Ideco, Southern Africa’s biometric technology firm and  distributor of Morpho fingerprint biometric solutions, has released the MorphoIDent™ handheld mobile identification solution to help strengthen law enforcement in the region..

 MorphoIDent™ handheld mobile identification solution is designed primarily for public safety agents and officers, and enables real-time identification based on Morpho’s fingerprint recognition technology and is fully certified by international regulators such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

According to Marius Coetzee, CEO at Ideco, what the developers have focused on is ease-of-use, accuracy and practicality. “The device features an intuitive user interface and large colour screen that is clearly visible outdoors. This makes the technology and the solution ideal for the law enforcement environment, particularly from a local point of view”

MorphoIDent™ offers the user the benefit of field-proven Morpho biometrics technology – incorporated into the most widely-used optical fingerprint sensor on the market.

The solution is not only a mobile biometric device, but when integrated via Bluetooth™ can serve as a complete solution for on-the-spot, anywhere identification in the field.

All data managed by MorphoIDent™ is transferred, via Bluetooth™ or USB, to a PC, smart-phone or PDA running the MorphoMobile application. This application provides a secure connection to AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System), in addition to configuration and device management.

“If one thinks about the need for safety and security in the country, and the value that instant, reliable identity verification offers law enforcement officials, then we can already see a demand in the market and immediate opportunity for application,” adds Coetzee.

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.