Microsoft Office 2021 Release Date Revealed
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Microsoft Office 2021 Release Date Revealed

Written by Luis Monzon Microsoft has revealed the launch date for its Office 2021 consumer release on 5 October 2021. The tech giant also announced that its Microsoft Office Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) for Windows and Mac will be available for commercial and government users from today. According to The Verge, Office LTSC is designed for…

Liquid Intelligent

Liquid Intelligent Technologies connects the DRC and Congo Brazzaville with high-speed connectivity

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, is now delivering affordable high-speed connectivity to communities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) using state-of-the-art Wireless Optical Communication technology (WOC) from Project Taara at X, Alphabet’s moonshot factory. This achievement marks a robust high-capacity communications bridge between Kinshasa and Congo Brazzaville. Despite being just 4.8 kilometres apart, internet is more…

Facebook tackles harmful authentic accounts with new approach

Facebook tackles harmful authentic accounts with new approach

Written by Queenie Wong Facebook said Thursday that it’s taking a tougher approach against groups of accounts from real users who work together to cause harm. The social network says it may reduce the reach of content from these accounts or disable them if they’re working together to cause harm and evade the rules. The…

TECNO spark 7

TECNO Spark 7 Series South African Launch Date Revealed

Written by  Luis Monzon TECNO Mobile’s Spark 7 series of smartphones is set to officially launch in South Africa on 16 September 2021, a statement from the company reads. After the September launch, TECNO says the Spark 7 series will be available for purchase from October 2021. “We aim to provide the best contemporary technology in artistic designs…

innovation fund
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$100M innovation fund to fuel tech investments across Africa

The Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG) stands out as an investment vehicle supporting early-stage tech startups by establishing a new fund aimed at investing in early tech innovations startups across Africa. The curaçao-based private investment fund, GIIG Africa Fund, invested annually in winner pools across the Africa region of the Global Startup Awards (GSA) – the world’s…

Standard Bank to Launch Innovation Lab with Amazon Web Services in SA
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Standard Bank to Launch Innovation Lab with Amazon Web Services in SA

Written by Luis Monzon Standard Bank and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced an expansion of their strategic relationship to drive the growth of Africa through digital infrastructure, digital ecosystems, and future-ready solutions that empower our customers and our partners. Building on a relationship that enabled Standard Bank’s migration to the cloud, Standard Bank will collaborate…

Constructor

Constructor finds $55M for tech that powers search and discovery for e-commerce businesses

Written by Ingrid Lunden One of the biggest problems in the world of e-commerce is the predicament of shopping cart abandonment: when shoppers aren’t getting to what they want fast enough — whether it’s finding the right item, or paying for it in a quick and easy way — they bounce. That singular problem is…

What Are the Most Common Cybersecurity Issues and How Can They Be Mitigated

What Are the Most Common Cybersecurity Issues and How Can They Be Mitigated

Cybersecurity issue is on the rise in today’s interconnected world at a fast pace. As businesses become more reliant on the internet and technology, the threats posed by online criminals will only grow. In today’s world, no company can be considered secure against security breaches. Hackers prefer to target well-known corporations, but small businesses also have…

SA’s FlexClub adds motorcycle subscriptions to its offering

SA’s FlexClub adds motorcycle subscriptions to its offering

Written by South African startup FlexClub, a global vehicle subscription marketplace, has partnered with the sole distributor of Bajaj Auto in South Africa to offer motorcycle subscriptions to individuals and businesses in South Africa.  Formed in November 2018, FlexClub is a managed marketplace that simplifies investing in cars rented to people using gig platforms to earn a living….

Ten African countries with the cheapest data plans
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Ten African countries with the cheapest data plans

In Africa, internet data is expensive currency Sudan leads nine other African countries that charge its citizens less than $1 for a gigabyte (1 GB) of mobile data, a report by British technology research firm Cable shows. The Northeastern Africa nation offers the lowest cost of internet access over a smartphone anywhere in Africa and…

East African legal-tech startups invited to apply for Justice Innovation Circles programme
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East African legal-tech startups invited to apply for Justice Innovation Circles programme

Written by  TOM JACKSON Legal-tech startups in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Burundi have been invited to apply for the Justice Innovation Circles incubation programme. Run by HiiL, Justice Innovation Circles is an incubation programme curated for justice innovators who only have a minimal viable product or prototype and no real traction. It is looking…

How to turn on dark mode on all your apps and devices
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How to turn on dark mode on all your apps and devices

Written by MARIA MELLOR It cuts down on eye strain, prolongs battery life and it may even be good for your health. So if you haven’t investigated the dark side of operating systems yet, here’s how to do so on Android, iOS, PCs, Macs and even individual apps Dark mode is here to help with…

SA’s FoondaMate is helping students with limited internet study using WhatsApp, Messenger

SA’s FoondaMate is helping students with limited internet study using WhatsApp, Messenger

Written by TOM JACKSON South African ed-tech startup FoondaMate is enabling students with limited internet access to study online using just WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.  Basically, by sending a text to the startup’s number on WhatsApp you can search anything you are confused by, get help with maths, and download practice questions and memos. For…

Google is Hit with a $177 Million Fine for Abusing Android Dominance

Google is Hit with a $177 Million Fine for Abusing Android Dominance

Written by  Furqan Shahid It seems like Google is having a hard time staying on its feet as the company has now been hit with another fine for alleged anti-competitive practices. This time in South Korea. According to the news outlet Korea Herald, the latest fine is  207.4 billion won (~$177 million). The company is being fined for…

Tech4Dev Launches the I AM A WOMAN TECHSTER CAMPAIGN with an Art Exhibition
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Tech4Dev Launches the I AM A WOMAN TECHSTER CAMPAIGN with an Art Exhibition

Written by Anibe Idajili To achieve her goal of impacting 10,000 women in 2021 and 5 million women across Africa by 2030 through the Women Techsters initiative, Tech4Dev – a non-profit social enterprise working to provide access to decent work for Africans through digital and technology skills empowerment and advocacy – launched the #IAmAWomanTechster Campaign…

What Spotify’s mess (and its clean up) can teach startups about long-term brand thinking
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What Spotify’s mess (and its clean up) can teach startups about long-term brand thinking

Written by Claire Huxley When does an app become more than an app? When it starts thinking about its brand. Did you know Growth Quarters is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will share key insights into entrepreneurship during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your ticket now! Former Spotify boss…

Zoom is adding live translation services, Zoom Whiteboard, and other new features

Zoom is adding live translation services, Zoom Whiteboard, and other new features

Written by  Janet John Video conferencing platform Zoom, is continuously creating new features to help users connect with teams and customers, share ideas, and get more done together. The company plans to expand its support for automatic live transcriptions with the addition of live translation, among other new changes coming to the platform. The company…

Intuit confirms $12B deal to buy Mailchimp
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Intuit confirms $12B deal to buy Mailchimp

Written by Alex Wilhelm This afternoon Intuit confirmed persistent rumors that it was in the process of buying Mailchimp, detailing a $12 billion transaction that will bring the well-known email infra company to its corporate remit. Intuit is not a well-known player in the email marketing space. The company is instead best known for its TurboTax software…

Global Internet Speed marks a shift in power

Global Internet Speed marks a shift in power

Written by Daryn Kara Ali Speedtest issued on Wednesday its most recent Global Index report exploring speeds from July 2019 till July 2021, revealing that download speeds have globally escalated in the past year regarding mobile and fixed broadband, and 200 percent faster than 2017. A drastic change has occurred in the world’s internet performance as…

Nigerians tasked on green technology to achieve SDGs
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Nigerians tasked on green technology to achieve SDGs

Written by Michael Egbejule The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation University of Benin (CGE-Nigeria) has stressed the need for Nigerians to embrace new strategies, especially anaerobic digestion (AD) technology for waste management to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It stated this at the weekend during a RECIRCULATE stakeholders’engagement it organised for secondary school students with…

GIIG Africa Fund launches; to fuel SDG-driven innovation in Africa
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GIIG Africa Fund launches; to fuel SDG-driven innovation in Africa

Written by  Yinka Okeowo Focussed on catalysing dramatic change via disruptive tech investments in emerging markets, the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), has announced the launch of a unique profit and purpose fund aimed at investing in early-stage tech innovation startups across Africa. The GIIG Africa Fund, a Curaçao-based private investment fund, will invest annually in the…

Glovo, an on-demand delivery business, wants to invest $60 million in expanding across Africa
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Glovo, an on-demand delivery business, wants to invest $60 million in expanding across Africa

Glovo, a Spanish on-demand delivery service, has announced that it will invest $60 million over the next 12 months to extend its footprint in Africa, including Ghana and Tunisia. “Our mission is to provide everyone simple access to anything in their city, and our platform is at its best when it is linking users and…

KeNIA, Villgro launch healthcare innovation programme
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KeNIA, Villgro launch healthcare innovation programme

Written by TOM JACKSON The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) and Villgro Africa have opened a call for healthcare innovators with the potential to improve optimal health outcomes or make healthcare more, with the best solutions to be awarded cash prizes and access to other resources. The Kenya Healthcare Innovation Programme awardees will be given the opportunity…

Vodacom Invests Millions on New Solar-Powered Sites Across SA
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Vodacom Invests Millions on New Solar-Powered Sites Across SA

Written by Luis Monzon One of South Africa’s big four telcos, Vodacom has announced the installation of new solar-powered sites in Polokwane, Vereeniging, and Bloemfontein as part of its energy and carbon management strategy and commitment to reducing its impact on the environment. Vodacom, in a statement today, says it has invested over R8-million ($564K)…

AMAS to launch digital agri-bank for Ethiopian farmers
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AMAS to launch digital agri-bank for Ethiopian farmers

Written by Russel Ayugi Alliance Microfinance (AMAS) has signed a grant agreement with Norad, based on an application form submitted in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian tech company Bakken & Bæck, and a leading industrial conglomerate in Ethiopia East African Group. AMAS is the lead partner and grant manager running the project and aims to provide farmers across…

Unmanned Drones
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How Unmanned Drones Are Delivering Medical Supplies Across Botswana

Written by Luis Monzon A collaborative project in Botswana is getting essential and emergency healthcare products to remote communities quicker than ever before through leveraging unmanned drones. The Drones for Health project sees a partnership between the country’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), the United Nations Population…

SA to Issue Digital Vaccine Passports Next Week: What Will This Mean?

SA to Issue Digital Vaccine Passports Next Week: What Will This Mean?

Written by Luis Monzon According to an announcement made by South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla, digital vaccination passes will be issued to all eligible vaccinated South Africans in less than a week. The country’s Department of Health says that currently, the digital vaccine certificates are “under development.” According to Mia Malan, editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa Health Journalism…

Facebook’s Ray-Ban Stories make the case for smart glasses

Review: Facebook’s Ray-Ban Stories make the case for smart glasses

The Stories realize the vision that Snap’s Spectacles dreamed Written by Lucas Matney Facebook’s first pair of smart glasses doesn’t feel like much of a Facebook product. You won’t find the Facebook logo emblazoned on them or even its name in small print by the serial code. They aren’t “Facebook Stories” or “Ray-Ban’s Facebook Stories” or…

Improving literacy with mobile phones and tech tools in Africa

Improving literacy with mobile phones and tech tools in Africa

Written by Victoria Fakiya Emeka was eight years old when he dropped out of primary school. He couldn’t read and write at the time, and his environment was not conducive for learning. “When I was in primary school, I used to think I wasn’t cut out for school. And the fact that I was living…

Are Customers Still Connected to Your Business in this Digital World?
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Are Customers Still Connected to Your Business in this Digital World?

Written by Luis Monzon The way we communicate socially has changed, thanks to social media and mobile technology. For many, this has also translated to changes in the way we communicate professionally this digital world. Digital has removed the typical boundaries associated with geography and time zones, and people expect to be able to use…