Author: Cyrus

Airtel Africa, Standard Chartered Bank and MasterCard Worldwide have today launched a commercial version of the world’s first virtual card that operates off a mobile wallet linked to Airtel’s mobile commerce offering – Airtel money. The service is initially available only in Kenya, but it will soon be available across Africa. The iconic mobile commerce product known as ‘PayOnline’ rides on the Airtel Money with Mastercard providing their platform for online transaction while Standard Chartered bank is the transaction bank. The service is available only to registered Airtel Kenya clients who will be able to make online purchases from any…

Microsoft yesterday announced that it has sold more than 450 million copies of Windows 7. Microsoft president of  Windows division, Steven Sinofsky, also announced in a release that Windows 7 is now being used by more people than Windows XP. Sinofsky was making these announcements while launching Windows 8 at the Microsoft Build conference in Anaheim, California yesterday. He also announced that Microsoft has delivered over 1,500 changed to Windows 7 since unveiling into the market and that the flagship OS is now being used more widely than Windows XP. Sinofsky also announced that over 542 Million people worldwide are now using…

I know that some will take this message in the wrong manner but the few wise ones would take it well. Googlers are in Kenya after rocking Kampala last week. They are not even in Kenya, they are in Nairobi. Whenever these people reach a place like Nairobi, they think they have the message they need to hear from Kenya. Engagement is limited because either Google fear being asked real questions or they would love to give the usual panelist to earn their keep. What I believe is that the euphoria of internet revolution is simply like a Turkana herdsman…

Technologies ranging from mobile printing to Cloud Computing are placing an unprecedented premium on today’s IT managers’ ‘soft’ skills, according to a new campaign being launched by HP’s Printing and Imaging Group (IPG). According to the campaign, such technological advances are completely redefining the IT manager’s role, shifting responsibilities from the back office – behind the scenes – support, to front office –  highly visible – business directives. Janet Thiong’o, HP Marketing Manager, Imaging & Printing Group explains that the skills and priorities required of today’s IT managers are more business-focused than ever before, especially within the context of small…

Google has launched a new programming language called Dart. You remember that in 2009, Google launched Go. Go programming language was designed for writing server software and handling other chores mostly handled today by C or C++. Dart is “a new programming language for structured Web programming,” according to the schedule for the Goto conference where Googlers plan to describe it next month.

Samsung has had trouble with its Galaxy Tab in Germany, Japan, Australia and USA and now after last ruling, a German court has permanently banned the sale of the Galaxy Tab in Germany. The patent case which started in April this year. Judge Johanna Brueckner-Hofmann said in court that impression of the Galaxy tablet was way too similar to the design iPad. “”It (the tablet) is distinguished by its smooth, simple areas,” Brueckner-Hofmann added. The order means that the Galaxy 10.1 Tablet cannot be sold anywhere in Germany. Traders still holding the stock are allowed to finish their stock. Samsung…

This is interesting. I have a problem with the slow booting Windows most of the time and the Windows 8 seems to be answering my prayers for a faster boo-up. Microsoft has managed to improve the booting of Windows by from 30 – 70% by writing the kernel sessions to disks thus avoiding the loading of drivers and such stuff. So this means that when Windows 8 is shut down, it puts the session in hibernation mode. Watch Windows 8 Boot so Fast [youtube width=”620″ height=”450″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivx3W2ipdeI[/youtube] Microsoft will be unveiling the OS at the Build Conference in Anaheim next week.…

The government off Kenya has decided to give mobile phone users upto the end of 2011 to have original handsets. The resolution has been arrived at after a consultative meeting between CCK, Nokia,  the four mobile network operators and relevant government agencies (i.e. Kenya Bureau of Standards, Anti-Counterfeit Agency, Office of the President – Kenya Police and NSIS – and the Kenya Revenue Authority). The meeting also resolved to carry out user awareness campaigns with the law enforcement organs to be involved in identifying the loopholes used in sneaking in the fake handsets into the country. The meeting also resolved…

India’s Bharti Airtel, a telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, has said that it has been awarded a license by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) to operate 2G and 3G GSM mobile services in Rwanda. This development will see the Company’s footprint across the African continent expand to 17 countries. Rwanda is amongst the fastest growing telecom markets in Africa. According to the National Statistics Institute of Rwanda, the mobile penetration in the country was 38.4%, as of July 2011. Bharti Airtel says that it plans to invest over USD 100 million in its operations in Rwanda over the next…

South Africa’s Deputy Minister for Communication, Mr Obed Bapela, announced that the government would consider requesting for the decryption of Blackberry messaging service to help in tracking criminals. Now the minister of communications, Radhakrishna “Roy” Padayachie has clarified that the ministry has no intention to regulate or legislate against Blackberry messenger services (BBM). The government is however ready to work with Research In Motion in preventing the abuse of the encrypted messenger services. The full statement reads; Following the announcement made by Communications Deputy Minister, Mr. Obed Bapela, about the South African government joining in the call to regulate Research…

US researchers are not letting anything to chance. Now even Orangutans are set to use iPads and Social Media to communicate among themselves. The research project which has been launched at a Milwaukee Zoo will see the apes create their own network of friends using the iPads. Richard Zimmerman, founder of Orangutans outreach, is looking a getting zoos across USA to introduce iPads to the orangutan to connect with their fellow apes thousands of miles away in “primate playdates” via Skype or other chat services. Zoos in Phoenix, Atlanta and Toronto have already agreed to participate. Orangutan Outreach is an…

15 Airtel customers have bagged one hundred thousand shillings each in the recently launched 90 day Cashmania promotion that was launched on the 26th of August 2011. One of the winners, James Muli, a pastor with the Africa Brother hood Church in Kitui said that through the promotion he is able to pay for his children’s school fees and he his grateful to Airtel for rewarding him in this very special way that allows him to achieve more for his family as he uses Airtel. Another winner is 23-year-old Daniel Kivuu from Machakos and Boniface Onyango from Baba Dogo in Nairobi…

Kenyan startup web payment provider, Pesapal, has been listed by Business Insider among the hot 20 international startups to watch. The service allows clients based in Kenya to make payments online using Airtel Money, M-Pesa and Credit cards. The list also has the likes of India’s JustDial, South Africa’s MXit, Israeli’s SohoS, and India’s InMobi.

Yes, Techmtaa is hiring. Techmtaa has seen phenomenal growth over time and it is only good that we expand the team of bloggers. The job of blogging for Techmtaa is interesting in that it includes working news shifts as a team, traveling to cool events, and of course the best part— testing, playing with, writing  and reviewing some new gadgets and tech as they becomes available. You will be shown around how to be yourself and handle every challenge in the industry. And for that, we have to give you some details Must be located in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda,…

President Kibaki has today directed that all unregistered phone numbers be cut off from the networks to protect Kenyans from criminals. Network operators in Kenya were directed by CCK to register all their subscribers. Compliance has been in the range of 65%. Network operators were expected to cut-off  the unregistered lines from their network which they have not been ready to do. The Head of State said the action would wipe out all unregistered mobile lines being used to perpetrate criminal activities and thus safeguard people from high-tech crimes. The President said these while presiding over the official switching on…