MTN Backs Ebola Fight with Medical Equipment Donates

 LAGOS State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has commended Nigeria's leading Information and Communication Technology Company, MTN, for its public spirited gesture, which he said is a tradition associated with the MTN brand, especially in matters of Education and Health.  Governor Fashola stated this while receiving Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers and caregivers, donated by MTN Foundation in support of Lagos State's effort a

t containing the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease.

The donation was made under the MTN Foundation's Community Support Project, which lends a helping hand to communities through infrastructure upgrade such as the provision of water boreholes, transformers etc for the benefit of people.  The presentation of personal protective equipment was a response by the Foundation in support of the systematic and professional approach of the Lagos State Health Team in curbing the Ebola scourge.

Governor Fashola lauded MTN's Private-Public Partnership model, which has seen the Foundation partner with government and other stakeholders in responding to different challenges in times of need, especially given the current health challenge faced by the country. "We are indeed grateful to MTN as it has been a tradition of theirs especially in matters of health and education. We also appreciate the health workers who in spite of the fear, worked tirelessly to bring the situation under manageable control. As much as we appreciate MTN's gesture, we want to reiterate that the real challenge is human capacity, that is, the insufficiency of virologists and Ebola management experts," said the Lagos State helmsman.

Shedding more light on the presentation, Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie, said the gesture was in support of all that the Lagos State government had done to contain the spread of the Ebola virus since it was first discovered.

"MTN recognises the importance of collective effort and the role of the private sector in containing the spread and the impact of the disease and we take very seriously, our responsibility to provide a service that is essential in a period of national emergency as we have found ourselves. This is why we are making this donation of personal protective equipment to supplement measures to protect our frontline health workers and caregivers," he stated.

"We have also activated a 24-hour, 7-day a week help-line in conjunction with our call centers management partners where customers can get basic information on Ebola, with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, through the office of the Special Assistant on Public Health to the State Governor. On a  national scale, we have partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health to launch a public awareness campaign via SMS to educate our 58 million subscribers about the Ebola virus," concludes Dozie

The items provided for caregivers by the Foundation include: Elbow length gloves; Level Four overalls with hood, knee booths, goggles, medical masks, anti-viral sanitizers, rubber aprons, respirators and bags of hair-nets for female health workers. For the frontline health workers, the items include elbow length gloves, medical masks, anti-viral sanitizers, level three overalls with hood; rubber aprons and thermal scanners.

Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Nigeria, said: "At MTN, we believe in making positive impact in the lives of everybody and in this current health challenge, the frontline health workers and caregivers, who are the most vulnerable at the moment, are a great concern to us, which is why we have stepped in to contribute our own quota. Providing the Personal Protective Equipment to protecting our frontline health workers and caregivers as well as continuously educating millions of our subscribers via SMS in English and our local languages and phone call, is a demonstration of our promise to continue to touch more lives, everywhere we go." 

“Glo Xchange, A Major Boost To Nigerian Economy”

Group CEO,IHS Holding Limited, Issam Darwish;Chief Executive Officer,

MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki and Corporate Services Executive, MTN
Nigeria, Akinwale Goodluck at the MOU signing ceremony between MTN
Nigeria and IHS Holding Limited over the outsourcing of MTN Nigeria's
mobile network towers.

TWO of Nigeria’s foremost financial analysts have applauded Nigeria’s biggest Mobile Money Agent Network, Glo Xchange, recently launched by Globacom, the country’s national telecom carrier. 

Glo Xchange was launched in partnership with four mobile money operators, FirstMonie, Stanbic IBTC, Ecobank and Zenith Bank.

Renowned financial consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane and macroeconomics expert and CEO of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba, who spoke at the formal launch of Glo Xchange in Lagos, described the initiative as a direly needed ingredient for accelerating mobile money explosion in Nigeria.

Rewane said the initiative is consistent with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy thrust of developing and sustaining an efficient payment system that will drive an increase in the velocity of money and consequently, stimulate economic growth.

He described Nigeria as a mineral-rich and commodity-dependent economy with a nominal GDP of $510bn. According to him, it is 12 times the size of Kenya’s economy which has profited massively from mobile money service. He said Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and the 26^th largest in the world.

Rewane said, however, that the economy is largely cash-based, a situation which he said constitutes a barrier to rapid growth. He said therefore that, initiatives such as Glo Xchange that help to enhance the cashless policy of the CBN, or that help to improve the velocity of money is bound to have a resounding positive impact on economic growth.

Expatiating further, Rewane said the potential GDP growth rate in Nigeria is 11 percent, whereas the actual GDP growth rate as discerned from the rebasing exercise recently carried out by the Federal Government is six percent. He said since people don’t live on potential but actuals, it is of utmost importance to implement policies that will help Nigeria to actualize the potential growth rate.

One veritable way of achieving this, he said, is to capture the money lying outside the formal sector. According to him, over 46 per cent of Nigerian adults currently have no access to financial services.

He said Mobile money is a strong tool for financial inclusion of this huge category of Nigerians, stressing that initiatives such as Glo Xchange, which will help with the acceleration of mobile money service is therefore highly commendable.

He added that Glo Xchange will contribute to the efficiency of Nigeria’s payment systems, lead to more efficient transactions and open a floodgate of opportunities for a lot of stakeholders from the top to the bottom of the mobile money value chain.  

Dr. Teriba on his part noted that while Mobile Money service has been in Nigeria for over three years, it has failed to grow as expected because of certain reasons, including lack of an efficient and expansive agent network.

“Usually for such a service as mobile money, the bigger the network, the higher the chances of an explosion, and by extension, the bigger the benefits accruable to all the stakeholders, from the banks down to the customers,” he said. 

He added that Glo Xchange, with the nationwide network of agents as unveiled by Globacom, is just the ingredient the industry has been waiting for.

He noted that the potential for growth for the initiative is immense as the platform is open to other banks to plug into. He implored Nigerians looking for employment opportunities to see the avenues created by the initiative and utilize them for self-enhancement.

While launching the platform in Lagos on Thursday, Globacom's Head of Corporate Sales, Mr. Kamal Shonibare said Glo Xchange is a fast, secured and convenient platform designed to enable Nigerians use their mobile phones to send or receive money and pay for their goods and services in any part of the country without physically carrying cash through the Glo Xchange agents.

He said Globacom is investing in a robust nationwide mobile money agent network that will propel the success of Glo Xchange. The network includes 150 GloWorld and GloZone shops, over 35,000 Glo Dealer and sub dealer outlets, over 400 Conoil filling stations across the country and the outlets of over 7,000 members of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria. This will be strongly complemented by the branches of all the partner banks.

Four licensed mobile money operators including Ecobank, Firstmonie, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Zenith Bank have partnered with Globacom on Glo Xchange, while other financial institutions are on the verge of joining the platform.                   

Globacom said it aims to recruit over 500,000 Mobile Money Agents within the next 5 to 6 years who will earn excellent commission monthly on sales. The recruitment of the agents has already started.

 "With as little as N20,000, you too can become a Glo Xchange Agent. Just Pick up your phone and SMS your First name/Last name/City/State to 33003 or 08150033003 Or visit  www.Gloworld.com/Mobilemoney", said Shonibare.

MTN, IHS In Mobile Tower Outsourcing Agreement

IN LINE with continued efforts to further raise service levels for its customers in Nigeria, MTN has reached an agreement in principle with IHS Holding Limited ("IHS") for the transfer of its towers business, comprising of up to 9,151 of MTN's mobile network towers in Nigeria.  The transaction is expected to reduce MTN Nigeria's operating costs, drive network efficiencies and further expand MTN's voice and data capacity.

L-R:Globacom’s Chief commercial Director , Mr. Prabhat Aggarwal, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali and the Director Consultancy services University of Ilorin, Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolu applauding the partnership between the telecoms giant and the frontline University senior officials  of the University paid a courtesy call to Globacom’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

Under the terms of the transaction and subject to requisite regulatory approvals, the 9,151 towers will be transferred to a new company which will be owned jointly by MTN and IHS. IHS will have full operational control of the underlying business.  The new towers company will market independent infrastructure sharing services to other mobile operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria.

The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2014. Sifiso Dabengwa, Group President and CEO of MTN Group, said: "We are delighted to have entered into a further transfer transaction with IHS, in our largest African market.  IHS' deep knowledge and considerable experience in the sector will help drive efficiencies and enhance our network uptime, allowing us to concentrate on further raising our own service levels, improving the customer experience and ensuring we remain the number one operator in Nigeria."

This is the ninth tower transaction for IHS and its fifth with MTN following the transactions in Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Rwanda and Zambia that took place in 2012 and 2013.  On completion of this transaction, IHS will manage over 20,000 towers in Africa.

Commenting on the transaction, Michael Ikpoki, MTN Nigeria CEO said: "The separation of MTN Nigeria's mobile network towers and operation of the underlying towers business by IHS reflects a major part of our strategy to optimise network quality and technological assets towards creating value and driving innovation to meet our customers' needs now and in the long term. Indeed, the trends and realities in our industry reveal the increased role of cost efficiency and optimisation of assets in guiding business decisions in order to remain competitive.

We will continue to embrace strategies that enhance our services to our customers while ensuring our long-term business continuity, without compromising best practice". As part of the deal, the new towers company has committed more than US$500 million of additional investment over four years into tower upgrades and a maintenance programme to improve quality of service and enhance the customer experience on the MTN Nigeria network. 

In addition, further investments will be made into IHS' centralised Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Nigeria to optimise operations and increase IHS' market leading network uptimes of over 99 percent. There will also be sustained investments in energy efficiency through the deployment of advanced generators, batteries and alternative power solutions to reduce diesel consumption. IHS anticipates creating a considerable number of technical and engineering direct and indirect employment opportunities to be sourced locally in Nigeria.

Issam Darwish, CEO of IHS Holdings, commented: "This is a significant and transformational agreement for IHS that doubles the size of our business and confirms our position as the leading mobile infrastructure company in Africa. It gives me great pleasure to be agreeing this deal with MTN, a partner we have worked with for more than ten years and with whom we have an excellent relationship.  I am confident that MTN's customers and management will benefit almost immediately from IHS' focus on quality of service, innovative tower management and sustainable energy approach."

Microsoft, Mansard Unveils Lumia 930 in Nigeria

MICROSOFT said that its latest addition to the Lumia range of smartphones, the Lumia 930, running Windows Phone 8.1 is now available in Nigeria.

The Lumia 930 smartph

one comes with the best of Microsoft built in work and play features such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, XBOX, Skype and One Note to ensure customers are able to work hard and play hard whenever and wherever, whilst keeping content like photos, videos and documents in sync across their Windows Phone, Personal Computers, tablets and XBox devices.

With the use of OneDrive and its 15GB of free storage in the cloud, customers can access their documents, files and even games anywhere and anytime. The device features one of the brightest screens seen on a smartphone with a 5 inch Full HD 1080p screen with sunlight readability and curved Gorilla Glass 3.0 for better viewing angles and an outdoor reading experience unmatched in the industry.

The Lumia 930 comes with 2.2GHz Quadcore Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor as well as the Lumia Cyan update of Windows Phone 8.1 to give customers the most out of the latest Windows Phone 8.1, whilst enjoying a superfast experience. The Lumia 930 also comes with in-built Wireless charging as well as a 20 mega pixel PureView ZEISS camera with Optical Image Stabilization and 4 ultra high performance digital microphones that record Dolby Digital for an unparalleled imaging and rich recording and audio capture experience.

Managing Director, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, West and Central Africa, Nick Imudia, said, “The Lumia 930 is beautifully designed and a testament to our design heritage. Its Premium metal edges are sand blasted and precision machined to finely crafted details; to produce a strong, slim and striking smartphone that’s just simply beautiful to look at, with the best of Microsoft built in.”

“Another first coming with Lumia 930 is the insurance cover that customers get with the phone as soon as they purchase it. The insurance which is underwritten by Mansard Insurance Plc covers accidental damage to the screen and accidental liquid damage to the phone. This unique benefit commences immediately at the point of purchase and runs with the warranty on every Lumia 930 bought from authorized Nokia Retail partners. This makes it a wonderful device coming with awesome package” Imudia added.

The Lumia 930 continues Microsoft’s color story with the Lumia 930 with its smooth, gently pillowed rear that echoes it’s beautifully curved glass and brings a splash of Bright Green, Bright Orange, Black or White to the Lumia 930.

The Lumia 930 comes with some amazing social Apps like Vine and Instagram, apps from GTBank, Arik Air, Quickteller.com, Channels TV as well as the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) from Blackberry.

Football fans will also have the opportunity to watch matches from their device with the SuperSport App which allows them stream LIVE events and matches from the BPL, La Liga, the ATP, the PGA and other sporting events.

Speaking on its partnership with Microsoft on the insurance coverage for the Lumia 930, Mansard Insurance’s Chief Client Officer, Mr. Tosin Runsewe disclosed that Mansard shared Microsoft’s vision of delivering unrivalled experience to its customers even as they enjoy their Lumia 930, knowing that it has an insurance cover they can depend on should the unexpected happen.

Prominent Nigerians Grace Arise Awards In UK

AS a way of branding, motivating and encouraging our leaders and mentors, The Nigeria Arise Team put together the Nigeria Arise series and Award for 2014 in London. It is an iconic programme around Nigeria’s important dates/events to honour individuals, govern

ment and corporate institutions who have contributed to the development/image of Nigeria.

The award is for those that have excelled in their field, business pursuits or called by Nigerians to do more in their industry for the development of the nation; it also recognise others willing to be part of a change for a better nation; those that have been challenged yet, sees it not as a barrier but a tool to try more progressively and positively to develop human capital and our community.

Celebrated HRH Oba Tejuoso, Akwa Ibom State Governor Dr. Godswill Akpabio, Ms. Yewande Akinola, young woman engineer who works with ARUP group and His Excellency The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero  – are just some of the notable leaders and professionals at this year’s Nigeria Arise Award ceremony that took place on the 30^th August 2014 at Holiday Inn Regents Park.

The evening -long event celebrated the strengths and qualities of Nigerians with a host of some of the continent’s most recognised names and voices who inspired, encouraged and informed through their talks and speeches.

Being its sixth year, Nigeria Arise Award – an offshoot of Nigeria Arise – is a global landmark occasion for Nigerians, and those with a passion for the Nation. Each year residents across Africa, the USA, the UK and other European countries travel to London to attend this inspirational dinner and Award.

 This celebration of Nigeria’s finest has historically drawn some of the world’s most recognised names, including sports woman Christine Ileoma Ohuruogu, Dele Momodu the Ovation International publication and Governor Ibukunle Amosun of Ogun State in attendance.

The event delivered an excellent package and diversity as seen in the attendance such as the Former Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Former Managing Director of GT Bank/Former VP to AC Mr. Fola Adeola and Izan Zazzau. 

The Nigeria Arise Award 2014 presented Nigerians the opportunity to interacts with their leaders in attendance with other talented men and women gracing the red carpet Ceremony. Other Recipients  included Hon. Tunji Bello,  Lagos State commissioner For Environment, Senator Izunaso from Imo State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Governor, Ogun State Nigeria; Senator Ganiyu Solomon;  Mr. Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Manufacturing company; Dr. John Osammor of Odeiga House Odeiga foods; Mike Abiola of African Voice; Victor Olisa  a Chief Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police; Prince Lipede Of Media Solution/ InfoTech; Pst. Tunde Bakare who presides over Global Apostolic Impact Network and President of Latter Rain Ministries; Dr. Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Executive Kano State; Dr. Solomon Fubura for his services for business development and empowerment programmes; Professor Stanley Okolo & Dr. Peter Ozua for contributions in Health; Dr. Nazir Ahmed for Excellence in Education; Mr. Patrick Ideh of Bantuway Foods; Channels TV Broadcasting Channel in Nigeria and Dana air.

Performance was provided by Ben TV live band and international artist Daddy Showkey.

Recipients reinforced the need for Nigerians to stand together and look forward to achieving even greater prominence and successes for across the continent.  

The Founder of Nigeria Arise Mr. Alistair Soyode said: we call all Nigerians to be proud of their heritage, cultures and it’s our unique responsibilities to participate in National Development and on our image in the committee of nations.

The fact that such an intelligent and varied range of people who love Nigeria attended the event shared ideas and to inspired each other to make Nigeria greater than it was yesterday.”

Samsung Launches New Entry-Level Devices

IN SYNC with its strategy of introducing innovative, smart mobile devices from which consumers can derive optimum value, Samsung Electronics has unveiled its new Galaxy Trend Lite and Galaxy Ace 4 Lite smartphones, two affordable solutions targeted at the new generation of mobile phone users. The devices are already available at Samsung stores and accredited dealers nationwide.

Director of Information Technology and Mobile at Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, said that the new devices will ensure that Samsung maintains its dominance in the smartphone market by positioning itself to meet the demands of consumers desirous of optimizing value derivable from their mobile phones.

“At Samsung, we understand that consumer habits and consumption patterns are changing, a compelling reason for providing our consumers with the opportunity to own a device with features of a high-end smartphone at an affordable cost. The Galaxy Ace 4 Lite is a device that provides superior value to consumers based on its features, intuitive performance and design, while the Galaxy Trend Lite will especially delight consumers looking for a device with great, smart dual-SIM capabilities. The smartphones are revolutionary not only in terms of the great mobile experience that they provide but also in terms of their value proposition. We believe that the Galaxy Ace 4 Lite and the Galaxy Trend Lite will further fuel the growth of Nigeria’s smartphone market,” he said.

The dual-SIM Galaxy Trend Lite boasts the Android Jelly Bean operating system which facilitates faster internet connectivity and smoother apps transition. Its vivid 4-inch multi-touch display lets users take photographs, surf the internet, watch movies and view other multimedia content with great convenience and clarity. In addition, the device’s dual-SIM capability offers users the flexibility of having two telephone lines in a single mobile device.

The Galaxy Ace 4 Lite differs from other devices in its category with its in-built Android KitKat 4.4 operating system, the latest and most advanced operating system in the market. This unique feature, which is mostly available on premium smartphones, ensures that users derive greater performance and enhanced productivity from the device. Samsung’s rich ecosystem of exclusive applications including ChatOn, which allows users to chat for free with other Samsung Galaxy device users and S Voice, which lets users control their smartphones with voice commands, are also available on the Galaxy Ace 4 Lite.

As part of its value-added proposition, Samsung is partnering with telecom operators in the country to offer individuals who buy the devices from accredited stores N500 worth of airtime with their purchase. The company is also offering consumers the flexibility of expanding the devices’ in-built 4 gigabytes of storage to up to 32 gigabytes via a MicroSD slot, a feature that is nonexistent in most rival smartphones in the market.

On his part, Head of Business Development of the company’s Information Technology and Mobile Division, Olumide Ojo, highlighted the Galaxy Trend Lite’s durability and dual-SIM capability as two major unique selling points of the device.  “Whether users want to take advantage of different pricing plans from two network operators, or want to keep their business and personal calls separate, the Galaxy Trend Lite’s smart dual-SIM feature provides the convenience of two cell phones within one-mobile solution. Also, there is a perception that entry-level smartphones are not reliable. At Samsung, we are proud to say that our new entry-level devices are not only cost-effective and reliable, but are also ultra-durable,” he said.

He added that Samsung’s 24-month standard factory warranty is available to users of the Galaxy Trend Lite and Galaxy Ace 4 Lite.

Samsung also unveiled Nigerian singer, rapper, and songwriter, Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru, known by his stage name Reminisce, as a brand ambassador for its mobile division at the event. The company plans to leverage Reminisce in its product advertising for entry-level mobile phones.

According to Revmatas, Reminisce symbolizes the values that Samsung has stood for over the years. "The Samsung brand stands for quality innovation, change, discovery, self-expression and excellence. These qualities are epitomized by Reminisce, whose quality and depth of work as well as versatility as an artiste have endeared him to Nigerians. We are very proud to have him endorse our new entry-level mobile phones," he said.

Revmatas further described the signing of Reminisce as an opportunity for Samsung to reach out to its consumers through Nigeria’s music industry. “We want to further connect with our customers at all touch points, especially through music, which is one of the passions of people worldwide,” he explained.

We Are Passionate About Capacity Building, Says ATCON

THE President of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON, Engr. Lanre Ajayi, has said that the association is passionate about building capacity in the telecom sector.

In his opening remarks at an International Workshop on Internet Number Resource Management (INRM) and IPv6  held in collaboration with Africa Network Information Centre (AFRINIC)  in Lagos, Nigeria he said apart from the advocacy role, ATCON is playing in the telecommunications space it is also very passionate about building capacity.

 He also said the main reasons ATCON collaborated with AFRINIC to organize this very important workshop was to give the Nigerian telecom network engineers the empowerment required to upgrade their network from IPV4 to IPV6. Engr. Tony Nwosu, Vice President ATCON said the participants would come out better and well informed with the training.

 Engr. Mukom Akong Tamon said ATCON has made it possible for forty network engineers to receive an international training that ordinarily would have cost each participant nothing less than one million naira. He therefore commended the leadership of the Association under Engr. Lanre Ajayi for the good work.

Tamon said AFINIC is leading the effort to create awareness, promote and support IPv6 deployment throughout Africa to all stakeholders such as network operators, mobile operators, academic institutions, banks, government and regulators. Mukom said AFRINIC might not be able to meet the demand for IPv4 as it is already nearing exhaustion so it is important to start the deployment of IPv6.  

AFRINIC is the regional Internet registry (RIR) in charge of the distribution of internet number resources (IPv4, IPv6 and ASNs) in the African region. IP addresses are critical internet resources that allow devices to connect to the internet.

 The President of ATCON, said ATCON would continue to partner with organizations (local and international) that are involved in capacity building as this is one of the ways to sustain growth in the telecom industry. He also used the opportunity to thank organizations that sponsored the events such as NCC, NITDA, Internet Solutions, MainOne, Radial Circle and Junisat.

 At the end of the workshop participants expressed their gratitude to ATCON and AFRINIC for organizing the training workshop and adjudged it to be timely and relevant to their careers in the communication technology sector.

 The event had 40 networks engineers from 24 organisations.

Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim; Samsung brand ambassador, Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru, a.k.a. Reminisce; Head of Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, SamsungElectronics West Africa, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu; Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas and Business Development Director, Information Technology and Mobile,Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Daesung Ra at the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S and new entry-level devices, Galaxy Ace 4 Lite and Galaxy Trend Lite, in Lagos.

Microsoft Announces Affordable Mobile Phone

RECOGNIZING the rapid growth of ultra-affordable mobile phones, Microsoft Devices Group on Monday unveiled the Nokia 130, a mobile phone designed to introduce millions of people to new digital experiences. At just 19 euros,* the Nokia 130 combines the everyday essentials that first-time mobile phone buyers expect with the beautiful design, reliability and mobile entertainment they want. Featuring a built-in video player, music player with up to 46 hours continuous playback on a single charge and everyday essentials such as a flashlight, FM radio and USB charging, the Nokia 130 is the perfect introduction to a “mobile first” world.

The Nokia 130 is an ideal handset for first-time mobile phone buyers, or for people seeking a reliable backup phone to complement their existing smartphone. It’s built to last, with a 1.8-inch color display and outstanding battery life of up to 36 days’ standby for the single-SIM variant and 26 days’ standby for the dual-SIM device. In design and quality, the Nokia 130 stands out among devices priced below $35*. Every year, people buy 300 million phones from this category alone.

As one of the most affordable mobile phones with video playback, the Nokia 130 makes new digital experiences accessible to more people. It delivers hours of entertainment with the built-in video player which offers up to 16 hours of playback for video stored on a microSD card, MP3 player and FM radio. With support for expandable microSD storage up to 32GB, alongside the Bluetooth-enabled SLAM application and USB connectivity, it also makes sharing digital content easy, without the need for an Internet connection.

 “As demand in the affordable mobile segment continues to grow, Microsoft remains committed to delivering market-leading mobile innovation at each and every price point,” said Jo Harlow, corporate vice president for Phones, Microsoft. “It is estimated that at least one billion people in the world still do not have a mobile phone, while at the same time there is increasing demand for reliable backup phones in both mature and high-growth markets.”

She continued, “With handsets like the Nokia 130, we see tremendous potential to deliver the experience of a ‘mobile-first’ world to people seeking their first device, and we continue to invest in ultra-affordable devices that will introduce people to a ‘cloud-first’ world through Microsoft services such as Bing, Outlook.com, and OneDrive.”

The estimated retail price before taxes and subsidies for the Nokia 130 and Nokia 130 Dual SIM is 19 euros. It is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of this year. The Nokia 130 will be available in select markets including China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam.​

Samsung Tablets Go High-End With Biometric Scanner-Enabled Galaxy Tab S

SAMSUNG Electronics has announced the availability of its new flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S, in Nigeria, adding a new, premium device range to its highly popular Galaxy Tab series. According to the company, the Galaxy Tab S combines an advanced high definition display technology with a full range of premium content, aimed at providing consumers with an unrivalled entertainment experience. The device was unveiled at an elaborate event in Lagos. It is already on sale at all Samsung Experience Stores, Operator Stores and at accredited dealer stores nationwide.

The Galaxy Tab S is Samsung’s thinnest and lightest tablet yet. It features a 10.5-inch screen alongside the most advanced super-AMOLED display on the market, with a resolution that is twice the high-definition standard associated with other devices in its category. The Galaxy Tab S is also powered with enhanced productivity features for effortless multitasking, all elegantly housed in a beautifully crafted premium design.

At the heart of the new tablet range is a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button, a feature that made its debut in the Galaxy Tab S’s smartphone sibling, the Galaxy S5, the objective being to provide consumers with a safe, biometric screen-locking feature. In addition to this standard phone-locking function, the scanner lets users authorise payments from the device with their unique fingerprints. Up to eight people can use the feature to log into different profiles on the device when it is in multi-user mode.

Speaking at the unveiling, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, said the Galaxy Tab S will redefine how technology innovation enhances the quality of life.

“Tablets have evolved significantly in the past few years in function and purpose. Building on the heritage of the Galaxy S smartphone line, the Galaxy Tab S delivers on our commitment to bring meaningful innovation that our customers cherish most. We know consumers want the best screen when purchasing a tablet, and as the undisputed leader in display technology, we have brought our industry-leading super-AMOLED screen to the Galaxy Tab S for an unrivalled viewing experience,” he said.

Kim used the unveiling to underscore Samsung’s growing share of the global tablet market, which has grown from 7.6 percent to 22.6 percent in just three years. “We have made a major commitment to the tablet because we strongly believe in its market. We have devoted substantial resources, not only to hardware excellence, but also to content towards providing our consumers with a wholesome communication experience. With innovation at the core of our mission to lead the tablet segment, our launch of the Galaxy Tab S will further propel us in this growing category and facilitate ground-breaking success,” he said.

The Galaxy Tab S delivers an unmatched selection of enhanced productivity features that provide users with the ability to multitask effortlessly. The device allows its users to surf the web, watch videos, share content and make calls simultaneously without having to worry about closing one application in order to access another. Users can also make and receive calls directly from the device using SideSync, which links the Galaxy Tab S with devices in Samsung’s Galaxy S smartphone series, even when the phone is not within easy reach. Once paired, the tablet mirrors the phone’s screen in a smaller virtual window, letting users take calls via its speakers and microphone. In addition, data can be transferred from the Galaxy Tab S to another device by simply dragging and dropping files via SideSync. With its Quick Connect feature, the Galaxy Tab S is able to quickly find and connect to nearby devices for easy content sharing.

Other key features of the Galaxy Tab S include an Adaptive Display that provides consumers with the best visual experience by intelligently adjusting colour saturation and sharpness based on the application that is being viewed; an advanced outdoor visibility technology that makes on-screen content easy to view even in bright sunlight; a longer lasting battery, an Ultra-Power Saving mode that lets consumers enjoy hours of entertainment without having to worry about recharging their device and a specially designed ‘Kids’ Mode’ with its own dedicated interface and kid-friendly applications. According to Samsung, the device’s battery can power 11 hours worth of video at a go, making it a must-have for business travellers as well as business and enterprise users. The tablet is available in Samsung’s proprietary Titanium Bronze and Dazzling White colours.

On his part, the Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa’s Information technology and Mobile Division, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas described the Galaxy Tab S as a device that draws the line between the tablets that are currently available in the market and what comes next.

“The tablet is becoming a popular viewing device for enjoying content, which makes the quality of display a critical feature. With the launch of the Galaxy Tab S, Samsung is setting the bar higher for the entire mobile industry. The device will provide its users with a visual and entertainment experience that brings colour to life and also enhance their overall communication experience,” he said.

As it did with the Galaxy S5, Samsung has loaded the new Galaxy Tab S with over $1,000 worth of free premium content via its Galaxy Gifts application, offering consumers a collection of services and tools designed to make their experience more enjoyable and more productive. With the Galaxy Gifts application, users can access up to 50GB of free Dropbox space valid for two years; three months access to LinkedIn’s premium business account; six months subscription to Livesport TV and Hancom Office Suite, alongside subscription to the Wall Street Journal, Vogue Magazine, GQ Magazine and much more, all free of charge.

Samsung also unveiled a comprehensive suite of mobile accessories to maximize the capabilities of its latest tablet. These include the Book Cover accessory, which can be configured to three different display angles to provide the most comfortable position to read, type or watch videos; the Simple Cover accessory for users that are desirous of the same protective structure of the Book Cover but also require a slimmer design, and a new, ultra-slim Bluetooth Keyboard, made specifically for the device.

Samsung Electronics Co. Limited is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, the company is transforming the worlds of televisions, home appliances, LTE systems, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, semiconductors and LED solutions. The Group employs 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion.

More Entry Received For Etisalat’S Pan-African Prize for Innovation 2014

THE hunt is still on for the best and brightest African innovators as Etisalat Nigeria is still receiving entries for the 2014 Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation. The prize is awarded in two categories; the most innovative product/service and the most innovative idea. Winners will receive cash prizes of $25,000 and $10,000 respectively.

Director, Brands & Communication at Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye explained that the Pan-African prize reflects the character of innovation that Etisalat is known for, by motivating Africans to showcase their creative talents for the overall socio-economic benefits of mobile telecommunications services consumers.

"A core value we pride ourselves of is that we are the leading cursor of innovation in the telecommunications industry. As a result, the Etisalat business is constantly developing innovative initiatives, products and services and to expose Nigeria and Africa in general to the opportunities that abound with broadband. Etisalat recognizes the importance of broadband in healthcare, education, business, security beyond communication through voice and data; and the Pan-African Prize for innovation is designed to reward corporate organisations, small and growing businesses, and individuals for developing advanced mobile broadband solutions and platforms in Africa,” he said.

The winners of the Etisalat Pan-African prize for innovation will be announced at the 17^th Annual AfricaCom Conference and awards gala dinner scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2014.

Introduced in 2012, the Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation is strategically designed to celebrate and reward the best and brightest innovators of African descent with the most innovative mobile broadband product, idea or service that positively impacts African mobile users.

Microsoft Brings BBM to Lumia Smartphones

Microsoft Mobile has announced that popular mobile messaging application, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is now available for download on its Windows Phone based Lumia smartphones.

Microsoft made this announcement following BlackBerry’s announcement recently saying that  BBM is now open to those using the Windows phone platform, a move that potentially makes the messaging service more appealing to its enterprise clients

Speaking on this new development, Partnership Manager, Developer Experience, Nokia West and Central Africa, Emmanuel Oluwatosin stated that it is a relief to finally have BBM on the Lumia smartphones, which will create more fun experiences for our customers. “We are extremely delighted about this news and we know our customers are excited as well. We finally have one more to boost our presence in the smartphone market. This will also expand various chat applications available on the Lumia smartphone for customers to stay connected with their loved ones”.

“BBM app is available for all Lumia smartphone running Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 operating system.  To download the BBM app is absolutely free and easy; customers should go to the Windows Store on their Lumia smartphones, search for Blackberry Messenger and BBM Beta app and download” he added.

The app has been tailored for Microsoft's Live Tile user interface, and users will find three sections in BBM - Chats, Contacts and Feeds - which can be accessed by swiping through the app.

Glo Easy Recharge Process With 3-in-1 Option

GLOBACOM, Nigeria’s National Telecommunications carrier, has unveiled a unique 3-in-1 Recharge Option to make the process of loading regular airtime credit, international calling packs and data bundles more convenient for its subscribers. 

 The telecoms company said the 3-in-1 recharge option gives its customers the convenience of topping up their airtime credit for various services directly without going through the process of first topping up their prepaid accounts before‎ allocating the airtime for data bundles or international calls.

 Launching the 3-in-1 recharge option at the Mike Adenuga Towers in Lagos, Globacom’s Head of Operations, Mr. Bisi Koleoso said the company decided  to simplify the airtime recharge process in order to provide customers with more convenient options in line with its avowed commitment to put subscribers first in everything.

 “Under the new arrangement, customers who want to directly top up and add to their main balance should dial *123*PIN#, while those interested in directly buying a data bundle without cramming codes should dial *223*PIN#. Similarly, subscribers wishing to load International Direct Dialing (IDD) packs should dial *323*PIN#,” Mr. Koleoso added.

He said the introduction of the new 3-in-1 recharge option is particularly timely for subscribers who make international calls because Globacom only last week crashed the cost of making calls to key destinations like United States, Canada, India, China and UK to as low as 10k per second‎.

 Koleoso also disclosed that customers who use the *223*PIN# option to load a data bundle will get an extra 385MB of data when they load a N1000 credit instead of the 350 MB of free data they would have received if they had used the conventional recharge option to load the same N1000 recharge credit.

 He noted that the launch of the 3-in-1-recharge option was in sync with Globacom's relentless desire to make recharge very convenient and accessible to all and sundry on the different call platforms of the company's network.  

"By  virtue of our well-established pedigree as always the first network to initiate wonderful innovations in the telecommunication industry since we came into operation on 29th of August, 2003, Nigerian telecommunication subscribers have graciously nicknamed Glo the King of Innovations.

As a proudly Nigerian company, we are happy to blaze trails and set the pace for the industry. With all modesty, Globacom entered the industry as the game changer with Per Second Billing and followed it in quick succession with other innovations. It was on the Glo network that Nigerians for the first time were able to browse the internet on their phones in 2004.

It was also on the Glo network that Nigerians for the very first time were able to use the Blackberry service on their phones in 2006", he added.