Company News
Apple Reportedly Rejects Plans for New Facebook Feature
Facebook has revealed that Apple has rejected its plan to tell app users that “the iPhone maker would take a 30% cut of sales in a new online events feature, forcing Facebook to remove the message,” reports Reuters. Apple claims that such a message within the new feature, which would allow users to purchase buy tickets to online events, violates an App Store rule that prevents developers from showing users irrelevant information. Image sourced from The Verge In an official statement, Facebook says “Now more than ever, we should have the option to help people understand where the money they intend for small businesses actually goes. Unfortunately, Apple rejected our transparency notice around their 30 per cent tax but we are still working to make that information available inside the app ex...
TikTok CEO Resigns
Image sourced from Evening Standard Kevin Mayer has resigned from his position as TikTok CEO amidst contention between the video-sharing platform and the Trump administration. The Financial Times reported that TikTok’s GM, Vanessa Pappas, will take over the CEO role in the interim. In an internal email, Mayer says “in recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for.” “Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.” In recent months, TikTok has been embroiled in a legal battle against US President Donald Trum...
Fortnite’s Season Update will not Release on Apple Devices
Epic Games has confirmed that its newest Fornite season will not be available to Apple gamers. In an official statement, the game developer says that Apple is blocking said updates. “Apple is blocking Fortnite updates and new installs on the App Store, and has said they will terminate our ability to develop Fortnite for Apple devices. As a result, Fortnite’s newly released Chapter 2 – Season 4 update (v14.00), will not release on iOS and macOS on August 27.” And that’s not all, Epic Games confirmed to The Verge that “players on iPhone, iPad, and Mac will also lose cross-play Fortnite multiplayer with non-Apple platforms”. This comes in the midst of a massive brawl between the two companies over in-app payments and Apple alleged App Store monopoly. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_111.td-a-rec-img{ ...
Gozem Unveils New ‘Super App’
Gozem has introduced its new ‘Super App’ interface which consolidates all of its different services — ride-hailing, delivery, eCommerce, and an in-app wallet — into one app. “As we launched various new services and verticals over the last year, we heard from our users that if we were able to offer a holistic experience in our app, we’d offer real value by reducing friction and enhancing convenience,” says Gozem Co-Founder, Emeka Ajene. “To that end, this new Super App has been a long time coming, and we’re happy to continue tailoring our products and services to local needs so that our users who live busy lives can get right to the services they want when they want them. By bringing all of our various service offerings into one common space, we’re making navigating our app a lot simpler fo...
Epic Games’ Attempt to Restore Fortnite on App Store Fails
Epic Games was hit with a set back after a US District Court Judge denied its motion to restore Fortnite to the iOS App Store. The popular game was removed after Epic Games launched a sneaky update that allowed it to dodge revenue sharing with Apple. Apple retaliated by pulling the game from its App Store and blocking access to Unreal Engine. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that “the game will remain off the App Store unless Epic Games attempted to bring it back in accordance with App Store guidelines,” reports TechCrunch. However, it’s not all bad news for the game developer. The Judge also ruled that “Apple can’t retaliate against Epic Games by blocking the gaming firm’s developer accounts or restrict developers on Apple platforms from accessing Unreal Engine.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3...
Vodacom Appoints New Group CFO
Vodacom has appointed Raisibe Morathi as its new Group chief financial officer (CFO), effective from 1 November 2020. Morathi joins the telco after resigning from her position as Nedbank CFO – a role that she has held since 2009. Morathi is also expected to be appointed to the Vodacom Group Board. “As one of the most experienced and one of very few African black female CFOs of a listed company in South Africa, Raisibe’s appointment underscores Vodacom’s commitment to driving diversity across the workplace,” says Vodacom in a statement. TechCentral reports that Morathi is a “chartered accountant and has completed an Advanced Management Programme with Insead (France). Her other qualifications include a higher diploma in taxation from Wits University and she is completing a master’s in philos...
Microsoft Sides with Epic Games in Fight with Apple
Microsoft has put its weight behind Epic Games during its ongoing feud with Apple. The tech company says that Apple’s App Store created barriers and tolls – and these are even more serious than “Microsoft’s own Windows ever did when the company was found guilty of violating US antitrust laws.” This comes after Epic Games launched a sneaky Fortnite update that allowed it to dodge revenue sharing with the tech company. Apple retaliated by pulling the game from its App Store and limiting the game developers acces to key graphics technology. “The graphics technology, known as Unreal Engine, is a suite of software used by millions of developers to build 3D games and other products. Cutting off Epic from Apple’s iOS and Mac developer tools would mean the gaming company can no longer distribute U...
Bolt to Introduce Food Delivery Service in Kenya
Ride-hailing service, Bolt has announced that it is looking at introducing a food delivery service in Kenya. “We’re already present in 30+ markets across Europe and Africa. Now, it’s time for us to bring the know-how around building a mobility platform to the food delivery industry,” says the company. This is said to be Bolt’s attempt to add additional revenue streams by targeting an industry that has seen impressive growth in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolt Introduces New Protective Ride Option in Kenya Bolt has announced that will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of its drivers and passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5c9.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5c9.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “We remain cognizant of ...
TikTok to Challenge Ban by Trump Administration
Sourced from Cosmico TikTok has announced that it will be taking legal action against US President Donald Trump and his administration in an attempt to challenge its imminent ban. The Chinese-owned app has been told by the administration to sell off US operations within 90 days, or else. The Verge reports that motivation for the ban stems from the fact that “lawmakers allege that TikTok could be pressured into handing over data or other intelligence to the Chinese Communist Party”. According to the BBC, “TikTok says it has tried to engage with Trump’s administration for nearly a year but has encountered a lack of due process and an administration that pays ‘no attention to facts’”. TikTok is “led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, secur...
ECA Suspends Plans to Privatise Ethio Telecom
Sourced from allAfrica. In May, the Ethiopian Telecommunication Authority (ECA) issued a statement announcing that the country would now be open to selling a 40% stake in the state-owned company, Ethio Telecom. In response to this announcement, Safaricom and, its parent company, Vodacom both expressed their interest. However, it looks as though this opportunity was short-lived as the ECA has since suspended its plans to privatize the telco. According to TechNext, Africa’s oldest telco supplies more than 40 million of 115 million Ethiopians with mobile network and Internet services. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_645.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_645.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } But in recent times, locals have began calling out the slow, unreliable internet connection and poo...
Apple could Offset Expensive 5G iPhone Tech with Cheaper Battery Parts
Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the tech company is looking at “cheaper and less complex battery technology” to offset the cost of pricey 5G components. Kuo told investors that “Apple is reducing the number of layers in the battery board and placing cell components in a smaller area” – something that The Verge believes will result in a “battery board that’s 40 to 50 percent cheaper than the iPhone 11’s equivalent part”. Apple Might Ditch the Charger and EarPods When Shipping 5G iPhones Apple may no longer include a power adapter and EarPods with new iPhones claims Kuo. Starting with 2020’s iPhone range, Kuo believes that Apple will ditch the accessories in an attempt to offset the cost increases that come with upgrading the iPhone range to 5G – noting that the company wants t...
Seacom Chief Strategy Officer Resigns
Seacom has announced that Chief Strategy Officer, Suveer Ramdhani, has resigned – there’s no word yet on who is set to replace him. He has been a part of the company since its inception in 2009. Ramdhani had a “founding role in the Seacom project and was responsible for the development of the business strategy of the submarine cable system along Africa’s east coast to Europe and Asia,” says the company in a statement to TechCentral. “He recently concluded the acquisition of FibreCo Telecommunications, which has positioned Seacom to operate a network that runs along South Africa’s highest-traffic transmission routes and links all major South African cities to Seacom’s submarine cable assets.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_4f0.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_4f0.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0...
