Another insightful week in Africa and the world of tech. This week was yet again filled with tech news stories that grabbed the headlines both across Africa and around the world.
From new innovations and upcoming smartphones, growing economies to emerging start-ups here is a roundup of some of the popular stories for the week.
The new LG V40ThinQ brings content to life with 5 cameras
LG Electronics announced that they will release the V40ThinQ in partnership with Vodacom on 7 February at a retail price of R12,499 postpaid and R599 per month on a Vodacom contract. The device sports five-cameras, with three cameras mounted on its rear and two on the front. The fingerprint scanner is placed just below the rear cameras. Read more.
MTN Uganda mobile money boss deported
Uganda has moved ahead to arrest and deport Elsa Muzzolini, MTN General Manager Mobile Financial Services, in an on-going crackdown on the telecom’s employees engaged in espionage. Elsa Muzzolini and her colleague, Anthony Katamba, the General Manager Corporate Services and Chief Legal Counsel at MTN, are accused of inciting violence. Read more.
Vodacom empowers small business with a financial management app
Vodacom Business has partnered with financial and business management platform Fiskl to provide mobile and digital services to entrepreneurs and small businesses in Africa. Fiskl is a mobile-first financial and business management app that has re-designed the way day-to-day finances are managed in a small business. Read more.
Is the African retail market ready for the digital boom?
More and more African consumers are coming online and their commercial habits are evolving faster than any other demographic in the world. By 2020, consumer spending in Africa is forecasted to exceed USD $1 trillion annually according to McKinsey’s Global Institute. It is evident that the African market is ripe for a digital retail boom. Read more.
Top tech trends that will drive digital transformation in 2019
Digital transformation was all anyone could talk about in 2018, a trend that will undoubtedly continue in the new year. But, how far have local companies actually come in pursuit of their digital transformation goals?
A study conducted in early 2018 by World Wide Worx, in partnership with SYSPRO, shows that companies are becoming more and more aware just how vital intelligent software systems are to their success. Read more.
Kenya: Major telecoms firm invests in cybersecurity business
The advent of technology and higher internet usage has made things easier and convenient for both businesses and individuals. However, this has brought with it the risk of cyber-attacks by hackers.
A new cybersecurity report from Vodafone highlights that the more cyber-ready a business becomes, the better its overall business outcomes. Read more.
Mobile network operators in Ghana challenge $6.9 million NCA fine
Four of Ghana’s mobile network operators (MNOs) have challenged the $6,924,762.60 fine imposed by the National Communications Authority (NCA) for various infractions in their licence conditions. The MNO’s have refused to pay the penalty. Reports reveal that the MNOs were determined to get a better understanding and a clearer picture of the NCA’s action. Read more.
FNB launches QR code payments on its banking app
FNB is expanding its digital payments ecosystem by enabling consumers and sole proprietor businesses to perform and accept QR code payments using the FNB Banking App. This makes FNB the first bank in South Africa to integrate QR code payments into a banking app for both consumers and sole proprietor businesses. QR code payments on the FNB Banking App gives customers another option in terms of digital payments without having to download any additional app. Read more.
Microsoft Edge for mobile filters out fake news with NewsGuard
The Microsoft Edge app for Android and iOS now works with a built-in fake news detector called NewsGuard that will help you phase out any online misinformation. Partnering with NewsGuard was a necessary step in Microsoft’s Defending Democracy program and NewsGuard for Edge was announced earlier in January before beginning to be rolled out now. Read more.
Out with the old, in with the new – 10 hot smartphones set for release in 2019
2018 had an impressive release of smartphones. However, 2019 seems to be gearing up for even bigger releases, with most smartphone makers debuting new flagships. We’ve already seen some leaks and hints as to what new phones will release early in the year and by the looks of things, it seems we’ll get 5G phones, the first true folding screen model from one of the big names, and still more CPU power. Read more.
By Neo Sesinye
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