Airtel introduces ‘Living in Bondage – Breaking Free’ to its TV platform.

June 17, 2020

Airtel Nigeria, one of the leading telecom service providers in the country has partnered with a new division of the Trace TV group to bring to your screens Living in Bondage – Breaking Free. A classic drama thriller on the Airtel TV platform.

The drama that was directed by veteran actor, Ramsey Noah, is a sequel to the 1990’s blockbuster; Living in Bondage.

‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’ has received excellent appraisals taking home 11 awards at the 2020 edition of the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA) and numerous positive reviews from movie lovers, reviewers, and movie critics.

The movie has broken records on the Box Office securing the 11th position on the list of highest-grossing Nigerian films of all time.

The Chief Commercial Officer Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, commented on the introduction of the movie of Airtel TV. “Airtel will always go the extra mile to provide quality and top-notch content for consumers on the Airtel TV platform,” he said.

“In a bid to revolutionize the television viewing experience for all its customers, the telecom provider brings to you the best shows, best movies and the best of live TV through our television platform. Our sole aim is to engage viewers with premium content and simultaneously bring laughter, joy, and happiness to everyone,” Balsingh added.

To enjoy Airtel TV, customers can download the app on Google Play Store or Apple Store, as the case may be. Launch the app and complete the registration process. Once done, you can begin to stream any channel or content of your choice.

Customers will have data-free access to contents on the app for the first seven days after download. Thousands of Nollywood and Hollywood blockbusters are available to choose from on the Airtel TV at no subscription cost.

South Africa’s Annual Gaming Event rAge Expo has been Cancelled for 2020

O. Christopher

June 12, 2020

South Africa’s annual gaming event rAge Expo has been cancelled for 2020.

rAge Expo, South Africa’s largest annual video gaming, geek and tech culture expo, has been canceled for 2020. The event that has been going on without fail for close to twenty years has been canceled this year for no other reason than the pandemic the world is facing.

In 18 years, this is the first time the Johannesburg-based event won’t be taking place.

According to a statement from the expo’s official website, the 2020 edition of the rAge Expo was shaping up to be yet another thrilling event, but sadly, the event will not be coming up this year.

The decision taken to cancel the event was not taken lightly, and the team in charge of this event is saddened about it.

“The effects of the Coronavirus pandemic have been felt by every corner of the world, and rAge’s primary concern is making sure that staff, fans, exhibitors, and partners stay safe. Presently, there is no news on when the lockdown restrictions will be lifted or when it will safe for a large number of people to gather,” the statement continued.

However, all hope is not lost as rumors have it that there are plans to bring the event online this year.

In the spirit of inventiveness and technology that drives the expo, we are working on an online version of rAge. Introducing South Africa’s gaming cultures to the online world be a laudable idea, said Michael James, Project Manager and Founder of rAge.

Multichoice includes Amazon Prime Video and Netflix Streaming Services for its Subscribers

O. Christopher

June 11, 2020

Multichoice includes Amazon Video Prime and Netflix streaming services for its subscribers.

Multichoice, a South African TV satellite dish operator will be adding streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix to its DSTV platform soon. This new development comes as the TV operator continues to experience growth in the market, adding about 900,000 GOTV and DStv subscribers to its pay-TV platform over its last financial year.

Already, Multichoice offers its video-on-demand subscription-based streaming service, but in a bid to add a new set of fresh subscribers to its already large 19.5 million subscriber base, the company is looking to add the Netflix and Amazon Prime Video streaming services to the services it offers.

Now, by paying their monthly bill in the local currency for the Amazon add-ons and Netflix, existing DStv customers will have access to the aforementioned video streaming services.

As the world is very familiar with the use of Netflix and Amazon streaming services, DSTV is adding their services to its platform to discourage customers from abandoning the satellite TV service for streaming services.

Now, customers can access Netflix and Amazon Prime Video without leaving the DStv platform.

Calvo Mawela, Multichoice CEO said for long we have been a content aggregator, and this is proof of our aggregator model at work-providing simplicity, choice, and convenience for our customers.

Also, Multichoice is getting ready to unveil it’s yet to be named DStv dishless stand-alone streaming service. The service is expected to mimic its existing Direct-to-Home service, but without the need for installation.

Xiaomi Youpin launches the Haylou LS04 Solar Smartwatch with 12 sport modes.

O. Christopher

June 5, 2020

Xiaomi Youpin launches the Haylou LS04 Solar Smartwatch with 12 sport modes.

Xiaomi, through its Youpin platform, launched the Haylou LS04 Solar Smartwatch yesterday. A heart rate sensor and a battery with a 30-day long standby capacity is embedded in the metallic body of the watch

Considering the design Xiaomi employed for the build of the smartwatch, it follows a minimalistic approach. The watch has a circular dial and comes with a 1.28-inch TFT display which has a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels.

The metallic build of the watch dial is complemented by a silicon-made watch strap. The watch strap is deliberately made from silicon to provide users with comfortability when worn for long periods.

The in-built heart rate sensor monitors the user’s heart rate for as long as the watch is worn. From the results gotten from the heart rate measurement, you can detect an underlying heart issue you are experiencing.

Also, the watch recommends exercising to the user, and you can adjust the exercise time and the amount of exercise you do. This particular watch offers you 12 different sport activity modes which are higher than 9 modes offered by the LS01 model that was launched in 2019.

The Haylou LS04 Solar Smartwatch is rated IP68 for its resistance to dust and water. The watch can also be safe against rain and accidental fluid splashes.

The watch is equipped with a lithium battery that offers up to 30 days of standby operations on a single charge.

The Haylou LS04 Solar Smartwatch is priced at 179 Yuan which approximates to about $25.

Ekocab announces its official entrance into the Nigerian market.

O. Christopher

June 1, 2020

Ekocab announces its official entrance into the Nigerian market.

Ekocab, a car-hailing service, has officially announced its entrance into the Nigerian market. This service was launched to facilitate a reliable commute for passengers and cater to the transportation needs of a diverse group of people. Ekocab looks to ensure that passengers get the value for their money and as well, have a car-hailing service they can always trust for the best service.

The car-hailing service aims to contribute its quota to the growth of the economy as it will provide employment opportunities for drivers who will be in charge of the cabs.

A major goal the company sets to achieve is to create a positively intimate ride experience for its customers. It is changing the style of the custom car riding experience in Nigeria by providing secure, transparent, and honest services to its customers.

According to Pomile Alabi, the Chief Marketing Officer, Ekocab was created to provide customers with an improved car riding experience. The company is concerned about making reliable and efficient car-hailing services accessible to all.

By so doing, we are simplifying payment methods and reducing the cost of trips to create a friendly and community-based approach to car-hailing service in Nigeria.

“We have partnered with reputable financial service companies as well as automobile dealers to ensure that our drivers have access to a standard vehicle once they join the platform. Furthermore, we have reached out to appropriate authorities that will help with the registration and provision of all required documents for both the car and the driver; this is to ensure that our services can be carried out freely without breaking any law under the Lagos State code of conduct,” Alabi added.

MainOne Funded by the World Bank to provide Connectivity in Burkina Faso

O. Christopher

May 28, 2020

MainOne funded by the World Bank to provide connectivity in Burkina Faso.

MainOne, a West African premier connectivity and data center solution provider, has been chosen by the government of Burkina Faso with financial backing from the World Bank to provide PAV-Burkina with bulk capacity to nodes in Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou.

Being a landlocked nation, Burkina Faso has been faced with a lot of challenges in terms of accessing world-class connectivity and widespread internet access due to the lack of infrastructure and the reluctance to explore operational broadband service delivery in the country by major operators.

In response to this challenge, the Burkina Faso government in collaboration with an association of mobile operators and internet service providers, has come up with the PRICAO Initiative.

The PRICAO Initiative was created to bring about the birth of virtual landing points as a platform for the extension of broadband network coverage in the country. The Initiative aims to upgrade the quality of connectivity, increase the use of the internet, and facilitate the overall performance of ICT services in the country.

With the support of the World Bank, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Postal Services has created a cooperative association to set up an independent and competitive structure for connectivity services. The association brings together significant electronic service stakeholders to complete a turnkey project that will make fiber optics transmission between Ouagadougou and Dakola possible.

Burkinabe State has been able to set up a 200km fiber optics transmission link from Ouagadougou to Dakola, thanks to the $20 million plus the World Bank shelved out in support of the PRICAO Initiative.

The first phase of the project commenced in 2018, phase two of the project will commence in the second quarter of 2020 and MainOne has been appointed to deliver phase two of the project.

MainOne is expected to provide Ouagadougou with 10Gbps broadband and Bobo Dioulasso with 5Gbps.

With the financial support of the World Bank and the technical support of the PAV BF cooperative, broadband internet penetration increased from 10% to 19% in 2019.

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Endeavor selects founders of Kobo360 to join its entrepreneurs.

O. Christopher

May 27, 2020

Endeavor selects founders of Kobo360 to join its entrepreneurs.

Endeavour, a leading organization in the global movement for high impact entrepreneurship, has added two new entrepreneurs to its global network. On May 21, 2020, the co-founders of Kobo360, Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele II, were selected to be part of Endeavour.

Kobo360 is a digital logistics platform that uses its large data resource to reduce friction and improve effectiveness in the African logistics ecosystem.

Endeavour is a mission-oriented organization dedicated to driving the growth of the economy through entrepreneurship. The organization helps the majority of the world’s most-exciting scale-up companies increase their company growth.

Including Kobo360, Endeavour Nigeria now supports 16 entrepreneurs who lead 10 scale-up stage companies spanning retail, logistics, renewable energy, and fintech, in Nigeria.

Earlier this year, Endeavour welcomed Migo, a financial technology platform, and Daystar Power, a renewable energy company based in Nigeria and Ghana, into its network.

In Nigeria, logistics generally continues to be a challenge for many businesses. Finding the right truck for cargo, searching for trusted truck drivers, and the stress involved in monitoring the delivery of cargo has been some of the major issues of concern.

Kobo360 is procuring solutions to these challenges by using its digital platform to match truck drivers and cargo owners. The innovation also makes provision for real-time updates throughout the delivery process.

Since the start of Kobo360 in 2017, the company has scaled many hurdles, including a $30 million Series A in August 2019.

”Kobo360’s rapid growth over the last three years is enough evidence to prove that the company’s service is in high demand, and we are excited to welcome Kobo360 into Endeavour’s global network of entrepreneurs,” said Eloho Gihan-Mbelu, Managing Director and CEO, Endeavor Nigeria.

Vivo plans to extend its services to South Africa by launching two new devices in the country.

O. Christopher

May 25, 2020

Vivo Mobile has officially announced that it will be extending its services to South Africa with the introduction of two smartphones. The company is set to release two phones in the Y-series, the Vivo Y12, and Vivo Y30. Both phones will be released towards the end of 2020 ahead of 5G.

Jeff Cao, CEO of Vivo, says the company plans to climb its way to the top of cellphone brands and manufacturers in the country.

“Vivo plans to provide its South African customers with an overwhelming user experience through innovative and trendsetting products,” Jeff added.

Vivo has announced a few of the specs of the two smartphones its set to release, and here’s what each device has to offer.

The Vivo Y12

The Vivo Y12 will feature an octa-core processor with a 12nm build and a clock speed of up to 2.0GHz. The chipset the Y12 will run on is unknown for now. The Y12, like other devices in the Y-series, sports a massive 5,000mAH battery that supports intelligent power-saving technology.

The Y12 will be available in two RAM and storage variants; it will come with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage and 4GB RAM and 32GB storage. The phone will come in Aqua Blue or Burgundy Red.

The Vivo Y30

An octa-core MediaTek Helio P35 processor powers the Vivo Y30. It runs Funtouch OS based on Android 10. The Vivo Y30 will debut with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Y30 also has a 5,000mAh non-removable battery and supports 10W fast charging technology.

The Vivo Y30 supports face unlock and also features a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the device. A quad-camera setup consisting of a 13MP primary sensor, an 8MP camera, a 2MP camera, and a 2MP depth sensor is on the rear end of the phone.

The Vivo Y30 sports an 8MP selfie camera and comes in Dazzle Blue and Moonlight White.

ORide confirms the Sales of some of its Motorbikes as the Company ventures into Delivery Services

O. Christopher

May 15, 2020

ORide confirms the sales of some of its motorbikes as the company ventures into delivery services.

One of the prominent bike hailing services in Nigeria, ORide, operated by OPay, has confirmed that it will be selling off some of its 200cc motorbikes. Following a ban on the operation of passenger bikes in significant parts of Lagos in February, we expected the company to make this move.

While ORide’s bike hailing service is still very functional in cities like Ibadan, the company is finalizing its plans to focus its logistics business in Lagos. A small percentage of the bikes will be sold while the rest will be retained for its new delivery business called OExpress.

The news of the company motorbikes sales first surfaced on Twitter a few weeks ago before the company confirmed the report. However, a reliable source at the company confirmed that the sales of the motorbikes have been going on in the past weeks. The source also made it known that the bike prices range between #180,000 and #270,000 depending on how long the bikes have been used.

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ORide is now joining the league of other bike hailing services such has MAX and GOKADA, which have transitioned to the logistics industry.

The company reportedly has about 8,000 bikes in its inventory and not that many bikes are needed to make deliveries. Sources at the OPay warehouse says the bikes are selling fast as individuals are other logistics companies are already taking advantage of this opportunity.

Moses Awolowo, Director of operations and business development at OExpresss, said the company is making a small percentage of its motorbikes available as ORide services launch into the delivery business.

The use of chatbots to remain robust in Nigeria.

O. Christopher

May 14, 2020

The use of chatbots to remain robust in Nigeria.

Nigerian firms that offer customer support services extensively on their platforms are opting for chatbot solutions to reduce cost and improve Customer Experience (CX). The chatbot technology is more straightforward, can be easily integrated across several chat channels, and also easy to deploy.

The adoption of chatbots is a cost-effective measure and is rapidly changing the game for many businesses. The AI-driven bots begin to communicate more effectively with end-users while giving organizations a deeper understanding of their customers.

This technology helps organizations decrease their operating expenses, which, in turn, frees up resources for the organization to mine other profitable opportunities.

The financial service sector is actively employing the services of chatbots. Many banks, insurance companies, and a few financial tech start-ups are deploying chatbots for customer service operations and other functions, including the provision of essential banking services and loan application processing.

Some companies, like the logistics and human resources industries, have also started to employ the services of chatbots.

AI technologies allow the chatbots to ascertain the intent behind a customer’s chat with an organization.

Bots solutions are dynamic, and the interaction with a customer can be in multiple languages or depending on the query, the customer can be transferred to a live agent with a complete record of previous conversations.

Businesses looking for means to improve their services, serve their customers better, and stay ahead of the competition should waste no time in taking advantage of this impressive technology.

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