Author: Gugu Lourie
Blue Label Telecoms, the JSE-listed company, said on Wednesday earnings for the six-month period ended 30 November 2020 would increase slightly by between 0% an 4% compared to the same period last year. The company, which owns 45% of struggling Cell C, said the increase in basic earnings per share was attributable to the disposal of the Group’s 47.56% interest in Blue Label Mexico. Blue Label Telecoms and Nasdaq-listed Net 1 have all written down to zero the value of their stakes in Cell C. It also said earnings benefitted from a positive decision to stop trading of the retail…
Skynamo a market leader in field sales management technology, has acquired UK mobile field sales technology provider, mSeller, to grow their market share in the UK and enhance their order management functionality for field sales teams. The acquisition of mSeller comes a year after Skynamo secured $30million in funding from US-based software investment firm, Five Elms Capital, to accelerate the adoption of its field sales management platform worldwide. Field sales have seen significant disruption and development over the last year, driven by the global pandemic and the resulting need to adapt to new sales and ordering processes and deliver new features.…
South African Internet of Things (IoT) startup Consumption Information Real Time (CIRT) today announced a strategic alliance with Microsoft to provide the global IT firms’ clients with access to a stream of innovative IoT solutions. CIRT is a black-owned and managed IoT data insights solutions provider. The deal aims to further digital transformation in the region. As part of this agreement, Microsoft will provide technical guidance, support and access to engineering resources, business development resources, and company solutions’ integration to Microsoft Azure. In addition, once the migration has taken place and the solutions are commercial marketplace transactable, the organisation will provide…
As an e-mobility pioneer, the BMW Group announced today that it has sold a total of 192,646 electrified BMW and MINI vehicles worldwide in 2020. The German carmaker said this represents an increase of 31.8% over 2019. The company said this means that electromobility is also a significant growth driver for the company in absolute terms. Sales of fully electric vehicles rose by 13%, while plug-in hybrid sales climbed by almost 40%, the carmaker said. It added in Europe, electrified vehicles already accounted for 15% of total sales. The BMW Group has now increased the number of electrified vehicles (pure…
Every time a new player comes to South Africa to provide video-on-demand (VoD) services there is great fanfare, but with little success so far. The much-vaunted binge-watching is still confined to a few viewers with access to expensive, high-speed broadband. Some of South Africa’s largest companies – MTN, Tiso Blackstar Group (formerly Times Media) and Altron – with deep pockets have unsuccessfully tried to deliver VoD services. They failed to win over local consumers to their VoD services, which were plagued by slow download speeds and the high cost of Internet access. They all ended up closing their platforms. Now,…
A growing amount of computer equipment from Western nations is being found on toxic eWaste dumps throughout Africa and is being pulled apart by children as young as five. A computer monitor from a prominent Australian bank was recently found on a toxic eWaste dump in Ghana. This raises serious questions about the integrity and regulations of Australia’s growing eWaste problem and even though it is illegal to export redundant computer equipment, that is considered hazardous waste, it is still happening. In South Africa, there are laws that regulate the disposition of eWaste, these include Protection of Personal Information Act…
Econet Media – a subsidiary of Econet Group, plans to deploy more Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) across Africa to bring global video streaming channels such as Netflix onto its network, the company’s top executive said on Monday. Kwesé Play, which is owned by billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, through its subsidiary Liquid Telecoms has successfully deployed CDNs across Sub-Saharan Africa. Liquid Telecom has been growing rapidly over the last few years fuelled by the demand for infrastructure to support broadband Internet on the African continent. The company has so far built a fibre optic network which spans more than 50,000km and covers…
South Africa’s grocery retailer Pick n Pay is testing Bitcoin payments in-store. Cape Town-based FinTech business Electrum has enabled Pick n Pay to accept Bitcoin payments in-store. The company said in a statement that this is “a world first for a major grocery retailer”. “As a result of this groundbreaking innovation project, for a limited time customers at Pick n Pay’s campus store have been able to use the Bitcoin cryptocurrency to purchase groceries and services,” the company said. It added that the checkout process is as simple as scanning a QR code using a Bitcoin wallet app on the customer’s smartphone.…
Queenstown born entrepreneur Siviwe Mgolodela, who is a BCom student at Stellenbosch University majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, is the brains behind Unorthodox, a start-up company. Unorthodox aims to take on popular social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. “Presently, people are under so much pressure to look, feel and think a certain way to impress their friends and their followers. As a result, people end up unconsciously communicating lies,” Mgolodela, the founder of Unorthodox, told Techfinancials in an interview over the phone. “Unorthodox is the alternative to existing platforms in that all that pressure is…
The Look Watch is the first Internet of Things (IoT) enabled standalone smartwatch, developed by Laipac Technology, a Canadian company based in Toronto. The Ontario-based firm informed TalkIoT in an emailed statement today that it will be launching this week the IoT smartwatch at the Mobile World Congress Americas in San Francisco. The company said in a statement that the Look Watch can access internet and make two-way calls without being tethered to a smartphone. The watch requires a Nano-SIM. The maker of IoT solutions added that with its advanced suite of features and software, the Look Watch is…
The use of drones or remotely piloted aircraft systems is forecast to grow exponentially. Globally the drone business is proving to be one of the most explosive new growth industries in recent years, with South Africa a relatively late bloomer. The South African drone industry is to generate R2 billion in 2017, according to a latest research conducted by economist Dr Roelof Botha The research also indicates that the industry has a potential to create a total of 30 830 informal jobs and 3 600 formal jobs. In less than five years we will see unmanned aerial vehicles being flown on…
South Africa’s banking group FNB’s mobile phone business Connect has sold more than 75 500 own branded smartphones to its customers. FNB Connect has sold more than 75 500 own branded FNB smartphone in the past year, Shadrack Palmer, the chief commercial officer at FNB Connect, told Techfinancials. The mobile phone business of FNB started selling its own branded smartphones last August in a move that is aimed at fully integrating banking and customer mobility. FNB is offering customers the choice of two smartphones, the ConeXis A1 and X1 respectively. Asked whether FNB Connect is content with the uptake of…
The Jaguar E-type, launched in 1961, has regularly been voted the best-looking car of all time. Even Enzo Ferrari called it “the most beautiful car ever made”. The Jaguar E-type Zero’s unique electric powertrain was developed by an electric powertrain specialist in conjunction with Jaguar Land Rover engineers and to a specific brief from Jaguar Land Rover Classic. It uses some technology and components borrowed from the upcoming I-PACE, Jaguar Land Rover’s first production all-electric vehicle. The E-type Zero has a ‘real world’ range of 270km, helped by the low weight and good aerodynamics. It uses a 40kWh battery, which…
The HMD’s flagship smartphone, the Nokia 8 is now on sale in South Africa. The smartphone is available through Vodacom’s uChoose Flexi 150 for 12 month contract at R449/month. The Nokia 8 brings three world-firsts to Android smartphones, including a debut collaboration with ZEISS optics. The Nokia 8 introduces a world-first in enabling Dual-Sight video to be livestreamed natively and in real-time to social feeds such as Facebook and YouTube. Dual-Sight simultaneously harnesses both the front and rear cameras in a split screen visual for both photos and videos. With just one touch, this world-first livestream capability gives more immersive…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly coming of age, as business leaders increasingly grasp the immense potential of “smart” machines and other innovations as catalysts for greater efficiency and competitiveness, according to global consulting firm Accenture. By 2019, the global market for content analytics, discovery and cognitive systems software is projected to reach $9.2 billion, according to IDC, more than double that of 2014. Accenture defines AI as a collection of multiple technologies that enable machines to sense, comprehend and act—and learn, either on their own or to augment human activities. AI is already starting to change how humans and computers…
The IoT ecosystem is expected to experience the largest growth in the history of humankind. With a current market valuation of over $900 billion, both manufacturers and those looking to adopt Internet of Things (IoT) solutions are aware of the potential of IoT. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), also known as the Industrial Internet, brings together brilliant machines, advanced analytics, and people at work. It’s the network of a multitude of devices connected by communications technologies that results in systems that can monitor, collect, exchange, analyze, and deliver valuable new insights like never. South Africa is not left behind in the…
The former chairman of the country’s communication watchdog Paris Mashile has been appointed as acting chair of the regulator. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa)announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Mashile as acting chairman after another acting chairperson Rubben Mohlaloga completed his term. Mohlaloga joined ICASA on 01 July 2013 as a councillor. He was then appointed an acting chairperson of the Authority on 22 June 2016, a role he fulfilled until the end of his term. “During his tenure as councillor and acting chairperson, Mohlaloga was instrumental in making sure that ICASA discharges its constitutional…
Chinese firm Huawei has unveiled its ‘Grow with the Cloud’ strategy. The group wants to partner with telcos around the world to build a cloud network with global coverage This is part of Huawei’s strategy to continue leveraging the strengths of its global platform to build an open ecosystem that thrives on shared success. “The cloud is a cornerstone of the intelligent world,” Guo Ping, Huawei’s Rotating CEO, said. “Society is experiencing a tangible Matthew effect in digital technology development. Because of this, as well as economies of scale in investment, clouds around the world will begin to converge –…
By Staff Writer Stash, an investment app created by Liberty, has proven to be a major hit amongst young South Africans after being downloaded and used by 12 000 users since this year’s Android launch in April. On 15 October, the app to invest your spare change will also be available on Apple’s iOS. Stash is an app that simply rounds up transactions when you swipe your bank card and invests the digital spare change in South Africa’s Top 40 companies, tax free. In just 49 seconds, you sign up, link your debit, credit or cheque card to the app,…
The South African Government is planning to create a National Fourth Industrial Commission. “We have decided to form a National Fourth Industrial Commission to help us embrace and cope with the Digital Revolution,” Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, said on Monday. The minister made the remarks during Telkom’s annual South African Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC), this year held on a ship, cruising through some of the most historic locations such as Province, Nice, Florence, Naples, and Rome. Cwele told delegates that government will continue using its policies and regulatory framework to hasten the creation of…
By Staff Writer The Eternal Flame Church in Heathfield, Cape Town, has turn down rental income of up to R35,000 a month to have a cellphone mast placed on its new 9m-tall steeple, according to the Sunday Times. Pastor Charles White told the newspaper that a company approached the church probably knew it have plans to build a steeple over 9m in the air. “That’s a very good target,” said Pastor White. “We sided with the community that the mast is dangerous to children and health in close proximity. We are a community-based church. Everybody in our church stood with…
SweepSouth, Africa’s pioneer in using technology to provide on-demand and regular home cleaning services, has created 1 000 jobs in the past year and paid out more than R20 million to its workers despite tough economic conditions. SweepSouth is an online platform for booking, managing and paying for home cleaning services using a laptop, phone or tablet. The platform makes it easy and convenient for anyone to book and pay for cleaning services, and connects clients with efficient, reliable and trustworthy cleaners. SweepSouth’s home cleaning professionals have gone through a rigorous interview process and are experienced, reference- and background checked,…
South African talent marketplace OfferZen has blasted through the milestone of 500 companies hiring software developers through their platform. A year and half ago, OfferZen changed the South African recruitment industry when they launched their marketplace, but one thing that remained unchanged was the billing model – the company followed the same upfront model as traditional recruiters. From today, OfferZen are giving companies another choice with the launch of a new pricing model, in the form of monthly billing. Instead of a 12.5% upfront fee, OfferZen will take 1.5% of a candidate’s first-year salary every month for 10 months. This…
Cell C, South Africa’s biggest mobile phone operator, has rejected claims that its recapitalization process is not complying with the country’s legislative provisions. The country’s third-biggest mobile phone operator recently announced its restructuring involving Net 1 and Blue Label Telecoms. In a statement on Wednesday night, ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa), said it is seeking legal advice. It added that the preliminary view is that the Cell C recapitalisation transaction – on the face of it – triggers the provisions of Section 13 of the Electronic Communications Act of 20015 and ought to have been filed as an…
The country’s communications watchdog is seeking legal advice in response to Cell C’s recapitalisation that is in ‘violation’ of its licence conditions. The country’s third-biggest mobile phone operator recently announced its restructuring involving Net 1 and Blue Label Telecoms. On 07 August 2017, Cell C management, Net 1 and Blue Label announced the conclusion and “approval” of the recapitalisation transaction. Declaring that the deal was complete, Cell also announced last week Monday that Kuben Pillay and Larry Nestadt have been appointed to the board of Cell C as chairperson and deputy chairperson respectively. In a statement on Wednesday night, ICASA…