Author: Staff Writer
“With our relentless efforts and commitment, OPPO aims to make AI phones accessible to everyone, ” said Billy Zhang, President of Overseas MKT, Sales and Service at OPPO. “For the first time in the industry, OPPO is bringing generative AI to all product lines. By the end of this year, we expect to bring generative AI features to about 50 million users.” With its large global reach, advanced connectivity, and multimodal capabilities, smartphones are well-positioned as the most important personal AI device. Despite the ubiquity of smartphones, however, OPPO believes that AI should not remain exclusive to just flagship phones…
SAP and WalkMe announced today that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which the German software firm will acquire the digital adoption platforms (DAPs). WalkMe’s solutions help organisations navigate constant technology change by providing users with advanced guidance and automation features that enable them to execute workflows seamlessly across any number of applications. This results in higher adoption of the underlying application and as such drives value realisation. The Executive and Supervisory Boards of SAP SE and the board of directors of WalkMe have approved the transaction for $14.00 per share in an all-cash transaction, representing an…
Canada has committed C$269 million (R3.7 billion) over eight years to support the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, a collaborative effort between South Africa and Australia. The National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC) Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre will oversee this investment and work with Canadian industrial partners to deliver key observatory systems. The NRC will represent Canada in the SKAO Council. “Canada has been a long-standing leader in astronomy and the exploration of the universe, and Canada’s membership in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory will give Canadian researchers access to the world’s most powerful radio-telescope,” said François-Phillipe Champagne,…
Since 2007, Vodacom Foundation has proudly partnered with the Smile Foundation to support Smile Week, an initiative that provides life-changing reconstructive surgery to children with treatable facial anomalies. Smile Week not only addresses the physical challenges faced by these young people but also alleviates the emotional distress associated with feeling different, enabling them to embrace their lives to the fullest. “As we mark Vodacom’s 30th anniversary this year, it’s a good time to reflect on the dramatic change in the countries in which we operate, in terms of bringing connectivity to people. What we are also particularly proud of is…
In line with the EX30’s futuristic design and focus on disrupting the electric car market, Thea and Lasizwe proved to be the perfect fit as EX30 Champions. Volvo Car South Africa is excited to welcome Lasizwe Dambuza and Thea Booysen to the Volvo family as EX30 Champions in celebration of Volvo’s most affordable electric car, the EX30. Multi-award-winning YouTuber and reality TV star Lasizwe Dambuza has over recent years seen his star rise in the South African social media landscape. At the same time, his hit show Awkward Dates has proven popular among his fans. Currently studying towards her Masters…
Vodacom has opened applications to its Early Careers programmes for the 2025 intake. The initiative is part of Vodacom’s commitment to supporting youth development in South Africa, whilst creating an inclusive digital society by nurturing emerging talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through employment and education opportunities. “As Vodacom celebrates connecting South Africans over the past three decades, we are also looking towards the future and how we can continue to use our capabilities in building an inclusive digital society. Supporting digital skills development and diversity in STEM is critical to this ambition, especially among our youth, who…
After weeks of anticipation the Huawei Pura 70 Series is finally in South Africa. Ranked by DXOMark, the No 1 Smartphone Camera, this bold new flagship series, packs a punch in design, photography and performance, showcasing that Huawei is clearly aiming high with the new range of smartphones. The Huawei Pura 70 Series is now available starting from R19 999.00 with promotional gifts valued at R7 796.00 on the HUAWEI online store, (Ts & Cs apply) or at any Huawei Authorised Experience Stores. The Series is also available in mobile phone operator stores starting from R699 PM on 36 months…
CIM Financial Services Ltd (Cim Finance), a leading Mauritian consumer and SME non-banking financial institution, has implemented insurtech Root Platform’s digital insurance policy management system. Classified as a Small Island Developing State by the United Nations, Mauritius has an online community in excess of 800,000 users, who are connected through a fibre optic network, widespread availability of 5G connectivity, and mobile penetration of 160%. Mauritius is currently ranked first in Africa and 17th in the world on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2020 Global Cybersecurity Index. Cim Finance offers financial solutions to consumers, SMEs and large corporates. For over a…
Telkom has unveiled the June-July Big Deal, which is data-packed and keeps you connected for next to nothing. The big deal starts from 01st June 2024 and end 31st July 2024. The big deal is a Post-paid or TopUp contract on 22.5GB LTE data plan, which includes 22.5GB anytime data per month, 22.5GB night surfer data per month. The 22.5GB LTE Data offers shall be available as a Sim-Only on a 24-month contract. The 22.5GB LTE Data also offers shall be available on a 24-month contract, which includes LTE MiFi pocket router (at an extra fee), which connect up-to 16 devices.…
Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, today announced plans to demo a new data centre solution, using NVIDIA technology, for security-conscious business and government customers harnessing the power of AI. This is just one of multiple AI security solutions being shown for the first time at COMPUTEX 2024. Trend Vision One – Sovereign and Private Cloud (SPC) integrates with NVIDIA NIM, a set of easy-to-use inference microservices, part of the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform, which is designed to accelerate the deployment of generative AI across the cloud, data centre, and workstations. Eva Chen, CEO at Trend: “While many in…
Two leading professional services firms, Mazars, an international partnership operating in over 100 countries and territories, and FORVIS, a top ranked firm in the United States, today mark the official launch of their new global network, Forvis Mazars. Forvis Mazars, a top 10 global network* is the largest new entrant into the global rankings in decades. As a two-firm network, Forvis Mazars is unique in the market and provides the agility, capacity and coverage to support clients wherever in the world they operate. This move brings increased choice in the market, serving the public interest. Key leadership positions revealed The…
Tarsus Distribution, a leading technology distributor in Southern Africa, has partnered with Zerto, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, to deliver advanced disaster recovery and data protection solutions to businesses across the region. This collaboration addresses the increasing need for robust disaster recovery capabilities amidst growing cyber threats and operational disruptions. The partnership will enable Tarsus Distribution to offer Zerto’s comprehensive Disaster Recovery solutions. This includes real-time protection, near-zero data loss, and low recovery point objectives (RPOs), providing businesses with a secure and reliable way to safeguard their data and maintain continuity during unforeseen events such as ransomware attacks or natural…
MMS Africa, a provider of media management software solutions to broadcasters across Africa, has partnered with inq., a Convergence Partners company, to host its infrastructure, support its IT requirements, and assist it with the software customisation on its broadcast solution. “Since we opened our doors in 2017, the focus has always been on enabling the integration of multiple back-end software solutions for broadcasters who relied on these complex environments to fulfil their mandates,” says Abdul Mathee, the Founder of MMS Africa. “At the time, we partnered with international software vendors to deliver a solution, but it was still price prohibitive…
HP today announced a strategic multi-year global partnership with Canva, the world’s only all-in-one visual communication platform, to empower millions of Canva users worldwide to seamlessly design online, create visual content, and print locally. The collaboration between HP and Canva aims to benefit both HP Print Service Providers (PSPs) and the Canva community worldwide, enabling anyone creating visual content on the Canva platform to seamlessly design and print within a fully integrated system. This multi-year deal will enable Canva users to design anything and print anywhere without compromising quality and authenticity. “This partnership will deliver huge strategic value and fuel customer…
Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, and SAP have announced an expanded strategic collaboration to enhance modern cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) experiences. This partnership aims to help enterprises drive new capabilities and efficiencies through generative artificial intelligence (AI). The collaboration focuses on simplifying the adoption of the RISE with SAP solution on AWS, improving the performance and efficiency of SAP workloads in the cloud, and integrating generative AI across an enterprise’s business-critical applications. “AWS was the first cloud provider certified to support the SAP portfolio and today, thousands of enterprise companies run SAP solutions on AWS to…
AfriGIS is among the first geospatial solutions companies to offer verified and validated geospatial data on administrative boundaries linked to postal codes throughout Africa. Expanding the company’s geospatial datasets to cover the continent, AfriGIS has developed a polygon dataset (a collection of shapes defined by closed lines that represent geographical areas) for 21,600 localities (towns), including 475,000 sub-localities (suburbs), over the past three years. There are numerous attributable data overlays that can be used to enrich the dataset via API, including points of interest, administrative political boundaries, cadastral, deeds, and census data, street centrelines, postal code regions, sectional schemes, gated…
At City Lodge Hotels, we’re celebrating parents this season! After spoiling moms in May, it’s time to treat the dads this June. Our special offer helps families show appreciation for father figures without breaking the bank. Cheers to the ‘rents! Book now to get up to 30% off the best available (BAR) rate on your Father’s Day weekend booking – valid for stays from 14-17 June 2024 (inclusive) – at participating Courtyard Hotels, City Lodge Hotels, and Town Lodges, and up to 10% off at participating Road Lodges, when using the booking code CHEERSRENTS. There’s more! We’re also running a…
South African retailers should get set for a recovery in retail sales between 2024 and 2026, according to a new report* conducted on behalf of Capital Connect, a fintech that offers fast and flexible business funding to South African retailers. The report shows that total real retail sales are forecast to grow by 1.8% in 2024, gradually increasing to 2.1% in 2026. This marks a welcome recovery, following an estimated 1% decline in total real retail sales in 2023. The positive trend is expected to be fuelled by lower CPI and interest rates as well as some employment growth from…
In today’s hectic world, convenience is key. That’s where the Naked app comes in – revolutionising the way you handle insurance with technology. Let’s explore what makes our app unique and why it’s your go-to companion for managing insurance. Get a final quote in 90 seconds and get insured in under three minutes Forget the lengthy phone calls with insurance agents. With the Naked app, you can get a comprehensive car insurance quote in just 90 seconds. Whether you’re at home or on the go, insuring your car is as simple as tapping your screen. Customise your coverage and excess…
The flagship new Range Rover Sport SV has sparked demand amongst clients in South Africa, with all 35 limited-edition Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONE units fully reserved when orders opened. “Close to 200 clients expressed interest in the limited-edition new Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONE. Thirty-five now have the special privilege of staking a claim to one,” Janico Dannhauser, Product and Pricing Manager, JLR South Africa, said. “They’ll be among the first in South Africa to experience an impressive number of segment and brand firsts that make this model the benchmark for ultimate modern luxury performance SUVs.” Acclaimed…
With its BMW Concept Skytop design study, the BMW Group is once again bringing an exceptionally elegant, one-of-a-kind vehicle to this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the annual beauty contest for historic cars and motorcycles held on the shores of Lake Como. The open two-seater resembles a meticulously crafted vehicle sculpture, with a flowing, sporty elegance that complements its athletic, muscular stance. The interior and exterior of the concept car feature warm monochromatic colours, blending exclusive materials with traditional craftsmanship. “The BMW Concept Skytop is a truly unique and exotic design, in the tradition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este,”…
With so much political uncertainty as South Africa gears up for the 2024 elections, and analysts and researchers all making such widely varying predictions, could anyone bet on the outcome? As political parties battle it out for the hearts and minds of voters each one makes election promises more outlandish than the one before. Which one will convince voters on Election Day Wednesday, 29 May? Do you want to take a bet on who the next president of South Africa will be? Or how about our next Minister of Finance who can hopefully help bring down the cost of living?…
AstraZeneca and Medsol AI Solutions have announced a partnership to launch Project Flamingo and the BHF Tintswalo initiative, a cancer care app designed to provide rapid diagnosis and personalised care for individuals in rural areas. This partnership leverages AstraZeneca’s healthcare expertise and Medsol AI Solutions’ advanced artificial intelligence technology to address the urgent need for accessible and efficient cancer care in underserved communities. Given that cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, the initiative aims to promote timely diagnosis and treatment to improve patient outcomes. It is particularly beneficial for people living in rural and remote areas who often…
South Africa’s digital landscape is evolving rapidly, with the country occupying the top spot for time spent online in the fourth quarter of 2023. Internet users in South Africa spent more than nine hours and 32 minutes online per day, ranking first among the regions worldwide. This appetite for data consumption is driven by rapid smartphone adoption. As of 2023, about 20 to 22 million South Africans use a smartphone, which accounts for about one third of the country’s population. This surge in mobile usage is not merely a technological shift, but a reflection of deeper societal and historical factors. South…
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) warns members of the public about conducting financial services related business with SpaceX Investment and SpaceX-Shares-Investment, which offers its services through Facebook. It has come to the attention of the FSCA that there are individuals who are using the Facebook pages SpaceX Investment and SpaceX-Shares-Investment to offer members of the South African public investment products whilst promising unrealistic returns. The individuals behind the Facebook pages are purporting to be associated with Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) an entity linked to Mr Elon Musk. The FSCA suspects that the individuals are using Space X’s branding…