Author: Staff Writer

Instagram has announced new tools to filter abusive Direct Messages (DMs) and to prevent someone you’ve blocked from contacting you from a new account. The tool will allow users to automatically filter out DMs requests containing offensive words, phrases, and emojis. The tool is targeted at people with larger followings, who have faced abuse in their DM request inbox from people they don’t follow. This tool focuses on DM requests, because this is where people usually receive abusive messages – unlike your regular DM inbox, where you receive messages from friends. It will work in a similar way to the comment…

MetroFibre is upgrading line speeds on its FTTH fibre packages as part of its drive to make quality fibre internet access as ubiquitous and accessible as possible for South African families. The product adjustments will be effective from 1 June 2021 and rolled out over a two-week period after that. Existing direct FTTH customers and those of ISPs and resellers operating on MetroFibre’s open-access network will automatically be bumped up to the next higher speed at no additional cost. With its open-access model, customers can choose from multiple Internet service providers, packages and prices. MetroFibre will also introduce a new…

Amazon is opening a London hair salon to trial the latest industry technology, from augmented reality (AR) hair consultations to point-and-learn technology. The Amazon Salon will occupy 1,500 sq. ft. on Brushfield Street in London’s Spitalfields. At this salon, customers can experience the best in hair care and styling. “We have designed this salon for customers to come and experience some of the best technology, hair care products and stylists in the industry,” said John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon. “We want this unique venue to bring us one step closer to customers, and it will be a place where…

JSE-listed Altron has acquired digital signatures services company Lawtrust from Etion for R245 million subject to Competition Commission approval. Lawtrust is a digital trust services and cyber information security solutions company which provides solutions used to verify the authenticity of digital identities and counterparty systems in transactions, data encryption, digital signatures, as well as biometrics. “In 2019 we acquired Ubusha Technologies, a leader in identity management. Ubusha formed the foundation of Altron Security,” said Altron Group Chief Executive, Mteto Nyati. “It has proven to be a great acquisition as customers accelerated their digital transformation due to COVID-19. “The…

MTN today unveiled its new MTN BozzaGigs LTE offering which gives MTN customers exclusive pre-paid data bundles on the fastest and best network.  New prepaid customers joining the network can buy an MTN Starter pack and migrate to MTN BozzaGigs LTE price-plan that offers a range of bundles starting at R99 for 10GB data bundle valid for 30days.    In order to move to MTN BozzaGigs LTE, new Prepaid customers will need to dial *137# to migrate to the BozzaGigs LTE in order to qualify for exclusive data offers starting at 10GB for R99. Migrations to the new BozzaGigs are only…

The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionised business operations the world over and forever changed the way markets engage with customers and how consumers deal with brands. Companies must now face the reality of a touch-free generation, people who expect everything to work touch-free and today there is an opportunity to leverage loyalty programmes to meet this expectation. Online research shows that one of the fundamental changes to the business environment resulting from the pandemic has been the surge in e-commerce and the use of digital tools. It’s proof that the touch-free generation is getting to grips with technology to avoid personal…

Vodacom has donated R3 million towards relief efforts to help thousands of people impacted by a runaway fire in Cape Town at the weekend. The blaze that engulfed the Rhodes Memorial restaurant, multiple buildings at the University of Cape Town (UCT), including the Special Collections library that houses rare collections of African Studies was started accidentally according to SANParks. The blazing inferno forced the evacuation of over 4,000 UCT students to emergency accommodation. According to the Cape Town fire and rescue department, two firefighter were injured and are being treated in hospital. Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO said: “We have…

MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) announced today that it will list on the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) on 4 May 2021.  The listing has been approved by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE). The listing is by introduction on the RSE and the approval of Crystal Telecom’s (CTL) shareholders to distribute the 20% of MTN Rwanda’s shareholding held by CTL to CTL shareholders effective from the listing date. “The official listing of MTN Rwanda’s shares on the RSE will take place on 4 May 2021. We look forward to participating in the capital markets of…

 Zoom today announced the Zoom Apps Fund, a new $100 million (R1, 4 billion) venture fund created to stimulate the growth of its Apps ecosystem, integrations, developer platform, and hardware. The company said in a statement that portfolio companies will receive initial investments between $250,000 (R3.6 million) and $2.5 million (R35 million) to build solutions that will become core to how Zoom customers meet, communicate, and collaborate. Zoom Apps announced at Zoomtopia 2020 leading applications that will bring productivity and engaging experiences directly into the Zoom platform. Dozens of Zoom Apps are currently in development and are an important component in…

Despite public pushback, Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp will be going ahead with the privacy policy update it announced earlier this year. While the public has begun to appreciate that WhatsApp’s privacy rules are in fact still very much in favour of the user, with messages sent remaining private and encrypted at all times, what will this mean for brands that use the app to reach and engage with consumers? “The benefits for brands are massive,” says Kyle Oosthuizen, chief operating officer at Blue Robot – creators of messaging solutions that allow brands to communicate with their audience at scale. “These…