Glo Mobile to start Operations in Ghana on the 19th of January 2012.

Globacom will on January 19, 2012, formally begin commercial operations on its network in Ghana.

Speaking at the Glo CAF Awards which held in Accra, George Andah, the Chief Operating Officer of Glo Ghana, said that the company would pre-empt the launch by holding a series of ‘activities’ designed to ensure that Glo Mobile’s ‘superior services’ get the launch they deserve.

Globacom, apart from Nigeria has operations in Gambia, Senegal, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire. Having received its licence in November 2008, the fledgling operation has found itself mired in delay and controversy. In November this year the cellco’s Nigerian parent postponed the latest revised launch of its Glo Mobile service, citing ‘logistical constraints.

Globacom had earlier announced that its official launch in Ghana would take place on November 17, 2011, three years after first receiving a licence to offer services. Glo Mobile Ghana plans an aggressive entry to the domestic mobile market, and claims it would go live with almost 100 per cent coverage.

The Nigerian owned telecom company is said to have invested about $600 million in Ghana since receiving its concession to deploy a ‘unique, seamless and world class LTE network’. Glo Mobile said it has initial capacity for at least ten million customers for starters and that its network capacity was expandable.

The newcomer has five switching centres, 18 base station controllers, 1,600 base transceiver stations, 800 3.5G cell sites, 2,850km of fibre, 25 retail outlets across the country, and around 400 staff

Source: BusinessDay 

Ringier AG increases its presence in Nigeria with the launch of Pulse.com.ng

Not many may know about Ringier AG in Nigeria but globally, it is known as one of the top media companies in the world.  It is a multinational integrated media company. Founded in 1833, Ringier carries print, broadcast, radio, online and mobile media brands, and is a successful player in the printing, entertainment and internet business. It is a Swiss family-company with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

Thomas Trub

Earlier in the year, it was reported that Ringier unleashed Thomas Trüb – one of its most experienced senior managers for new market development – from his responsibilities in Eastern Europe and Asia to enable him give his full attention to East and West Africa. Since then it has launched Pigiame.co.ke, a free-classifieds portal in Kenya; PropertySearch.com.ng and JobFinder.com.ng in Nigeria. It seems to favour the multi-brand approach in invading Nigeria.

Ringier recently launched Pulse.com.ng in Nigeria. Pulse.com.ng is an online Entertainment, Music, Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine which provides timely information on social trends and lifestyle of Nigeria and Nigerians.

According to Denike Fadina, brand manager, Pulse Magazine, while commenting on the features of the online portal said it is an all-round entertainment website that focuses on discovering, promoting and celebrating the very essence of Nigerian style. “At the heart of Pulse, our focal goal is to be a promotional tool for individuals and corporate bodies to showcase their brands to the Nigerian market. We are 100% Nigerian in our scope and content, as such, we believe in reporting and celebrating inherent potential in different spheres of our society. Our vision is to be the premiere destination for all lifestyle needs and our core target are youths between the ages of 18- 45 amongst other niche groups,” she stated.

A visit on the Pulse website shows segments like the Fashion/Lifestyle which showcases and promotes Nigerian fashion, the People & Places segment which highlights extraordinary people who have achieved success in their various fields or currently doing something new and worthy of commendation, the Events segment which covers all types of events and then the Wedding segment.

It is obvious that Pulse will compete with the likes of BellaNaija.com, Lindaikeji.blogspot.com, e.t.c. And with the deep pockets of Ringier, it may rise to be Number 1 within a couple of months.

You can now fund your Paga account via your Mastercard or Interswitch Verve Card

Pagatech recently announced on its Facebook page that Paga account owners can now fund their Paga accounts using their Mastercard or Interswitch Verve cards.

All you have to do is detailed below:

1) Log into www.mypaga.com
2) Click on "Deposit", and at the top of the page that comes up you will see the option to use your MasterCard or Verve card.
3) Enter the amount you wish to fund and press "next"
4) Confirm by entering your Paga PIN then click on "go"
5) A page will pop-up - select either MasterCard, Verve, or InterSwitch, enter your card details and press "pay"
6) You'll get a confirmation page letting you know if we were able to charge your account successfully.

Well, Good move, Pagatech. But I guess you will have to convince Paga accounts holders why they should move money from their bank accounts using their debit cards to their Paga accounts before using it. They may not see it as a value added service. And I hope there is no transfer fee o. Probably you may have to do some education and awareness on the value.

From the "Ford Focus Challenge", we now move to "The Nigeria Ranger Challenge"

I am not really a lover of cars but I am keenly interested in the way companies try to entice people to use their products and services. The Ford Motors Company used this challenge to drum up awareness for its luxury brand and also served to remind car followers that Ford is not only a nameplate with long years of reputation, but is once again reshaping the consumer purchasing pattern. It was also one of the ways of introducing the 2012 Ford Focus.  I got to know about the Ford Focus Challenge because one of my friends, Deji Oyinlola, participated in the just concluded Ford Focus Challenge. He was part of the “Green team”. I heard the Yellow team won the contest. 

2012 Ford Focus

The World in 2011 - Facts and Figures (Share of Internet Users in the Total Population)

• The world is home to 7 billion people, one third of which are using the Internet. 45% of the world’s Internet users are below the age of 25.
• Over the last five years, developing countries have increased their share of the world’s total number of Internet users from 44% in 2006, to 62% in 2011. Today, Internet users in China represent almost 25% of the world’s total Internet users and 37% of the developing countries’ Internet users.

Fore more information, click here

Kalahari Ads joins forces with OLX in South Africa

Naspers-owned MIH Internet Africa, on Wednesday announced that the local resources at its online classifieds start-up, Kalahari Ads, would be consolidated with international resources available via OLX, another Naspers owned entity in a bid to grow Naspers' online classifieds footprint and market penetration in South Africa.

Classifieds listed on Kalahariads.net will thus be moved to the new platform - www.olx.co.za, effective December 20.

Paul Casarin, general manager of Kalahari Ads, said it had been hugely successful since its launch earlier this year, becoming the 3rd largest general classifieds site in South Africa within 8 months seeing the successful rebranding of a number of Naspers newspaper classifieds titles.

"OLX is one of the world's leading classified services and the current leader in Latin America and Asia. With a presence in 90 countries in 40 languages, the free classifieds site has a strong user base internationally, with over 125 million unique visitors per month worldwide," he said.

"By consolidating the two businesses we enjoy the expertise of a global classifieds business as well as the hands-on local knowledge of the Kalahari Ads team who will ensure prompt customer support and high moderation standards enabling the safest place for buyers and sellers," Casarin added.

Among a range of new online features, the innovative OLX platform also offers mobile apps for a wide range of smartphones, including Android, Nokia, Blackberry, and iPhone, together with a mobile site for non smart-phone users.

Naspers made the strategic investment in OLX in August 2010.

Naspers owns Dealfish Nigeria, another Classifieds company in Nigeria.

NHIS to start community-based insurance scheme

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is to start the implementation of the Community-Based and Voluntary Contributors Health Insurance Programmes (CBVCHIP) for Nigerians who are not covered under the formal programmes.
Addressing the media yesterday in Abuja, Executive secretary, NHIS, Waziri Dogo-Muhammad, said the CBVCHIP was designed to give healthcare cover for rural dwellers, the urban self-employed and co-operative societies.
Muhammad explained that the CBVCHIP, which would be launched in Lokoja, Kogi state by President Goodluck Jonathan on December 17, 2011 would also "target political appointees, employers and employees of micro and small enterprises and others who do not fit into the other NHIS programmes"

Samsung launches the Samsung Galaxy Note....on the Etisalat Network

Just two months ago,  I had the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab GT-P1000 and Galaxy Tab 10.1v. Not that I am a lover of Samsung phones or that I work for Samsung. It comes with the territory - testing new platforms that I can get the Dealfish app working on. I have tested the app on the Galaxy S II and it works. Just when I am still trying to figure out some of the functionalities of the recent Galaxy S II, Samsung comes out with another gadget - the Samsung Galaxy Note.

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Note exclusively on the Etisalat Network with an enticing 12- month free bundled data and voice plan. It offers 100MB data access and call rates of 20k/sec to all national networks with no access charge every month for 12 months. 
Now, what does this new gadget boast of?

It is a high-end device, running on Android Gingerbread Operating System, designed to perform pocket digital assistance functions for downloads of applications, e-mails-at-a-go, editing-at-a-go, among other unique features. It combines all the functionalities of a personal computer and a mobile phone with features such as the Samsung Smemo (allows you create and edit documents and content on-the-go), Samsung Apps store, Social Hub (allow setup of multiple email, PIM & instant social networking solutions), Readers Hub (allows downloads and access to free and premium books, magazine and news content), The device also include Google Mobile Services (Android Market Place, Gtalk, Gmail, Latitude), a 5.3 inch HD touch screen, accelerometer functionality, WIFI functionality, WIFI hotspot, document creator and viewer etc. The Galaxy Note comes with an S-Pen, which is imbedded into the body of the device maintaining its chic and stylish look. 


The Regional Director HHP, Samsung Electronics West Africa Nigeria Mr. Fady Khatib, says “the Galaxy Note is a new concept in the Smartphone world; it is a TabletSmartphone. This new category is created by Samsung and it falls in between tablets and smartphones. It has all the benefits of a tablet with the freedom and functionalities of a Smartphone.


Now what do I think? Hmm...... Well I love the S-Pen..... :) 

2 Nigerian companies (Chocolate City and Pepperoni) win $50,000 each as finalists of the 2011 Africa Awards

In a recent announcement by Legatum and Omidyar Network, organisers of the 2011 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, two Nigerian companies - Chocolate City, Abuja and Pepperoni Foods, Port Harcourt won $50,000 each for being finalists. We reported on this award in an earlier blog post.

Chocolate City is a 360 degree entertainment group of companies,consisting of Chocolate City Music, Chocolate City Media and Chocolate City Distribution. The music label is home to Africa’s biggest Hip Hop stars - M.I, Jesse Jagz , Ice Prince, Brymo, Tonii & Dj Caise. It is based in Abuja, Nigeria. 

Pepperoni Foods Limited is a catering and hospitality services provider with Head office in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and outlets in various locations in the Niger Delta Region. Their services include restaurants offering retail sales of local and continental dishes, corporate services, housekeeping and industrial catering, bakery services, table water production and sales, event managers and photography services.

Co-Creation Hub and Opera hosts the tech community to an end-of-year party

Its been a great year for the Nigerian Tech community. An ICT ministry, new start-ups, more funding, regular events and a place of our own...This Christmas, CcHub and Opera Africa invites the Tech community to let our hair down, mark the end of a great 2011 and prepare for an even better 2012.

What to expect? Good music, food, drinks and dancing shoes aplenty....... The best dancer will get a nice surprise from Mobilityblog!!!

CcHub asks that you kindly come with a donation of N1,000 for CHARITY to put smiles on other people's faces during this festive season.

Date: 16th December 2011

Time: 6pm onwards

Venue: CcHub, 294 Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo, Yaba

We look forward to having you at the party.

To register for the event and attend, click here

Dealfish introduces Print Edition

Dealfish Nigeria introduces its Print Edition to the Nigerian marketplace. Being mindful of the Nigerian marketplace and the fact that not many people are online, Dealfish is introducing its print edition today, 13th December 2011. The Print edition is a 20-page newspaper targeted towards people who do not know about its online site and have not started using Dealfish online.

Though one would wonder why Dealfish has bothered to create a print edition, since it is essentially an online initiative. Dealfish claims that it is aware of the internet accessibility issues in Nigeria and the erroneous belief that anything online is probably fraudulent. It has therefore created this free Print edition to introduce people to Dealfish and to educate people about the active marketplace that is available online. On the Print edition, the ads listings redirects you to get more information either via sms or online on the website - www.dealfish.com.ng. All you have to do is send the Ad ID to a short code 20052.

Though the first print edition is to be distributed in Lagos, it estimates that within the next few months it will be available across the major cities in Nigeria.  And by the way, it is free........

Africa's Entrepreneurial Hot-Spot by Randall Kempner

I stumbled on this article written by Randall Kempner, Executive Director Aspen Network of development. The link was shared on Facebook by one of entrepreneurial friends, Victor Asemota who runs Swifta - a systems and services company.
It is an inspiring view from an "outsider" about entrepreneurial Nigeria.
Enjoy.....

Randall Kempner's article

I'm writing from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. I've just spent the last two days participating in events related to Global Entrepreneurship Week hosted by ANDE members Pan-African University-Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Alitheia Capital, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).  

Now, the first thing many Westerners think of when they think of Nigeria is the spam email that offers an inheritance from deposed Nigerian royalty. Indeed, Nigeria is a world center for Internet fraud. It's gotten to the point where many credit card processing firms will not accept cards issued in the country, and airline reservation sites will not allow you to ticket flights initiating in Lagos........Read more

Moses Kemibaro moves on from Dealfish Kenya

Moses Kemibaro and Francis Ebuehi in Nairobi, Kenya

I met Moses Kemibaro in Kenya when I visited the Dealfish Kenya office in January 2011. Moses is a mild mannered guy who knows his onions. He created Dealfish Kenya out of nothing. He was responsible for taking Dealfish Kenya to its present position, making it the foremost general online classifieds site in East Africa. He ran the East Africa Office from Nairobi, Kenya while I run the West Africa office from Lagos, Nigeria. 

Moses Kemibaro in Lagos Nigeria

I will miss you as a colleague but I know you are still around. Since we do business with Inmobi (who is fortunate to have you), we will still be in touch. As a friend, we are still together. I will definitely check up on you whenever I stroll to Kenya. And I know you will do likewise when you come to Lagos. You still haven’t finished trying the full range of Nigerian cuisine even though you found Nigerian food rather spicy when you first tried it some time back.

So I wish you the best in your new challenge. Have fun and stay blessed.

Moses Kemibaro, Jason Wilmans and Francis Ebuehi - wine tasting in Cape Town, South Africa

Etisalat launches "Geek Force"

Etisalat Nigeria has launched a Geek Force, another innovation from the company to solve technical problems. The Etisalat Geek Force is a team of technology savvy and courteous sales staff who have been jointly trained by Etisalat’s in-house faculty and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide advisory services and to resolve technical issues on various devices at designated Etisalat Experience Centres.

According to the fastest growing network’s CEO,Steven Evans, With the launch of our 3.75G HSPA+ network, we intend to play significantly in the development of data services in Nigeria. As more Nigerians embrace the use of data services, more 3G enabled devices would flood the market and there would be an increased need to manage device-related queries.

Gateway Business (Nigeria) has become Vodacom

Following the successful acquisition of the carrier services and business network solutions subsidiaries of Gateway Telecommunications SA for $700 million, Vodacom Group, yesterday declared its re-entry into Nigeria’s highly competitive telecommunications market. The firm has also promised to significantly reduce the cost of moving bandwidth capacity emanating from the underwater cables specifically for corporates by virtue of its robust national terrestrial network covering 26 states in the country.

Vodacom said it had discovered that the price of moving internet capacity from Lagos to Abuja is much higher than the cost of moving capacity from Lagos to London due to poor transmission backbone. Speaking at a press briefing held in Lagos yesterday, Guy Clark, managing director, Vodacom Business Nigeria disclosed that the telecoms company was not operating as a GSM player but has aligned its infrastructure deployment strategy with that of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the new ministry of communications technology’s broadband strategy.

Engaging fans with Facebook Competitions

Nigerian Companies are beginning to engage their fans or getting new fans using Facebook competitions. It is not news that there are close to 4million Nigerians on Facebook and creating a medium of communication on Facebook is a proactive way of creating the much needed awareness for companies’ brands. Companies that have used or are currently using this initiative include Vconnect, Dealfish and Chi. Vconnect is currently running a “Search and Win” competition.  You are rewarded with points and subsequently prizes for identifying products / services / brands, which are not present in Vconnect’s database. Chi’s own competition is termed Chivita Active – Activate your sixth sense. It requires you to answer 6 questions correctly and win a carton of Chivita fruit juice. Dealfish Nigeria is running a Superfan contest where you answer questions to win recharge cards, video tickets, goodie bags, smartphones. You can also win a Samsung tablet, an electronic Notebook or Beatz by Dre headphones if you send in a winning entry to the Dealfish Video commercial competition. Access Bank just rounded its own “Test Your clout” contest where Access Bank rewards top online community leaders with social influence within the community. The more the number of friends who are also members of the online community, the higher the influence you wield. 

Of course, you would be required to "like" the page before you can win. 

Well you can go and try.....