ITWeb - Daily News

 

Smartphone users now account for about a fifth of all handsets on Vodacom’s SA network and this is the main driver of data growth, says CEO Pieter Uys.

Vodacom spends R8.7bn on network

The company will spend between 11% and 13% of its revenue in the coming year to meet growing demand.

• Vodacom enters insurance market
• Vodacom execs 'defect' to Cell C

by Nicola Mawson, Mon 21 May

 

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be worth about $19 billion once his company debuts on Nasdaq later today.

Facebook listing sparks hype

The social media company will be worth more than $100 billion when it lists today.

• Facebook ikasi style
• Brokerages stop taking Facebook IPO orders

by Nicola Mawson, Fri 18 May

 

The growing popularity of Facebook in local townships can be ascribed to the increasing prevalence of smartphones.

Facebook ikasi style

The world's largest social network captures the attention of SA's township residents – even more so than local mobile social network Mxit.

• SA mobile market gets smart
• Social media goes mainstream in SA

by Kathryn McConnachie, Thu 17 May

 

Analysts say Facebook is unlikely to improve its appeal to marketers anytime soon, as it continues to focus on user experience instead.

Facebook's business model questioned

As GM pulls $10 million in advertising from the social network, questions are raised over the sustainability of Facebook's advertising model.

• Social media showdown

by Kathryn McConnachie, Wed 16 May

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Vodacom’s mobile money transfer solution, M-Pesa, has struggled to gain traction, with user numbers looking bleak in SA.

Vodacom needs new M-Pesa model

The cellphone operator will not pull the plug on its struggling mobile money solution in SA.

• Kenyan mobile loan service takes off
• M-Pesa grows slowly
• Banking tech hits mass market

by Bonnie Tubbs, Tue 22 May

Chrome overtakes IE?

New data shows Chrome may have the edge on Internet Explorer as the most popular browser in the world.
by Kathryn McConnachie, 22 May, 12:22 PM

China approves Google, Motorola deal

The approval is the last regulatory hurdle to a $12.5 billion purchase that would allow Google to develop its own line of smartphones.
by Reuters, 22 May, 10:42 AM

Apple seeks support for new campus

The company's CFO asks residents of Cupertino, California, to champion Apple's new 2.8 million square foot spaceship-like campus.
by Reuters, 22 May, 10:45 AM

Apple dominates as top brand

The iPhone and iPad maker boosted its brand value by 19% in the past year to $183 billion, or 37% of its market capitalisation.
by Reuters, 22 May, 10:47 AM

Facebook shares sink after IPO hype

Shares sank 11% in the first day of trading without the full support of the company's underwriters, leaving some investors down almost 25%.
by Reuters, 22 May, 10:42 AM

Google gets last chance from EU

The EU gives Google a deadline to settle an investigation into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour, and avoid formal charges and a possible fine.
by Reuters, 22 May, 10:40 AM

Motorola models banned in US

Some Motorola Mobility smartphones infringe on a Microsoft patent and will be barred from importation to the US, says a trade panel.
by Reuters, 22 May, 10:37 AM

Vodacom sees lower voice, data revenue

The operator expands into under-serviced areas, a subscriber base that could dent its average revenue per user.
by Nicola Mawson, 22 May, 12:24 PM

• Vodacom pays out R10.6bn in dividends

NCC upholds e-tag complaints

There are still two points of concern in the e-toll contract that must be addressed by transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele.
by Farzana Rasool, 22 May, 12:20 PM

• E-toll appeal 'tactically unwise'
• Sanral CEO must reveal secrets: DA

Vodacom still seeks African expansion

There are no deals that would “move the needle” at the moment, says the operator.
by Nicola Mawson, 22 May, 11:25 AM

• Vodacom 'close' to Gateway deal

Infraco success requires govt tenant

The DPE and Broadband Infraco work on a detailed funding plan, which aims to address the company's cash position.
by Farzana Rasool, 22 May, 11:24 AM

• Infraco spends on connectivity

2013 decision on R10bn govt dud

Eskom has hosted the PBMR since 1 April 2012, and will do so until the end of its care and maintenance phase in 2013.
by Farzana Rasool, 22 May, 11:22 AM

• R10bn govt project worth zilch
• R10bn nuclear project scrapped

Social media campaign for Olympic hopeful

A campaign across Facebook and Twitter aims to help find funding for SA 400m champion Lebogang Moeng.
by Staff writer, 22 May, 11:15 AM

• Social electioneering
• Zuma uses Twitter for State of the Nation

Scammers target Pinterest

Users should be wary of new scams targeting the popular social pinboarding site, according to security experts.
by Kathryn McConnachie, 22 May, 11:19 AM

• Pinterest: the new network explodes
• Five social media services to watch

Vodacom 'close' to Gateway deal

The loss-making Nigerian unit should be sold within the next week or so.
by Nicola Mawson, 21 May, 14:35 PM

• Vodacom knocks more off Gateway

Vodacom pays out R10.6bn in dividends

The operator returns almost all its free cash flow to shareholders at the end of the year.
by Nicola Mawson, 21 May, 14:09 PM

• Vodacom spends R8.7bn on network

IN-DEPTH

Further into the background The ultimate technology to make you do more with less is maturing rapidly. What’s next for virtualisation?

 

Taking back tomorrow As the Rio+20 summit approaches, big business re-assesses its role in a resource-constrained future.

 

Company News

INDUSTRY NEWS

Business EMC continues channel commitment The company introduces programmes to help its channel partners accelerate their customers' cloud adoption.	Business EMC marks Africa for growth The company believes Africa has the potential to experience rapid cloud adoption.
Business Students graduate from IT skills programme A municipal skills initiative equips unemployed graduates with IT skills that can be used to improve government systems.	Business SA's BPM maturity a long way off Local companies struggle to manage the complexities associated with change management, says FlowCentric Technologies.
Computing Intel drives ultrabook fund The company is taking a consumer-driven approach in the way it builds ultrabook processors.

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REVIEWS

Hardware Review: BlackBerry Bold 9790 The smartphone is powered by Research In Motion's latest operating software – BlackBerry OS 7.	Software Review: Martha Stewart Cookies app This elegantly designed app is filled with beautifully illustrated recipes that are easy and fun to bake.

Caption Competition

	Get creative and witty! The author of the funniest caption will win an annual subscription to Brainstorm magazine. Winners also enter into a lucky draw for a XEROX (WorkCenter) WC6505 colour MFP printer. Entries Close: 25 May 2012

Columnists

• Lezette Engelbrecht

  Beyond Green

  

  Through a glass darkly

  Water – nature's wine – the substance that is fundamental to life on earth, is still considered a cheap and abundant resource. Seriously?

• Paul Booth

  Booth's Bites

  

  Bell tolls for Facebook

  The company listed on Nasdaq last week, with co-founder Mark Zuckerberg ringing the opening bell.

• Ivo Vegter

  The Spike

  

  A bad idea whose time has come

  Moshe Kam floats the really bad idea of regulating the profession of software development.

• Paul Booth

  Booth's Bites

  

  America Movil on the move

  The company acquired Simple Mobile, and proposed an additional €3.2 billion investment in KPN.

• Tallulah Habib

  Cyberbyte

  

  The power of words

  In a time of written communication, the words we choose still say a whole lot about who we are. Unlike in the past, they're now recorded – and often public.

• Lezette Engelbrecht

  Beyond Green

  

  Saviour complex

  Technology may be able to help the world adjust to climate change – but at what cost?

• Paul Booth

  Booth's Bites

  

  Vodafone in $1.7bn takeover deal

  The company acquired Cable & Wireless Worldwide, becoming the UK's second biggest mobile and fixed-line operator.

• Ivo Vegter

  The Spike

  

  Google confirmation bias

  If modern politics seems partisan and opinionated, blame the Internet.

 

 

Industry Insight

• Security

  

  Welcome to the layer cake

  Corporate IT security is living in the past. Here's the screaming reality.
  by Mark Eardley

• Cloud Computing

  

  He who hesitates...

  The impact of sitting on the cloud fence could be a loss of control for companies.
  by Gareth James

• Virtualisation

  

  Streamlining for agility

  Traditional desktop environments can be more agile if they are managed properly.
  by Scott Orton

• Project Management

  

  Going virtual in the PMO

  How will cloud services influence traditional services?
  by Anita Potgieter

• Contact centres and CRM

  

  Revamping the contact centre

  The evolving role of business process automation in the customer service experience.
  by Deon Scheepers

• Computing

  

  BSM integral to APM

  Business service monitoring has combined with application performance monitoring to create a new look.
  by Jaco Greyling

• Business Intelligence

  

  BI also behavioural intelligence

  Business intelligence should truly inform and educate the company, and not just be a simple reporting tool.
  by David Logan

• Outsourcing

  

  Outcomes-based outsourcing contracts add value

  Key performance indicators need to form the foundations of the desired outcomes in an outsourcing contract.
  by Craig Gibson

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