African Technology News, Startups, Mobile and Social Media

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Thu, September 20th, 17:15 · Tefo Mohapi

OPINION: The South African IT skills conundrum, a matter of perception

A recent report published by IDG Connect, a division of International Data Group (IDG), states that the perception amongst 130 IT professionals surveyed in South Africa is that there is a lack of IT skills in the country. It is already calling it a crisis. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 16:30 · Tefo Mohapi

FNB’s banking app for Windows Phone 8 imminent

South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB) is contemplating unveiling its popular banking app only on Windows Phone 8, snubbing users of the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 OS. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 16:10 · HumanIPO

Eight startups raise funding from 88mph’s US$200K

Seed investment fund 88mph yesterday announced eight startups that have secured funding from their 2012 accelerator programme, with successful applicants set to share US$200,000 and benefit from mentoring from tech professionals. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 15:50 · Tefo Mohapi

‘BBM’ now a recognised English word

The abbreviation BBM, short for ‘Blackberry Messenger’, was on Thursday added to the latest edition of the Collins English Dictionary after Blackberry-maker RIM was successful in its application to have it included. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 14:22 · Dan Sudi

Samsung introduces dual-SIM smartphone across Africa

Global electronic leader Samsung has introduced a cost-effective dual-SIM smartphone which it says is intended for the African market. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 13:11 · Vincent Matinde

Poor business in East and West Africa dents Altech’s financial outlook

Multi-billion dollar high-technology group Altech has warned that the company’s performance might be between 18 percent and 25 percent lower than last year, due to the poor performance in the East and West African operations. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 13:00 · Tefo Mohapi

Africa’s increasing mobile Web usage directly impacting Wi-Fi adoption

With the growing adoption of Internet-enabled feature phones and smartphones in Africa, it is a natural progression that network access technologies like Wi-Fi should see growth in their usage too. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 11:50 · Dan Sudi

Nokia to recycle fake handsets as CCK cracks whip

Phone-maker Nokia has says it will recycle every grey handset Kenya’s government plans to paralyse on September 30, in a strategy aimed at preventing environmental pollution that could result from disposal of an estimated 2.4 million phones. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 09:31 · Vincent Matinde

Only technology holds the key to music distribution in Africa

Digital distribution will be a big revenue stream for music artists in Africa by 2020, predicts digital music company Africori, with percentage revenues from live performances expected to decline. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 08:57 · Elly Okutoyi

Not every African app is a company, experts

Not every new application programme grows into company if necessary business leadership skills are lacking, says Andrea Bohnstedt, an independent risk analyst. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 08:20 · Gythan Munga

Kenyan company rolls out social media monitoring tool ahead of elections

Kenya-based new media company African Laughter has launched a social media monitoring phone app to help politicians monitor their reputations online. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 06:54 · Jesse Oguntimehin

Nigeria’s wait for Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 almost over

Microsoft is to launch its Windows Phone 8 operating system across the globe next month, with Nigerians finally set to get access to the product having been excluded from previous versions. → Read more
Thu, September 20th, 06:00 · Elly Okutoyi

Automation will save Kenya millions, says Dr. Ndemo

Automation will help Kenya’s government cut the cost of manual systems from US$1 billion to US$100 million, according to Kenya’s permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication Dr. Bitange Ndemo, though the idea is still facing resistance. → Read more
Wed, September 19th, 20:29 · HumanIPO

SocialPRO to help universities in Kenya adopt social media use for info-sharing

SocialPRO Clubs, an initiative by Nairobi-based firm Social Edge Africa, are promising to help universities and students tap into social media for knowledge and contact sharing. → Read more
Wed, September 19th, 17:00 · Tom Jackson

Visa, SA Tourism seek top local tourism app

Visa and South African Tourism are encouraging the development of authentically African tourism apps, aimed at the increasing number of international tourists using mobiles to plan their travels. → Read more
Wed, September 19th, 15:13 · Dan Sudi

Swazi telco regulator to lay off 250 employees

The Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) is set to make 250 employees jobless after MTN Swaziland won a case in the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) ordering SPTC to end its mobile operations. → Read more
Wed, September 19th, 12:10 · Dan Sudi

Nigeria’s Dangote Group in multi-million euro deal with world’s top software developer

Nigeria-based business conglomerate Dangote Group has signed a multi-million euro deal with leading business software-maker SAP, marking one of the most significant SAP deals in Africa. → Read more
Wed, September 19th, 10:45 · Vincent Matinde

Local investors shunning Konza City project

Kenyan government officials have expressed fears that Konza City, the country’s multi-million dollar technopolis, may not attract enough local investors. → Read more
Wed, September 19th, 09:38 · Tefo Mohapi

Mampoer Shorts launches test site, user uptake critical for business model

Mampoer Shorts, a startup looking to revolutionise journalism, last week launched its much anticipated test website with six long form articles on sale for US$2.99. → Read more
Wed, September 19th, 07:42 · Vincent Matinde

Jobberman and Dymore found eLearning portal

Online learning portal Gaps Academy already has over 3,400 video classes uploaded onto the platform, as low-cost eLearning establishes itself as a solution to Africa’s education barrier. → Read more