monopoly held by Ethio Telecom.

The prime minister believed that the government currently earns US$323 million a year from the telecoms monopoly and its revenues would be injured if the monopoly was broken.

He added that the money was not reinvested back in the telcoms industry, much of it was used to finance the construction of the Ethiopia- Djibouti railway.

Hailemariam Desalegn, also said that one may think that the Ethiopian government can get money from taxation but there was no way to get as much money from taxation and the sector therefore remains with them for years to come.

This has so far been argued, mainly by GSMA that boosting telecoms participation through lower prices thanks to competition can grow the overall economy and taxes from that more than offset any losses a government suffers from lack of a state-monopoly.

In recent studies, done by many institutions including the world bank, shows that there is a direct relationship between mobile penetration and GDP. It further shows that in developing countries, for every 10 per cent increase in mobile penetration there is a 0.81 per cent point increase in a country’s GDP.

Across the African continent, the mobile industry contributes US$15 billion in government revenues. Kenya is a good example, when the government abolished 16 percent general sales tax on mobile handsets in 2009, this resulted in handset purchases increasing by more than 200 percent. With mobile operators contributing a third more in taxes in 2011 than in 2009, mobile generated around 8 percent of Kenya’s GDP.

Dac Systems, a national specialist services provider focused on turnkey implementations of leading edge industry solutions, has implemented a Microsoft system for its client, Solenta Aviation – the result has been improved control of capex due to intricate, precise stock control.

Global air charter company Solenta Aviation, together with its services operation, Solenta Workshops, is based in South Africa and meets the aviation requirements of both domestic and international markets – including Africa and the Middle East.

The commercial aviation company was established in 2000 and provides flexible, value-added aircraft leasing solutions across a selected spectrum of turbo-prop aircraft.

The vision is to provide first-class aviation service to these key markets. One of the key challenges in realizing this vision is to maintain control over resources, regulate the impact on capital expenditure and sustain the highest quality of service levels.

Solenta has relied on its Microsoft Dynamic AX with maintenance reporting functionality to help control stock, to account for services and manage the respective finances.

Dac Systems has been the company’s trusted service provider and installed the Microsoft Dynamic AX.

Today, with Solenta’s extensive growth and requirement to proactively log and manage flight time and maintenance schedules of the entire aircraft and relevant parts. There is more pressure on the system to cover these key requirements.

Tracking the dynamic

Following consultation with Dac Systems, Solenta agreed that Microsoft’s Dynamics AX would be the solution to meet these requirements.

This solution and Dac Systems’ proven track record in AX service delivery to its client represented a winning combination. It was the right combination to address challenges that had been identified.

As Gary Carter, Director at Dac Systems, explains, the ability to track ‘rotable’ items (located either in a hanger, the store or supplier) was an issue that hovered over the project and was always a primary consideration.

“Our client wanted to ensure the process of tracking resources – including aircraft parts – and what are known as ‘rotable’ items that are sourced from stock for repairs and parts replacement. This counts as capital expenditure because these resources are owned by Solenta. The challenge is to know exactly where the part is at all times. Such a tracking function also has to include the details of the rotable item (such as serial numbers) throughout the entire maintenance workflow,” says Carter.

Dac Systems skillfully customized Dynamics AX so that Solenta’s rotable items are professionally tracked at all times, and ensures that pro-forma Goods Received Vouchers are automatically generated to remind the Solenta store-man to collect the part from the mechanic once the maintenance is complete.

“We are proud of our installation and contribution to our client. We delivered on time, within budget, to client requirement on the initial implementation and continue to do so in our ongoing support to Solenta” Carter adds.

Leon van de Moortele, Financial Director at Solenta, said, ““The system has already paid for itself when compared to the value of rotable items that would potentially have gone missing in this year alone.”

The advent of big data and big data analytics is changing business at bedrock level, and this will have an impact on the payroll environment. Business leaders are looking to a combination of in memory business intelligence and big data to empower them to offer what the market wants, when it wants it and where it wants it.

This is one of the core messages to emerge from the Payroll Interactive Forum, hosted recently by Accsys.

The company is a national supplier of people management software and hardware solutions within the HR, payroll and time & attendance space and member of the BCX Group.

Teryl Schroenn, CEO of Accsys, officially opened proceedings with a reminder to delegates that the customer of the future will always be connected and willing to engage on digital platforms.

“So how we generate, record and utilise information to be more effective in our operations is a key issue,” said Schroenn.

The event offered delegates a unique opportunity to discuss the notable challenges that continue to impact the workplace environment – including sustainable transformation, payroll fraud and cloud computing.

David Brown, Group Managing Director at Profile Holdings, discussed how fraud is affecting the payroll environment.

“High unemployment has created more motive than ever before as spouses may be out of work, employees may be working harder than ever without raises or bonuses, and feel “entitled” to a little extra from the company kitty,” he said.

Dr Liam Terblanche, Technical Director and CIO of Accsys, said that cloud computing has been the word over the last few years and the next step is mobile computing and the adoption of mobile applications.

“Cloud is going to change rapidly in the near future. The purchase of smart phones and other mobile devices is exceeding PC’s. This indicates clearly that the future is mobile. Companies will need to follow trends to be relevant,” he said.

The Accsys Payroll Interactive Forum promised a full agenda with numerous pertinent topics for discussion – and it did not disappoint.

After each presentation delegates were treated to meaningful discussion at their hosted tables about several issues including the future of HR and how it relates to Payroll in the 21^st century, from Alan Hosking, editor of HR Future, as well as eRecruitment, the POPI bill and sustainable transformation, and the financial implications of the new BBBEE.   The delegate participation added enormous value to the forum, as ideas were shared, and discussed at each table.

A presentation by Matthew Cook of the Business Connexion Group detailed the insurgence of social media and the effect on HR-related processes. The presentation spoke of social media being the new competitive environment where new rules apply to the old game of recruitment.

Angela Raine, Knowledge Manager at Siyakha Consulting, said that in accordance with the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice, companies are required to participate in all seven of the broad-based scorecard which includes direct empowerment, human resource elements and the indirect empowerment objectives.

There were several key takeaways for attendees of these sessions, including the assertion that people, policies and processes be linked and aligned to systems that can accurately capture and report on activity, and transformation will only be sustainable if there is clarity on organisational strategy to achieve transformation outcomes.

Moreover, in the foreseeable future, HR will be more business-driven, there is likely to be skills transfer from boomers to next-generation leaders, HR will be more involved in societal issues and there will be more clearly defined standards.

Magda Jacobs of Cashbuild and Stephen Sekgobela, Chief Information Officer of Coca-Cola Shanduka Beverages, presented well received case studies based on the strategic support services they receive from Accsys.    Stephen described how a reliable, effective time & attendance solution can make a difference within a company in terms of cost control and management, with a quick return on investment.

Representing Deloitte’s legal division Dean Chivers unpacked the POPI Bill and the impact on cross border business in terms of countries which are not legally aligned to the confidentiality of personal information.

This presentation also covered the duties and responsibilities of various levels of a business, with the additional message that the growth of data and application across the world had definite implications for payroll administration.

Kettie Phiri representing CEB Maintenance, who attended the event, commented, “It was exciting having table discussions – keep it up!”

Accsys’ Payroll Interactive Forum achieved the objective of conveying to delegates the message that payroll professionals have the potential to change the world of work!

A new index survey, called IREX’s latest Africa Media Sustainability Index (MSI) has found out that although traditional media still rules in Sub Saharan Africa, the online revolution will catch up sooner or later.

Kenya was highlighted as one of the countries that support online presence of news items. “Positive findings do indicate a brighter future. Kenyan participants cheered improved affordability and availability of Internet, and noted social media is taught in some journalism schools,” the report said.

But in countries like Botswana and Mali, the rare use of online tools to collect and disseminate information is in its infancy.

The report however puts South Africa on top of the list despite its relegation in recent years. Namibia and Ghana follow the leaders as some of the countries supporting online media.

“Guinea, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan were considered unsustainable, demonstrating severe problems with free speech, the quality of journalism, and absence or weakness of institutions supportive of a free media environment,” the report anchored.

The MSI measured quality and media engagement, news plurality, press freedom and institutions that support media.

“African journalists, media advocates, academics, and related professionals evaluate their own media sector. Results are compiled by IREX, a leading organization working to develop independent media globally,” IREX said.

The MSI is a trusted evaluation of global media health, providing donors, media advocates, local professionals, and scholars a decade of rich data.

US based Verizon is stated to have made an offer to buy the Wind Mobile a Canadian network company making worth a price of US$700 million.

The Canadian government, however, has made is difficult for Wind mobile to sell themselves to larger owners as they have blocked their recent attempts to bid it. Canada’s three smallest networks have struggled to compete against the larger incumbents.

Mobicity’s sale was blocked as the buyer was one of the three larger incumbents, while Wind Mobile faced concerns about the potential Russian owner.

Verizon seems to be taking advantage of new rules that let full foreign ownership of a small mobile network with less than 10% market share, and being a US company is possible to experience a few regulatory problems than Russia’s VimpelCom.

The US Company has also begun negotiation with financially stricken Mobilicity, and is in consideration whether to bid in a pivotal auction of wireless licences in January.

Updates stating that Verizon has moved from simply considering a bid to tabling an actual offer sent the share prices of the three larger networks, Rogers, Telus and BCE down sharply.

The Canadian government wants to see competition in the market increase and may support a merger by a rich investor of two of the smaller networks to build a fourth national carrier.

“We believe the entrance of Verizon into the Canadian wireless market would be a game changer for wireless economics and wireless valuations,” Drew McReynolds, a telecom analyst with RBC Dominion Securities, said in a research note.

HP has presented the HP ElitePad 900 tablet into the Kenyan market that balances a beautiful design with enterprise-grade features, functionality and support.

The tablet is specifically designed for business as it is Ergonomically shaped to fit comfortably in the hand, the HP ElitePad offers a 25.7 cm (10.1”) display, weighs  0.68 and measures 9.2 millimetres (mm) thin.

The 16-by-10 aspect ratio maximizes the display area for ideal viewing of traditional business applications, as well as video content.

The HP ElitePad uses stylish, premium materials such as CNC-machined aluminium and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2.

The Microsoft® Windows 8 tablet features HP ElitePad Smart Jackets which add connectivity options and longer battery life along with specific add-ons that customize the tablet for specialized uses.

It offers full serviceability, enhanced security and manageability found in HP Elite PCs, packed with a battery that passed over 115,000 hours of tests.

Powered by next-generation Intel® mobile processors, the HP ElitePad delivers PC productivity for those on the go and Intel x86 compatibility for existing business application support. It is optimized for Windows 8 and supports touch, pen or voice based input.

The HP ElitePad also provides power efficiency and smartphone-style convenience with compatibility for traditional Windows applications, as well as easy integration into existing IT environments.

The unique, productivity-enhancing ecosystem of HP Smart Jackets and additional accessories designed specifically for the HP ElitePad expand the tablet’s potential, turning it into a total enterprise solution:

·    HP ElitePad Productivity Jacket—includes an integrated keyboard, connectivity ports, SD card reader and adjustable viewing angles for a complete computing experience.

·    HP ElitePad Expansion Jacket—adds USB, HDMI and other connectivity to get more done on the go. Add even longer battery life when bundled with the optional HP ElitePad Jacket battery.

·    The HP ElitePad Rugged Jacket—provides added protection

·    HP ElitePad Docking Station—delivers an enterprise-class desktop experience with an added keyboard and monitor and also charges the tablet. Or, use it to set the tablet up as a secondary screen for multitasking.

·    HP Executive Tablet Pen—lets customers write messages and notes in their natural handwriting directly on screen and then save or convert to typed text for use in other applications.

The HP ElitePad tablet’s 1080p front-facing video camera and 8 megapixel rear camera with an LED flash and included CyberLink YouCam software help users easily communicate face to face, create high-definition (HD) web videos or record training videos without high production costs.

It has a new HP PageLift an application that automatically trims, and correctly lights and orients a captured image of a whiteboard, paper contract or other document so it is ready to use or share without requiring manual editing.

Users can easily print directly from their HP ElitePad to any ePrint-capable HP printer or to a networked HP printer without the need for downloading drivers. HP ePrint software allows users to print remotely at more than 24,000 public locations such as hotels and business service retailers. The HP ElitePad also helps small workgroups connect with HP Wireless Hotspot, a desktop application that allows users to share a wireless internet connection and network bandwidth.

Additional user-experience software includes the CyberLink Media suite, which enables users to manage and create audio and video content with the same easy-to-use interface as other HP business PCs. Plus users can record and listen to audio with a stereo microphone and headset jack that feature the richness of SRS Audio.

Information management is made easy with Evernote, which captures, saves and synchronizes information across devices with impressively quick search capability, and Skitch software that eases collaboration with colleagues by quickly marking up images with captions or sketches.

The HP ElitePad offers a long life cycle, stable image, three-year limited warranty and HP Global Series Support, all of which IT managers expect in an enterprise tablet. The HP ElitePad is fully serviceable with an optional, industry-unique service tool for self-maintainers that allow customers to access the panel, battery, motherboard and unibody chassis, helping reduce downtime and keep sensitive data and devices in-house.

In addition, organizations will appreciate the enterprise-caliber data, device and identity protection from HP Client Security, including HP BIOS Protection, Security Manager and HP Drive Encryption. Additional security features include Device Access Manager, Computrace and Spare key.

Device deployment and on-going support and maintenance are made easy with x86 compatibility and support for HP Client Management solutions. The LANDesk Management Suite also increases security and eases management by providing differentiated tools to locate and protect data on lost devices, remotely capture SIM card info for mass WWAN activation and enforce geographic policies to remotely lock, full wipe or selectively wipe data.

The HP ElitePad 900 is currently available in the market.

Boasting of a different of its Galaxy S4 smartphone, Samsung has added new features and this time supporting LTE-Advanced networks.

The “Galaxy S4 LTE-A” adds new sorts to the present lead smartphone and support for doubled mobile data download speeds on the few networks that support it.

The Galaxy S4 LTE-A’s advanced network enables users to experience significantly greater speeds that is a double dose of today’s LTE speeds. It has achieved this by leveraging carrier aggregation, a method that combines different frequencies and uses them as one.

The phone also comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 2.3GHz quad-core processor and a long-lasting 2,600mAh battery.

New features for the South Korean market include such as ImageON which analyzes images that users view, then identifies and plays videos related to the image with just one click. A high resolution Digital Media Broadcasting service delivers on-the-go consumption of live television programs.

The Galaxy S4 LTE-A will be in the market in the third quarter of this year.

Sony Mobile has revealed a waterproof smartphone, the ‘LTE enabled Xperia Z Ultra’. It has a large 6.4-inch display screen and 2.2Ghz quad-core processor.

Sony’s new Android phone has a built in display software that analyzes each image and reproduces missing pixels to optimize quality for the sharpest videos.

“The Xperia Z Ultra is the most exciting revolution in large-screen smartphone entertainment devices with both the slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display in the world that is second to none.” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications.

The Xperia Z Ultra phone weighs 212 grams and is as slim as 6.5mm. It has a seamless surface on the face and the back of the phone as it is made of tempered glass with the OptiContrast panel and is housed in a solid metal frame.

Sony’s master piece will contain an exclusive free entertainment content offer, including a free trial of the Music Unlimited2 service which is subject to availability.

Filming videos underwater has been made possible and easier by this gadget as is has a waterproof rating of IP55 and IP58. The camera features “Exmor RS for mobile”, HDR for both photos and film, and Superior Auto mode automatically activates HDR and noise reduction when needed.

The Sony mobile phone features the world’s fastest smartphone processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with HD voice, together with Sony´s audio Sony’s ClearAudio plus mode and Xloud loudness enhancement.

The Xperia Z Ultra will launch globally between July and September this year but the time of availability in the different markets will vary .  The  cost of this gadget will be confirmed.

Safaricom Ltd in partnership with Green Dreams Ltd have introduced the new revamped  iCow application, a set of agricultural service, which will be accessed using a USSD code aimed at promoting smart dairy farming.

The application will be accessed by USSD *285#, the farmer will subscribe to the code which will cost them Kshs. 3 per message.

With this application, Kenya’s farmers will be able to access tips on better farming methods which will help them improve their dairy output and afterwards increase their returns.

“iCow survey data shows farmers who have been on iCow for 7 months begin to realise an increase of milk of between 2-3 litres per animal per day. This is an increase of about 610-930 litres a year which translates into an average increased income of 25-30k per animal per year. iCow data shows farmers have reduced cow and calf mortality thus enabling farmers grow their greatest asset base,” said Su Kahumbu, Green Dreams Limited.

The application features, Kalenda, which offers farmers nutritional and vaccination tips for their cows during the gestational period and up to birth. Mashauri, another feature, is a service that sends farmers three SMS tips every week on dairy farming. The last feature is the Vet and Artificial Insemination service, which links farmers with professional veterinarians within their respective geographical areas on demand.

“iCow is an easy to use, affordable and convenient mobile phone application which will empower Kenya’s dairy farmers with global best practices. iCow is a clear demonstration of how technology is positively impacting key spheres of our economy,” said Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore who spoke as he launched the service during this year’s Brookside Breeders’ Show.

Sony has introduced its smartwatch 2 which will act as a second screen for Android smart phones.

The watch serves as a notifer, android app interface and phone remote control. It’s a ‘multi-functional watch’.

The smartwatch 2 offers a touch screen device that will enable the user to read messages check the time, use apps, take photos and all the things one does with the phone. This means users will not have to remove their phones from their pockets or bags.

“Sony is the proud leader in the smartwatch market since introducing our first Bluetooth watch in 2007,” says Stefan K Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications. “Competitors are only now launching first generation devices, while we are already launching a 3rd generation device with all the insight gained from over half a million customers,”

Person further said that the future of wearable devices is very bright as the analyst research had predicted that 41 million ‘smart’ watches will be sold by 2016.

He said that Sony has over 200 unique apps which have been dedicated for the SmartWatch and with over one million downloads,they will continue to work with their strong developer network to deliver more compelling smartwatch experiences.

SmartWatch 2 introduces new features as a natural successor to the current Sony SmartWatch such as NFC connectivity for one-touch pairing, stunning premium design and a range of technologies including higher resolution for sharper viewing, better visibility even in sunlight, longer battery stamina, more intuitive interface, standalone watch functionality and a wide range of pre-installed and recommended apps.

When not connected to a smartphone, SmartWatch 2 works as a standalone digital watch. Sony SmartWatch 2 (SW2) will be available worldwide from September 2013.

Algeria is about to become big competition as 3G has been introduced this year. A new report from Pyramid Research says that the regulatory changes allow number portability and local loop unbundling.

The report, tagged ‘Algeria: Government Nationalizing Djezzy, Broadband Revenue to Soar as 3G About to Be Introduced’,  gives an accurate summary of the Algerian telecommunications, media and technology sectors based on proprietary data from Pyramid’s research in the market.

Ousmane Yatera, Pyramid Research Analyst, said that tight regulations that have been imposed  by the government have deterred  foreign buyers.

The only Ooredoo affiliate without 3G services, Nedjma, expressed high expectations from Universal Mobile Telecommunications System technology, and it made a substantial effort to modernize its network in order to comply with the license requirements.

Similarly, the other operators have been investing a lot of money to improve their infrastructure for 3G. This move will give operators more flexibility to offer data-based services such as mobile video.

Yatera also believed that if mobile operators are successful in building high-quality 3G networks, they could also attract Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) customers who are not satisfied with the quality of the service.

In an intelligence report, pyramid research said that the Algerian communications market generated revenue of US$4.9 billion in 2012. They also added that they predict US$5.65bn for 2017, for a 2.9 percent CAGR (compound annual growth rate).

The arrival of 3G will boost mobile data ARPS, which should generate 24 percent of total mobile ARPS by 2017.

As the government was talking to Amsterdam-based VimpelCom to acquire its 51 percent stake in Djezzy, Pyramid Research said that by the end of 2013, the government should be the strongest player in both the fixed and mobile segments.

National supplier of people’s management software and hardware solutions, Accsys, hosted students in their company. This was done as part of the annual Cell C Bringing a girl child to work initiative.

The Cell C Bring a Girl Child to Work is a long-running programme devised and introduced by the mobile services operator to expose learners to the realities of a modern business.

Every year, Accsys which is a regular contributor to the initiative, hosts 11^th and 12^th Graders from Wendywood and Alexandra High Schools.

Learners are given a guided tour through the offices, involving presentations by key personnel and are also given opportunity to engage with department leaders to better understand Accsys’ operations.

“The idea is that the learner will walk away from the experience with first-hand knowledge of a business environment at a progressive, leading company. This helps them at a time when they are considering what to do with their lives after acquiring their education. We also underline the fact that they do not need to stop learning when they complete their schooling – training and internships at companies are a sure way to gain valuable experience and continue the education process,” says Teryl Schroenn, CEO of Accsys.

The initiative seemed to make a lasting impression as Zinziswa Mcethe from Wendywood High said; “I enjoyed it because I want to study admin work. I enjoyed the spelling test and finding out about eLearning in the support faculty. It taught me how to market myself and provided me with different tips to better myself in the workplace. I also know my rights in the workplace… thank you very much for a wonderful day, filled with learning and fun.”

Lesley Sema from Alexandra High was impressed with the accountancy function and operation at Accsys. “I enjoyed getting to know what accountants do on a daily basis. The team is awesome and I would like to work as an accountant one day. This project motivated me a lot,” she said.

United States based, TA associates, a private equity firm intends to invest in an analytic providing company based in Mumbai India.The TA associates will invest INR 150 crore against a minority stake in the company.

Naveen Wadhera, the TA associate director and country head in India, says that Fractal Analytics fits well into their global strategy of supporting promoters because the company has put itself together as a niche business services company to a measure to meet most global ambitions.

Wadhera added that the associate company has been careful in investing in India and has so far been investing in few companies every year.

Fractal Analytics, with its operational analytic solutions has managed to regulate more than USD 20 million in 2012 and is expected to hint USD 30 million this year. The company has plans to expand to other countries, grow its sales team and to build more products with the received funding.

“We chose to partner with TA Associates because of their excellent track record in helping profitable companies become outstanding businesses,” said Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-Founder & CEO of Fractal Analytics.

The CEO further said that the company is passionate about helping companies influence advance analytics to understand the consumers better, optimize pricing & marketing and compete more effectively in the market place.

Large amount of in-house data has lately forced a number of companies to manage the data effectively; this has helped them to increase their productivity.

A survey report says 72 percent of Indian organizations have been considering or running the big data projects lately. Such data markets in India will be worth USD 1Billion by 2015, However, the global big data market which is valued at USD 6.3 billion in 2012 is expected to reach USD 48.3 billion by 2018, at a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 40.5% from 2012 to 2018.

Samsung buyers who purchase any wireless or Bluetooth audio products will now enjoy three months of free unlimited access to more than 20 million songs available on Simfy Africa’s online music streaming service.

This promotion has been on from 1^st June 2013 and will continue up to the 31^st may 2014 with the chosen Samsung wireless and Bluetooth-enabled audio products including home theatre systems, AirTrack speaker systems, Mini Components Systems and Bluetooth speakers.

Lance Berger, the head of product marketing TV/AV at Samsung South Africa, thought that the Samsung wireless audio products combine innovative design that has the latest technology features that provide an enhanced entertainment experience.

“The partnership with Simfy Africa takes this to the next level by giving customers access to the music they enjoy listening to with one click and at no charge,” said Berger.

“Samsung wireless audio products make it easy to experience Simfy Africa at home and on the go with the high quality sound output form apps,”  said Davin Mole, Simfy Africa’s CEO.

Mole added that the experience comprises organizing ones favorite music through playlists, finding new favorites in the newest releases, sharing  them with friends on social media, downloading music using the offline mode as well as listenining without an internet connection, and taking music on their smartphones or tablets through the Simfy app.

In order to access the offer, buyers will go to the link found on the voucher, which will be included inside their recently bought Samsung audio product, and enter their unique code on Simfy Africa’s website.

Ryan Birkin, the chief business development officer for Simfy Africa advices those new to Simfy Afirca experience can go into any store with Samsung brand ambassador and they will be shown how to use Simfy Africa with their devices.

“This partnership is about bringing consumers a new flavour of sound by combining the respective strengths of both companies – giving them a range of mobile music options through an innovative ecosystem,” adds Berger.

Safaricom Limited has set its sight on the medium and small enterprises with the launch of ‘lipa an M-PESA Services, a campaign that is aimed at establishing the use of its payment service as a primary tool of transaction.

The ‘lipa na M-PESA payment  service for the M-PESA includes the payment of salaries, bills, merchant payment collection services, retail distribution, bulk payments and transport solutions.

The service will enable customers to make payments for goods and services that costs as little as ten shillings to as much as 70,000 shillings with no transaction fee.

Bobb Collymore, Safaricom’s CEO understood that the widespread use of M-PESA was driving the country’s cash lite economy agenda which he said is a more secure and efficient method of transacting.

“lipa na M-PESA is one of the ways through which we wanted to make mobile money work in micro-transactions. We want the mama mboga to tell you that it is okay for your sukuma via M-PESA or for the kibanda guy to say it is okay for our customers to pay for a plate of food via M-PESA. In the end, we want M-PESA to be celebrated not because it is a clever product; but because it is a product that is giving practical solutions to everyday problems,” said Bob Collymore.

CBK reports indicate that the country’s financial inclusion levels are now at 80 percent,  with mobile money contributing to about 57 percent for the total number of Kenyans  with access to some form of formal financial platform.

The first phase of lipa na M-PESA is anchored on an aggressive country wide recruitment exercise targeting to enroll more than 100,000 small and medium sized business on to its merchant service by April 2014.

Merchants looking to sign up for the services can visit a Safaricom retail shop, Safaricom authorized dealer or M-PESA agent.

Bestnet a manufacturing firm in Denmark has announced that it will participate in Energy Day in the country to highlight their solar solution, Sunlife that is aimed to help children in Africa.

“The aim is to raise awareness of sustainable energy solutions that ensure that energy resources are used wisely, and educates people on how green solutions can offer a better life to individuals around the globe,” the company said.

The company hopes that for every lamp sold at the event, it will donate a similar device to support a project in Pebi, Ghana to help children get light to study well into the night.

“Bestnet has already been pleasantly surprised by the number of local companies that have shown their support of this worthwhile project by pre-purchasing Sunlife® Solar Lamps prior to the event. We invite anyone interested in helping to either stop by our exhibit area on Friday June 21st, or to contact Bestnet to pledge their support,” said Bestnet Managing Director, Trine Angeline Sig.

The Sunlife solar lamps have a simple and elegant design. The company admits that the products are easy to use and suitable for the targeted market in Africa. The product also includes solutions such as LED rechargeable lights, rechargeable batteries, cellphone connectors and radio connectors.

“Sunlife products provide much needed relief to the affected, by helping to rebuild their lives from destruction to come back one regained sense of normalcy by providing lighting, connectivity and information,” the company said.

“In Denmark, we cannot imagine such a life, but for about 600 families in the coastal area of Pebi in Ghana, it is still a reality in 2013. They have no access to electricity and, after daylight hours, productive activities such as children studying and parents working must stop due to the darkness,” Sig said.

The continent has experienced great initiatives to light up rural areas in Africa. Good examples are the M-Kopa solar lighting project in Kenya that enables families to purchase solar units and pay a small daily fee to acquire the units.

Tigo Rwanda has launched its own automated teller machines product that will see its customers purchase airtime and send money.

According to The New Times, the Tigo-Matic ATMs are the first of its kind in Africa and Rwanda specifically. This service will extend money transfer and aritime purchase to thousands of its clients across the country.

“This is a smart innovation that promotes the digital lifestyle we want Rwandans to adopt,” said Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the youth and ICT minister. “I would like to thank banks and telecom firms for partnering to ensure we move towards a cashless and paperless economy with financial inclusion.”

Diego Camberos, the firm’s chief executive officer, added that the new services which are now installed in two centres, Muhima and Nyabugogo service centres would offer convenience to customers.

“Implementing this solution is part of our strategy to meet the ever growing expectations of subscribers,” Camberos said.

The Tigo-matic ATMs will also enable clients to conduct a SIM swap and receive their cards on the spot.

Rwanda has a mobile penetration rate of about 55 percent by March this year.  Rwanda’s population is about 10.5 million but is steadily rising in implementing innovation and technology in all its sectors.

Earlier in March, Jean Baptiste Mutabazi, RURA’s (Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority) head of Communication and Media Regulation attributed the increase of use of ICT in Rwanda, especially in the mobile phone sector to cost effective measures. A cheap phone in Rwanda could cost Rwf 8,000 (US$12) and this is affordable to the majority.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.K.’s Department for International Development (DFID) in a meeting in Washington D.C. announced plans to build a global investment platform that depicts how to support innovative solutions to the world’s most intractable development challenges.

The mission of Global Development Innovation Ventures (GDIV) will be to focus resources in international development towards innovative approaches with demonstrated and totally successful results.

GDIV will adopt the model of the Development Innovation Ventures program at USAID, which are designed to source powerful solutions from anywhere in the world, test them using rigorous methods and staged financing, and bring to scale those that offer more value for money than standard practice and improve the lives of millions.

This will unlock investment capital from both private and public sectors, to scale solutions commercially or through public sector adoption.

“We are proud to see that this model, born at USAID, has become a global tool for improving effectiveness in development,” said Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator. “Our partnership with the UK and future GDIV investors will amplify our impact through the discovery of breakthrough technologies and approaches to help end extreme poverty.”

GDIV will feature items like, A global competition for investments which will be supported by GDIV, an evidence driven investment strategy which the company will fund appropriately and a market place for development successes.