Author: Gugu Lourie

Humans are highly social creatures. Our brains have evolved to allow us to survive and thrive in complex social environments. Accordingly, the behaviors and emotions that help us navigate our social sphere are entrenched in networks of neurons within our brains. By Caitlin Millett Social motivations, such as the desire to be a member of a group or to compete with others, are among the most basic human drives. In fact, our brains are able to assess “in-group” (us) and “out-group” (them) membership within a fraction of a second. This ability, once necessary for our survival, has largely become a detriment…

South Africa is ranked 34th globally in a new report from OpenSignal app that take measurements from millions of smartphones users in 95 countries. By Gugu Lourie OpenSignal examines the overall mobile data performance of the 95 countries to see how they stack up. OpenSignal says while 4G or LTE is a big factor especially in the most developed nations, 3G is still an important component of most countries’ mobile data infrastructure and Wi-Fi has a major influence on the way the majority of the world uses smartphones. “We found only two countries that averaged data speeds faster than 30…

Two lucky fintech entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa are about to get a big boost, as they are invited to join the Fintech Africa 2016 programme. By Staff writer Village Capital is recruiting entrepreneurs across Sub Saharan Africa for the business development program, which will take place in Nairobi, Lagos and Accra. Africa is fertile ground for new fintech services which are leveraging the power of communities and social media to make financial services more relevant, while using data to deliver more meaningful financial services on an ongoing basis. For more read: The unstoppable rise of African fintech is rapidly changing the…

Volkswagen plans to bring five new electric cars to market, according to a Madison report. By Staff Writer The site said all Volkswagen’s electric cars will be based on its new modular electric-vehicle architecture – and they’ll be sold in the U.S., Europe, and China. In a new interview with German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche, VW brand chief Herbert Diess, said the new electric VW is slightly smaller than the compact Golf hatchback on the outside, but its interior room is comparable to that of the midsize Passat. “It will be all-electric, battery-powered, with a range of “400 to 600 kilometers.” The VW…

MTN SA has announced the finalists who will be vying for the coveted winner’s prize in various categories in the Women in ICT – Partnership for Change Awards. The announcement of the finalists follows an intensive adjudication process where a panel of judges examined the nominations submitted.  The Women in ICT – Partnership for Change Awards is a pioneering women recognition programme that was launched by MTN in partnership with Kagiso Media’s Jacaranda FM and East Coast Radio. The awards are segmented into eight categories to cater for female contribution across the broad spectrum of the industry. The shortlisted nominees…

BMW South Africa today revealed the BMW 7 Series with the Remote Control Parking system. By Staff Writer The BMW 7 Series is the world’s first series-produced car that enables owners to manoeuvre in or out of forward-parking spaces or garages without anyone at the wheel. As such, the Remote Control Parking option allows drivers to access tight parking spaces with ease. The driver initiates the car’s progress forward into or in reverse out of a space using the BMW Display Key. While the car is carrying out the semi-automated manoeuvre, the driver watches out for obstacles. Launched in South Africa in January…

BMW will launch a newly revised BMW ConnectedDrive Store – which offers BMW customers access to the complete spectrum of services and vehicle app like real time traffic and BMW Internet Services – in South Africa in September 2016. By Gugu Lourie The store will be an extension to the current BMW ConnectedDrive Portal to allow further personalisation. The full suite of BMW ConnectedDrive services was first introduced in South Africa in June 2014. With the built-in SIM card and a BMW registered account, customers are able to access their personal, password-protected BMW ConnectedDrive area, make individual settings and manage vehicle-related data…

South Africa’s Telkom said this afternoon that it secured an urgent interim court order interdicting and restraining CWU (Communications Workers Union) and its members from a number of illegal activities associated with the union’s current strike. Today, the CWU blocked access to the Telkom Campus in Centurion, along with some Telkom yards. Less than 100 CWU members today chose to harass and intimidate employees in Centurion. There were also some reports of blockades and intimidation at a few Telkom facilities elsewhere in the country. Telkom employees in Centurion were physically restrained by protesting workers from entering the Telkom campus and…

South Africa’s first LGBT video-on-demand (VOD) channel has been launched to provide content that unashamedly tells the stories of Africa’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. By Staff Writer “Traditional TV channels have historically offered only small smatterings of one-dimensional LGBT content that ironically reinforces stereotypes instead of shattering them. “PrideTV reverses the trend to restrict access to LGBT themes by South African and African broadcasters,” says Joanne Raphael Katz, PrideTV Content Manager. PrideTV costs R79 a month (or R790 for 12 months – 2 months free) and viewers subscribe by visiting www.prideTV.co.za. Credit cards are accepted. Alternatively, viewers can…

Is there anything that MTN doesn’t do? The mobile phone company is into mobile money, telematics, cloud computing, connected cars, telemedicine. As part of its hunt for new revenue streams, MTN has been quietly conquering the digital music space. By Gugu Lourie But there is nothing quite about MTN Music generating more than R944 million ($70 million) in revenues in the six months to end-June 2016 from distributing music digitally in Africa. For MTN, this performance in the digital music space is nothing but part of its diversification strategy to retain customers and differentiate itself from competitors. Asked how MTN…