London Live 3 In 1
Posted inConnectivity

South African government charged US $10 million for a WordPress theme job

It happens all the time but this is definitely extreme. South African tech blogs reported that a web development company actually charged the South African government at least R97 million for a website. The website is basically just WordPress (free) and a WordPress theme (about $40) that they clearly didn't modify much. Here's a screenshot of the theme.
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Wabona
Posted inConnectivity Startups

Wabona and the internet opportunity for pay-per-view video streaming in Africa

We were recently in touch with Simukayi Mukuna, one of the two co-founders of a new pay-per-view video streaming service called Wabona. The service was launched in beta in November last year, and the Wabona team has since been accepted into a 88mph startup incubator in South Africa. it was great opportunity therefore for us to hear out their perspectives and plans withe the service.
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Jeremy George
Posted inConnectivity

BiNu hires former ForgetMeNot Africa CEO to grow biNu in Africa

BiNu, the smartphone in the cloud company has hired former ForgetMeNot Africa CEO, Jeremy George, to help grow biNu users and usage in Africa. We met with George last week in Harare and he discussed their strategy on the continent going forward, the sum of which is to grow content and users.
Telecel Red
Posted inConnectivity

Is Telecel Red a ripoff?

Last week, Telecel launched what the company may consider to be their biggest product launch of this year; Telecel Red. The product is basically an attempt to attract subscribers to post-paid contracts – the contracts 95% of Africans are known to shy away from.
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Posted inConnectivity

Telecel reduces price of 3G modems to US $30

Telecel announced early today via an SMS to subscribers the reduction of its 3G modems price from US $45 to $30. Subscribers will also get 300mb of data along with a new modem. We’re told it’s a promotion, which means the deal has an expiry date.
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Google Tax
Posted inConnectivity

The Google Tax: is it justified?

The internet has been described as a global system of interconnected computer networks that makes use a suite of protocols to serve billions of users worldwide.
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Posted inConnectivity

Econet to split shares 10 to 1 to make them more accessible

Econet just sent out a press release today to basically say they’d like to go back to their founding roots when the majority of the company’s shares where in the hands of ordinary people, and that to do that they will be splitting the company's shares 10 to 1.
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mobile-subs-market-share
Posted inConnectivity

Zimbabwe’s tele-density reaches 100%, mobile penetration now 97%

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), has released the December 2012 (4th quarter) mobile phone and fixed telephone subscribers statistics. According to statistics that we received from the regulator, Zimbabwe’s mobile penetration is now 97%, up from 85% in June 2012.
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Translations
Posted inConnectivity

Why translation of open source software into local languages has failed

Sometime in 2009, after quenching my thirst with (Ubuntu) Linux for two years I decided it was time to give back to the community. I am not a very talented code writer, I know that much, nor did i see any reason to wast whatever few talents I had on the oversubscribed international Ubuntu Community so I jumped to join the Local Ubuntu team.
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Press Release: Pastel launches cloud computing for small businesses
Posted inConnectivity

Press Release: Pastel launches cloud computing for small businesses

Pastel Software Zimbabwe will on March 12 launch Sage Pastel My Business Online, a cloud‑based accounting programme designed for start-up and small businesses that enables them to do their accounts online from anywhere in the world. This web-based business software solution can be accessed from anywhere using a computer, iPad, smartphone or even an iPhone, as it has an iPhone application.
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Microsoft
Posted inConnectivity

Windows closing the Linux gap?

I thought it wise to start with a disclaimer: This is not a Windows vs. Linux article. God knows enough of those have been written much to the chagrin of penguin lovers. It just seems to me like Linux is slipping it terms of their bug swatting vigilance.
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Telecel Red
Posted inConnectivity

The fact sheet: Telecel Red packages

Today, Telecel launched its Telecel Red product, which is basically a fixed payment plan platform meant to attract subscribers back to the post-paid plans (contract lines). We posted a press release from the company earlier. The product is targeting the middle to upper income bracket customers, who according to information so far, will get preferential treatment as customers in terms of support.
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Econet Services CEO, Darlington Mandivenga
Posted inConnectivity

EcoCash & Stanbic integrate. CEO Mboweni comments on ZimSwitch integration

We’re just from a press conference where Econet Wireless and Stanbic Bank announced the integration of Econet’s mobile money transfer platform, EcoCash, with Stanbic’s banking system allowing EcoCash subscribers to transfer money from and to their Stanbic accounts. Selected branches of Stanbic will also act as EcoCash Super Agents allowing EcoCash agents and customers to do EcoCash transactions.
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