Company News
FNB Named South Africa’s Best Digital Bank
Sourced from Htxt.Africa First National Bank (FNB) has been voted as the best digital bank in the 2020 SITEisfaction survey. The bank is said to have “dominated overall customer satisfaction metrics on both the Best Mobile Banking and Best Internet Banking categories”. Conducted for 9 consecutive years, the survey benchmarks Internet banking, app and customer experience against that of competitors as well as against previous years’ performance. “Our consistent approach to digital banking has provided customers with an innovative, contextual and agile banking experience. Our banking processes have evolved into one that can operate through challenging market conditions with changing consumer perceptions, sentiment and dynamics. Through this we have delivered platforms that have been pivotal ...
Facebook Commits to African SMBs Through Virtual Programmes
Sourced from Dialogue Pakistan Facebook has announced that all its Economic Impact Programmes are officially available, and will be offered virtually, in an attempt to equip small African businesses with digital marketing skills to help them stay open, connect with and acquire new customers to survive challenges presented by Coronavirus. Facebook’s Economic Impact Programmes include: Boost with Facebook – currently implemented in 11 African countries, targeting over 41,000 small businesses. SheMeansBusiness – available in Nigeria, South Africa and Senegal reaching 7,500 participants. Digify Pro – offered in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa with 230 participants. Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme – which works with 360 participants in Nigeria. These programmes will include 90 minute long...
Segway to Stop Production of its Iconic Two-Wheeled Scooter
Sourced from Tech Spot. Known as the Segway Human Transporter, these two-wheeled personal electrical scooters were once thought to be a world-changing innovation. Tech luminary Steve Jobs once thought the scooter would be as big of a deal as the PC. Unfortunately, the self-balancing scooter never really gained the traction that was expected after its 2001 launch. The electric-powered scooter relied on a series of tilt and gyroscopic sensors to maintain its balance as riders zipped along at a top speed of up to 16 km per hour. Now, Fast Company on Tuesday reported that the brand’s current owner is retiring the Segway personal transporter line as we know it. Manufacturing at its plant in Bedford, New Hampshire, will cease on July 15, the publication says. With the cease of manufacture, a tot...
MTN to Launch its 5G Network Next Week
Sourced from Business Tech MTN South Africa will finally launch its 5G network next week, 30 June 2020, becoming the first of the telecommunications group’s 22 operations to launch the next-generation broadband technology. The pan-African telecom is hosting a live event on its YouTube channel that same day. The event will be hosted by CEO Godfrey Motsa, chief consumer officer Mapula Bodibe and chief technology & information officer Giovanni Chiarelli. [embedded content] At the beginning of the month, MTN began announcing that it would launch 5G networks in major cities across South Africa. The exact locations for these launches have been confidential. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_3b3.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_3b3.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Initially, MTN had been ...
Former Google Exec Takes on CMO Role at Genesys
Contact centre solutions company, Genesys has appointed former Google and Microsoft marketing executive, Joyce Kim, as chief marketing officer (CMO). As CMO, Genesys says that Kim oversees worldwide marketing for the company and will report directly to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Bates. It’s said that she will play a pivotal role in elevating the company as the undisputed leader in personalized customer experience. Kim is to drive the overall marketing strategy and position the company for further growth by building on its market momentum as well as expanding its partner and developer ecosystem. She brings more than two decades of technology sector experience to Genesys, with expertise in data-driven digital marketing and executing go-to-market strategies for software solutions leve...
Microsoft Teams Now Available for Personal Use
Sourced from Tech Republic. Microsoft has launched the personal version of Microsoft Teams, as a part of a broader effort by Microsoft to remain relevant with its consumers after a series of moves away from consumer-friendly products. The company is adding new features to the existing Microsoft Teams app that might appeal to a set of people looking to do more than just chat. The Verge writes that this is not meant to be a way to begin to compete with the likes of WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, but simply a repositioning of Teams as more friendly to individuals and their families, and not just meant for corporations or businesses. Sourced from The Verge. Launched initially as a preview for iOS and Android, Microsoft Teams for personal use includes the basics of text chat and video calling,...
Vodacom Business and Microsoft Partner on Digital Education Platform
Vodacom Business and Microsoft South Africa have partnered to provide access to continuous, connected digital learning for South Africa’s education institutions, educators and learners through their Connected Digital Education initiative. This is in response to the growing need for affordable online learning solutions that meet the educational requirements of today’s learners through a secure combination of connectivity, collaboration, communication and educational tools and resources, while also considering the long-term need to transform education. The Connected Digital Education Platform is a trusted education platform that enables remote learning with affordable connectivity, ultimately turning the learning environment into a single, simple solution for the learner and giving them acce...
Microsoft Shuts Down Streaming Platform Mixer, Partners with Facebook Gaming
Sourced from Geekwire. Microsoft is closing its Mixer video game live-streaming service on 22 July 2020 with plans to move existing partners and streamers over to Facebook Gaming. Mixer, launched in 2016, will now no longer be operated by Microsoft as a service. The reason for this decision is that the company has struggled to reach the scale needed for Mixer to compete with Twitch, YouTube, and even Facebook Gaming itself. “We started pretty far behind, in terms of where Mixer’s monthly active viewers were compared to some of the big players out there,” says Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s head of gaming, in an interview with The Verge. “I think the Mixer community is really going to benefit from the broad audience that Facebook has through their properties, and the abilities to reach gamers in...
Apple Introduces iOS 14, “the Biggest Update Ever”
Apple took to the online stage at WWDC to officially unveil iOS 14, in its words, “the biggest update ever to Home Screen“. The update includes “redesigned widgets and the App Library, a new way to tap into the App Store with App Clips, powerful updates to Messages, and more”. Home Screen updates According to Apple, widgets can be pinned in different sizes on any Home Screen page. Users can create a Smart Stack of widgets, which uses on-device intelligence to surface the right widget based on time, location, and activity. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5e5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5e5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “iOS 14 transforms the most iconic elements of the iPhone experience, starting with the biggest update we’ve ever made to the Home Screen,” says Craig Federighi...
South Africa’s President Praises Amazon’s Job Creation Efforts
Sourced from 2OceansVibe. South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa has commended Amazon for its commitment to creating over 3000 jobs for locals. Ramaphosa notes, in his weekly newsletter, that this development comes at a time when many businesses are doing all they can to stay afloat in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. “Our economy is in the throes of the anticipated fallout from this global crisis. The predictions of businesses shutting down and jobs being lost are materialising,” he writes. In spite of this, Amazon is investing in the creation of new virtual jobs in Customer Service in South Africa. The company says that these roles will range from customer service associates to technical experts who will work virtually and provide 24/7 support to Amazon custo...
Mastercard Promises 120,000 Free Uber Rides and Meals to Frontline Workers Across the MEA
As cases of COVID-19 continue to escalate, frontline workers have tirelessly continued to support, feed and protect communities. With this in mind, Mastercard has committed 120,000 free trips and meals across the Middle East and Africa, which will be facilitated through Uber. Uber is utilizing their technology and making available their wide network of drivers to ensure those who are supporting communities and the many frontline workers who need to be mobile, have a reliable and efficient way of getting around. Once qualifying workers have successfully signed up through Uber’s website, they can arrange transportation to and from their homes and to where they are needed, such as healthcare facilities or to feed the vulnerable. Uber has shared relevant health information with drivers to ensu...
Scale Computing Partners with Mustek on HCI and Edge-computing Solutions
Scale Computing and Mustek have partnered to provide hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) series, including the HC3, to customers throughout South Africa. Scale Computing is said to be Mustek’s only HCI vendor and is well placed to service Mustek’s needs throughout South Africa with its local presence. With all components built-in, including the hypervisor, Scale Computing’s HC3 customers have no need for third-party components or licensing. This all-in-one configuration simplifies management and maintenance, which helps to streamline tasks, saving time and money. This makes the technology ideal for industries that require IT infrastructure with high performance and minimal management, especially during the current uncertain circumstances around COVID-19. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_ff4.td-a-r...
