Etisalat Wins Big at the 2014 Nigerian Telecoms Awards

Nigeria’s fastest growing and most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat lived up to its billing at the 10th Nigerian Telecoms Awards last weekend, by claiming two prestigious awards for ”Best Brand Campaign” and “Youth Empowerment Telecom Operator of the Year.” The icing on the cake was the “Telecom Entrepreneur of the Year”, won by the Chairman, Etisalat Nigeria, Hakeem Bello-Osagie.

Public Relations Manager, Etisalat Nigeria, Chineze Amanfo, described the awards as a clear confirmation of Etisalat’s commitment to innovation and corporate excellence.
“Since our entry into the Nigerian market in 2008, we have continuously delivered e top quality products and services promised to our customers. Our subscriber base in this highly competitive industry now exceeds 19 million,” Amanfo said.

She further explained that creativity is important in almost every decision taken at the organization. “At Etisalat we believe in doing things differently and we are proud of it. We are driven by a desire to add value to the lives of our customers and to build a reliable network” she said.

Etisalat won the “Best Brand Campaign” award for the EasyFlex commercial, while the success of the music reality television show, Nigerian Idol, earned the company the “Youth Empowerment Telecom Operator of the Year” award. The “Telecom Entrepreneur of the Year” award was presented to the Chairman, Etisalat Nigeria, Hakeem Bello-Osagie, in recognition of his role in bringing the UAE telecommunications firm to Nigeria and keeping it afloat for close to six years amidst stiff competition.

Etisalat Partners Samsung, TECNO , Others on Best Smartphone Offer in Nigeria

Etisalat Nigeria has announced partnership with mobile phone manufacturers Samsung Mobile, TECNO Mobile and others to deliver the Biggest Smartphone offer in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. The partnership would see Etisalat customers become proud owners of trendy 3G Smartphone devices of their choice for as low as N7,000.

Speaking on the initiative, Director, Consumer Segments at Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa noted that “with the rising demand for internet consumption in Nigeria, especially on Etisalat’s Easyblaze, it became necessary that we partner with mobile phone manufacturers to deliver Smartphone devices with internet access at affordable prices to people who wish to own one”.

Explaining that the offer is designed to take care of various market segments, Oluwole Rawa stated that “depending on the type of device customers purchase, they can get as much as 1.5GB free data from Etisalat when they buy from any Etisalat Experience center or partner stores nationwide.”

Rawa highlights that as part of this offer all “Customers also get a whopping 100% bonus data for 12 months on any data plan purchased between 200MB and 6GB.”

For smartphones bought at Samsung TECNO and other retail stores, subscribers are advised to SMS the keyword "data" to 8186, or dial *8186# while purchases made at any Etisalat Experience Centre will be activated in-store, at the time of purchase.

Google, Microsoft, Others to Participate at the 2nd Annual BrowseDotCom “Grassroot” Conference

BrowseDotCom, a web marketing company has announced the date for the second edition of their annual conference, BrowseDotCom Conference 2014.

About BrowseDotCom

BrowseDotCom is an award winning Web Media/IT Company based in Lagos Nigeria. They help small businesses, large companies and non-profit organizations take advantage of the Internet to increase sales, increase brand awareness or reduce operational costs by creating a web solution that will assist them in meeting their business objectives at an accelerated rate. Some of their services include web development, mobile application, software development, social media marketing and campaigns.

The theme for this years’ conference is “Creating, Driving and Sustaining Business with Technology”. Over 13 speakers and tech companies will be participating at the conference, which is focused on bringing technology to the grassroots level. The event which will take place on October 4th, 2014 at Ajegunle-Apapa, Lagos, will feature local and international speakers. Some of the speakers whom will be speaking at the conference include; Gbenga Sesan (Paradigm Initiative Nigeria), Alastair Curtis (Uber), Bayero Agabi (AIT Infotech Network), Riccardo Pasqualotto (2go), Tomi Davies (Lagos Angel Network), Shina Oyetosho (Microsoft), Emeka Afigbo (Google), Oyedokun Oyewole (Institute of Information Management), Ope Banwo (America Internet Business School) , Marek Zmyslowski (Jovago) Celebrity Singer, Benita Okojie and others.

Addressing the press, BrowseDotCom Conference Convener, Olatunde Farinde, noted “We are very pleased to be holding the second edition of our conference and are equally optimistic that it is going to be a great event. The purpose of this event is to create a more positive awareness of, promote and strengthen the technological, business and internet ecosystem in Nigeria; one community at a time. We aim to achieve this of course with support from important stakeholders and corporate bodies.”

The BROWSEDOTCOM CONFERENCE, which made it debut in 2012 in partnership with Google, is a day event designed to give the top companies in the tech sectors an opportunity to come together and discuss a wide variety of emerging transformation trends and strategies for business and tech development. The conference will feature presentations from well-known experts from tech companies, local and international speakers as well as leaders within the governmental space.

Speaking further about the conference, Olatunde Noted “Our goal at BROWSEDOTCOM is not only to become hosts of the most significant business and technological events in the history of Africa but also to impact lives in the process and I am delighted to announce that based on the feedback we have received till date following our first annual conference, we are well on our way to achieving this goal. Having met the expectations of over 1000 attendees from our previous conference who were technology enthusiast, computer science students and business owners, we are very optimistic that the result of our 2014 conference will by far supersede that of 2012”

The BROWSEDOTCOM CONFERENCE 2014 team also plans to set up a Non Governmental Organisation that will serve as an ICT training hub in the Ajegunle community. Our organisation will act as a link between corporate bodies and the community in the future, and will as such rely on all volunteer workforces to pull these types of activities together.

Prior to the Conference day, BrowseDotCom will train at least 40 youths and expose them to various technologies in a 3-week boot camp. The 3-week ICT boot camp will be the flagship of their agenda for the ICT training hub and the aim is to train at least 100 youths, every quarter. The participants from this boot camp will be recognised on the conference day where they will also receive a certificate for successfully completing their training course.

“We have the pleasure of inviting everyone with an interest in all areas of technology as this conference will give them unlimited access to inside information and key individuals in this sector. Due to limited seats, we would recommend all participants to pre-register at http://browsedotcom.com/conference in order to secure a seat as well as arrange transportation courtesy of UBER our official conference taxi partners whom are providing all participants with a free luxurious taxi ride between N3,500 and N10,000 to and from the event. Whilst registration is free, there is however a special package for participants who would like to seated in our VIP section.”

Dell Unveils Powerful New Solutions at VMworld; Designed to Optimise Virtual Infrastructure, Applications and Management

Dell unveiled a broad range of innovative solutions across its enterprise portfolio that optimise and simplify management and productivity within customers’ VMware virtualization environments. The new offerings showcase Dell and VMware’s long-standing and strong partnership to build unique, industry-leading product and service solutions, which help customers achieve more from their IT investments.

Industry forces such as cloud computing, big data, the internet of things, mobility, and software-defined IT are leading companies to think differently about traditional IT – services based on transactional system-of-records – and compelling businesses to reexamine their approach to creating, storing, moving and analysing information. Many are moving toward an approach that more closely mirrors new IT – business models and processes that are subscriber or relationship-oriented and require support for high-volume and high-velocity data processing.

“The collaboration between Dell and VMware continues to deliver innovative, industry-leading products and service solutions designed to help customers increase productivity and run their business more effectively,” said Samuel Greenblatt, Vice President of Engineered Solutions and Technology, Enterprise Solutions Group, at Dell. “With the introduction of the Dell Engineered Solution for VMware EVO: RAIL and other new solutions announced today, we are making it easier for customers to deploy and manage their IT environments including virtual infrastructure, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and private clouds.”

Taking a customer-first approach, Dell supports businesses wherever they are on their journey, from traditional IT to new IT, by adding to its portfolio of hyper-converged and software-defined offerings with new solutions for VMware environments:

Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO: RAIL™ bridge the capital and operational cost savings of new IT solutions while maintaining compatibility with traditional IT workloads. The appliances help customers streamline the deployment and scale-out of their virtual infrastructure and workloads.

A Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) reference architecture and new Dell Storage and VMware integrations help customers simplify traditional IT solutions including management and access of data and applications for traditional VMware environments.

Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO: RAIL

Dell introduced the Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO: RAIL, designed specifically for VMware environments, to help customers reduce common challenges associated with infrastructure and workload delivery. The new hyper-converged appliances, the latest additions to Dell’s broad engineered systems portfolio, deliver a transformative end-to-end user experience aimed at virtual infrastructure, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), private cloud and general-purpose workloads running in virtual environments. Using Dell servers with VMware EVO: RAIL software, the new systems are scalable, manageable and offer fast time-to-value, along with a simplified management experience that makes the appliances easy to use for customers of all sizes. Dell is delivering two editions of its Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO: RAIL:

Dell Engineered Solution for VMware EVO: RAIL, Virtual Infrastructure Edition – A solution for general purpose workloads which enables customer rapidly deploy and scale VMware based virtual infrastructure.

Dell Engineered Solution for VMware EVO: RAIL, VMware Horizon 6 – VDI specific solution that allows customers to quickly roll and scale infrastructure for virtual desktops to end users based on business demand.

Each appliance will be sold as a single item with hardware, software and support bundled together. Both editions are built leveraging Dell’s deep heritage and expertise with dense datacenter and server designs. The appliances includes an impressive four server nodes within a single 2U Server.

Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO: RAIL are an important addition to Dell’s growing engineered solutions portfolio. Dell brings to bear its expertise and industry leadership in x86 server architecture, hardware systems management, web scale deployments and expertise with VMware environments to help develop and co-engineer the appliance. The result is a tightly integrated hardware and software stack that delivers business agility while reducing a customer’s total cost of ownership.

“Dell has been a trusted partner of Oakland USD for many years. The company embodies the startup mentality while being a stable industry leader with long-term vision,” said John Krull, Information Technology Officer, Oakland Unified School District. “The Dell Engineered Solutions for VMware EVO: RAIL offer ease-of-use, simplicity of deployment, and pay-as-you-go scalability that is ideal for our virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) initiatives.”

Dell Engineered Solution for VMware EVO: RAIL, Virtual Infrastructure Edition will be available in September 2014, and Dell Engineered Solution for VMware EVO: RAIL, VMware Horizon 6, will be available later this year.

New Dell Storage for VMware

Dell announced a series of new Dell Storage and VMware integrations to help customers simplify management and access of data and applications for traditional VMware environments:

·Dell Storage PS and SC Series now offer support for VMware vCenter Operations Manager (vC Ops), for greater visibility into the performance, capacity and health of their virtualized IT infrastructure.

·Dell will offer Virtual Volumes (VVols) support with Dell Storage PS Series at launch of Virtual Volumes and SC Series to follow, enabling VM level storage management and data services for streamlined management, monitoring and data protection in virtualized environments.

·Dell FS8600 NAS appliances will offer VMware vSphere Storage APIs – Array Integration (VAAI), in Q1 2015, to speed up VMware operations with Dell’s file system solutions.

Additionally, to support and help optimise traditional IT in VMware environments, Dell also announced a new Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) reference architecture based on Dell servers, networking, and the new Dell Storage SC4020 arrays, which begin shipping globally this week. The reference architecture offers customers a jump start on an example 1,800-user VDI hosting environment with detailed performance characteristics of a single 2U Dell Storage SC4020 all-flash array.

New Dell Cloud Client-Computing Solutions Enhance Customers’ VDI Experience

New additions and updates to the Dell Cloud Client-Computing portfolio will improve and simplify customers’ IT environments and virtual desktop infrastructure through significant performance, flexibility, security and manageability enhancements.

The new Dell Wyse 3000 dual core thin client with Windows Embedded 7, Dell’s first Intel-based thin client, sets a new standard for performance and flexibility in a cost-effective and extremely compact thin client. Highlights include:

·Extreme flexibility with support for various selectable factory-installed high-speed and legacy interfaces. This device can connect to almost anything, from cutting-edge high-speed network connections to legacy peripherals.

·A cost-effective price point for the performance and connectivity of a mid to high-end thin client.

·Simplified management for various use cases, on premise with Dell Wyse Device Manager, or cloud-based with Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager, and scalable administration for just a few to tens of thousands of thin clients.

·Outstanding performance and brilliant graphics capabilities powered by the dual core Intel BayTrail processor in an extremely sleek, compact form factor.

Dell also announced new PCoIP capabilities for the Dell Wyse 5000 series all-in-one thin client. Since its debut as the most secure all-in-one on the market, this end point offers optimal reliability and performance in a sleek and elegant form factor. With the addition of VMware-based PCoIP it now offers:

·An extremely responsive virtual desktop experience, with rich 3D modeling and HD video multi-streaming capabilities for power users.

·More flexible connectivity and interface options, making it an excellent end point for almost any virtual desktop need.

Additionally, Dell Cloud Client-Computing introduced updates to its quad core D class 5000 and Z class 7000 thin clients, now featuring support for Dell Wyse-enhanced SUSE Linux. Leveraging the benefits of the SUSE Linux operating system, this update enhances powerful processing and rich graphics capabilities, security against malware and viruses, and deployment and management simplicity.

Dell has also updated its portfolio of end-to-end desktop virtualization solutions for VMware. To address customer concerns around the costs, storage, security and graphics capabilities of desktop virtualization, Dell Wyse Datacenter for VMware Horizon 6 now delivers VMware’s Virtual SAN, increased user densities and provides 3D graphic capabilities within a secure, scalable and certified environment. Additionally, the new Dell Wyse Datacenter for VMware Horizon DaaS offers enterprises of all types and sizes the capability to deploy Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) within their environment in a the public cloud, private cloud or a hybrid of these, with 3D graphics and all with the option of having Dell Managed VDI Services manage and monitor the end-to-end environment.

New Dell Software offerings simplify virtualization management

Dell Software will preview the newest edition of its virtualization management product offering Foglight for Virtualization, Enterprise 8.0,that delivers integrated virtual infrastructure change analytics, intelligent capacity planning and advanced customer dashboards to optimise performance, workflow and plan for growth across heterogeneous environments. It offers IT administrator’s insight and control to change tracking across the virtual environment with unmatched granularity. This newest release comes on the heels of general availability of Foglight for Virtualization 7.2 with vSwitch virtual Ethernet network management support that delivers packet level analysis with netflow technology. Foglight for Virtualization addresses the operational challenges of IT teams who need deep visibility across virtual and physical resources to identify and fix performance problems in virtual environments across all hypervisors, and plan for rapidly growing organisational needs.

Dell Services further simplified disaster recovery with the introduction of its disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) with Dell Cloud Dedicated Service bundle. Built on Dell’s hosted private-cloud service and using proven VMware Site Recovery Manager replication technology, Dell DRaaS helps customers replicate their production sites and streamline recovery. Available today, Dell DRaaS offers cloud hosting with enterprise-class features and industry-leading Dell SecureWorks protection for less than $4,000 per month.

GoTravelsandTours

http://gotravelsandtours.govima-ng.com/

SURFLINE'S 4G LTE NETWORK GOES LIVE, MAKING IT THE LARGEST IN AFRICA

Surfline is revolutionizing the data experience on the continent

Surfline Communications in Ghana has officially launched the country first 4G LTE service. With nearly 300 cell sites, Surfline becomes the largest single LTE deployment in Africa to date, as they make a splash in the Ghanaian market.

In their commitment to bring international standards to the African market, Surfline has raised the bar on both existing and new operators in the country. From their experiential stores and 24/7-call centre to their impressive technology partners and plans for expansion across Africa.

Surfline’s Founder and Executive Chairman, John Taylor, a visionary in Ghana’s oil sector, has invested over a $100 million to launch the network in Accra and Tema. He noted that, “Across the world, people are enjoying super-fast Internet speeds powered by 4G LTE.Surfline is proud to bring this technology into Ghana for the first time and for Ghanaians to experience the difference it brings”. Taylor also believes, “Surfline will open the economy to new jobs and industries in technology, like application development, while also helping other sectors, like banking, retail and energy, do business more efficiently”.

In order to create a world-class network, Surfline selected last year Alcatel-Lucent to set-up and deploy its industry-leading 4G LTE ultra high-speed mobile broadband product capabilities that include.LTE Radio Access Network, Evolved Packet Core and Professional services to install, optimize, maintain and manage the LTE network

Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent in Africa said: "Alcatel-Lucent is proud to be Surfline's partner in developing and launching its 4G LTE wireless broadband network in Ghana. This network has been built from scratch and based on best-in-class technology to deliver much higher speed than previous deployed technologies.

"This is a key success factor for LTE networks everywhere. We congratulate Surfline on its successful LTE launch, and look forward to this network and associated services changing the way customers in Ghana and Africa as whole communicate and consume data!” he added

Surfline’s ultra-modern experiential stores are the brainchild of Surfline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Justice Taylor who envisioned something different for the new telecommunications brand. While giving personal tours of the shop at the launch Taylor remarked that, “after years of researching technology retail outlets throughout the world, I knew that this wasn’t just something Ghana needed, it was something Ghana deserved and by extension to the other African countries”. He added, “Our in-store technical support lounge, reSTART, is the first of its kind in Ghana and will only enhance the level of service our customers receive”.

For Surfline, their network is about even more than the unbeatable speed. It’s about creating an experience that the customer can trust, believe in and return to again-and-again with confidence.

Intel Unveils New Developer Tools, Future Technologies Spanning Tablets, Analytics, Wearable Devices and PCs at Developer Forum

Announces Availability of Intel® Edison and 2nd Generation LTE Modem Platforms

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, San Francisco, Sept. 9, 2014 –Intel Corporation CEO Brian Krzanich kicked off Intel's annual technical conference with a broad set of computing initiatives and projects showing how the company is moving quickly to enable new market segments where everything is smart and connected. Krzanich and other executivesannounced new hardware and software developer tools, previewed upcoming Intel technologies and announced new products across several technology segments.

“With our diverse product portfolio and developer tools that span key growth segments, operating systems and form factors, Intel offers hardware and software developers new ways to grow as well as design flexibility,”said Brian Krzanich, Intel CEO. “If it’s smart and connected, it is best with Intel.”
During the keynote, Krzanich was joined on the keynote stage byseveral Intel executives, Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell*, and Greg McKelvey, executive vice president and chief strategy and marketing officer of the Fossil Group*.

The technical conference’s format and content were revamped this year to appeal to an expanded range of engineers and programmers, reflecting Intel’s efforts to extend the reach of Intel technology. The agenda and technology showcase content expanded beyond PCs, mobile and the data center to also include the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables and other new devices created by so-called “makers” and inventors. More than 4,500 peopleare attending the forum this week from around the world.

Developer Tools News Items
•Intel announced the Intel Reference Design for Androidprogram to offer tablet users a high quality, consistent experience based on the latest Android* operating system. Intel will help scale the deployment process of Android for tablet manufacturers by providing the software engineering work, streamlined access to Google Mobile Services*, as well as support for updates and upgrades to future Android releases.

•Intel announcedthe Analytics for Wearables (A-Wear)developerprogramthat will accelerate development and deployment of new wearable applications with data-driven intelligence. The developer programintegrates a number of software components, including tools and algorithms from Intel anddata management capabilities from Cloudera* CDH all deployed on a cloud infrastructure optimized on Intel® architecture. Developers of Intel wearables will use the A-Wear developer programfreeofcharge.

Intel Product Availability News Items

•Intel announced the first commercial availability of the Intel® XMM™ 7260 modem, now shipping in the Samsung* Galaxy Alpha smartphone for Europe and other regional markets. The Intel XMM7260 and Intel® XMM™ 7262 modems support one of the industry’s fastest mobile standards, delivering Category 6 data rates up to 300 Mbps. The modems are Intel’s second-generation LTE platforms and provide device manufacturers a high-performance, power-efficient solution for the coming wave of LTE-Advanced networks and devices.

•Intel® Edison, a postage stamp-size computer with built-in wireless that was announced at CES, is now shipping and available. The platform is designed to enable rapid innovation and product development from inventors, entrepreneurs and consumer product designers by simplifying the design process, increasing durability and providing additional cost savings.

•AT&T* will be the exclusive carrier for the “My Intelligent Communication Accessory”(MICA) bracelet designed by Opening Ceremony, engineered by Intel, that was introduced last week in New York.

Product and Innovation Preview News Items

•Michael Dell and Krzanich previewed an upcoming Dell tablet with first-of-its-kind photo capabilities. The new Dell Venue 8 7000 Series with Intel® RealSense™ snapshot is the world’s thinnest tablet and will be available in time for the holiday season. Intel RealSense snapshot is an enhanced photography solution that creates a high-definition depth map to enable measurement, refocus and selective filters with a touch of a finger. It will introduce new capabilities and new ways of using the tablet, opening up a new creative horizon for developers to come up with apps that change how consumers engage with their photos.

•Intel® Wireless Gigabit Docking – a full wireless experience that includes wireless docking, wireless display and wireless charging – was demonstrated via an Intel reference design based on a 14nm next-generation Intel processor.

•Developers got a preview of the next generation 14nm Intel® Core™ processor for 2015.

•Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking joined the conference via video to discuss how technology for the disabled is often a proving ground for the technology of the future.In connection with Hawking's video attendance, Intel revealed for the first time a unique Connected Wheelchair Project, a proof of concept designed by Intel interns as part of the Intel Collaborators program. The project demonstrated how to transform standard “things” into data-driven, connected machines using the Intel Galileo Development Kit, based on Intel® Quark processors, and Intel® Gateway Solutions for the IoT, featuring Wind River* and McAfee* security products.

IDF Preview

•Developers will experience 164 technical sessions with industry and Intel experts.

•Intel’s business units and more than 180 leading companies from around the world will showcase 700 hands-on demonstrations of their newest innovations and future technologies at the IDF Industry Technology Showcase.

•During the IoT mega session this morning, Intel Vice President Doug Davis will address interoperability and security challenges and describe Intel’s integrated hardware and software building blocks for edge-to-cloud IoT solutions. He will disclose that Intel is collaborating with AT&T*, Cisco*, GE* and IBM* to create complete solutions utilizing their platforms and Intel’s building blocks. The companies will announce joint products that are available today in addition to future product plans.

•In the Intel Edison, Wearables and New Devices mega session this afternoon, Intel Vice President Mike Bell will preview several Intel Edison-powered prototype devices, including a 3-Dprinted interactive garment and a braille printer and embosser. Meridian Audio*, a top high performance audio and video component manufacturer, will also discuss how Intel Edison contributes to advancing its wireless audio product offerings.

•During the Software Developer mega session this afternoon, Intel Vice President Doug Fisherwill introduce tools that help developers create software easier, faster and across ecosystems. He will also talk about the ease with which OEMs and ODMs will be able to build a Windows-* or Android-based device using customized tools and reference designs from Intel.

•In the Mobile Technology mega session this afternoon, Intel Vice President Hermann Eulwill challenge developers to play a role in solving the world’s most critical problems and advancing societies across the globe, in particular in developing countries, through innovations for the most prominent technology in people’s hands, the mobile device. He will highlight the hardware, software and communications technologies that will allow developers to tap into this opportunity and aid in providing change, progress and innovation.

•During the Data Center mega session tomorrow morning, Intel Senior Vice President Diane Bryant will discuss how data centers are being re-architected, driven in large part by the rise of the digital service economy. This session will include an update on future Intel silicon photonics products and details on how Intel is tailoring products for individual data center customers.

•In the PC Reinvention and Innovation mega session tomorrow morning, Intel Senior Vice President Kirk Skaugenwill discuss how developers can address the 600 million unit global opportunity of 4-year-old and older PCs that could be replaced with exciting new form factors and new experiences across multiple operating systems. Skaugen will update developers on ChromeOS* and Intel® Wireless Display momentum, and as well as the Alliance for Wireless Power wireless charging consortium.

Supporting Resources

•Photos: MICA, “My Intelligent Communication Accessory”, by Opening Ceremony and Intel
•Photo: Intel® Edison
•Photo:Dell Venue 8 7000 Series* with Intel RealSense Snapshot
•Fact sheet: Intel’s 2014 LTE-Advanced Communications Platform Now Shipping
•Blog by Intel Vice President Doug Fisher: Intel Reference Design for Android
•Blog by Intel Vice President Mike Bell: Intel, Fossil to Advance Wearable Designs
•IDF14 keynote webcast
•IDF14 virtual media kit

Intel Announces IDF 2014 Technology Innovation Accelerated Award Winners

Alcatel-Lucent*, Lenovo* and Microsoft* Capture Top Honors

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Alcatel-Lucent*, Lenovo* and Microsoft* won “Best of Show” honors at IDF 2014.

· The awards recognize pioneers in technology based on a variety of Intel platforms.

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM – Alcatel-Lucent*, Lenovo* and Microsoft* captured top honors at the Intel Technology Innovation Accelerated (TIA) Awards, which recognize exceptional use of Intel technology.

Twenty-five demonstrations were selected from a pool of 55 applications to vie for awards in nine categories. A panel of Intel employees selected finalists that displayed innovation in the integration of suites of hardware, software, services and support that creates new capabilities for all facets in people’s lives – focusing on productivity, information and entertainment.

Winners were determined by journalist and analyst votes at the three-day technical conference at Moscone Center.

In addition to the nine category winners, three “Best of Show” winners were selected:

· Lenovo won “Best of Show” in the hardware category with its ThinkPad Helix* 2 in 1.

· Alcatel-Lucent won “Best of Show” in the software and services category with its CloudBand* platform.

· Microsoft won “Best of Show” in the combined solutions group category with its Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials*.

The categorical winners were:


Hardware Group

·Mobile Solution: Lenovo for its ThinkPad Helix, a 2 in 1 that combines the portability of a tablet with the productivity of a laptop. Users rely on five modes to stay productive – tablet, stand, tent, laptop and dock.

·Data Center Solution: Dell* for its PowerEdge R730xd*, a database server with an incredible range of configurability and easy lifecycle manageability.

·Component Solution: Murata Electronics* for its fiber optical transceiver, or FOT module, a solution for Thunderbolt™ data transmission that can be applied to many types of Active Optical Cables, also known as AOC.

Software & Services Group

·Cloud Solution: Alcatel-Lucent for its CloudBand platform for network functions virtualization, also known as NFV. CloudBand Management System and CloudBand Nodes demonstrate single-click deployment and provisioning of an Alcatel-Lucent virtual EPC and vIMS within minutes to create a fully functional LTE network.

·Usage of APIs and SDKs: HyTrust* for its Boundary Controls*, which let organizations proactively control where virtual workloads can run in order to mitigate the risks of data mobility that virtualization and cloud create.

·Most Innovative App: Maxta Inc.* for its MaxDeploy*, the first hyper-converged solution to run on the Intel® Xeon® processor E5 v3. Maxta demonstrated significant improvements over the previous generation of x86 servers in number of I/O transactions per second, read-write latency and the number of Microsoft Exchange* users deployed on a server.

Combined Solutions Group:

·Consumer Solution: HCL Technologies* for its Intel® Galileo-based building automation system (BAS). Using a smartwatch, a building administrator can use HCL’s BAS solution to receive fire, motion and air pollution alerts; control lights and appliances; and monitor temperature, humidity and noise within a building.

·Business Productivity Solution: Microsoft for its Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials. Small organizations can focus on their core business instead of managing IT and still have access to file storage on any device, protect critical data and make cloud integration possible.

·Industrial Solution: NEXCOM International* for its NIO 100* industrial Internet of Things (IoT) gateway with Intel® Quark technology. NIO 100 is a fanless and cost-efficient solution that collects local data and transmits it to the cloud by 3G, Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Winners received a trophy to commemorate their TIA award accomplishment. All non-Intel IDF exhibitors and sponsors were eligible for the awards.

Nigeria Com

It's your last chance to register!

With only 5 days to go until NigeriaCom opens its doors, it's your last chance to join the largest dedicated Telecoms and digital event in the region! Register now to secure your place and network with hundreds of senior level decision makers

Don't forget, regional operators, regulators and banks attend for FREE.

What's new for 2014?

The Most informed operator strategies
How to create more efficient networks, operate leaner business models, manage infrastructure effectively improve quality of service

LTE Showcase
Highlighting 4G/LTE breakthroughs in Nigeria and their immediate impact on the market

Chief Regulatory Round table
Discusses the national broadband strategy with key input from alliance for affordable Internet and regulatory representatives from A4AI and the Federal Ministry of Communications.

The CIO Forum
The CIO forum exists to help Nigerian businesses transform into efficient digital enterprises. all tech leaders and It officers from large enterprises will come together to better manage the four pillars of transformation: mobile, social, big data and cloud.

Strategies for MNOs & MVNOs

Exploring what MVNO models could work in Nigeria. with little regulation to support growth in the MVNO model is the market now ripe for growth through partnerships?

Visit: www.comworldseries.com/nigeria

Joan Rivers, IPhone6 and Super Eagles make top Search trends on Google this week (September 4 - September 11, 2014)

JOAN RIVERS

E’s Fashion Police will surely miss the big-mouthed funny Joan. The comedienne, actress, writer, producer, and television host passed away on the 4th of September. She died at the age of 81 after her heart stopped while undergoing a surgery. She was buried amidst glamour; one of her wishes while she was alive. As she may have wanted too, it made the top search trends for this week.

IPHONE 6, IPHONE 6 PLUS

The late Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., would be very glad with his growing empire wherever he is. The sophistication of Apple phones has continued to awe the world. Yet again, they have added new members to the iPhone family - the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus. The iPhone 6 and 6 plus were unveiled on the 9th of September alongside a smartwatch. Nigerians immediately took to Google to check out the features and interestingly, the price. Don’t be surprised when you see your neighbour with it before the end of next week.

LEO TOLSTOY

Many who tried accessing Google on the 9th of September probably saw a cartoon form of a man, Leo Tolstoy, being used on the Google doodle. The writer’s 186th birthday was marked by Google on that day. He lived from 1828 to November 20, 1910. Users who proceeded to click on the Doodle were entertained with a slideshow of scenes from the writer’s various books. Happy Birthday in arrears, Leo Tolstoy.

NIGERIA VS SOUTH AFRICA

Football happens to be a universal sport that can unite warring parties whilst the match is ongoing. Nigeria’s Super Eagles played South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Wednesday, September 10 as part of the qualifying match round for the Africa Nations Championship. Those who could not tune their television sets to watch the match did so via Google. The match ended goalless; putting Nigeria third on the group’s table since they lost their match against Congo on Saturday, September 6.

NIGERIA VS CONGO

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were humbled by the visiting Red Devils of Congo on Saturday September 6th in the opening Group A match of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The 2 - 3 scoreline defeat made it the first time the Nigerian side would lose a football match at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

OTHER GOOGLE HOT TRENDS ARE:

Neco

Don Jazzy

Serena Williams

Ray Rice

Big Brother Africa

Neco Result

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BEST OF THE BEST: SAP REVEALS 2014 AFRICA PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

SAP is proud to announce the finalists and winners for the prestigious 2014 SAP Africa Partner of the Year Awards.

The SAP Africa Partner of the Year Awards is the company’s premier partner recognition programme that shines the acknowledgement spotlight upon its most outstanding partners, who have excelled in developing a partnership with SAP and in helping their customers optimise their operations, boost their productivity, and increase their respective revenues on the continent.

As with the Academy Awards, it is an honour to be nominated within a category, but one company has to win the award on the night. Always a firm favourite, the New Partner of the Year award nominees were, AXEL Enterprise Systems, Conseils Plus and Allos Consulting with the latter coming up tops on the night.

An equally competitive group of nominees constituted the Strategic Industry Awards: Energy & Natural Resources Partner of the Year category with Accenture, Indra and Twenty Third Century Systems competing for top honours. Accenture emerged as the victor within this Strategic Industry Awards category.

The Partner of the Year Southern Africa Award saw Accenture, EOH and Twenty Third Century Systems vying for the top honour but it was Twenty Third Century Systems who got up to collect the award.

Last, but definitely not least, was the highly sought after Regional MD Awards category, which saw Indra (East Africa), Nosmay (West Africa) and Roff (Francophone) walk away with the award.

The criteria all nominees and winners have to conform to are not for the faint of heart and all nominees have to excel in the building of revenue, customer growth, increase in joint channel activities and even the adherence to ongoing attendance to courses that ensure they are current in all SAP technologies.

“SAP chooses the winners based upon four factors, which are co-innovation, market expansion, service delivery and sustainability. In order to make the best decision, we consult with our own customers as well as field leaders, industry experts and also analyse the key performance indicators of the nominees,” explains Desmond Nair, Director General Business & Partner Ecosystem at SAP Africa.

The smiles and frowns of facial recognition

The use of facial recognition within surveillance systems is gaining a lot of traction locally, especially in secure environments such as border posts, as well as platinum- and gold mines where these systems protect employees against illegal miners and the mines themselves from product theft.

This acceleration in the uptake of facial recognition can amongst other factors be ascribed to the various strengths of this system that includes the ability to cut down on the need for additional security investment as facial recognition systems leverages a business’s existing equipment.

In addition, these systems employ mostly software-based technology and are capable of working with existing high-quality CCTV cameras and photo ID systems. Unlike other biometric security systems such as fingerprint scanners, facial recognition systems have the ability to operate without any physical contact and are also the only solutions that are capable of identification, without the need for subject co-operation by the subjects of the surveillance.

On the flipside of the coin, there are a couple of chinks in facial recognition’s security armour. Firstly, changes in people’s appearance might have an impact on some systems that are not robust, and secondly, the use of certain clothing items like eyeglasses, hats and scarves may result in the failure of some systems in identifying users.

Picking out criminal needles from the populous haystack

In order to ensure that facial recognition systems operate at optimal levels, these systems need to adhere to a number of requirements:

·Cameras and image quality – Companies need to use cameras that record at the same resolution for enrollment (entering individuals into a face-recognition database) and surveillance purposes. The minimum camera resolution to be used should be HD-Ready (720p), but full HD (1080p) is recommended.

·Lighting – Whilst doing enrollment as well as the camera surveillance, controlled lighting conditions need to be the order of the day, with direct frontal light yielding the best results as this allows for the even lighting distribution on each side of the subjects’ faces.

·Facial position – When enrollment is being done, it is best to capture images of subjects’ faces from a number of different views to simplify the task of facial recognition by the system from almost any angle.

·Alterations in appearance – If an employee makes a drastic change in their appearance such as growing or shaving off their beard or switching from contact lenses to glasses, they should go for additional enrolment sessions.

Biometric security at face value

Biometric technology is already being utilised in South Africa thanks to the popularity of fingerprint scanners to limit access to certain areas to employees with the right clearance level. However, the future of the technology is facial recognition systems thanks to its improved effectiveness, accuracy, scalability and reliability of the systems involved.

Intel Unveils New Developer Tools, Future Technologies Spanning Tablets, Analytics, Wearable Devices and PCs at Developer Forum

Announces Availability of Intel® Edison and 2nd Generation LTE Modem Platforms

Intel Corporation CEO Brian Krzanich kicked off Intel's annual technical conference with a broad set of computing initiatives and projects showing how the company is moving quickly to enable new market segments where everything is smart and connected. Krzanich and other executives announced new hardware and software developer tools, previewed upcoming Intel technologies and announced new products across several technology segments.

“With our diverse product portfolio and developer tools that span key growth segments, operating systems and form factors, Intel offers hardware and software developers new ways to grow as well as design flexibility,” said Brian Krzanich, Intel CEO. “If it’s smart and connected, it is best with Intel.”

During the keynote, Krzanich was joined on the keynote stage by several Intel executives, Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell*, and Greg McKelvey, executive vice president and chief strategy and marketing officer of the Fossil Group*.

The technical conference’s format and content were revamped this year to appeal to an expanded range of engineers and programmers, reflecting Intel’s efforts to extend the reach of Intel technology. The agenda and technology showcase content expanded beyond PCs, mobile and the data center to also include the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables and other new devices created by so-called “makers” and inventors. More than 4,500 people are attending the forum this week from around the world.

Developer Tools News Items

·Intel announced the Intel Reference Design for Android program to offer tablet users a high quality, consistent experience based on the latest Android* operating system. Intel will help scale the deployment process of Android for tablet manufacturers by providing the software engineering work, streamlined access to Google Mobile Services*, as well as support for updates and upgrades to future Android releases.

·Intel announced the Analytics for Wearables (A-Wear) developer program that will accelerate development and deployment of new wearable applications with data-driven intelligence. The developer program integrates a number of software components, including tools and algorithms from Intel and data management capabilities from Cloudera* CDH all deployed on a cloud infrastructure optimized on Intel® architecture. Developers of Intel wearables will use the A-Wear developer program free of charge.

Intel Product Availability News Items

Intel announced the first commercial availability of the Intel® XMM™ 7260 modem, now shipping in the Samsung* Galaxy Alpha smartphone for Europe and other regional markets. The Intel XMM 7260 and Intel® XMM™ 7262 modems support one of the industry’s fastest mobile standards, delivering Category 6 data rates up to 300 Mbps. The modems are Intel’s second-generation LTE platforms and provide device manufacturers a high-performance, power-efficient solution for the coming wave of LTE-Advanced networks and devices.

·Intel® Edison, a postage stamp-size computer with built-in wireless that was announced at CES, is now shipping and available. The platform is designed to enable rapid innovation and product development from inventors, entrepreneurs and consumer product designers by simplifying the design process, increasing durability and providing additional cost savings.

·AT&T* will be the exclusive carrier for the “My Intelligent Communication Accessory” (MICA) bracelet designed by Opening Ceremony, engineered by Intel, that was introduced last week in New York.

Product and Innovation Preview News Items

·Michael Dell and Krzanich previewed an upcoming Dell tablet with first-of-its-kind photo capabilities. The new Dell Venue 8 7000 Series with Intel® RealSense™ snapshot is the world’s thinnest tablet and will be available in time for the holiday season. Intel RealSense snapshot is an enhanced photography solution that creates a high-definition depth map to enable measurement, refocus and selective filters with a touch of a finger. It will introduce new capabilities and new ways of using the tablet, opening up a new creative horizon for developers to come up with apps that change how consumers engage with their photos.

·Intel® Wireless Gigabit Docking – a full wireless experience that includes wireless docking, wireless display and wireless charging – was demonstrated via an Intel reference design based on a 14nm next-generation Intel processor.

·Developers got a preview of the next generation 14nm Intel® Core™ processor for 2015.

·Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking joined the conference via video to discuss how technology for the disabled is often a proving ground for the technology of the future. In connection with Hawking's video attendance, Intel revealed for the first time a unique Connected Wheelchair Project, a proof of concept designed by Intel interns as part of the Intel Collaborators program. The project demonstrated how to transform standard “things” into data-driven, connected machines using the Intel Galileo Development Kit, based on Intel® Quark processors, and Intel® Gateway Solutions for the IoT, featuring Wind River* and McAfee* security products.

IDF Preview

·Developers will experience 164 technical sessions with industry and Intel experts.

·Intel’s business units and more than 180 leading companies from around the world will showcase 700 hands-on demonstrations of their newest innovations and future technologies at the IDF Industry Technology Showcase.

·During the IoT mega session this morning, Intel Vice President Doug Davis will address interoperability and security challenges and describe Intel’s integrated hardware and software building blocks for edge-to-cloud IoT solutions. He will disclose that Intel is collaborating with AT&T*, Cisco*, GE* and IBM* to create complete solutions utilizing their platforms and Intel’s building blocks. The companies will announce joint products that are available today in addition to future product plans.

·In the Intel Edison, Wearables and New Devices mega session this afternoon, Intel Vice President Mike Bell will preview several Intel Edison-powered prototype devices, including a 3-D printed interactive garment and a braille printer and embosser. Meridian Audio*, a top high performance audio and video component manufacturer, will also discuss how Intel Edison contributes to advancing its wireless audio product offerings.

·During the Software Developer mega session this afternoon, Intel Vice President Doug Fisher will introduce tools that help developers create software easier, faster and across ecosystems. He will also talk about the ease with which OEMs and ODMs will be able to build a Windows-* or Android-based device using customized tools and reference designs from Intel.

·In the Mobile Technology mega session this afternoon, Intel Vice President Hermann Eul will challenge developers to play a role in solving the world’s most critical problems and advancing societies across the globe, in particular in developing countries, through innovations for the most prominent technology in people’s hands, the mobile device. He will highlight the hardware, software and communications technologies that will allow developers to tap into this opportunity and aid in providing change, progress and innovation.

·During the Data Center mega session tomorrow morning, Intel Senior Vice President Diane Bryant will discuss how data centers are being re-architected, driven in large part by the rise of the digital service economy. This session will include an update on future Intel silicon photonics products and details on how Intel is tailoring products for individual data center customers.

·In the PC Reinvention and Innovation mega session tomorrow morning, Intel Senior Vice President Kirk Skaugen will discuss how developers can address the 600 million unit global opportunity of 4-year-old and older PCs that could be replaced with exciting new form factors and new experiences across multiple operating systems. Skaugen will update developers on ChromeOS* and Intel® Wireless Display momentum, and as well as the Alliance for Wireless Power wireless charging consortium.

Intel unveils world’s thinnest processor

Intel has unveiled a generation of processors with the smallest transistors featured in any product. According to the company, the new Intel® Core™ M processor, will power new 2 in 1 devices from a variety of manufacturers including: Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba. Delivering the optimal blend of mobility and performance, Intel’s new processor was purpose-built for amazing performance in the thinnest, fanless ultra-mobile devices. The Intel Core M processor can power razor-thin devices with Intel Core level performance and deliver up to double the battery life when compared to a four-year old system.

According to Senior Vice President and General Manager of personal computing at Intel Corporation, Kirk Skaugen, The introduction of Core M marks a significant milestone in that journey,” Core M is the first of a new product family designed to deliver the promise of one of the world’s thinnest laptops and highest performance tablets in a single 2 in 1 device.”

The Intel Core M processor physical size is 50% smaller and 30% thinner than that of the equivalent last-generation Haswell chip, which featured 22-nanometre (meaning billionths of a metre) transistors

The Intel Core M processor can handle more than eight hours of video play; which is up to 20 percent (1.7 hours) longer battery life versus the previous generation Intel Core processor.

Fossil Group and Intel Announce Collaboration to Develop Innovation in Wearable Technology

Fossil Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL) (the "Company") and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) announced today that they will be collaborating to further develop wearable technology for the fashion industry.

Fossil group and Intel Corporation has announced that they will be collaborating to further develop wearable technology for the fashion industry

Fossil Group, a global design, marketing and distribution company specializing in fashion accessories will partner with Intel, a leader and innovator in the technology industry, to identify, support and develop emerging trends in the wearable technology space. The companies will work together on emerging products and technologies that will be developed for the fashion-oriented consumer. Fossil Group is committed to being a leader in the space and its work with Intel will enable iconic fashion brands within the Company's portfolio to participate in wearable technology in a fashionable way.

KostaKartsotis, Chief Executive Officer of Fossil Group, commented: "We are very excited about collaborating with Intel and working to develop the next innovation in the emerging wearable technology space. Combining our fashion lifestyle brands with Intel's expertise in technology, hardware and innovation will position us to be a leader in this segment."

Mike Bell, Vice President of Intel and General Manager of the New Devices Group, said: "The combination of Intel's technology and Fossil Group's ability to design innovative fashion accessories and to create, market and distribute globally is why we are confident about this initiative. We are focused on identifying trends and emerging uses of technology and accelerating wearable technology innovation worldwide."

In addition, Fossil Group will work closely with Intel Capital, Intel's global investment organization, to identify and evaluate co-investments in emerging technologies to accelerate industry innovation and stay at the forefront of the wearable consumer trend. Intel Capital has invested in a wide range of start-ups in the wearables space, including Thalmic Labs and Basis.

Etisalat Unveils New Reward Redemptions For GEM customers

In line with its commitment to constantly show appreciation for customers’ loyalty, Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat has announced the first cycle of reward redemptions for its high value customers. This reward is part of the Etisalat GEM Loyalty Scheme launched last year to reward high value customers in the different spend-bands.

With the scheme, broken down into three different spend bands, Etisalat GEM customers will be rewarded with amazing gifts ranging from free data, free dongles, MiFi and series of latest smartphone devices.

Director, Consumer Segment at Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa, explained that the new reward redemption is borne out of the company’s desire to continually show appreciation to its high value customers for their loyalty. In his words “we recognize that without our valuable customers, we would have very little to celebrate as an organisation. We identify our GEM customers as key to the success of our company and we will not relent in showing our appreciation for their loyalty,” he said.

Revealing the rewards for each category, Rawa disclosed that for band 1, customers who spend between N10,000 to N29,999 monthly will be rewarded with free Dongle plus 500MB data for 6 months. While band 2 will be rewarding customers with free MiFi and 500MB data for 12 months For spending N30,000 to N49,999 monthly. Lastly, customers who spends up to N50,000 and above monthly, will be rewarded with the latest Smartphone in the market.

Appreciating Etisalat for understanding the impact of the customers in its business, one of the first batch of Etisalat GEM customers to receive his reward of a Samsung S5, Mr. Livingstone Magorimbo said “It was really a huge surprise for me when I got the news. I am glad for the appreciation and I am sure I will stay with Etisalat for the long haul,” he said.

It will be recalled that in July 2014, Etisalat Nigeria under the GEM list of rewards, treated some of its GEM customers with an all-expense paid trip to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to watch the Nigeria versus Argentina match for being top spenders (customers) on its network.

(L-R): Etisalat GEM customer, Livingstone Magorimbo, receiving the latest Samsung device from Etisalat Marina Experience Centre Manager, Oluwaseun Ayebiwo

Microsoft Mobile Opens Care Centers in Port Harcourt and Aba

Microsoft has opened two after sales service centers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Aba, Abia State as a way to bring premium after-sales services closer to its consumers in the states and its environs. The two outlets, known as Nokia Care Centers are staffed by well trained and competent personnel.

The centers which formally commenced operations on Saturday will render in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs services. The new Nokia Care Centers, it was gathered have personnel that can repair faulty devices, offer technical advice on how to handle devices in order to get the best out of it. The shops will also handle device swaps among other services.

The Centers are located along Okpororo Road, off Artillery Junction, Port Harcourt and 31 saint Michaels Road, Aba.

Speaking during a media chat shortly before the launch, Nokia Care Channel Manager, Nokia West and Central Africa, David Efanga explained that extending the Nokia Care Centers to the two locations was in response to the yearnings of Nokia users in the areas and its environs.

“It is our delight to bring our premium after sales services to our customers in Port Harcourt and Aba. This will help to solve customers’ challenges because going forward, they can enjoy after sales services easily and faster as against what formally obtained when they have to send their devices all the way to Lagos which is a long process.

“We are really glad to finally see the completion of these two centers in both cities and we intend to extend the center to other states and cities across Nigeria. In addition to the services, we would also provide web services which can allow people get information about their phone online. The center will also avail customers the opportunity to purchase our gears which can be used with Microsoft devices and other devices” he added.

Some of the guest who spoke at the media launch of the centers commended Microsoft for opening the outlets in the two cities. They noted that it was a welcome development adding that with the opening of the shops they will no longer patronize ill-trained artisans who handle device repairs.

L-R: Nokia Gear Accessories Distributor, Sholaja Oluwafemi; Nokia Care Representative, South-south and South-East Region, Anthony Okafor, Nokia Care Channel Manager, Nokia West and Cetral Africa, David Efanga and Retail Team Lead, Nokia Nigeria, South-South Region, Modestus Igbosofulu, during the commissioning of Nokia Care Centers in Port Harcourt and Aba on Saturday.

FIRST 4G LTE NETWORK GOES LIVE, MAKING IT THE LARGEST IN AFRICA

GHANA’S FIRST 4G LTE NETWORK GOES LIVE, MAKING IT THE LARGEST IN AFRICA
Surfline is revolutionizing the data experience on the continent

Surfline Communications in Ghana has officially launched the country first 4G LTE service. With nearly 300 cell sites, Surfline becomes the largest single LTE deployment in Africa to date, as they make a splash in the Ghanaian market.

In their commitment to bring international standards to Ghana, Surfline has raised the bar on both existing and new operators in the country. From their sophisticated experiential stores and 24/7-call centre to their impressive technology partners and plans for nationwide expansion, Surfline has arrived.

Surfline’s Founder and Executive Chairman, John Taylor, a visionary in Ghana’s oil sector, has invested over a $100 million to launch the network in Accra and Tema. He noted that, “Across the world, people are enjoying super-fast Internet speeds powered by 4G LTE. Surfline is proud to bring this technology into Ghana for the first time and for Ghanaians to experience the difference it brings”. Taylor also believes, “Surfline will open the economy to new jobs and industries in technology, like application development, while also helping other sectors, like banking, retail and energy, do business more efficiently”.

In order to create a world-class network, Surfline selected last year Alcatel-Lucent to set-up and deploy its industry-leading 4G LTE ultra high-speed mobile roadband product capabilities that include: LTE Radio Access Network, Evolved Packet Core and Professional services to install, optimize, maintain and manage the LTE network.

Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent in Africa said: "Alcatel-Lucent is proud to be Surfline's partner in developing and launching its 4G LTE wireless broadband network in Ghana. This network has been built from scratch and based on best-in-class technology to deliver much higher speed than previous deployed technologies.

This is a key success factor for LTE networks everywhere. We congratulate Surfline on its successful LTE launch, and look forward to this network and associated services changing the way customers in Ghana communicate and consume data!”

Surfline started testing its 4G LTE network in June this year in an attempt to shape customer experience before the commercial launch, but that was just the beginning. When the curtain was drawn and Surfline’s Flagship Store (in Osu) was revealed to the public for the first time, the audience was blown away by the superior quality.

Surfline’s ultra-modern experiential stores are the brainchild of Surfline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Justice Taylor who envisioned something different for the new telecommunications brand. While giving personal tours of the shop at the launch Taylor remarked that, “after years of researching technology retail outlets throughout the world, I knew that this wasn’t just something Ghana needed, it was something Ghana deserved”. He added, “Our in-store technical support lounge, reSTART, is the first of its kind in Ghana and will only enhance the level of service our customers receive”.

For Surfline, their network is about even more than the unbeatable speed. It’s about creating an experience that the customer can trust, believe in and return to again-and-again with confidence.

FG appoints Yusuf Kazaure as MD Galaxy Backbone

There will be change of guard today in Galaxy Backbone Ltd., where Mr. Yusuf Kazaure, former Executive Director for Corporate Services will take over from Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, pioneer Managing Director, who is retiring after an eight-year maximum statutory tenure.

The new Managing Director is a CommTech for Development expert who kicked it off as foundation CEO of Jigawa State's Galaxy Information Technology and Telecommunication Ltd in 2002. He crossed over to Galaxy Backbone at the latter's incorporation in 2006 and along with Gerald, they built the Company with commendation. He is trained in Architecture, computing, and business.

Galaxy Backbone is Federal Government owned; incorporated as a limited liability firm with mandate to provide Government's connectivity requirements, data hosting and management services for government business. It is perceived to have done very well.

It is one of the two Limited liability firms, the second being NigComSat Ltd which President Olusegun Obasanjo government incorporated against popular professional opinion and whose ill-thought-out mandates were at best warped. For its good management however, Galaxy Backbone waded through the wait-and-see attitude of industry pundits who merely waited to write the epitaph of the two contraptions. Galaxy Backbone gave no such room.

It was the exact opposite at NigComSat Ltd where things wobbled from day one and still is. While Galaxy Backbone's mandate went through careful tapering to what makes it eventually useful to Nigeria today, NigComSat Ltd moved from one contrite mandate to another. Some may even say it is a government firm that was established to develop the engineering of electronic voting. Its mandate remains as unclear as it is unattainable.

AT IGF2014 Istanbul, Turkey

Broadband Agenda: Minister says Local Content Tops Nigeria's focus

Nigeria's Communication Technology Minister, Dr Omobola Johnson, told the Internet Governance Forum in Istanbul, Turkey midweek while contributing to a discussion on Policies Enabling Access, Growth and Development on the Internet that building the country's local content capacity is a major focus of the Broadband agenda.

The point was also made by Ms Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne, that the construction of her Company's Data Centre is a critical infrastructure whose focus is also to empower youth productivity pointing especially to distributing content of Nollywood films which is a thriving sector of the economy. According to her "We realise that Internet Access can improve economic outcomes for the large youth population that we have in Nigeria. Delivering affordable Internet services to more of our youth will make a critical difference in our economic development and deserves the Industry's utmost attention."

Dr. Jimson Olufuye, Chairman Africa ICT Alliance, AfICTA, who spoke at the plenary, gave an industry account of major progress made in the application of the resources of internet in Nigeria where the private sector has been embraced by Government. He mentioned in particular the one-day cheque clearing regime which was just being announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria as the forum was in session and canvassed for a spread of such outreach to the private sector across the developing countries of the world. He commended the work of the CSTD.

Host country Turkey, is very well known for extreme intolerance to the profits of the internet and its governance record in that regard is appalling. It is an irony that it the place the United Nations appointed to host the 2014 edition of the annual talk shop which started 8 years ago. In the past one year alone, Turkey had shut down social media platforms of twitter and YouTube just as it has jailed journalists and hounded others who seek to use internet to expose fraud. Former prime Minister, now President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once said that twitter is a 'menace' and treated all social media platforms as such.

Good a thing European Union Vice President Neelie Kroes raised the issue and made appropriate rebuke of the Government of Turkey.

ROAD TO SUPERFAST COMPUTER

Google set to develop Computer of the Future

Google has announced that it is in a new partnership with the University of California to develop quantum computers which apply quantum bits rather than the traditional binary system of ones and zeros to process information.

This, the researchers say, will make the computers exponentially faster than digital computers. And that is to say the emerging computer will be super faster than those we know of today.

Google has been researching potential applications of quantum computing since May 2013, when it bought a D-Wave, a company that is developing what may be called the first commercially viable quantum computer, the "Vesuvius".

Last Wednesday Hartmut Neven, Director of Engineering at Google Quantum Lab announced in a blog posting that the Quantum Artificial Intelligence team at Google is launching a hardware initiative to design and build new quantum information processors based on superconducting electronics.

'We are pleased to announce that John Martinis and his team at UC Santa Barbara will join Google in this initiative. John and his group have made great strides in building superconducting quantum electronic components of very high fidelity. He recently was awarded the London Prize recognizing him for his pioneering advances in quantum control and quantum information processing. With an integrated hardware group the Quantum AI team will now be able to implement and test new designs for quantum optimization and inference processors based on recent theoretical insights as well as our learnings from the D-Wave quantum annealing architecture. We will continue to collaborate with D-Wave scientists and to experiment with the "Vesuvius" machine at NASA Ames which will be upgraded to a 1000 qubit "Washington" processor'.

New Dell Commercial PC Portfolio Delivers More Productivity in Smaller and Thinner Device

As the global leader in providing the most secure, manageable and reliable commercial PC solutions, Dell has debuted sleek, completely redesigned additions to its trusted Latitude and OptiPlex portfolio: the Latitude 7000 Series 2-in-1 detachable laptop; the Latitude 3000 and 5000 Series laptops; the Latitude 14 Rugged laptop; and the OptiPlex 9020 and 3020 Micro desktop PCs. Dell also introduced its Chromebox and Chromebox for meetings solutions and new additions to its monitor line-up further expanding its global leadership in flat panel displays.

“Dell understands the complexity of supporting the wide variety of devices present in today’s evolving workforce environment,” said Kirk Schell, vice president and general manager, commercial client solutions, Dell. “Our new portfolio enables businesses of all sizes to embrace sleek and innovative form factors their workforce will be proud to use day after day to accomplish their productivity goals. Even though they look like thin and light consumer devices, these commercial PCs are backed by the industry’s best security and manageability that only Dell provides.”

Only Dell offers comprehensive encryption, advanced authentication and leading-edge malware prevention from a single source via its award-winning Dell Data Protection portfolio. Dell builds management capabilities into its Latitude and OptiPlex portfolio to help customers maximize their hardware investment and the all-new Dell Client Command Suite offers free automation tools to help significantly reduce time spent on deploying, monitoring and updating systems.

Also introduced, Dell KACE K1000 Express is a free, easy-to-use IT inventory solution exclusive to Dell customers that manages warranty status, BIOS and driver updates across a company’s Dell devices. With K1000 Express, customers gain a holistic view of all of their hardware and software assets, encompassing tablets, desktops and servers.

To help ensure outstanding reliability, Dell offers its award winning enterprise-class Dell ProSupport™ and each Latitude and OptiPlex system is built to last with each component tested beyond industry standards. Systems also undergo rigorous accelerated life cycle and torture tests for extreme heat, hinge endurance and twists. Dell also uses premium materials including aluminum chassis and LCD display backs, and touch screens are clad with Corning® Gorilla® Glass for up to 10x scratch resistance over soda lime glass used in most other laptops.

Dell’s new additions to the Latitude family of commercial PCs offer a variety of work styles and use cases—from the executive road warrior to the rough and tumble demands of workers in the field. The new Latitude 13 7000 Series is the world’s most secure 2-in-1, combining a lightweight business Ultrabook™ and a detachable tablet in one powerful device without compromise. This “laptop-first” 2-in-1 offers a large 13.3-inch display and a professional, ISO-certified backlit keyboard, bolstered by the convenience of Instant Go from sleep mode, a feature often reserved for smart phones and traditional tablets. When paired with the Dell Mobile Office, a suite of accessories specifically designed for this device – a carrying case, sleeve, power companion and universal dongle—the Latitude 13 7000 Series 2-in-1 detachable laptop offers ultra-mobile professionals a first-class productivity experience.

According to a preview from Dell’s latest Evolving Workforce Study, to be released in full later this year, flexibility and the ability to work anywhere continues to demonstrate considerable benefits for overall health and well-being. Case in point, employees who are allowed to work from home reported they spend more time with their families (26 percent), get more sleep (21 percent), drive less (48 percent), and feel stressed less often (29 percent )*. From the corner office to the coffee shop, the new Latitude 12 5000 Series joins the Latitude 14 and 15 5000 Series for a fully-featured, premium mobile experience to meet the needs of any mobile professional. The world’s most secure business laptop, the Latitude 5000 Series has a new, sleek design that is 20 percent thinner than the previous model. It also offers all-day battery life, enhanced materials for durability and enterprise-class support and services.

Designed to meet the needs and budget of small and growing businesses, the new Latitude 14 and 15 3000 Series offers the essential features of a business-class laptop with the right balance of mobility, productivity and affordability. Thinner and lighter than previous generations and backed by enterprise-class support, the new 3000 Series boasts all-day battery life, a spill resistant keyboard, up to one terabyte of storage and 14-inch or 15-inch displays with touch options.

Dell is the only tier one vendor in the world with a fully rugged portfolio, and Latitude rugged devices are backed by Dell’s security, manageability and enterprise-level support. The latest addition to Dell’s rugged portfolio, the Latitude 14 Rugged, is built for durability to survive wherever the job takes it. Data is protected from the elements, while enabling performance at high temperatures with fourth generation QuadCool™ thermal management. With an expansive 14” outdoor-readable display, everything can be seen clearly in bright and low light conditions and standard resistive touch means gloves can stay on. A customisable RGB backlit keyboard enables comfortable usability in all environments and Stealth mode allows users to go incognito with a simple key press.

Performance is far and away the most important aspect employees seek in a work device and desktop PCs are still popular among employees of all company sizes, according to preliminary results from Dell’s latest Evolving Workforce Study.* With a chassis design of only 1.2 litres, 67 percent smaller than Dell’s smallest desktop form factor, and with five different mounting options, the new OptiPlex 9020 and 3020 Micro PCs provide the power employees expect in a desktop that answers the needs of smaller – or more specialised – working spaces. The most secure and manageable desktop on the market, OptiPlex 9020 Micro is ideal for environments where space is limited and security is a priority, while the OptiPlex 3020 Micro provides essential business class performance in a compact unit.

The Dell Chromebox for meetings solution has been developed with the mobile workforce in mind, and allows businesses to hold high quality meetings across multiple devices while encouraging real time collaboration among employees, regardless of location. Powered by the latest Intel 4th generation processor and featuring a 1080p webcam, speaker phone, remote control, as well as all the mounting hardware and cabling needed for placement anywhere, the Dell Chromebox for meetings solution provides an affordable and easy-to-use, high-definition meeting solution for growing businesses.

The Dell Chromebox provides small and medium-size businesses with easy computing and fast access to the Internet in a compact design. The small, quiet, cloud-based desktop is a perfect fit for a variety of business uses including education centers, testing facilities, and kiosks, as well as home and small offices. The range of features makes it flexible for a variety of working and at-home environments with simple mounting options, multiple ports including HDMI, the latest Intel processors, and the ability to output 4K Ultra HD resolution and display to dual monitors. Additionally, consumers can enjoy a familiar interface, easy access to Chrome-based apps, and connectivity to big screens for streaming video.

Dell’s class-leading suite of monitors allows businesses to better customise solutions to suit their working needs. The new Dell 55 Monitor has a 55-inch widescreen display that delivers Full HD resolution and a 3000:1 contrast, providing exceptional clarity for presentations, schematics and video calls. An alternative to the traditional projectors and TVs used in meeting rooms and the perfect complement to the Dell Chromebox for meetings, the Dell 55 Monitor quickly and automatically adjusts to match the PC's resolution, ensuring that meeting attendees will always enjoy a hassle-free, full screen projection.

Also Dell is previewing the groundbreaking Dell UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K Monitor, the world’s first display with Ultra HD 5K resolution (5120 x 2880). Ultra HD 5K is equivalent to four times the resolution of QHD and seven times the resolution of Full HD; offering a revolutionary screen performance for professionals requiring the highest resolution available. Dell PremierColor and the anti-smudge / anti-reflective edge-to-edge glass design provide true-to-life colour accuracy and pristine picture quality for colour-critical work. It also delivers immersive acoustics with two 16W integrated Harmon Kardon speakers. To optimise productivity, this highly innovative monitor offers six USB ports and one media card reader to seamlessly connect with a wide range of other peripherals.

New Nokia Lumia smartphones brings High-end Imaging Capabilities to More Accessible Price Points

New Lumia 830, 730 Dual SIM and 735 smartphones offer industry-leading camera technology and software in a slim, colorful package.

Microsoft Corp. announced on Thursday the Nokia Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM smartphones running the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, bringing industry-leading imaging technology to more affordable price levels. Microsoft also announced two new accessories that provide innovative ways for people to interact with their phones, plus the Lumia Denim update, which brings extra features and enhancements to existing Lumia smartphones.

·With a slim design, the Lumia 830 is an affordable flagship that delivers high-end innovations such as optical image stabilization and PureView imaging to more people.

·Offering wide-angle, front-facing cameras; an attractive price tag; and slim, compact style, the Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 are built for Skype calls and selfies.

·Existing Lumia smartphones continue to get even better with the Lumia Denim update, which combines great new features from the latest Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 with exclusive enhancements such as Lumia Camera, which brings high-quality images at the fastest speeds.

“Our strategy is to help people do more with stunning products that unite and showcase the best of Microsoft’s digital work and life experiences,” said Chris Weber, corporate vice president of Mobile Devices Sales at Microsoft. “The Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM combine popular Microsoft services such as Skype, Microsoft Office and OneDrive with amazing Lumia innovations in design and imaging to bring experiences that people value, at prices they can afford.”

Lumia 830: The affordable flagship

The Lumia 830 offers the best of Lumia and the latest from Microsoft in a pocket-friendly design and price.

·The Lumia 830 captures high-quality images and videos, day or night, with a 10-megapixel PureView camera with ZEISS optics, Rich Recording and the thinnest optical image stabilization system to date on a Lumia.

·It delivers the best of Microsoft with pre-loaded Microsoft Office Mobile; the latest version of Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim; and OneDrive with 15 GB of free storage, allowing content to be synced and shared easily.

·It comes with flagship Lumia innovations such as integrated wireless charging in a sleek and light aluminum and polycarbonate design.

Lumia 830 will begin rolling out globally this month, priced around 330 euros before taxes and subsidies.

Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735: Built for Skype and selfies

With wide-angle, front-facing cameras and a slim, pocketable style, the Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 let people easily capture and share more.

·The front-facing, wide-angle, 5-megapixel camera is great for Skype video calls, letting people share more of the world around them or bring more family and friends into a call.

·With an offer for a free, three-month Skype Unlimited World[1] subscription, it’s easier than ever to have an international voice call with friends and family on their mobile and landline phones, right from the Lumia 730 or Lumia 735.

·Plus, with the integration of one-tap Skype video call access during voice calls,1 people have even more ways to share their stories, no matter where they are.

Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 will also begin rolling out globally this month, featuring a 2220 mAh battery, 8 GB of internal storage and 15 GB of free OneDrive storage. The Lumia 730 Dual SIM will be priced around 199 euros before taxes and subsidies, while the Lumia 735 with LTE/4G and wireless charging support will be priced around 219 euros before taxes and subsidies.

New accessories to complement Lumia smartphones

Microsoft Devices Group on Thursday also announced two new additions to the innovative Lumia accessories line:

·The second-generation smart Wireless Charging Plate DT-903 makes the most convenient way to charge even better by intelligently alerting people when to charge and highlighting notifications with a subtle glow.

·The Microsoft Screen-Sharing for Lumia Phones HD-10 lets people beam any content from their smartphone to an HDMI-enabled screen, easily and without content restrictions. It is good for reliving memories with friends and family or sharing presentations at work.

Lumia continues to get even better with the Lumia Denim update

Lumia Denim combines the latest Windows Phone 8.1 update with exclusive experiences for Lumia smartphones. Lumia Denim also cements Microsoft’s leadership in imaging with the introduction of unique innovations in Lumia Camera that make the camera work faster and more intuitively. Coming as part of the Lumia Denim update to Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520, Lumia Camera offers the following:

·Speed. Never miss a moment with Lumia Camera and its fast camera startup and capture speeds. Take numerous photos with just milliseconds between shots.

·High definition. Using Moment Capture, a long press of the camera button within the app automatically starts 4K-quality video recording at 24 frames per second. Each frame is of high image quality at 8.3 megapixels, allowing every single video frame to be selected and saved as a still image.

·Intuitiveness. Get the best shot every time with Rich Capture, which simplifies picture-taking with auto HDR and Dynamic Flash. With Rich Capture, people can avoid the hassle of adjusting camera settings; they can shoot first and edit and select the perfect shot later.

·Quality. Capture high-quality smartphone images in low light with the latest-generation imaging algorithms.

Lumia Camera will initially roll out as an update with Lumia Denim for Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520 and as an over-the-air update for Lumia 830 in Q4 2014. Lumia Denim will roll out as an over-the-air update to all the other Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones, following partner testing and approvals.

Axis Announces High-Performance Cameras for Video Surveillance in Public Transport and Vehicles

Axis Communications, the global leader in network video, has announced the local availability of the Axis P39-R Network Camera Series offering protection against dust and water and able withstand tough conditions such as vibrations, shocks, bumps and temperature fluctuations.

The series also features active tampering alarm function that allows for the detection of tampering attempts such as blocking or spray-painting.

So says Jason McGregor, sales manager at Axis Communications, who adds that Axis is the pioneer in developing COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf), mobile-rated IP cameras. “The Axis P39-R Series is our third generation suite of ruggedised cameras designed for the on-board environment and, for customers who want to upgrade to this latest version, the P39-R Series shares the same physical interface as Axis M31-R cameras,” he explains.

The cameras are specially adapted to respond quickly to changes in light levels, ensuring that high image quality and image usability are maintained. Also, the use of progressive scan enables the cameras to show moving objects without distortion. Traffic Light mode helps to better distinguish colours of traffic lights in very dark scenes.

“In addition to the rail and bus markets, we are seeing more and more mobile applications for this type of highly reliable camera for rugged environments that include cargo and freight, emergency, mining and other types of utility vehicles,” says McGregor.

The P39-R Series includes the Axis P3904-R network camera with HDTV 720p resolution, the Axis P3905-R with HDTV 1080p resolution and the Axis P3915-R with HDTV 1080p resolution as well as audio-in and I/O capabilities. Each model is available with either a male RJ45 connector or a rugged M12 connector.

AXIS P39-R Series allows for a quick and reliable installation, as the desired field of view and levelled image can be easily achieved by using the supplied lens tool to direct and rotate the ball that holds the lens and image sensor. The tool can also be used to exchange and focus the lens when a lens with a different angle of view is required. The cameras provide a pixel counter for verifying that the pixel resolution of an object meets specific requirements.

cuteSAGAY...LiveInConcert!

Press Release

cuteSAGAY...LiveInConcert!

theALTAR...
Raising ALTARS/PEOPLE of Worship to God!

Features:
�Efe Nathan
�David Nkennor

Date:
7th September, 2014!

Venue:
Masterpeice Assembly
70 Bisket house, First Bank bus stop, Allen Avenue Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria.

Time:
5:30pm - 8:00pm

Guest Appearances:
o Pastor Korede Adams...
Masterpiece Assembly
o Mr. Deji Irawo...
X2D
o Ebi...
D'Lords Mobile Orphanage
o Muyiwa Afolabi...
Coordinator: Frankly Speaking

For Questions pls reply this mail, tweet at @cuteSAGAY or call Cece: +234 802 589 8068, 08060037277

Partners:
�StarChild Entertainment
�Gospel Naija
�Govima – www.govimainvltd.com, www.goevents.govima-ng.com
�Gospel Centric
�Lensflair (Photo&Film)
�Gospel Hotspot
�X2D
�Young Jarex Designs
�Amen Radio
�Eledumare Photography
�NaijaChristians
�Kingdomboiz
�Gospel United Nigeria

Powered by:
�Gospel Republic Music
�Masterpiece Assembly
TheCrownIsOnMyHead.

Connect
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For Sponsorship/Partnership:
call CECE: +234 802 589 8068, 08060037277

For Questions pls reply this mail, tweet at @cuteSAGAY or call Cece: +234 802 589 8068, 08060037277