Telecel New Website
Posted inConnectivity

Finally, the Telecel Zimbabwe website is back online

The Telecel Zimbabwe website was taken down in early February last year, and yesterday, more than a year later, the website has been brought back online. This is good; it makes it so much easier to find information about the company; tariffs, services on offer, recent developments, contact information, coverage and other such important stuff.
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Nhava Laser One
Posted inConnectivity

Some thoughts on the Nhava scandal

When we wrote an article about G-Mobile launching a range ‘local computers’ last year, we mentioned the controversial issue of local companies (Nhava & G-Mobile) possibly buying unbranded computers, getting them branded with their company name and selling them locally as locally made computers. We asked the readers for their opinions on the matter and reactions ranged from “low price is all that matters” to “Guys adding a sticker to a clone made in china is not true innovation.”
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Posted inConnectivity

The Telecel side of the story: Indigenisation, Expats & Buying Zimbabwe

Barely seconds after we posted the accusation by Telecel that NetOne won’t share infrastructure, a email from Telecel appeared in our inbox with a press release titled “Telecel MD gives evidence to parliamentary committee” attached. Telecel has been mainly silent on the issued leveled against them in the past few months but the appearance before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technology has obviously forced them to come out and speak.
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Infrastructure Sharing
Posted inConnectivity

Telecel accuses NetOne of refusing to share passive infrastructure

Telecel, the second largest mobile operator in Zimbabwe by subscriber base, has accused state owned (and smallest) mobile operator, NetOne, of refusing to share tower infrastructure. Telecel Zimbabwe CEO, Mr. Aimable Mpore made the accusation in a response to questions about Telecel’s shareholding structure from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technology.
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Posted inConnectivity

Telecel reduces cost of calling other mobile networks

In a release we just received, Telecel has announced that it is scrapping the extra cost of calling mobile numbers outside the Telecel network. Effectively, this means Telecel subscribes will now call NetOne and Econet numbers at the same rate they call Telecel numbers.
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PowerTel package
Posted inBroadband

Review: PowerTel Mobile Broadband

Two weeks ago, Techzim got the opportunity to test the PowerTel mobile broadband service. We’ve been using the connection as a primary for one of our laptops at the office, taking it through the paces and below is what we think about it.
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NetOne Relaks Tariffs
Posted inConnectivity

NetOne introduces new mobile voice package

Yesterday, state owned mobile operator, NetOne, started an advertising campaign for a new mobile voice package called Relaks. The package promises lower tariffs and free SMSes. We contacted NetOne today and they sent us a press release prepared to announce the new package.
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Operations Survive Demonstration
Posted inConnectivity

University of Zim scientist develops a drought and climate change adaptation game

When we visited the Research and Intellectual Expo at the University of Zimbabwe last week, we saw some very interesting displays. One such display was at the UZ Soil Science and Agriculture Engineering department where a senior lecturer, Dr Emmanuel Manzungu, is developing a computer-based game that helps farmers and their advisors to make strategic decisions about responding to drought and climate change.
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Google Apps
Posted inConnectivity

Let Google dress your email for business

I don’t know about you folks but I haven’t had much success finding certain products and services from local businesses on the Internet. Not that they don’t exist, but I suppose advertising on the Internet is something that most of us seem to still be tentatively exploring. Because I usually don’t have time to leaf through other traditional advertising media, each time I’m driving through town I’m on the lookout for billboards, informative company cars and such. Maybe not the most effective method but it has rewarded me enough times to keep at it.
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University of Zimbabwe Computer Center
Posted inConnectivity

Some photos from the Research & Intellectual Expo in Harare

We attended the Research & Intellectual Expo organised by Zimbabwe's Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education. There was much to see and learn. Some of it information technology related and the other technology applications in Agriculture, food sciences and such.
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Zimbo Jam
Posted inConnectivity

Press Release: Zimbo Jam to launch mobile site

Zimbabwe’s leading arts, culture and lifestyle website, Zimbo Jam will on Tuesday March 1, 2011, officially launch the mobile version of its site. The launch ceremony will be simple; The Zimbo Jam editor will stand in front of the Econet offices in Harare’s First Street and at 1330hrs on the day Tweet: “Zimbo Jam mobile is launched. Snip, Snip.”
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IT network cabling - Women in tech
Posted inConnectivity

Survey results show there are few women in tech careers

Last week, one of Zimbabwe’s largest employment agencies, CV People, posted the results of a salary survey on its website. The reports can be downloaded are here. Reading the ICT Jobs report, there’s really not much surprise in terms of remuneration for techies and techie managers. If you’re in Zimbabwe, the figures are just what you see and hear around everyday. Average salaries of about US $700 for shop floor technical jobs and average around US $1,300 for managers.
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Botswana Telecommunications Authority
Posted inBroadband

Botswana telecoms regulator issues price reductions directive

The Southern Times posted today that Botswana’s telecoms regulator, Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), has issued a directive to telecommunications operators in the country to effect price reductions on telecoms services. Services to be affected by the directive include wholesale ADSL (broadband Internet delivered through a standard fixed line), mobile termination and fixed termination among others.
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Posted inConnectivity

Classifieds.co.zw registering more than 8 million monthly page views

It’s a fact; classifieds.co.zw is Zimbabwe’s most successful online classifieds. If not in monetary terms then at least successful in popularity. For a lot of people, it’s the only Zim classifieds site they know. Merchants use the site as the internet face of their business. Most businesses don’t even have their own websites; classifieds is about all there is for them in terms of internet presence.
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Atwell Mukusha
Posted inConnectivity

The Computer Society of Zimbabwe holds its AGM

This week, the Computer Society of Zimbabwe (CSZ) held its Annual General Meeting in Harare. At the meeting the CSZ president presented a report of the societies activities for the past 18 months. The society’s treasurer also presented his financial report.
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