Author: Staff Writer

AT&T is merging WarnerMedia with TV company Discovery to create a media giant to compete with firms like Netflix and Disney that are leading the charge in streaming content. The combination will be executed through a Reverse Morris Trust, under which WarnerMedia will be spun or split off to AT&T’s shareholders via dividend or through an exchange offer or a combination of both and simultaneously combined with Discovery. The transaction is expected to be tax-free to AT&T and AT&T’s shareholders. In connection with the spin-off or split-off of WarnerMedia, AT&T will receive $43 billion (R608 billion) in a combination of…

MTN announced today that it is enhancing and expanding its popular EverydayGigs portfolio to deliver more value for money and provide choice to its pre-paid customers. The growth in demand for flexible data solutions and consumers’ increasing need to remain connected to loved ones during the lockdown restrictions has enabled MTN to revise and expand its MTN EverydayGigs portfolio to ensure customers get more value and options. The changes are aimed at ensuring more people can access the digital world for their needs, whether it is for work, entertainment, news or education. MTN first launched EverydayGigs in May 2020 as…

The BMW X3 might be perfectly at home on rough terrain and winding gravel tracks, but the Mzanzi Edition of this locally-built hero displays another, more athletic dimension to the SAV with a range of sportier features. While the BMW X3 Mzansi Edition remains rugged to its core – it is, after all equipped with xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive as standard – it shows off its street smarts with a range of accessories, including: M Sport package M high-gloss Shadow Line evidenced by the blacked-out kidney grille and frame, M carbon wing mirror caps, Red M Sport brake callipers, A…

JSE-listed tech group Altron has posted an 18% drop in headline earnings per share (HEPS) but increased shareholder returns by announcing an increased dividend for the year ended 28 February 2021. HEPS is South Africa’s main profit gauge. The company announced today that HEPS shrank to 31c a share. However, the group declared 15 cents a share dividend and it also unlocked shareholder value by 152% from a share price of R20.19 to a share value of R50.80. The group said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) declined 8% to R1 billion. The operating free cash flow of…

Pick n Pay has launched a new and affordable fitness equipment range and Smart Shoppers will receive 12 free online fitness classes when purchasing any product from the new range during the next month. Lockdown became synonymous with home workouts, and many have continued with this habit they adopted when gyms were closed due to the ease it offers. The new LIVEFIT range of exercise equipment consists of over 75 products – ranging from yoga mats, bands, balls, and dumbbell sets to exercise bikes and weightlifting benches and home gyms. Over the next few months, the range will be growing…

NextNow, a world-class African e-hailing company that aims to firmly put the continent on the ride-sharing map. NextNow officially launched its services in Johannesburg on 10 May 2021. “As every other mobility solution provider across the world is securing its own continent, Africa is not going to be left behind. Next is Africa and Now is Africa,” says Head of Operations South Africa, Mlungisi Ntombela. He explains that the homegrown e-hailing service’s competitive pricing will set it apart from established international competitors in the market. It aims to be more affordable than its rival competition. NextNow is launching the following…

Google Cloud announced today a new partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to deliver data, cloud services, and applications to customers at the network edge. The deal will leverage Starlink’s ability to provide high-speed broadband internet around the world and Google Cloud’s infrastructure. SpaceX will begin to locate Starlink ground stations within Google data centre properties, enabling the secure, low-latency, and reliable delivery of data from more than 1,500 Starlink satellites launched to orbit to date to locations at the network edge via Google Cloud. Google Cloud’s high-capacity private network will support the delivery of Starlink’s global satellite internet service, bringing…

Cabinet has welcomed the R3 billion commitment, to transfer the latest technology for producing vaccines and biological therapies to South Africa, announced by Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong. Soon-Shiong, who is a South African born biotechnology entrepreneur, now based in the United States, announced this during a meeting organised by the World Health Organisation, on Wednesday. “Cabinet applauds the active support of Dr Soon-Shiong and other philanthropists for equitable distribution of COVID 19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics,” Cabinet said in statement on Thursday. “Cabinet also appreciate the acknowledgement by Dr Soon-Shiong of South Africa’s advancement in the science, the human capital, the…

When we think of computers our mind automatically jumps to big-name brands such as HP, Lenovo and Apple. But aspiring entrepreneur Mpumelelo Mahlangu is aiming to change this perception and show South Africans that local is lekker. Mpumelelo recently founded and is about to launch the first-ever entry-level South African laptop Dot Connect. It’s the first laptop to be launched by a black South African Township-based company and entrepreneur and competes with a wide range of budget entry-level laptops such ASUS, ILIFE and Connex. Mahlangu left matric knowing fully well that university was not his destiny yet after completing his…

The South African Post Office (SAPO) has seen a dramatic increase in members of the public who want to apply for a subsidised television decoder or set-top boxes. This follows the announcement earlier in the year that South Africa will switch to digital television transmissions in early 2022. The country is preparing to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting. In order to receive digital signals on an ordinary analogue TV set, viewers will need set-top boxes (STBs) or digital-enabled television sets to decode signals. The decoder brings a much better picture quality and a bigger choice of television channels. “The…