Ellies, the company involved in the OpenView HD, a new subscription-free satellite TV service says the project will be a high quality, single view unit.
“The marketing aim initially is to produce a model to best meet a
price point to accommodate a wide LSM audience, without sacrificing
basic functionality,” Ellies noted.
“Initial pricing is paramount and user sentiment and demand will be
evaluated in the future,” Ellies said regarding their decision not to
support PVR.
Asked whether they will have an Internet-connected decoder, Ellies
said that such a decoder would need 3G capability, which defeats the
initial objectives.
The company also said it will only be targeting one price point to start
with, but added they anticipate other retailers will follow their own
agenda.
“As this is a new offering, we only expect to accommodate future user and market demand as we are able to better access consumer needs,”
the Group added.
Meanwhile, future satellite TV operator, Platco Digital has confirmed four suppliers for its free OpenView HD service; only one decoder model will be available from two different manufacturers, according to Ellies.
Ellies, Space TV, Switch Digital, and ABT will all be supplying
OpenView HD, and according to Platco they may all offer their own
decoders as long as they conform to a certain minimum specification.
The Ellies decoder will have HD support, but no personal video recorder (PVR) functionality.
Furthermore, Platco Digital is a sister company to E-tv, which is also to monitor the launch in South Africa during October 2013.
And Switch Digital is reported to not wish to comment about their plans for the moment.
LG East Africa has introduced the LG EzSign TV in Kenya giving users a smart commercial display solution.
EZSign TV is the first LG digital signage solution to incorporate live TV without additional hardware.
According to Josep Kim, the Managing Director, LG East Africa, he quoted saying “It is a turnkey solution that offers business owners an intuitive and cost-effective digital signage display system with the added feature of broadcast television.”
With the EzSign TV,comes other features such as high defination pictures and it is users friendly such that the users can customize it to their desired needs.It can also be used in many places such as banks, Airports, e.t.c. The new release was due to need to keep up with the changing digital signage and the audio-visual communication.
Mr Kim also said that, “Content creation is simple, as owners use a personal computer to access a selection of attractive templates, add their own images and text, and then upload the content to the display via a USB drive.”
Likewise,the content runs simultaneously with live TV or another external media source, attracting attention while delivering messaging to consumers.It therefore acts like a one stop source of information to the consumers.This innovation is plug-and-play by design, with user-friendly software that includes 53 templates for easy content design.
The EzSign screens are available in varying sizes, ranging from 32-inch to 55-inch displays.
With the EzSign TV package, business owners create and run their own messages and graphics on the TV screen alongside the normal live broadcast. This enables businesses to manage adverts and information to their customers and entertain them at the same time.
“LG’s robust portfolio of commercial-grade display solutions helps businesses create an engaging experience and enhanced customer interactions,” said Mr. Kim.
Though EzSign TV is being introduced in East Africa,it was first introduced globally 2 years ago.It has therefore grown in popularity and expanded sales channels to include Direct Market Retailers (DMRs), IT integrators, dealers, installers and digital signage resellers hence its rising demand among various business entities.
Office Mobile for Android has been launched today by Microsoft Office at no additional charge for Office 365 subscribers making it possible for them to work on their Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents from virtually anywhere.
This comes just days after Microsoft Office launched Office for iPhone. Office Mobile for Windows Phone is already available.
Users can now download the Office Mobile for Android phones from the Google Play Store. The firm says users ought to have an Office 365 subscription, including Office 365 Home Premium or Office 365 ProPlus among others to qualify.
Office Mobile for Android phones is initially available in the United States, with more countries coming on board over the next several weeks.
Office Mobile supports Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents so users will have access to charts, animations, SmartArt Graphics, and shapes and can easily make, edit or add comments to a document, format it comfortably just as on their PCs or Macs.
Office mobile also allows users to access their documents in the cloud on SkyDrive or SkyDrive Pro.
Kenya’s only listed publisher, Longhorn Publishers has today announced its ISO 90001:2008 certification status making it the first non-parastatal publishing firm in the region to be ISO certified.
The certification was as a result of successfully implementing a quality management system that was audited by SGS Kenya proving their bid to embrace the best practices for business efficiency and customer satisfaction.
“In our quest to be the number one provider of learning solutions for Africa, we have been undergoing an intensive business improvement refining process for the past three years; this is what prompted our decision to apply for ISO 9001 Quality management systems (business processes) certification status, ” said Musyoki Muli, Longhorn publishers Managing Director.
Having produced major books that are used in the Kenyan educational syllabus, the company has positioned itself to lead in providing animated content for schools with the government’s directive to provide free laptops for children.
“we already have animated content that is interactive and friendly to ensure children are excited to learn through these new devices,” explained Muli.
In his remarks Dr. Andrei Koval from SGS Kenya said: “we are extremely proud to have worked with Longhorn for their ISO 9001:2008 Certification processes. While optional fro many organizations, the certification is critical in providing a tried and tested framework that helps to manage an organization’s processes so that they consistently produce products that satisfy customers’ expectations.”
Hon. F. T. Nyammo, Longhorn’s chairman said that he was honored to be in a company that has a task of transforming the publishing sector through determination, innovation and passion to increase literacy in Africa by producing top notch reading materials.
The highlight of the event was the recognition of the ISO Certification team who were presented with certificates and trophies for successfully guiding the company through the intense process.
The government of Ethiopia is now wrapping up its mobile infrastructure contract with Huawei and ZTE. The infrastructure development will mainly to enhance the 3G services to the country.
Ethiopia’s government has now signed a deal worth $700 million with Huawei and is estimated to follow with the signing of the contract with ZTE this week.
A total of USD 1.6 billion deal is intended to take the 3g services across Ethiopia which will double the number of subscriber number as well as take LTE services to Addis Ababa through state owned Ethio Telecom.
Rwanda’Bank of Kigali has partnered with Visa to launch ‘mVisa’, a mobile banking solution, a bid to make mobile banking services available to all.
“The mVisa which comes as the first innovative electronic product in the world will allow the bank’s clients to easily access their bank’s account via their phone and also help encourage non- account holders mainly rural folks to be bankable. We are proud to be the first bank to launch this product in the world,” said Lawson Naibo, the Bank of Kigali’s Chief Operations Officer,
Designed by Visa Inc. this service product has interoperability to mobile money in the country ad will usher Rwanda’s leading bank by market share and try to win more clients especially from the rural areas.
“Our product is an interoperable mobile branchless banking solution. It can service account holders from any other financial services provider in the country,” Naibo said.
The executive secretary of the Executive Secretary of Association OF Micro-finance Institutions, Rita Ngarambe, also noted that people have now shifted interest to mobile banking products and that is the reason behind encouraging financial institutions to come up with innovative products to serve as per the clients’ demands.
Ginger Baker, the Visa Rwanda Country Manager said the aim of mVisa is to bring the convenience and security of formal financial services to all Rwandans regardless of their locality.
Mobile usage in Rwanda is currently at 55 percent of the general population who have at least a mobile phone. This poses a favorable market for the product growth.
With this service, clients will be able to deposit cash, send money, top- up airtime, pay bills, pay merchant as well as view account mini statement among other services.
Android, a Linux-based operating system designed by Google primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers has secured a strong 67 percent global share of the global tablet shipment which has reached 51.7 million units between January and April this year. Other OS like Apple iOS have decreased to 28 percent, while Windows decreased as well but managed to secure a 4.5 percent global share, according to Strategy Analytics.
Microsoft bagged a 4.5 percent position in global tablet share in the second quarter of 2013.Windows RT shipment increased in the third quarter after a huge price cut by all the partners still involved in the RT Market.
Microsoft reduced its prices by USD 150 and other vendors even more, but their prices are still not consumer friendly; but the price is still at a competitive range. The shortage of apps continues to be a problem, with seemingly little incentive for developers to work on the platform.
“Global Branded Tablet shipments reached 36.2 million units in Q2 2013, up 47 percent from 24.6 million in Q2 2012. The branded Tablet market had a rest period as very few new products came to market during the quarter. When we add in White-Box Tablets, shipments reached 51.7 million units, up 43 percent from 36.1 million in Q2 2012.
Android is now making steady progress due to hardware partners like Samsung, Amazon, Google and White-Box tablets which, despite the fact that branded OEMs are lowering price-points and putting pressure on the White-Box manufacturers, are still performing well,” said Peter King, Director of Tablets at Strategy Analytics.
He added that the Apple iOS shipments, there were 14.6 million iPads in the second quarter of 2013 which declined 14 percent annually. He also said that in the same quarter last year the first Retina display iPads were launched which could partly explain the decline as there were no new models in this quarter. However, to compensate that, King said, iPad Mini which was not available a year ago, now freely available was expected to take the figure higher than 14.6 million
Rwanda plans of acquiring the first of its kind Solar Power plant is underway, as its government has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Giga Watt Global Rwanda Limited which will aid in the development of a grid-level electric generating plant.
“Generation and provision of electricity to all Rwandans is a priority for the Government of Rwanda. This initiative to produce 8.5 megawatts of clean energy is an important addition towards closing our current energy gap,” said the Minister of State in Charge of Energy and Water, Eng. Emma Francoise Isumbingabo.
According to the Agreement, GigaWatt Global Rwanda Ltd will design, finance, maintain and operate the 8.5 megawatts solar electric generating plant at Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwamagana District. The estimated value of the project is USD23 million and is bound to be operational in June 2014.
“Energy is key in driving Rwanda’s economic development and specifically to reach our targets as set in EDPRS2. Therefore, we welcome investors such as GigaWatt Global as this partnership will benefit Rwandans directly as well as contribute to Rwanda’s competitiveness,”RDB’s acting Chief operating officer
Gigawatt Global was founded by Arava Power Company’s American founders. Arava Power Company has successfully developed six solar power plants in Israel.
Recently, the Government of Rwanda also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Punj Lloyd Ltd, a publicly owned Indian based company, to develop and manage a peat power plant. Punj Lloyd plans to construct, finance, maintain and operate a peat to power plant in North Akanyaru, in Bugesera District, Eastern Province of gross one hundred megawatt (100MW) with an estimated project value of USD 371 million.
Rural children from South Africa will now have a better learning experience as Samsung, MTN and Qhubeka will see the distribution of what will be known as The Klevr desk.
“Samsung is committed to uplifting children throughout the world, under the Samsung Hope for Children Africa programme, our goal is to provide education and medical support for five million children by 2015. This partnership with MTN is just another way we plan on accomplishing this – providing a convenient, smart solution that addresses a key need in South Africa,” says Craige Fleischer, Director of Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics South Africa. “One of the challenges faced by learners in underprivileged community schools is that of the unavailability of suitable infrastructure. The Klevr Desk not only improves learners’ physical comfort while attending class, which benefits concentration, but also has health benefits as scholars can now be seated on a chair with a desk instead of the floor”.
The Klevr Desk initiative is aimed at fulfilling people for the contribution to specific programmes which are running in their rural communities. The community members are encouraged to grow 20 trees from seedlings up to 30-45cms in height in exchange for one Klevr Desk.
Samsung and MTN will provide about 8 000 Klevr Desks to these communities as a result of their contribution to these initiatives and so far 2000 have already been distributed.
“We are very delighted to have partnered with Samsung in making such a big change in the lives of these young children. We understand the strain they feel when studying seated on the floor while trying to concentrate at the same time, hence we are giving back by making their studying less of a struggle while we investing in our future leaders,” says Eleanor Potter, GM: Branded Retail Channel at MTN SA.
The desk is strong enough to hold a load of 100kg and can be used form 0 grade all the way up to seventh grade. It has a one piece design for ease of assembling and dismantling. Being compact, the desk can be used in classrooms as well as informal spaces.
“Samsung is working closely with MTN to make a tangible difference in communities by offering access to elements that enhance the education environment, where previously the infrastructure has been lacking. The corrugated cardboard structure of the Klevr Desk is key to this commitment – increasing comfort levels and suitable learning conditions – and of course is almost entirely recyclable, reflecting our commitment to sustainability,” concludes Fleischer.
LG East and Central Africa Managing Director, Mr Josep Kim Prints an instant picture using the LG Pocket Photo Smart Mobile Printer.
Kenyans will now be able to print photos directly from their smartphones even while still on a picnic or a long safari with the just launched LG Pocket Photo Printer.
The portable wireless printer fits in the palm of one’s hand and can print photos from a smartphone wirelessly, no matter where one is at. The printer has a 40 second print time and fast Bluetooth connection and can take a photo one minute and have it printed out and in one’s hand the next.
The Bluetooth capabilities makes the Pocket Photo easily connect to your smartphone, laptop or other Bluetooth device to print out all of your favourite photos. The device also supports Near Field Communication (NFC).
The stylish LG Pocket Printer is one of the smallest and lightest mobile phone printing devices on the market where users can print on the go and also share photos on social media platforms and online, directly from the device.
The gadget uses inkless printing technology from ZINK. This technology eliminates the need for expensive ink cartridges as it uses heat to activate the color-forming chemistry within the ZINK 2.0 paper. In comparison with conventional printing processes, ZINK’s inkless paper system preserves images longer and produces less smearing.
“Nothing beats a printed photo; it has a visual appeal and realistic touch to it that a digital photo does not offer,” said Josep Kim, the Managing Director of LG East and Central Africa.
“The device is able to sync up to any Android or iOS device –all one needs to do is download the accompanying LG app first – and you can turn out 2×3-inch prints of your favorite memories,” said Mr. Kim. The app even lets you make simple photo edits before printing and stamp QR codes onto them.
The range of editing tools included on the Pocket Photo app makes it simple to embed QR codes and perform simple changes, including cropping and coloring. With the ability to print QR codes on photographs, the LG Pocket Photo delivers an ingenious way of connecting a physical image to an online community.
The Pocket Photo can be used to print customized birthday invitations, thank you cards, or even business cards with a personal QR code. Printing images with QR codes makes it possible for business owners to connect customers to online information about their brand or upcoming store events.
Japan’s NEC Corporation has abandoned its smartphone business to concentrate on wireless communications, terminals and human interfaces for the mobile phone handset business in order to strengthen its Social Solutions Business.
The firms aid, “NEC’s mobile phone handset shipments are following a downward trend and it is difficult to foresee improved performance in the future. In light of these circumstances, NEC reached this decision to review its mobile phone handset business following a comprehensive examination of the business’ direction.”
NEC will also continue developing and producing conventional mobile phone handsets. Furthermore, NEC will utilize NEC Saitama, Ltd. for its Social Solutions Business, as well as the production of conventional mobile phone handsets for the Japanese market.
NEC’s Social Solutions Business provides advanced social infrastructure capitalizing on information and communications technologies (ICT).
The Japanese firm will however have provide maintenance and support services for its existing smartphones and will continue operating its tablet business.
NEC will reposition NEC CASIO Mobile Communications employees, except those who continue to engage in business operations, within the NEC Group, centering on the Social Solutions Business.
The uptake of mobile money in Kenya is steadily growing with subscriptions increasing by 10.1 per cent from the previous quarter to reach 23.2million according to the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) quarterly Sector Statistics Report for January to March 2013.
Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the mobile money subscription increased by 22.6 per cent.
According to CCK, “This growth is attributed to the convenience as well as the value-added services of facilitating payments for goods and services.”
Also up were the number of mobile money transfer agents, the agents rose to 74,216 up from 62,300 reported in the previous quarter creating at least 11,916 additional direct jobs in mobile money transfer service during the third quarter.
Mobile money agents also grew to 74,216, a 19.1 per cent increase from 62,300 recorded during the previous quarter to during the period under review.
Mobile money is becoming popular due to its ease and convenience in use. Mobile money is also taking centre stage in facilitating electronic payments across the country with services such as Lipa na M-pesa.
According to CCK, “The mobile money transfer service has continued to provide ease of access and convenience in making payments owing to its popularity as witnessed in the growth in subscriptions and the number of agents.’
The regulator added that the number of mobile money transfer subscriptions represented 78 per cent for the total mobile subscriptions indicating unmet demand to expand the service.
However, between January and March this year the number of mobile subscribers in the country fell from 30.7 million to 29.8 million mainly attributed to the de-activation of 2.4million unregistered SIM cards during the quarter.
This decline further resulted in a decline in mobile penetration from 78% in the previous quarter to 75.8% in the period under review. The total mobile traffic also declined by 1.2 per cent to stand at 7.2billion minutes down from 7.3billion recorded in the previous quarter.
Internet data use however is steadily increasing as over 9.6million subscriptions were recorded by end of March 2013 and 99 percent of them mobile.
Kenya’s broadband subscriptions reached 1.17million, up by 17.5%.
South African’s leading endurance athletes now have an opportunity to take their careers to greater heights.
Several of these raising stars have been selected into the Endurocad Satellite program, a first of its kind on the African continent.
According to management, ENDUROCAD aims to become the most proficient high performance endurance sports academy in Africa.
“The programme seeks to develop and support world class distance runners.”
“ENDUROCAD is run in association with its founding partner Investec Asset Management and affiliate partners Adidas, Virgin Active, Vital Health Foods, MXIT, Remgro, Tsogo Sun, Gallo Images, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, Drug Free Sport and the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA).”
The first group of athletes went for an individual assessment by experts in the field of endurance sports and high performance. These athletes underwent extensive scientific, physiological and psychological testing, training and monitoring, attending dietary workshops, life skills assessments and coaching, management further reported.
ENDUROCAD is a non-profit company which provides the opportunity for South African endurance athletes to improve their times, make a living from their talent and to build a brand and business for life after sport.
Microsoft India Tuesday consolidated all its startup related offerings under a single umbrella and will now offer startups a single point of entry to engage with Microsoft through its seed fund, an accelerator program and its community evangelism program called BizSpark.
According to India’s Microsoft Ventures lead Mukund Mohan, “Through this coordinated effort, we will now engage with entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey from ideation to maturity and support them with compelling offerings. Our community evangelism program will provide entrepreneurs easy access to technology and resources, so that they can focus on exploring ideas.”
He added that the accelerator will provide access to mentors and technical experts so that they can convert their ideas into products. The fund will offer seed investments to startups that demonstrate early business success.
“In all, through one focused effort we will provide the tools, resources and expertise that startups need as they innovate, build and grow,” Mohan said.
Ravi Narayan, formerly of the Managing Director of MentorPartners will be responsible for Microsoft Ventures Accelerator and its connections with other community initiatives.
Kattayil Rajinish Menon will drive broad community engagements as part of the BizSpark program for startups with other accelerators, incubators, industry forums as well as Microsoft customers and partners in India.
The consolidated approach is crucial for India where the startup ecosystem is evolving very fast with a 302 per cent growth in number of new companies founded since 2006.
Ravi Narayan, a serial entrepreneur and investor agrees to this consolidation.
“Startups already have enough to worry about. Their access to Microsoft, and its vast and varied resources will now become easy and smooth. With its breadth of offerings and its extremely strong customer and partner base, Microsoft is uniquely positioned to help startups in ways that very few can match. I am very excited to be part of the team that will lead this change,” Narayan said.
The community evangelism program is open to anyone with a great idea especially those with solutions to real world problems or creating meaningful innovations.
The teams will have access to Microsoft software, world-class technology support and our huge partner base giving them a better chance of business success.
National Information and Communication Technology service provider Network Alliance and global security solutions and services provider, WatchGuard, have joined forces to provide clients with up-to-date technology and reliable services to help them better protect their resources.
Network Alliance is a national provider of on-demand ICT solutions and services, with particular focus on the integration and application of Microsoft Cloud Solutions and Office 365.
This industry-leading alliance will ensure that customers who invest in technology and services benefit from Service Level Agreements. Specifically, they will experience direct benefits financially and also in terms of enhancement to operations.
The partnership is in place to make sure that only the very best products are sourced from the market and integrated into comprehensive solutions and rolled out to the market.
George Gindra, the Product Manager for WatchGuard, refers to Network Alliance’s proven track record of over 17 years in ICT services and level of skills that has been acquired over this time period as one of the key factors behind WatchGuard’s decision to enter into this alliance.
“Network Alliance focus and dedication towards their customer’s satisfaction, combined with extraordinary products and technical service, makes Network Alliance the ideal partner for WatchGuard. Both these companies strive in building long term customer relationships with a foundation of good products, excellent service on continued satisfaction,” he explains.
According to Gindra, the response the company received from its customers about the level of service and support offered by Network Alliance was very positive. They referred specifically to the company’s fast response to support queries and its attention to detail.
Raymond Wright, MD at Network Alliance, is very pleased about the partnership and the value this offers the market at large.
“Traditional security techniques and technology simply cannot cut it in the market today,” he says. “We have partnered with WatchGuard to provide its Security Suite to help clients manage complex environments. It is a partnership that works through the offer of application control, web blocker, spam blocker and a comprehensive intrusion prevention service.”
Sponsored Content: An investment in the services of New Beginnings Web & Marketing has catapulted local corporate public relations and communications services provider, Rubicomm, into a leadership position within the ultra-competitive business marketing space.
New Beginnings Web & Marketing, a web/media consulting, hosting and development services provide, recently completed the website for the Gauteng-based PR firm, headed up by director Gloria Malan.
According to Malan, aside from having a clear look & feel, it was important for the site to feature what she refers to as “a mini virtual press office” facility and blogs that could be updated regularly and easily.
“It was crucial that the website reflected the growth of the company and also helped to support client services. Articles are posted on a daily or weekly basis depending on the requirements of each client. I also wanted live twitter feeds from Rubicomm’s twitter page and top news RSS feeds on the site, which can be seen on the home page,” said Malan.
One of the key challenges was to have this completed in a very short timeframe.
This did not present a problem for the experienced team at New Beginnings Web & Marketing – they applied their plan with precision and completed the project in just two weeks.
“We knew we had a gem with New Beginnings Web & Marketing. The company is relatively new and we believe in new talent and providing emerging companies with the platform to demonstrate their expertise and the value of their offerings,” adds Malan.
Although it’s still early days for New Beginnings Web & Marketing, the company is run by experienced web and media professionals who understand the fundamental importance of online presence for businesses in the communications game.
“It was a comfortable fit for us,” says Dawie Hanekom, MD at New Beginnings Web & Marketing. “Rubicomm knew what they wanted and why, we simply applied our expertise to formulate a plan that worked and applied it. It is a mutually beneficial association.”
The company has provided Rubicomm with a modern looking, but straightforward, clean site (www.rubicomm.co.za) that provides information, links to the social graph and generates valuable exposure – very much in accordance with the PR firm’s tag line Communication that Moves!
Sponsored Content:Hands on Treatment, a Mobile Massage Company based in Johannesburg is ongoing Training and Skills Development Programme in a move to make a meaningful difference to the country’s socio-economic development by focusing on the plight of unskilled, urban women.
Running alongside its core operation of mobile on-site massages targeting the corporate marketplace, Hands On Treatment has lived up to its name and taken a proactive stance to the development of skills sets that make individuals more employable.
The company has had in-house training programme for ten years and have a partnership in place with the Services SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority). According to the terms of the partnership the Authority pays a portion of their salary per intern and Hands on Treatment takes in four candidates as trainee therapists per six-month period.
Applicants are predominantly urban women living in informal settlements located within a 20km radius of Craighall, Johannesburg, as well as city centre and Braamfontein.
“The availability of skills is a huge problem,” states Martina Laurie, Chief Executive Officer, Hands on Treatment. “However, we are working on this and to date, we have helped over five hundred women secure an income.”
Although Hands on Treatment would like to accommodate as many people as possible, the company is forced to lay down criteria for would-be applicants and relies heavily on referrals concerning new applicants.
“Most of the interns come via word-of-mouth, referrals is a must. Candidates must have matriculated and a beauty school qualification would be a plus,” Laurie adds.
The strategy does work and to illustrate, Laurie speaks of one candidate, called Aida, who worked as a cleaner at the company in 2005 and has worked hard to secure a position as the guest house assistant manager.
Facebook has today launched a Mobile Games Publishing platform aimed helping small and medium-sized developers take their mobile games global.
The firm said during the program it will work with select game developers and provide promotional support for their games in placements across its mobile apps.
It’s like finding a Kuluya game, Afroes, Gamsole or Maliyo game on Facebook, awesome?
The pilot program will help mobile games find a path to success by find the right players.
The firm said, “With our unique targeting ability and mobile users who like playing a diversity of games, we’ll help the right people discover your game.”
Apart from users finding one’s game, the giant social network will also help developers grow to scale as they introduce one’s game game to their overn 800M monthly mobile users and over 260 million on web. Wow!
Facebook also will share analytics tools and the expertise they’ve gained from helping games grow on their platform for many years. The social network will invest in the success of these games, and in exchange for a revenue share, and they will be collaborating deeply with developers in the program by helping them cultivate high-quality, long-term players for their games.
Listen, this is not for everyone, but only open to kick-ass game developers around the world.The firm said, “We’re looking for awesome mobile games across all genres and audiences to join the program.” Apply Now!
Facebook is not new to this, it has already been helping with app discovery through products such as mobile app install ads. However, many developers with awesome mobile games do not afford the paid strategy but the firm wants to help them find a path to success, too.
Some of the lucky ten developers from all over the world will have their incredible mobile games launch on Facebook. The games include:
5th Planet’s RPG card battle game, Dawn of the Dragons
Brainbow’s puzzle-packed adventure game, Dr. Newton: The Great Brain Adventure
Facebook wants all small or medium-sized game developer looking to take their game global to apply to the program on their developer site.
More details about this program will be revealed in their session at Casual Connect in San Francisco later today by Dan Morris, mobile games partnerships lead.
Ubuntu Edge’s Indiegogo campaign for a a nextgen smartphone cum desktop computer has broken Indiegogo records after raising $135,483 in its first hour —smashing Indiegogo records.
Ubuntu beat Scanadu Scout — a medical tricorder that tracks vital signs which raised $1,370,462, last week breaking Matthew Inman’s year-long reign as Indiegogo’s top-funded campaign according to Indiegogo.
The Ubuntu Edge was receiving nearly 3.7 contributions per minute, hitting $1 million in about four hours said Indiegogo making it pass $2 million in 8 hours, $3 million in 12 hours and shit! A crazy $4 million in 45 hours. The Ubuntu Edge campaign has over $7 million raised.
According to Indiegogo, the secrets of Canonical’s Ubuntu Edge are simple.
Ubuntu Linux software is an open source software build on the same tenets as Indiegogo’s crowdfunding philosophy — free and open sourced, transcends borders and languages. The Ubuntu Edge runs on the same fuel and is a gamechanger in the smartphone and PC market.
“Ubuntu” itself is a Bantu word from the South African Nguni and translates to “human kindness” and Ubuntu has not run away from the humanity principles of free for all, that’s why its campaign is raising funds like crazy.
The Ubuntu Edge is a low-volume, high-technology platform, crowdfunded by enthusiasts and mobile computing professionals. A pioneering project that accelerates the adoption of new technologies and drives them down into the mainstream says their campaign.
The superphone is built on the most advanced mobile technologies on the horizon, a showpiece for true mobile innovation and connects to any monitor and transforms into an Ubuntu PC, with a fully integrated desktop OS and shared access to all files meaning smartphone in one’s pocket can also be the brain of the PC on their desk.
At TechMoran, we are so much into innovation, startups are like miracles, so are babies! We love kids so much and today, we join the entire iROKOtv team to celebrate with Jason Njoku, founder and CEO of iROKOtv and his Nollywood actress wife, Mary Remmy-Njoku the birth of their beautiful firstborn son.
We celebrate with them as they welcome their first child, Jason Obinna Njoku.
Like his father, Jason Obinna Njoku was born in London. Mary Remmy-Njoku and the baby are doing well in London.
Jason Njoku says: “We are so blessed and so happy to welcome our son into the world and Mary and I could not be happier at his safe arrival. We feel we are the luckiest people alive and cannot wait to bring baby Jason home to meet our family and friends”
Co-founded by Ben Botes and Luther Diedericks in 2006, SA Business Hub wants to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in South Africa to build amazing companies in a move the founder says will develop the economy and up people’s living standards.
According to Luther Diedericks, Managing Director & Co-founder of the (SABH) SA Business Hub(Pty)Ltd, “My venture SA Business Hub is the legacy I would like to leave behind. The intention of the hub is to create a seamless system wherein people and their enterprises can sustainably grow and prosper.”
“My learning to date made me aware of two major stumbling blocks that hinders the realization on my dream.”
The hub seeks entrepreneurs that need training, consultancy or advise, those that need to outsource for a skill or get a competent partner. It aims to develop, present and support them by providing online and offline training and self-help programs, Trainer of trainers program and bring in consultants to offer services and then physical capacity to host them.
After just two years of running SABH, Botes left to run his endeavors. But the space had to be there to help entrepreneurs solve their problems.
Entrepreneurs according to Diedericks have major stumbling blocks in market exploitation and a major investment is required to realize synergy through technology.
most of them have no common understanding of the problem or solution and thus fail to get an integrated approach to business establishment and support.
“I am in the UK at the moment exploring a possible solution that could provide the Technology on the one side to give small businesses a competitive advantage to improve their sustainability and at the same time generate sufficient cash flow to establish a much need infrastructure and resources to facilitate the support and development.
“With the above I foresee a great forward movement to the realization of my dream with inter alia the following project.
Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront’s investment in a new fibre optic infrastructure is expected to increase the property’s capacity for IT and communications.
According to David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront,“With the new fibre optic infrastructure we aim to provide the most advanced high-speed broadband access in South Africa and market parity, adding further appeal to businesses considering the V&A Waterfront as a base for their operations.”
In the past 18 months V&A Waterfront has erected intelligent buildings, revitalized the retail experience and also implemented a fibre optic project that will see a single trench policy introduced across the property.
The fibre optic backbone will be accessible to all their tenants and will enhance all IT and communication services. The Building Management System (BMS), CCTV and parking at the V&A Waterfront all currently run on the fibre optic infrastructure and a number of tenants are already making use of the network.
Both new and existing tenants will have access to high-speed connectivity, to fixed wire, wireless and GSM network operators of their choice. Tenants have the choice to use different service providers for different services, thereby ensuring greater cost effectiveness.
Furthermore, users will benefit from minimal disruption and increased operational efficiency. As there will be two MeetMe rooms, the model caters for redundancy ensuring uptime on the network and therefore increased productivity.
The fibre optic infrastructure development will circle the entire property and is being rolled out in three phases, with an anticipated site-wide roll out by the end of 2014. Phase one is complete and fully operational, with the new Allan Gray head office running on this network.
“Not only will tenants benefit from the enhanced IT services, but visitors to the property will also benefit from a Wi-Fi Cloud covering the entire Waterfront precinct,” says Green.
“More than 16 000 people work here on a daily basis,” he adds. “There are 450 plus world-class retailers and over 80 eateries, add to this one six-star, four five-star, three four-star and two three-star hotels, 40 business function rooms at 14 venues.
“There are 512 homes in the Marina alone. In addition to this, the property attracts 23-million visitors annually, both local and international. Taking all this into account, you start to see the vital role of improved connectivity and the positive impact it will have.”
Latest stats from mobile analysts firm Juniper Research say the number of smartphones shipped in Q2 in 2013 hit 230 million, almost 50% from Q2 2012 and q-o-q growth of nearly 13%.
According to the firm Samsung shipped some 72 million smartphones or for approximately 31% of all smartphone shipments in the quarter giving the South Korean firm record breaking revenues.
According to the report, Samsung might have shipped 20 million Galaxy S4 in the first two months after its April 2013 launch even though the phone’s later sales might not be low.
Apple on the other hand on the had experienced a q-o-q decline in smartphone sales, down 17% from the previous quarter. Its market share in smartphones therefore slipped from 18% in Q1 2013 to 14% in Q2 and might need an amazing product to make it shine again and not just a cheaper product. I Apple launches a smart wearable gadget its salvation would have come.
However, the smartphone battle is not just between the two.
According to the report, LG shipped its highest ever smartphones sales quarter with 12 million pieces in Q2 2013, an impressive 114% from Q2 2012. LG, was just closely followed by Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo, with each exceeding an estimated 10 million shipments in the same period while Nokia shipped 11.7 million smartphones pegged to its popular Lumia range, which sold 7.4 million compared to 5.6 million in the previous quarter. Nokia also shipped 4.3 million Asha smartphones in the same period.
Canadian firm BlackBerry expects to ship around 6.9 million smartphones in their Q2 2013 as the firm is believed to have sold nearly 2.8 million BlackBerry 10 devices over the past three months.
Rwanda’s Henri Nyakarundi founded ARED (African Renewable Energy Distributor) to give renewable energy solutions to the public and private sectors in his home country, after failing to find anywhere to charge his phone number, little did he know the idea will ever cross the border.
But now aiming at launching in Kenya and across the East African region, his Mobile Charging Kiosk dubbed Sharja Vuba is set to help thousands who are not connected to grip electricity with alternative energy from solar power and photovoltaic technology.
His firm African Renewable Energy Distributor Ltd based in Rwanda offers renewable energy solutions for both small-scale and large scale partners. The firm develops their own tech from ground up with a focus on green technology.
ARED’s first product, the Sharja Vuba, a solar energy mobile charging Kiosk aims to be one stop shop for telcos so as their clients can buy and use it to charge their cell phones, sell airtime, cell phones, LED lights and do mobile money transfers.
Users can also use the Kiosk to earn more money by offering it up for advertisement as several brands believe in outdoor advertisement. Apart from earning extra money, firms or users of the kiosks can also use them to educate the public on the renewable energy among others.
The Kiosk’s are not for sale, ARED leases them out to anyone willing, then in partnership with telcos, the business becomes a mobile money agents, sells telcos phones, airtime and accessories and charges phones for clients especially those that are not served by grid power.
The firm is also looking for other firms apart from telcos to sell their products through the kiosks. His hope is on the increasing use of mobile phones in Africa now over 600 million and growing by the day, with inadequate electricity.
Finally as announced, the Kenya Posta has launched its $1 Million Posta Pes, an e-payment platform that will see financial institutions share payment infrastructure and capitalise on Kenya Posta’s expansive network of over 600 offices that will offer Agency services.
Posta pesa enables points of sales solutions, transaction switching, mobile commerce and remote banking through internet banking.
The e-payment system is expected to enable the organisation become the preferred national payment gateway.
Nairobi is known for hype, while entrepreneurs in countries like Nigeria are designing and assembling computers and tablets locally and competing with international and Chinese brands, Kenya still uses imported ERP and accounting softwares such as Sage Pastel and prides of M-PESA, a British-build technology.
Posta Pesa, according to Dr. Enock Kinara, the Post Master General will enable the organisation conduct agency banking, mobile money transfer, card based transactions, e-commerce, online disbursements, epayment of utility payments and e-ticketing.
Besides linking banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (POS) terminals in order to avoid the duplication of expensive infrastructure resources, Posta Pesa will the firm automate its payment services.
The service is part of the firm’s strategic plan to realign operations and prop up its “profit-centres in order to realise growth in its revenues from Ksh3.5 billion to Ksh4.5 billion; from Ksh4.5 billion to Ksh6.5 billion and from Ksh6.5 billion to Ksh9 billion in years one, two and three respectively and hit a cumulative target of Ksh20 billion.
Early Posta Pesa clients include KCB, Credit Bank, ABC Bank and Faulu Kenya and the firm is looking to sign up utility companies like Kenya Power, Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and DStv among others who already use its remittance services.
Speaking during Posta Pesa launch, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT said,“With such a robust shared infrastructure and CBK’s planned National Payment System integration, I believe Posta is best placed to be the umbrella payment gateway that will integrate all payment platforms to allow for interoperability and boost e-commerce in the region.”
“Already my ministry has contacted the Universal Postal Union to work with a national committee that my ministry has constituted to develop a master plan that would guide the modernization of the Kenya Post,” added Dr. Matiang’i.
Brand identity is like sign language. I mean how would you know what to do if you cannot identify a sign, right? So basically people will spend time teaching signs to themselves until they’ve become used to it and respond almost unconsciously when they arise. Logically speaking, you would spend more time teaching complex signs to people than very simple signs that could serve the same purpose. And if it were a game, the guys with simpler signs will have even more people identifying to with them and what they stand for than the guys with complex signs.
In brand identity, it’s a lot more complicated. As a business, your primary goal is to overwhelm your target audience with your type of product or service in order to dissuade them from competition and eventually get them accustomed to your brand. Designs are imperative at this point because they serve as a reminder of the quality of service, whether good or bad, that was delivered by the brand.
Once you are certain about the quality of your product or services, you need to start worrying about the quality of its designs that your target audience will be identifying with – Your Brand Identity. Here are few things to note for your business’s brand identity:
4 Important Things to Note When Building a Brand Identity
Represent your Brand Ideals
You cannot represent water with black or agriculture with red; same thing goes with images. No one would identify easily with brands whose colours/images are misrepresented. These misrepresentations are quite rare to find but I’m sure you get the point already. Take a look at the Brand Identity designs below for Seun Oduntan farm.
Notice how the image of the tree and the colour green all represent the brand ideals which are farming and agriculture. The need for proper imagery and colour is key to better interpretation by a brand’s target audience as well as easy identification. Your Brand Identity designs are viewed almost momentarily by your target audience so it is important that they speak almost instantaneously.
Uniformity across all materials
You cannot have entirely different designs on different things, it’s that simple. It could get clumsy and eventually confusing if you have different designs with different adaptations. Consistency will help your consumers identify your brand on just about anything. Designs should maintain a particular type of font, colour and imagery on every material. See a case study below.
Audio age Evans Akanno designs
Simplicity – Ambiguity Ruins Everything
Ambiguous designs cannot possibly be implemented with ease on a whole lot of material. Simple designs are way easier to implement on materials and since we are talking about consumer perception and things that would be easy on the eyes, why then should we encourage ambiguous designs. It’s very tricky to express all your brand ideals in one design but then, that should concern the creative design agency that you’ve hired. Resist from all temptation as a business owner from owning a physically attractive design or get smitten by its practicability. Still thinking ambiguous?
Distinguishable Designs
I would caption this as unique designs but you see in brand identity, due of the abundance of competition with similar products and services you offer, your designs are expected to be easily differentiated from the rest. Take a look at the Ariel, Omo and Klin brands, all detergents. If you do laundry on your own, I am sure that you might have experimented with these three or isn’t that correct? Now if I turn these detergent packs face down where you are unable to view clearly the brand names, would you still be able to identify which one is which? If the answer is yes, then you have just witnessed effective brand identity designs.
Proper Brand Identity Manual
Big brands compile instructions for the usage of their designs into brand identity manuals. These manuals show acceptable and unacceptable usage of their brand identity designs. Usage on websites, clothing gear, stationery, prints, banners, ads etc. This sort of manual allows for consistency in usage ease brand identification among your target audience.
Finally, you should know that your brand identity isn’t just your business, it is you as well. So be your designs – very unorthodox but true. Wear your colours. Not just clothing gear but your business website, your sporting gear if you are into sports, and any other thing that adding your brand colour won’t look weird on. In other words, don’t be extreme. Don’t wear a green blazer instead of a green tie.
Short Messaging Service (SMS) are expected to generate $15.3 million per hour Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) world wide compared to $2.6million per hour from Over-The-Top (OTT) messaging services.
This will be mainly in form of data usage charges, according to Portio Research, which predicts that SMS still continues to deliver massive revenue from massive increase despite the growing popularity of OTT messages apps.
The global revenue which the SMS service gets has increased annually since the early 1990s and is execpted to be above 2010 levels until 2017, however, MNOs are gaining revenue from increase data usage.
The revenues are forecast to increase to USD 230 billion in 2013, which is compared to USD 218.1 billion in 2012, and is expected to reach USD 236.8 billion in 2014 and USD 239.7 billion in 2015. it is then expected to decrease to USD 236.7 billion in 2016 and USD 227.1 billion in 2017.
The increment in revenue will vary depending on the region; it will start with North America which will get its peak in 2014, Europe in 2015, and the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa in 2016.
The drivers maintaining growth in 2011-2015 are the continuing growth of the mobile base which are mainly driven by developing economies. The key driver behind the decline from 2015 to 2017 is the shift away from SMS in more mature markets as smartphone penetration increases and more users shift to OTT messaging apps and social networks.
Telkom has sponsored the the 13thth edition of the Highway Africa New Media Awards, which are set to beheld at the 17thHighway Africa Conference, taking place at Rhodes University, South Africa.
The prestigious awards on the continent aim to reward innovative use of Information Communication technologies (ICTs) in journalism that serves Africa and its citizens and were pioneered to highlight the role that ICTs play to enhance journalism and the media, in the process uplifting communities.
Applications for the awards close August 10 2013, Pretoria Time and finalists will be contacted. Entries are welcome into three major categories:
1.Innovative newsroom – newsrooms across Africa can submit nominations based on their innovative use of digital media including online, social and mobile media.
2.Best African ICT Blog – Followers or bloggers may nominate an African-based or diasporic African blog based on its coverage, debate and use of ICTs within the African context.
3.Innovative use of technology for community engagement – members of communities, organisations, or supporters may nominate an organisation (either corporate or non-profit) based on their innovative use of technology within a community in Africa. The organisation does not have to be African based, but the community in which they operate must be.
The judges include Ms Michelle Atagana – Convenor of the Jury, Managing Editor of Memeburn, Ms Ory Okolloh – Director of Investments at Omidyar Network Africa, co-founder Ushahidi and was previously Policy Manager for Africa at Google.
Ms Brenda Zulu, an experienced ICT journalist from Zambia, a prolific blogger and commentator on ICT4D, agriculture and gender issues on the African continent and Mr Ndesanjo Macha, Sub-Saharan Africa editor at Global Voices. He is a blogger, journalist, lawyer, digital activist and new media consultant.
Moussa Benhamadi affirmes that he has signed a law for the launch of 3G and 3G+ licensing and service provision which will published in the official gazette.
“We hope that operators will be ready to start offering services to citizens on 1 December”, said the Algerian ICT Minister who was speaking about a process that has been repeatedly been postponed.
The whole licensing process was set to begin on the first day of August. The minister added that the 3G service launch was not connected to the ongoing dispute over mobile operator Djezzy, which the government is seeking to acquire.
Benhamadi also said that Telecom regulator ARPT would be responsible for launching the tender and awarding the licences.
The country has three mobile operators, Mobilis, Nedjma and Djezzy.
Kenya’s Equity Bank and global telecommunication leader, Airtel have today entered into a partnership thatofferscomprehensive mobile commerce solutions to their customers through Airtel Money, a mobile money transfer service widely used by Airtel subscribers.
The service has been availed to all Equity Bank customers with Airtel lines. Thiswill enable customers from both Airtel and Equity Bank to access Airtel mobile banking platforms, perform agency cash transactions at Equity Bank branches and also enable Airtel services customers to withdraw money at any Equity Bank as well as cash outlets countrywide.
Airtel customers will also have the efficiency of paying their utility bills, receive bank transactions alerts, check mini statements among other services using Airtel Money.
Equity Bank CEO Dr. James Mwangi had this to say: “We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Airtel, which will further strengthen our commitment to extending financial inclusion across East Africa by enabling the unbanked and under-banked to enjoy the benefits of mobile payments, while also giving us the opportunity to better serve Airtel customers.”
He added that the bank will continue to strengthen their business model through innovation, enhanced use of technology, automation for a better customer experience and collaborations with such industry stakeholders as Airtel.
In the event, Mr. Jayant Khosla CEO Airtel Africa- Anglophone said: “This partnership with Equity Bank marks yet another milestone in deepening the accessibility of Airtel Money to our customers throughout Kenya. The Equity Bank branches countrywide will complement our 10,000 Airtel Money agents spread across Kenya thus making it easier and more convenient for customers to have guaranteed access to Airtel Money deposit and withdrawal of cash.”
Khosla added that they will continue to educate their customers on the benefits of using Airtel Money mobile commerce solutions including the product’s convenience and ease of use.
“Equity Bank and Airtel Money have a shared commitment in ensuring financial inclusion from many in Kenya and beyond. I’m certain that this relationship will in the days to come empower more people in the larger East Africa region where Equity Bank is operating,” said Khosla.
The partnership with Equity Bank will also help drive mobile money adoption in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ellies, the company involved in the OpenView HD, a new subscription-free satellite TV service says the project will be a high quality, single view unit.
