Accommodation Marketplace SleepOut.com gets US$200,000 Seed Funding

SleepOut.com, Kenya’s leading online accommodation marketplace where users can find, offer and book unique accommodation online, announced today that it has raised approximately US$200,000 in seed funding to finance expansion across markets in Africa and the Middle East.

Leading the funding round for the Nairobi company, which launched its BETA site in June 2012, is Amsterdam-based Africa Media Ventures Fund.

Lot Carlier, Managing Partner at AMVF remarked, “We are truly excited to embark on this venture. As internet penetration and e-commerce increases on the continent a new consumer class is emerging and SleepOut is simply in the right place at the right time. Together with a solid expansion strategy and a seasoned team with vast regional networks we are confident that SleepOut will provide a best-in-class service across these expanding markets.”

Gidilounge’s gPlayer is coming into the music streaming business to compete with iRoking, Spinlet....

gPlayer is the soon to be launched music streaming service of digital company Gidilounge who already runs the mobile radio, Gidilounge.fm.  Gidilounge.fm and gPlayer will soon be available on a Gidilounge app.

Gidilounge will launch its music streaming service on June 1, and will be free both online and in the mobile app.

Kenya's Momentum Core fight HIV/ AIDS with new game, Pamoja Mtaani

A Kenyan gaming startup Momentum Core, known for a 2D casual game Mosquito Hood, that talks about malaria prevention has launched another health related game on HIV/AIDS awareness game dubbed “Pamoja Mtaani Puzzle”  and is available on the Google Chrome platform.

Meet Helios handle bars that give cyclists smartphone technology

Cyclists can pimp their bikes with smartphone technology with the new Helios handle bar tha makes your bike smart.

Helios Bars has an integrated headlight and two rear LEDs, and riders can use the left and right lights as turn signals, the amazing thing about the device is that one can connect the handlebars to a smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 using smartphone connectivity through Helios' iOS app.

The rear lights on the handlebars take advantage of a GPS connection — so they can help you navigate via Google Maps' API. After inputting a destination into Helios' app, your phone plots a route. Then, once you start biking, the rear left and right lights blink, indicating where to turn.
The rear lights also change color based on your speed.

Mobile Web gets new Google+ look

A few days after Google+ unveiled a redesign for desktop, the social network is redesigning its look on the mobile web.

Changes to the mobile version of Google+ are similar to those made for the desktop.  Google introduced 41 new features, including a multi-column layout, larger photos and automatic addition of related hashtags to the stream.

What's more, Profiles and Pages now include cover photos and larger "tap targets," the blog post revealed. Posts now appear as "cards" in the stream, making them easier to read, +1 and re-share.

All this was revealed in G+ official website on Tuesday(21/05/2013).

Vodacom on the prowl for acquisition targets In Africa

Vodacom, South Africa-based mobile phone operator, is on the prowl for to acquire more stake in telecommunications business in Africa.

Majority-owned by UK’s Vodafone Group, Vodacom is set to  shop in two or three African countries in the next three years, as they plan to increase Africa’s meagre 17% of the company’s revenue.

According to Fox Business News, CEO Shameel Joosub, told Dow Jones Newswires the firm wants to increase revenues generated from Africa to between 25 and 30 percent in the next three years.

One of the major drivers for mobile phone firms on the continent is the speedy launch of smartphones, that is why Vodacom is  currently paying more attention to bringing more smartphones in as many user’s hands as possible.

Vodafone has developed a cheap smartphone that Vodacom wants to start selling in Africa from June this year

Mara Online - Africa’s answer To Skype and other social media

Mara Online, a family of online and mobile platforms that allow users to communicate, interact and collaborate with each other has been launched by Ugandan multi-millionaire and serial entrepreneur Ashish J. Thakkar.

Mara Online, which featured a chartered jet flying over Silicon Valley with a Mara banner with the inscription “It is Time For Africa,” currently has three applications that are all communication-focused.