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.
Friday, September 12, 2014
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
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 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.
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.
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.
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(L-R): Etisalat GEM customer, Livingstone Magorimbo, receiving the latest Samsung device from Etisalat Marina Experience Centre Manager, Oluwaseun Ayebiwo
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, September 8, 2014
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.
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.
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.
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