Author: Cyrus

Looks like Rene Meza is taking the low tariff focused competition to Tanzania. Just after Airtel Tanzania reduced its BlackBerry rates, Vodacom has reduced its pre-paid BlackBerry subscription rates for 7 and 30 days. Subscribers will now pay Tsh 7,000 for weekly subscription and Tsh 20,000 for monthly subscription with the clients required to dial 14901# to get the subscription options. The rates were Tsh 15,200 for weekly subscription and Tsh 36,000 for monthly subscription. GREAT!!

Google is upping its very stupid trampling on our ideals. If it were for Google, every community in the world should behave the same way and not have their own ideals which they expect to be respected. Google is showing lots of disregard of our diversity by the latest campaign they have launched called “Legalize Love”. The campaign will be pushed online as well as through Google’s 60 offices worldwide including Africa. While Google claims that the campaign is not about legalizing same-sex marriages but supporting workers living in countries which criminalizes same sex marriages, Google’s intentions can rightly be…

If you really think that you are a hacker worth his salt, you need to be ready because Kenya’s election authority will be looking to involve you in a systems penetration test in the not so distant future. According to the CEO of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), James Oswago, the commission will be looking to involve hackers in testing its result transmitting system in November. The involvement of hackers is a move meant to assure all candidates of the systems capabilities and security. It comes after some of the top presidential contenders complained that they have not had…

The Kenyan Blogging Pandemic You remember how back in the day (or even of late in rural Kenya), everyone who completed his High school education in Kenya went to do computer packages. That was the craze, just about when computers in Kenya became a thing for all common mortals. That is the status of the Blogging pandemic in Kenya. Just about anyone in College or just fresh from college has a blog where they are passionately blogging away about anything. You only need to visit some of the busy HR offices to realize the seriousness of this craze. Every new…

This post by Tom Makau first appeared on his blog. This post is shared through his permission.  I was recently at a forum that was discussing the development of telecommunications in Kenya (Watch the forum by clicking here (part 1), and here (part 2)). During the discussion, one participant alluded to the fact that without local content, the development of the Internet will impaired. Everyone in the forum agreed. However, during the discussion, there was some slight confusion on what the definition of local content is. The majority thought that local content should be defined by its contextual origin. The other (perhaps…

Airtel has today launched its promised 3G network in Rwanda. Through the launch of the 21Mbps 3.75G network, Airtel Rwanda promises to change how mobile subscribers in the country experience the web on Internet-enabled devices. Through the new network, subscribers will experience enhanced multimedia functionality, high speed mobile broadband and internet access; allowing users to make video calls, watch live TV, send and receive emails and download music from the devices. Airtel promise to unveil personalised packages for Corporates, Small or Medium Businesses and the Youth on the 3.75G network. Marcellin Paluku, Country Manager, Airtel Rwanda said, “Airtel doesn’t see 3G…

Kaspersky Lab has launched a new version of its mobile security suites for Android. The newly souped-up Kaspersky Mobile Security now offers users the ability to block infected and fraudulent websites which steal visitors’ data. According to a study done early this year by Harris Interactive, around 16% of users store private files on their mobile devices, 53% use their devices to private email while 47% access social media through their cellphones. Again the researchers indicate that around 62% of smartphone users throughout the world regularly use their devices to access the internet access. According to Kaspersky lab, this new…

Nairobi’s urban radio station, CapitalFM is said to be having a few hitches here and there. According to Jackal News, Capital FM’s main studio collapsed last night after fire engulfed some of the equipment. The site report that Capital FM has two studios, one which is in a state of disrepair for a very long time. The station is said to be currently operating from its Outside Broadcasting (OB) van in Nairobi. We have reached out to Capital FM and hope to get a response soon. Source

Access Kenya, the country’s only publicly traded Internet company, has launched a solution targeted at building internet infrastructure to homes and offices. The Fiber to the premises(FTTP) is a solution which Access Kenya will offer at developers to see buildings in Nairobi have ready fibre connection. Though the provider has been offering the Fibre-to-the- Home solution, the company has been facing challenges in deploying such solution in premises which were not prepared for such an eventuality. Through the infrastructure laid, the company looks to have homes ready for next generation services like VOIP, IP TV, voice communication and  CCTV. Other…

Samsung Electronics South Africa has announced that it will assemble some of its computer monitors in South Africa through its assembly plant in Longmeadow Business Estate East in Edenvale, Gauteng. Samsung is looking to cut costs on monitors sold in Africa as well as optimise on the quality of products meant for the continent’s market. IT director Thierry Boulanger said, “Samsung is committed to delivering innovative, smart products to our customer base, and certainly we understand that cost is a consideration, especially when examining the latest range of monitors.”

Ask today’s tech savvy Kenyan to mention any budget phone and the likes of Galaxy Pocket, Huawei Gaga, LG Optimus L3 and other droids of the same caliber won’t miss in the list. Has anyone however taken time to look at what Nokia has to offer?  The Nokia Asha 302 for instance comes in the same price range and outperforms most of the droids in certain aspects. From my week long experience with the Nokia Asha 302, I wouldn’t put it in the category of low end devices despite its attendant low price tag. The Galaxy Pocket, Huawei Gaga and…

Microsoft has launched its cloud based office solution,Microsoft Office365. The solution has been launched in key African markets including Algeria, Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria. The solution which has been available on trial since 2011 is now available to 40 countries globally. But will the solution be necessary to African market? Will they or should they buy it? I don’t believe that with problems of making on-line payments, the solution will see much local uptake. There will also be a problem of using the cloud based solution which is a response to Google Docs, Zoho Docs and Intermedia’s Office in the cloud. The cloud…

Internet ubiquity, personal technology adoption and e-commerce growth have produced a new consumer behavior that is today referred to as ‘cross-channel shopping’. In this environment, consumers hop from one channel to another throughout the shopping journey looking for the best deal. For retailers, cross-channel shopping demands a new approach to win customers and capture wallet share. Today, we will learn more about the “Catch ‘Em and Keep ‘Em” concept and get insights into how retailers can revitalize their stores in this new cross-channel world. The retail industry exemplifies the maxim, change is constant.  With the advent of the Internet, retailers…

Microsoft and Nokia have controlled computing and telephony lives of African for the longest time ever. Despite this dominance, not much linkages and relationships which benefit both the African techies and the vendors have been built. I find it odd that we must continue depending on Microsoft and Nokia while Microsoft never saw it best to build platforms where developers in Africa can create solutions and make money. Instead, Microsoft sought to colonise Africa by even trying to create end user applications for businesses which it could have had the developers create. When Microsoft introduced its much sought after certifications…

Ecobank has launched a corporate online banking platform in Kenya. The product named ‘Ecobank Omni’ looks to provide the bank’s’ clients with convenient cash management system 24/7. Through the system, corporate clients would be able to conveniently access their money and other banking services including loan, cheque and other payment management services. The Omni products offer clients convenient real-time access to their accounts while also supporting routine administration of business working capital cycle. Through the service, clients will now be be able to track their collections, payments and liquidity reports at a click of a button and through a secure…