Author: Gugu Lourie

Vodacom’s YeboYethu BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) scheme is to move its over-the-counter stock to the JSE’s black economic empowerment (BEE) board. By Staff Writer The company said the YeboYethu shares are likely to be traded on the JSE BEE board from 11 August 2016. The Vodacom YeboYethu empowewrment scheme was established in 2008 and allowed black people to purchase Vodacom SA shares at a discount. YeboYethu does not own nor have any beneficial interests in nor rights to Vodacom Group shares. Since YeboYethu’s incorporation, over 100 000 black people have been able to hold, through investing in YeboYethu shares. YeboYethu…

The financial services industry is awash with disruptive technologies and banks across the world are clamouring to embrace these in order to ensure they remain relevant and competitive. One such disruption is blockchain – a distributed ledger technology that many believe has the potential to change financial services as profoundly as the internet changed media and entertainment. Among the local front-runners who are experimenting with blockchain on a significant scale is Absa, a member of the Barclays Africa. Today it became the first African banking group to join the global R3 blockchain consortium – a financial innovation firm that has…

MTN has reduced the prices of its Supersonic fibre data bundles by 50%, to boost the competitiveness of its propositions and ensure that customers can access its high-speed fibre network cost effectively. Customers who sign up for an MTN Supersonic 24 month contract before 1 October 2016 will not only enjoy a seamless experience from using MTN’s high-speed network, but will also receive free installation, a free router and bonus data bundles that are the equivalent of the bundle option. In addition, they will also be provisioned with twice the amount of night bundle data to utilise between 00h00 and…

German entrepreneur Kim Dotcom is planning to relaunch file-sharing website Megaupload in January 2017, five years after the U.S. government took down the site accusing it of piracy, Reuters reported. Megaupload had boasted of having more than 150 million registered users and 50 million daily visitors. The news agency said Dotcom, who announced his plans in a series of tweets on Friday, said most of the Megaupload users would get their accounts reinstated with premium privileges. Did you miss Megaupload? It’s coming back my friends. Bigger and better than ever.https://t.co/9zhpm0ZuTF — Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) July 7, 2016 Reuters said Dotcom also…

When someone types your name into Google, suppose the first link points to a newspaper article about you going bankrupt 15 years ago, or to a YouTube video of you smoking cigarettes 20 years ago, or simply a webpage that includes personal information such as your current home address, your birth date, or your Social Security number. What can you do – besides cry? By Keith W. Ross Unlike those living the United States, Europeans actually have some recourse. The European Union’s “right to be forgotten” (RTBF) law allows EU residents to fill out an online form requesting that a search…

Pick n Pay is launching its next big giveaway campaign that could be even better than the much-loved Stikeez, which had South Africans gripped in a collectors’ frenzy last year. For every R150 spent at any Pick n Pay, you will get a free pack of four collectible Super Animal cards that can be scanned, using Pick n Pay’s free downloadable app, to bring the animal on the card to life. There are 108 cards to collect in nine categories: Fastest, Toughest, Deadliest, Smartest, Fiercest, Weirdest, Sneakiest, Loudest and Showiest. Each card has a barcode that can be read by…

Cell C’s mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) platform, which has enabled company’s such as FNB Connect to connect its customers, announced on Monday that it has has brought in over one million customers. By Gugu Lourie An MVNO is a mobile virtual network operator. It uses the mobile network infrastructure provided by a mobile network operator like Cell C, but offers its own products and services, including billing and fulfilment; on top of that network. Cell C is currently the only mobile network operator in South Africa, who has opened their network to MVNO partner. The Cell C’s platform connects clients of…

The urge to go online the moment they  reach foreign soil sees a high proportion of people connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, putting their personal data at risk, according to a study by Kaspersky Lab. The research, which polled 11,850 people from across the world, found that cybercrime is commonplace when abroad. However, as ever more essential travel information – from maps and hotel confirmations to check-in details and boarding passes – is stored online, international travelers often have no choice but to connect upon arrival. Many will be keen to use Wi-Fi rather than risk incurring roaming charges, despite…

Tammah has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its free online video platform in a bid to compete with other giants. By Gugu Lourie The web-based online video platform wants to focus on independent African content and more. The start-up is planning to launch in October 31, 2016 after it has completed its Kickstarter campaign to raise capital. Tammah will compete directly with big players, who are trying to capture the African market for video services such as YouTube, Facebook, BuniTV, iReportersTV, Comeseesumting, NdaniTV, IrokoTV, ZeraTV, and other platforms like ChannelsTV, SaharaTV, The Africa Channel, Notjustok and Afrinolly. But Tammah would…

BMW navigation system business, ConnectedDrive and real time traffic information to become standard equipment on all BMW models produced in South Africa from this month (July 2016). By Staff Writer The German carmaker said the specifications will strengthen its product offering within the premium segment and deliver more sheer driving pleasure to customers. Navigation System Business The BMW Navigation System Business has a built-in 6,5″ black-panel colour monitor with a high resolution colour display, dynamic route guidance with automatic alternative routes available presented in the cockpit or on the BMW Head-Up Display, 2D map or combined arrow and map display.…