Author: Cyrus

Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, in partnership with Safaricom, the largest mobile operator in Kenya, has launched a U8220 mobile phone, which is powered by the Google Android operation system that will be able to support high speed Internet access. The phone, first of its kind in East African market entails a 3.5 – inch HVGA touch screen, the largest among all Android phones. It also features innovative canvas profile which enables users to switch freely between six default extended screens. The phone is also abit bulky compared to the new…

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said that the technology giant that built a fortune with package software is betting the future of computing is in the internet “cloud”. “Cloud computing represent the next frontier,” Ballmer said at an annual gathering of corporate chief executives at Microsoft’s campus in Redmond, Washington. “We’ve been betting or investing in the cloud for about ten years and in the earnest for about six or seven years.” Cloud computing gained momentum during the economic downturn as people and business saved money by using applications hosted online instead of buying, installing and maintaining software on their…

Team Skeek from Thailand took home the grand prize of $25,000 (U.S.) in the Software Design category for their solution eyeFeel, which allows hearing-impaired people to communicate with others via an augmented-reality environment. It combines speech and face recognition, converts it to English from text, and generates virtual conversation text balloons and sign language animation in real time. The winners of the eighth annual Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals were announced at the Opera House and National Theatre (Teatr Narodowy) in Warsaw, Poland, where more than 400 students gathered to celebrate their unique innovations aimed at solving the world’s toughest problems.

Telecommunications provider Telkom Kenya is waking up from the slumber and is out to expand its distribution network across the country. The programme was just launched this morning, with the opening of an Orange Shop at the Sarit Centre in Westlands. Managing Director Mikhael Ghossein said the programme is aimed at making Orange services and products easily accessible to Kenyans. He said, “Our aim is to ensure that existing and potential subscribers can access the unrivalled services that Orange offers, around the country at a location convenient to them, and in an environment that is unswerving with their evolving lifestyles”.…

Innovation is lacking at NMG and that is making them very uneasy. So today NMG has decided to advertise for an Innovation General Manager’s position. That is a big step considering the fact that IF (Ian Fernandes) has not been great at delivering new ideas at NMG. The company has been left in many instances with bruised nose after trying to contain competition through reactionary moves. You remember “Daily Metro” to contain “Nairobi Star”? Zuqka which is also a shoddy work from wannabe coder has been a total flop. It was a reactionary move to deal with Facebook, Forums and…

We’ve had medieval security stacks, now it’s time for a digital security stack

Philips has offered high level cooperation with the healthcare sector in Kenya to help solve urgent healthcare needs of the country such as increasing healthcare quality and access, cost reduction, upgrading healthcare infrastructure, knowledge sharing and improving connectivity. On request from several leading hospitals, Philips has introduced the Healthcare Information iSite solution in Kenya. The iSite Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and Radiology Information System (RIS) platforms are web based solutions and utilize Internet standards and protocols for communication.

Google just appreciated this side of the world by joining EAC in ushering the common market which comes into effect today. The Google Doodle (A collection of all Google logos commemorating holidays and events around the world.) has rich tradition and by Google recognising the 126 Million population market, that’s a milestone. The Doodle can be found on Google Kiswahili homepage On July 1, 2010, the colonial borders that separate these Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda at countries at Kigoma, Kikagati, Katuna, Malaba, Busia and other borders will be no more.

Worldcup fever is still on and that is why Google has teamed up with Moving The Goalposts (MTG) Kilifi to bring the football fever to rural communities on the east coast of Kenya. In the evenings MTG is showing matches on a giant screen in rural areas where people would not otherwise have access to television. During the mornings, Google has set up a rural ICT lab to train the MTG girls and provide basic ICT education. Satellite technology is being set up to provide data connectivity for the rural Internet classroom, funded by Google. In the classroom, the MTG…

Good news for those now having the spirit of coperation from EAC. This is the region with the highest number of Swahili speakers. Gmail just made it possible to have the mailing system in swahili. To get Gmail in Swahili, you need to login to your mail. Click on “Settings”. On “General” tab under “Settings” you will see “Language”. Choose “Kiswahili” (they didnt call in “Swahili” like others. Click on “Save Changes”.

Telkom Kenya is reacting to Zain Kenya getting the 3G license today. Speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek, Angela Mumo who is the Corporate Communications Manager says that already the intergrated communications services company is running a 3G Pilot network for its corporate clients. “We wanted the fee to go down to $3 million and on the higher side $10 million. Now we can confirm we are taking out a 3G license. We will roll out 3G in quarter four” says Angela. Safaricom is buying two other firms soon to strengthen its data share in the market. Zain Kenya who was first…

Nairobi, June 23, 2010…Leading communications firm Safaricom has clarified that it’s M-PESA and PostPay customers do not have to register their lines afresh under the SIM card registration directive currently being implemented in the country. Even then, such customers may make time to verify their details as received and recorded by the firm. The two services already require one’s personal details to be registered when signing a contract with Safaricom, under the Know Your Customer (KYC) and other prudential rules which have always been strictly enforced by Safaricom. With M-PESA commanding about 10 million subscribers, this announcement is expected to…

Windows Stream Blog is reporting that Windows 7 has had 150 Million copies sold todate. Now, that is around 7 licenses per second sold since the day of the launch. Windows 7 crossed the 100 Million licenses mark two months ago. You remember that Microsoft announced the sale of 90 Million copies in March and in April, updated the number to 100 Million. Now Microsoft is selling 25 Million Licenses of the OS monthly. Microsoft can still pull the numbers even in this era when PC is not cool anymore. The company targets 300 Million copies of the OS by…

Safaricom is out shopping and it has landed the MJ company at Instaconnect and IGO Wireless. Now since the purchase of 51% stake at Onecom deal seems to be paying well, Safaricom is strategising itself and you are seeing them now going for specialised companies. Instaconnect provides application services as per the license from CCK and. Safaricom said its board had approved the purchase of IGO Wireless Limited, a fixed wireless data firm, and Instaconnect, an application service provider. No details were given for the size of the planned purchase. I would love to know what Safaricom gave out. The…

CCK is going to be busy on Friday 25th June awarding Zain Kenya with 3G license . The event which will be at CCK centre on Waiyaki way, is going to be led by DG of CCK, J.K Njoroge and Zain Kenya CEO, Rene Meza. This will come as a great relief to the company which has been fighting to get the license. It was great to see Safaricom CEO yesterday on K24 waxing how they have “great innovation like 3G” while we know that it has not been fair for them to stand in the way of others getting…