tech news
Telkom Reports 19% Increase in Mobile Subscribers
Telkom South Africa has revealed its interim results for the six months ending 30 September 2020. The telco was driven by a 19% increase in mobile subscribers – reaching 13.7 million – to claim the position of South Africa’s third mobile operator. Telkom delivered solid EBITDA growth despite a slight revenue decrease of 0.4% to R21.4 billion in the face of difficult trading conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Telkom’s decision to invest in infrastructure ahead of demand enabled us to meet the surge in demand and weather the acceleration of the decline in fixed voice revenue during the national lockdown,” says Sipho Maseko, Telkom Group CEO. Telkom Mobile expanded margin by 13.2 ptts to 29.9%, optimised direct cost to revenue ratio from 53% in the prior period to 38% and more t...
Showmax Introduces Subscription-Free Streaming Service
Showmax has launched a subscription-free streaming service in South Africa – ‘Showmax Free’. This service is expected to feature “hand-picked content slate that gives customers an opportunity to sample some of Showmax’s entertainment”. Showmax Free will feature local movies, series and sports shows. Users will be able to stream movies and binge-watch the first few episodes of available series for free – however, they will see adverts during playback and be prompted to upgrade to Showmax paid plans. Customers will be able to upgrade to the ad-free Showmax entertainment catalogue to access complete seasons of the latest local and international series, blockbuster movies and kids’ content. For live sport, users will need to subscribe to Showmax Pro. “Ad-supported streaming services are a grow...
Xbox Series S and X Delays to be Expected in South Africa
Attention all gamers! Microsoft Xbox Series S and X consoles – which were expected to be available in South Africa today – will be delayed at certain retailers. “Due to some unforeseen logistical challenges, some stores in South Africa may receive their stock of the Series X | S on day of launch or possibly a day late,” reads an official statement from Prima Interactive, the company responsible for Xbox distribution. “Prima Interactive would like to advise that all stock has been shipped to stores. With global embargos taken into consideration there is a very small window for delivery to stores, and sometimes despite the best plans delays occur.” “We can confirm that ALL PRE-ORDERS will be met and your Xbox has been shipped to the store you ordered it from. If you haven’t received notifica...
Jawwy TV Mobile App Now Available in Egypt
Intigral, Telecom Egypt (WE) and TPAY Mobile have partnered to launch the Jawwy TV app in Egypt. The mobile app is expected to offer a new digital entertainment platform for viewers. A 30-day free trial of Jawwy TV will be available exclusively to WE subscribers from the date of subscription. The Jawwy TV app encompasses both linear TV and subscription video on demand (SVOD) offerings, presenting viewers with countless content titles across multiple genres – it also includes over 50 free-to-air and encrypted channels. The app is also packed with features that enhance user experiences, such as subtitles and audio options in both Arabic and English, parental control tools, rewind features for linear TV content, live TV start over options, a recommendation engine, and the ability to use the a...
Huawei Watch GT2 Pro Launches in South Africa
Huawei has revealed that its Watch GT2 Pro is now available in South Africa. The latest addition to the Watch GT series boasts a long-lasting two-week battery life and a broad range of exercise and health functions, as well as offering professional guidance and intelligent smart control features. This flagship smartwatch launches with a rugged design featuring premium materials, including a sapphire watch crystal, titanium case and skin-friendly ceramic case back that combines with another sapphire glass black to enhance monitoring accuracy and wearing comfort. Additionally, the Watch GT 2 Pro supports apps to provide a convenient means for users to get even more features. Huawei also plans to further augment the smart experience on offer in the future. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_fea.td-a-rec...
ASUS Introduces the ZenBook Flip 13
ASUS has recently introduced its ZenBook Flip 13 to South Africa. The laptop is made up of a fully convertible touchscreen and is powered by the latest Intel 11th gen CPU with a hybrid power mode. It can operate as default clocks providing enough power for everyday tasks and saving battery life. But it also can boost and give up to 40% of power increase for demanding tasks. We never had anything similar in a mobile CPU before. The ZenBook Flip 13 is equipped with a 13.3-inch FHD NanoEdge touchscreen, featuring slim 3.9 mm bezels that maximize the screen space while reducing the laptop’s footprint. ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 Key Specifications /* custom css */ .tdi_3_78f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_78f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Model Name UX363EA-I76512G0...
4 Benefits of Online Education and eLearning
For millions of students and instructors across the world, online classes have become a necessity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And, in general, many have found the transition to a virtual learning environment to be – at the very least – challenging. Indeed, if you’re used to spending a lot of time in a physical classroom, operating primarily online can be a difficult change to your routine. However, the good news is that there are a number of key advantages associated with online education and eLearning. To that end, today we’ll take a look at four reasons why students and teachers alike can benefit from virtual education: 1. Flexibility /* custom css */ .tdi_3_575.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_575.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Perhaps the most obvious positive asp...
Mobile in Africa is Offering Amazing Discounts this Singles’ Day
Everyone’s favourite retail holiday has always been Black Friday, but have you heard of Singles’ Day? The holiday was introduced in the early ‘90s by Chinese university students as a commemoration of their single status. The essence of the festival was for singles to enjoy the freedom and buying power that their married counterparts often could not. Singles’ Day is celebrated on 11 November, – or 11:11 – to denote solo living. The date has now become a highlight of the retail calendar across the globe, where single people treat themselves to gifts and presents to celebrate their independence. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_e2f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_e2f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } To support this annual event, retailers slash their prices so that consumers can fund th...
Telkom Launches Mobile Streaming Service in South Africa
Telkom has partnered with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to launch a new streaming channel, TelkomONE. The mobile operator channel will house SABC’s television channels 1, 2, Sport and Education as well as all 19 SABC radio stations. The five-year partnership, a first-of-its-kind for the SABC, is expected to showcase South Africa’s most-watched TV programmes and most listened to radio platforms, on one online platform. “We are excited about the opportunity to provide South Africans with free access to watch their favourite SABC content, online, when and wherever they want,” says Sipho Maseko, Telkom’s Group CEO. “TelkomONE will make it possible for subscribers to pause, go back into the programme guide (time-shift) and instantly watch a scheduled TV show they may have mi...
vivo Launches the Y20 Mid-range Smartphone in Kenya
vivo has officially launched its latest mid-range smartphone – the vivo Y20 – in Kenya. The device comes with advanced features for performance, a premium design, as well as an AI triple camera. “We are strengthening our Y-series family with the latest addition of Y20 packed with loads of features in the camera, big battery, huge storage, eye-popping colours and ultra-game mode for a complete smartphone experience for users in the mid-range price segment,” says vivo Kenya Brand Manager, James Irungu. “As an evolving youth-centric brand, we are continuously innovating to deliver stylish smartphones infused with trendsetting technologies at the most competitive price points locally. Keeping in mind user’s day-to-day lives, Y20 has been designed to be user-friendly, support various multimedia...
Digital Transformation is not just about Technology, it’s about the Experience
While many businesses were on the road to Digital Transformation (DX), there is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these strategies and projects. ‘Nice to have’ technology became ‘must-have’ practically overnight, and the entire business model had to shift in many cases. However, DX is not just about implementing new technology. It is about choosing the right technology to solve a business problem or leverage an opportunity, or both. Ultimately it is about the experience, for both the end user and the customer. Technology with a purpose DX should always be about improving business efficiency and effectiveness rather than implementing technology for the sake of it. However, during the panic caused by the pandemic, this has been overlooked in many instances. /* custom css */ .td...
How Telcos are Bringing Inclusion to Africa’s Financial Landscape
Sourced from IDG Connect Mobile financial services are a global game-changer with an open money network being the connection needed between the financial industry and telecom to increase both the commercial and social benefits. As the world grapples with an unprecedented crisis in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are cautious to use cash or making a withdrawal from an ATM and agent network. This has given mobile money a new dimension as customers can make payment anywhere at any time with their mobile devices as easy as sending a text message in geographies that are normally unable to benefit from banking structures. This allows customers to seamlessly purchase products or services without having to physically hand over cash or swipe a card. The freedom to send, spend and recei...
