Author: Gugu Lourie

Microsoft has discontinued Cortana digital assistant for Window 11 and a new update, which is now rolling out simply disables it. Cortana struggled to compete with Alexa and Google Assistand leading to its removal from various app stores three years ago. “We’re making some changes to Windows and Microsoft 365 that will impact Cortana users. Cortana in Windows as a standalone app is deprecated. Support for Cortana in Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams Rooms will end in the fall of 2023,” said Microsoft in its blog. The company added that Cortana in Outlook mobile will continue to be…

Google announced today that in June 2022 it began alpha testing the ability to request and capture eSignatures in Google Docs. The search giant said based on the feedback it received it is ready to move this feature to the next level. eSignature is now available as an open beta for Google Workspace Individual subscribers — no additional sign-up is required to use the feature. eSignature will be available in beta for select Google Workspace customers — see the “Additional details” section below for more information. eSignature in Google Drive   eSignature in Google Docs Who’s impacted Admins and end users…

Kaldi Company Ltd, a pioneer in combining blockchain, Web3, AI, IOT-enabled traceability, and a novel crypto economy to revolutionize the coffee value chain and alleviate poverty amongst millions of smallholder coffee farmers globally, announced today that it has received regulatory approval from the Financial Services Authority in the Isle of Man for Kaldicoin, its new digital currency. This milestone permits Kaldi Company to engage in a range of activities related to convertible virtual currency, including issuing, transmitting, transferring, providing safe custody, administering, managing, and trading the Kaldicoin digital currency under the supervision of the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority.…

Liquid Dataport, a business of Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid), a pan-African technology group, is seeing a surge of Internet traffic on its new West coast cable Equiano as a result of multiple subsea cables break this weekend. Liquid’s well-timed investment ensured that its Southern Africa customers did not experience a change in their network performance despite breaks in WACS and SAT–3 undersea cable systems off the coast of DRC. “On Sunday, 6 August, we woke up to multiple reports of a natural rock fall in the Congo Canyon, off the coast of West Africa, causing breaks in multiple subsea cables.…

Spotify announced today that it is introducing AI DJ feature to its South African subscribers. “Starting today, we’re excited to begin rolling out DJ, in Beta, to Premium users in South Africa – taking personalization to the next level and connecting artists and fans in a deeper, more meaningful way,” said Spotify. The music streaming platform added that since launching in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland earlier this year, DJ has become the most discussed Spotify feature on social media, and we’re excited to bring it to South Africa today. Check it out HERE. DJ is a personalized AI guide that knows you and…

JSE-listed Reunert today announced that it has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets. The group informed shareholders that its primary listing on the JSE and issued share capital will be unaffected by the secondary listing on A2X. The secondary listing also does not give rise to additional fees or compliance obligations for Reunert. From the A2X Listing Date, Reunert’s ordinary shares will be available for trade on both the JSE and A2X. A2X is a licensed stock exchange authorised to provide a secondary listing venue for companies and is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority and…

Global streaming giants: Netflix, Prime Video and Showmax remain the powerhouse providers in South Africa with a combined total market share of 83%. Meanwhile, Mubi and Apple TV+ fight for 4th place with only a 2% difference. This is according to the latest figures from JustWatch, an international streaming guide with more than 20 million users. Market share development in 2023 JustWatch added that smaller streaming player in the South African market: Mubi wins over the market with a +1% gain. Meanwhile, Prime Video and Showmax struggle to keep up with a -1% loss each by June.

Prosus today announced PayU has reached an agreement with Rapyd, a Fintech-as-a-Service provider, that Rapyd will acquire PayU’s Global Payments Organisation (GPO) for a total cash consideration of $610 million or R10.9 billion. The transaction will enable PayU to focus on the large payments and fintech opportunity in India, where it is the leading payments provider, serving more than 450,000 merchants and more than 2m credit customers. “As we focus our investment on the Indian market, this is an exciting time for Prosus’s Payments & Fintech segment. PayU’s payments business is one of the largest, fastest growing and most profitable…

Cell C  announce today the appointment of Melanie Forbes as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective August 1, 2023. Forbes will be a key addition to the executive team, leveraging her impressive track record and strategic expertise to drive the company’s marketing efforts and brand transformation. She brings over 25 years of invaluable experience in the Telecommunications, IT, and Consumer Electronics industries, having worked with brands such as Philips, NetFlorist (NetActive), Siemens, Nokia (NSN), and most recently Vodacom. Her extensive background spans both B2B and B2C markets across various African markets. During her almost 15-year tenure at Vodacom, Forbes held key…

MTN, in an innovative public-private partnership with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), is set to tackle the challenges posed by load shedding on South Africa’s roads. A Service Level Agreement between the two parties will see MTN SA providing backup power to all traffic lights in Soweto that are located near MTN base stations. MTN base stations will supply power to the traffic lights during load shedding, from the sites’ backup power systems to significantly alleviate delays and frustrations experienced by Soweto residents and commuters. This will be particularly helpful at key “traffic corridors” that lead towards highways. By providing…