Beware! Swindlers invade chatrooms

Internet-based chatrooms have become a safe haven for online fraudsters but more people have started to realise the electronic mail (e-mail) antics of these fraudsters.

Investigations by ITRealms Online revealed that several online fraudsters now prefer to engage people via chatrooms as an extension of the spam mails they bombard people with on daily basis.

The term chat room or chatroom, is basically associated with any form of synchronous and intermittently asynchronous conferencing. Therefore, it entails that any technology, ranging from real-time online chat over instant messaging and online forums cutting across all aspects including discussions on sports, entertainment, politics, information technology, romance and more socio-economic environments, could be classified as a chat room, more so when individuals respond at their pace simultaneously.

According to our investigations the most hit are the popular ones like Yahoo! Messenger, Skype and Microsoft-owned Window-Live! to name a few.

Although some commercially minded internet enthusiasts see chatrooms as advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by some service providers, like Yahoo! Others still see it as a veritable means of communicating exclusive information for two or more people as a group.

However, scammers simply search for contacts and any email that comes up is an automatic target, as they would claim that they have known you for a while, but going through their kind of mails, definitely exposes such antics.

They are even more aggressive when you refused to add them to your contact list long after they made their initial request.

One of the instances is a mail pasted in Skype by Shaheen Ahmed with electronic mail address; shhnahmed5@gmail.com. Part of the circulating scam mail reads thus:

“Hello Nweke, I have tried to reach you on Skype phone, but your line was busy, so I decided to write you this message. I have been in search of someone with this last name “NWEKE”, so when I saw you online, I was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other. I am AHMED.S, a Bank Officer here in U. A. E. I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across you now. I am having an important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you, because it is in connection with your last name and you are going to benefit from it.

“One Late Michael NWEKE, a citizen of your country had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2003 for 60 calendar months, valued at US$26,700,000.00 (Twenty Six Million, Seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of February 2008. Sadly Michael was among the death victims in the May 26 2006 Earthquake disaster in Jawa, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people. He was in Indonesia on a business trip and that was how he met his end.

“My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I am his account officer. Michael did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, and he was not married and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested that Michael should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to know that Michael is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the funds for their personal use, so I don’t want such to happen. That was why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since you have the same last name with him and my bank head quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.

“It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to take it, they are rich already.

“I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50 per cent to both parties, my share will assist me to start my own company which has been my dream. Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response strictly through my personal email address, shhnahmed5@gmail.com.

“We can as well discuss this on phone; let me know when you will be available to speak with me on Skype. Have a nice day and God bless. Anticipating your communication.

AHMED.S.”
Experts, however, cautioned that such e-mails should not be responded to by simply ignoring it, that way you are not telling the online scammer that your email is active.

So, beware! Of the messages you reply online.

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Tough times await electronic media,producers – NBC

TOUGH times await broadcast stations and independent presenters in the country, who fail to abide by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) code of conduct, beginning this quarter; from month of July through September, this year.

Stating this during an exclusive interview with ITRealms Online in Lagos, over the weekend, was the Zonal Director, NBC, Mr. Olufemi Ayeni, who noted that this is now rampant among stations located in the Western part of the country and precisely Lagos.

He said that NBC code has no room for independent presenters, but has accommodation for the broadcasting stations to commission such a person for the purposes of providing content only.

“But over the years, marketing agents or officers who are on their own, and who work for stations’ marketing and commercial departments and get commissions for it have now turned to independent presenters,” he said.

Mr. Ayeni said presentation used to be the onions of the profession but that the introduction of deregulation has eroded all the values associated with the profession.

“We have a lot of young men who were selling pure water yesterday, because they can buy airtime now coming on air to present programmes, with what training is he doing that, is broadcasting a profession for anybody without training to come into,” he asked?

He also said the broadcast stations owe it a duty to infuse broadcast language, etiquette, comportment, confidence and credibility on their programme presenters.

“NBC is not at war with independent presenters, if anything at all, we are regulating and maintaining standards put on the airwaves by this crop of broadcasters who call themselves independent presenters and producers,” Ayeni said.

He equally said that beginning with this quarter advertisements that run for more than nine minutes in an hour will earn any station a sanction and that presenters are not allowed to air their opinions on their programmes.

“There is a difference between sponsorship and advertisement; there is a difference between an advertisement and a paid announcement. There is also a difference between a paid announcement and a jingle and also a difference between a packaged programme and a listless programme that has no beginning or end. We are asking our colleagues to fall back to all those golden rules,” he insisted.

Mr. Ayeni noted that stations that fall short of this regulatory standards are given a minimum fine of N100,000, adding that such programmes are taken off the air while the stations are given 14 days to pay the fine.

Equally, the NBC director said defaulting stations have started receiving text messages alerting them and that by last weekend, letters conveying the nature, time and fine attached to those breaches would begin to go to the stations concerned.

“We are not interested in taking fines from stations but they have no other choice than to comply. I know that if I fine you N100,000 which is the minimum. N99,999.00, is the class six sanction and if you are sanctioned three times for breaches that will be N300,000.00 which is enough to purchase 3,000 litres of diesel,” he said.

Advising broadcast stations in the country and Lagos particularly to ensure they stick to the standards, stressing that the problem of unregulated and unrestricted broadcast by trado-medical and religious programmes presenters have become a thing of the past, alleging that some of these presenters deliberately instill fear on the people so that they could be patronized.

NBC, he said, had last March, summoned seven of the most notorious stations and with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) in attendance, where they were given a deadline with clause to stop forthwith such broadcasts.

“You can advertise, but when you do direct it with the people you are advertising to in mind and you do so sensibly, reasonably and rationally. You cannot go about mentioning serious diseases that you claim to cure. That does not fall within the spirit and letter of the NBC code,” he warned.

In his reaction, the President of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association (FIBA), Mr. Ambrose Shomide, told ITRealms Online in a telephone chat that FIBA has no grouse with the decision of the NBC to instill professionalism among practitioners, but that there are still some grey areas that needed clarification.

Mr. Shomide said the association will be holding a crucial meeting with the NBC this week and that it is hoped that these issues will form part of the agenda.

“I have arranged a meeting with the NBC Zonal Director, and I have no problem with the regulators’ pursuit of professionalism, however, there are some issues that we need to meet and discuss and until then, I have no comment to make in this regard,” he said.

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Digital migration attainable by 2012 – Akunyili

The June 17, 2012 deadline for digital migration of the nation’s broadcasting community from analogue has been described as attainable by the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. (Mrs) Dora Akunyili.

She made this declaration at the weekend while receiving the report of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on digital transition at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, endorsing June 17, 2012 as Nigeria’s transition date from analogue to digital television broadcasting.

According to the minister, there is no going back on the 2012 deadline for transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting in line with international standards.

While commending members of the committee for a job well done, Prof. Akunyili said that the broadcasting sector has progressed rapidly with the establishment of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and successes being recorded by the commission have brought tremendous changes to the sector.

She assured Nigerians of the readiness of government to critically study the report submitted and begin the implementation process.

Commenting earlier, Chairman of the committee and an engineer, Mr. Isaac Wakombo, said that in line with the committee’s terms of reference, they deliberated on the implications of digitalization and their report is an advice for a policy framework, as well as strategies for implementing the process.

The committee, he said, amongst others recommended the restructuring of the licensing framework in the broadcasting sector, which will lead to two categories of licenses; a broadcasting content license and a broadcasting signal distribution license.

In addition, the committee recommended a suitable infrastructural digital broadcasting standard that would ensure compatibility on both the national and international levels.

Director-General of NBC, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, in his remarks, explained that digitalization presents great opportunities for highly improved television transmission and reception, saying that the freed-up spectrum will deliver new services and earn good revenue for government.

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Interswitch accelerates deployment with Gemalto

Premier electronic payment (e-payment) solution provider, Interswitch Limited, has accelerated the deployment of chip and PIN migration of the nation’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM) with Gemalto’s Dexxis Instant Issuance solution.

This was in line with the recent directive issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Gemalto is the world leader in digital security. Chip and PIN migration is on the rise in the country and Interswitch member banks are expected to replace over 30 million magnetic stripe cards in the next few years.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Interswitch, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe said, Gemalto solution would enable member banks to carry out on-the-spot personalization and delivery of chip cards to their customers, directly at their branches.

“With Dexxis Instant Issuance, banking customers leave the branch with their cards in hand and start using it immediately, compared to an average two weeks timeline with conventional issuance,” he said, stressing that all the cards delivered are actually used, making the investment fully productive for all stakeholders.

As part of the contract, he explained that Gemalto supplies the software that allows Interswitch to offer the instant issuance service to its members, in addition to enabling Interswitch to provide member banks with a turnkey solution.

“We are very pleased with the continued business partnership we have established with Gemalto. Gemalto has been assisting us in our transition to chip-and-PIN cards right from the start and Dexxis Instant Issuance will be a valuable asset to boost our migration project,” Elegbe declared, adding that this serves as Gemalto’s 100th installation of a Dexxis personalization solution.

Executive Vice-President for Secure Transactions Business Unit at Gemalto, Mr. Philippe Cambriel, said, they were proud to achieve this milestone with Interswitch.

“Bolstered by our experience in personalization solutions across the world, we have been able to install and qualify the entire solution in just two months, enabling Interswitch to offer the instant issuance service to its member banks in record time. Instant issuance, close to consumers in the regions, will clearly contribute to speeding up chip migration in,” Cambriel said.

In a related development, member banks on Interswitch platform have issued over six million Verve chip & PIN cards within three months of its introduction to their customers.

Unlike the initial magstripe debt cards which took several years for its adoption by card users, the adoption of Verve chip and PIN card was faster, experts said.

On the fast adoption of Verve, Managing Director of Interswitch, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe said it has given the company the courage to do more with Verve. “We have over 6 million Verve card holders presently. We only started the roll out three months ago.
And we are ready to achieve more. If you look at it very well Verve is on its way”.
He attributed this to the right timing and card users’ quest for a secure platform, stressing that this was because of different cases of reported card frauds in the industry.

“Verve is a secure chip card and there is a need to move to a more secure card. And that is what we have done. Card users are concerned about the security of their cards. Banks are also concerned. What Verve has done is to satisfy both parties. That is basically what is driving the adoption of Verve” he said.

Globally, issue of card security has been of major concern, and that was what prompted the CBN to order the banks to upgrade the existing 26 million magstripe debt cards to the more secure chip and PIN platform, which is what Verve offers.

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Multi-Links disposed to co-location – Abazie

Multi-Links Telkom Limited has reiterated its disposition to co-location of telecommunications infrastructure.

Reaffirming this position in a chat with ITRealms Online at the weekend, the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Multi-Links Telkom Limited, Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie, said that so far, the telco has deployed about 3200 kilometres of fibre.

In order to expand its footprint, she said that Multi-Links has fibre coverage by co-locating, sharing on one-on-one with MTN so as to leverage this infrastructure.

“We swop fibre with them that also gives us some kind of increased coverage in the terms of the fibre footprints in a more easily achievable time frame,” she declared.

Equally she said that Multi-Links has commenced Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) registration as requested by the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), stressing that is one of the projects holistically supported by the operator as a means of curbing cybercrime in the country.

“It is something that is happening in a lot of markets globally in response to the increase in terrorism and crimes, financial and otherwise,” she noted.

Mrs. Abazie accompanied by the corporate affairs manager, Mr. Abiodun Bayo, pointed out that in Africa with precise instance to the Nigerian market, “you see that more than 97 per cent of the total subscribers’ base is pre-paid unlike in the more matured markets where the predominance is post-paid and where you have a culture of computerization where you have very detailed data on the people.”

Hence, data support like SIM registration require that network operators get their subscribers’ details and are also able to include biometric details and may be when they are able to put a name and address, as much as that is possible, to a number, because that will also require identification of internet protocol (IP) address, that might help in some measure to minimize the incidence of cyber crimes in Nigeria.

“Well, we have been trying to do some of those, but now that we see that this requirement might take place in the near future we are actually working to see that we do a lot more on that and that we are creating the necessary awareness amongst our subscribers,” she asserted.

Multi-Links, she said, is trying as much as possible on those they have data on to verify, when they come on physical visits, to resolve one complaint or the other and for those that do not have any data on.

“We try to capture them and we realize that we cannot do the work of the police but we try to do what we can in terms of verifying data. We also try to aid the police and other security agencies with the information they need in carrying out their duties,” she said.

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Etisalat goes live in Sokoto

Fifth Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator, Etisalat Nigeria, has gone live in the city of the caliphate, Sokoto.

Speaking at the launch, board member, Etisalat Nigeria, Alhaji Bello Garba who stood in for the chairman, Mr. Akeem Belo-Osagie, said that the nation’s most innovative and highly-rated GSM service provider in the country, has unveiled its services in Sokoto State, with the introduction of two products; the Easy Starter and Easy Cliq in the state.

He also said that with the flag-off, Etisalat is now available in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States with its world-class offering.

He said that the company brings to all three states the best network service as recently adjudged by the NCC, saying the roll out was in line with Etisalat’s promise of superior service delivery in every place it operates across the world.

The chairman noted that beyond superior coverage, the commencement of service in Sokoto and the other states, was an indication that the seat of the caliphate has joined a growing number of cities connected to the Etisalat network.

This, according to him, will help to stimulate economic growth and development by providing not only a superior means of communication but also providing jobs to thousands of people in the state.

“Etisalat creates job opportunities for the good people of this state through our dealerships, sub-dealerships and other downstream retail activities. We are partners in progress with the people of Sokoto and we look forward to keeping the relationship blossoming,” he said.

Mr. Belo-Osagie further revealed that Etisalat is increasing the capacity of its network to 12 million from its current 4 million thus properly anticipating and planning for the millions more subscribers it expects on its network in the coming months.

He explained that subscribers connecting to the Etisalat network in Sokoto also have the opportunity of taking advantage of the recently launched 9jillions promotion.

“The unique 3-in-1 consumer promotion which is designed to reward all Etisalat customers offers both old and new subscribers an opportunity to win 2 phones every hour, 24 hours a day for 90 days and win cash prizes worth N125m over a period of five months. At the grand finale of the promotion, one lucky subscriber will get the chance to go home with an amazing $1m as grand prize money,” he said.

The launch in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara bring to Etisalat presence in 12 cities just as the company had earlier launched its innovative services in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano, Ogbomosho, Ibadan, Katsina and Zaria, with a promise to have network coverage for half of Nigeria’s population before the end of the year.

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Zain takes Mandela’s day to Radio City

Zain Group has announced the sponsorship of this year’s Mandela’s Day celebration in New York’s Radio City Music Hall on July 18.

The telecom operator said the event has been planned in honour of Dr. Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday and designed to raise funds for his foundations.

The concert, which will feature some of the world’s most famous musicians, hence a call for people around the world to celebrate Mandela’s inspiration, values and establish the date in global calendar as one dedicated to ‘celebrating the idea that each individual has the ability to make an imprint and make the world a better place’.

Celebrating the idea ‘that each individual has the ability to make an imprint and make the world a better place’ a press statement from Zain read.

It also stated that performances by renowned African and American artists with the support of world figures, is expected worldwide viewership of over one billion.

Staged by 46664 – a foundation named after Mandela’s Robben Island prison number which championed his humanitarian work - with the support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation charitable organisations.

“It is also an occasion for many of the world’s most powerful and instantly recognizable figures to pay their tributes to one of the world’s most loved leaders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and icon of freedom, Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela, as he turns 91 this year,” it further read.

As famous actor Robert De Niro said, “When Nelson Mandela speaks we all must listen.”
While announcing the sponsorship Zain Group chief executive, Dr. Saad Al Barrak noted that Mandela is an iconic statesman whose sacrifice and leadership has had an enormous impact on humanity.

“Honoring him by raising funds for his foundation is in line with Zain’s global ambitions and corporate social responsibility philosophy,” he said.

Zain was also one of the main sponsors of Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations that were held on July 1, 2008 in London’s Hyde Park and Zain customers across Africa raised more than US$ 85,000 for the Nelson Mandela Foundation through a fundraising competition, during which members of the public were invited to Short Messaging Services (SMS) their birthday greetings to the former South African president.

International Director of 46664, Mr. Tim Massey said, “Mandela Day is about creating a movement for positive change and establishing one day to reflect upon, celebrate and make manifest the values that guide Nelson Mandela.”

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Omatek introduces power inverters, sola panels

•As IoD inducts Seriki

Omatek Engineering Services Limited, a subsidiary of Omatek Ventures Plc, has introduced an alternative power solution into the market.

The company said this product would be most useful for homes and offices in cushioning the effect of power outages frequently experienced in the country.

Just as the Group Managing Director of Omatek Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki was at the weekend inducted into the fellowship grade of the Institute of Directors in a ceremony in Lagos.

Unveiling these products to the media in Lagos, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), OESL, Mr. Femi Numa, said the low-cost maintenance solution was designed to provide clean, reliable, true sine wave back-up power that seamlessly works with any equipment without the electrical buzzing associated with modified sine wave inverters.

Stressing that in the event of a utility power outage, the equipment provides an instantaneous transfer to battery back-up power.

He pointed out that they also work with larger battery banks by providing much longer run times than traditional uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

“Our robust design allows our system to work in conjunction with generators that often output very low quality power to provide even longer run times up to seven days or longer,” he said.

Maintaining that all inverters from Omatek stable are protected in rugged, cast aluminum housings and sealed models offer another level of protection in harsh environment.

He outlined that the power solution also caters for homes and offices that have a standby generator cum solar panels as backup to erratic power cuts, while promising low maintenance cost.

In a related development, the Group Managing Director/ chief executive officer, Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki, has been inducted into the exclusive class of the Fellowship grade of the Institute of Directors (IOD) Nigeria.

The honour, IoD said was in recognition of her exemplary leadership traits and contribution to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria, having pioneered the first Complete Knocked Down (CKD) computer assembly and speaker casing factory in the whole of East, West and Central Africa.

Mrs. Seriki, who recently bagged the national honour of the Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) is a graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife). She has attended several courses in Advance Management Programme, Entrepreneurship Innovation and Organization Creativity at the Lagos Business School (LBS).

Also, she holds other awards and recognition amongst which is the 2009 Titans of Technology Award, African Leadership Par Excellence Award by the International Institute of Comparative Leadership for Africans and blacks in Diaspora. Even as she was recently inducted into the prestigious Faculty of Technology, Hall of Fame of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

A fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCE), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Strategic Finance & Administrative Institute of Nigeria amongst others, Mrs. Seriki was elected into the membership of IoD Nigeria in January 2004 and is the Vice Chairman, IT & Telecom Committee.

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UNESCO trains teachers on ICT

Within the framework of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO’s), the UN agency is contributing towards strengthening practices for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by training teachers in Msinga District in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.

ITRealms Online gathered that the on-going training is in support of knowledge creation, acquisition and sharing in the field of education.

The training session for school teachers which is taking place at the Lobethal School in the Msinga District in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, commenced since June 29 and is billed to last till July 12, 2009.

It was also gathered that elements of the ICT competency standards for teachers will be used in the training as communications access and connectivity for ICT services and applications in remote rural areas are in need of support.

Public statement endorsed by the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Mr. Abdul Waheed Khan, indicated that the Communication and Information Sector (CI) established in its present form in 1990, has its programmes rooted in UNESCO’s constitution, which requires the organization to promote the “free flow of ideas by word and image.”

The Sector he also said, provides the secretariats for two intergovernmental programmes; the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and the Information for All Programme (IFAP) with three principal strategic objectives including promoting the free flow of ideas and universal access to information, promoting the expression of pluralism and cultural diversity in the media and world information networks as well as promoting access for all to ICTs.

In addition to the regular programme, the CI sector implements various inter-regional, regional and national projects with extra-budgetary funding mainly in Africa, the Arab States, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Equally, the Sector collaborates with UN agencies, bilateral development agencies, international and regional non-governmental agencies.

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MultiChoice to launch HD-PVR decorders for DSTv customers

MultiChoice Nigeria has advanced plans to launch its new High-Definition Personal Video Recorder (HDPVR) decoders, to enthrone a new regime of crystal-clear images for its Digital Satellite Television (DSTv) subscribers in the country, reports CHARLES OKOH.

Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Hundah, made this disclosure at the weekend in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online endorsed by the Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Segun Fayose.

Mr. Hundah was quoted as saying that with the introduction of HD-PVR decoders, the picture quality, which will be as good as images appearing in their natural environment to the human eye, will be accompanied by high quality stereo surround sound system.

“… All features of the new high definition personal video recorder decoders would be available to subscribers,” he said.

DStv subscribers, he noted, with the current decoders will continue to have access to their favourite programmes, pointing out that this new technology, has placed them many steps ahead of the standard definition (SD) on which the current decoders are based.

Hundah also said, that DStv subscribers with the new decoders will be availed premium content in unrivalled images and sound, as only the HD decoders are capable of delivering.

“With the recent proliferation of HD-ready TV sets such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) in Nigeria, the launch of HD-PVR by MultiChoice will contribute to enhancing overall viewers’ appreciation of premium television content offered by DStv,” said Mr. Hundah.

Underscoring the fact that the world is moving away from Standard Definition broadcast, which was the foundation of cable TV, to High Definition, which brings images and sound in a refreshingly enhanced manner to the living rooms of subscribers.

“Screening premium content on HD will make these programmes more enjoyable than they are at the moment,” he declared, stressing that HD is a powerful new technology designed to dramatically improve television picture quality, even as the difference between HD and SD is noticeable in the detail and clarity of the picture.

He explained that the functionality of the HD-PVR decoders, allows subscribers to view one channel and record two other channels at the same time, just as recording time on the HD PVR will be 150 hours of SD TV or 50 hours of HD TV. “The present HD technology cannot allow for two viewing channels simultaneously. It is our hope that this gets improved upon,” he said.

Hundah equally revealed that MultiChoice Nigeria will also launch XtraView, a tool designed to enable additional viewing environments to complement the HD PVR on the same subscription account.

“Subscribers will only pay the extra charge for multiple viewing while those previously on PVR will not be charged any extra fee. The combination of HD PVR and XtraView is done by linking two XtraView compatible decoders together. These can be a combination of a HD PVR, a SD PVR or a single view 1110 through the XtraView option,” he explained.

Also commenting, Fayose said HD channels will offer a potpourri of programming which includes series, movies, wildlife documentaries, sporting action and once-off specials such as music concerts.

Noting that the coming into market of HD PVR and XtraView decoders would prepare Nigerian subscribers for the migration from the current standard definition (SD) to the latest digital technology, which is high definition.

“HD is the globally accepted standard in digital broadcasting,” he asserted, maintaining that MultiChoice has trained specialized installers, who have been accredited to handle all DStv installations.

“These are the only people who have the expertise to handle the HD PVR installation procedure. I encourage subscribers with enquiries to contact the MultiChoice offices nearest to them or visit www.dstvafrica.com for more information on the new HD PVR and XtraView technology,” Fayose advised.

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ETB rides on Glo to deliver e-banking solution

Leading financial institution, Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB), has concluded arrangements to ride on the second national operator, Globacom to deliver on its electronic-banking (e-banking) offerings.

The Executive Director (Operations) at ETB, Mr. Charles Uwaechie, gave this insight in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online at the weekend.

He said that plans have been completed for ETB to connect with Globacom, in its effort at providing seamless electronic services to its teeming customers nationwide.

This partnership, he said, will afford ETB’s customers to enjoy automated delivery of new and conventional banking products and services, stressing that a customer can access his or her bank profile either through a computer or telephone channels real time.

In addition, he said, apart from the convenience and personalization of banking hall activities that this joint venture ensures, customers could view recent transactions, print statements and transfer funds between accounts and make payments

This service, company sources said, would depend on the international submarine cable, Glo 1, which cost the national carrier $1 billion (about N148 billion).

The cable was reported to have reached the coast of Accra-Ghana and is expected to land in Lagos on or before September this year.

The 9,500-km state-of-the-art cable will enable ETB customers to have easy access to all banking services offered on electronic platforms. The deployment will be facilitated by the bank’s transition from Globus to new software, Finacle.

With this partnership, the bank will offer a clear distinction in providing quality data services through multiple and high quality direct links to various locations across the country and will enhance the bank’s branch interconnectivity with other branches and the head office. It will also facilitate ETB’s transactions with other banks and corporate organizations.

The bandwidth requirements of Nigeria and West Africa will also receive a major boost with the commissioning of Glo-1 slated for later in the year. This will guarantee dynamism in ETB. Already, the Bank has some of its branches nationwide hooked up to the Glo optic fibre which has covered most major cities in the country so much so that online transactions are consummated swiftly at the mere touch of the mouse or pad.

Mr. Uwaechie said that the linkage to the submarine cable would definitely redefine service delivery by the bank.

“This robust synergy will enhance our capacity in the provision of unparalleled customer service and care,” he said.

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Know your Skype end user license (15)

Indemnification: You agree Skype and its affiliates harmless from and against any and all liability and costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by such parties in connection with or arising out of your (a) violation or breach of any term of this agreement or any applicable law or regulation, whether or not reference herein, or (b) violation of any rights of any third party or (c) use or misuse of the Skype software ....

OR (D) COMMUNICATION SPREAD BY MEANS OF THE SKYPE SOFTWARE.
4.4 Utilization of Your Computer: If Your use of the Skype Software is dependant upon the use of a processor and bandwidth owned or controlled by a third party, You acknowledge and agree that Your license to use the Skype Software is subject to You obtaining consent from the relevant third party for such use.

You represent and warrant that by accepting this agreement and using the Skype Software, You have obtained such consent.

4.5 Export Restrictions: Skype Software may be subject to international rules that govern the export of software. You shall comply with all applicable international and national laws that apply to the Skype Software as well as end-user, end-use and destination restrictions issued by national governments.

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Power protection is beyond PCs – Expert

EXPERT in data solution, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, has said power protection at this era of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), should go beyond Personal Computers (PCs), more so in Nigeria, where power is not getting any better.

He said, the same power that threatens computers and peripherals such as sags, blackouts, spikes, surges, and noise, are also menacing other equipment in both offices or homes across the country.

Hardware protection, he said, is a minimal requirement for all equipment in today’s office.

Mr. Kleynhans, who is the regional director, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands and South Caribbean at APC by Schneider Electric, said consumers of ICT tools in a country like Nigeria, must realize protection do not stop with mere taken care of hardware.

“Copiers, printers and scanners usually have digital features, meaning that the potential for lost data is very real. These machines can have jobs lined up in memory. When the power goes out, it can be impossible to retrieve them,” Kleynhans said.

He said that by the same token, a home that is struck by lightning could also expect damage to any number of electrical appliances, from microwaves, garage door openers and motion detectors through to Digital Video Display (DVD) players, home theatre systems and satellite dishes.

In order to protect this expensive or mission-critical equipment, and to justify the essence of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), he said that at the office, even though these machines could have a high inrush of current and demand a lot of a power from the UPS, the few minutes of uptime achieved during a power outage could be enough to get those lined up jobs and orders through the machine smoothly.

Underscoring the fact that to thoroughly safeguard all home electronic equipment, UPS devices could be used with additional power protection devices such as surge protectors, voltage regulators and line conditioners, adding that some UPS devices also have inbuilt surge protection features.

“Power outages, even momentary dips, may be enough to shut down or restart a computer not having the benefits of a UPS. Such events can, depending on what the computer is doing at the time, cause problems such as data loss or worse. Many home users of computers do keep critical files on their computers, including financial records and other important documents, so, a UPS will provide measure of protection against that type of loss,” he advised.

Explaining that if an outage is longer than the UPS battery time (five to 10 minutes), the machine could, at least, be shut down in a controlled manner before any damage is done.

“Most likely, power will be restored before the UPS runs out of battery power, so there is a slim chance of experiencing downtime. In the long run, a UPS can save users in terms of both productivity and costly outlays,” he pointed out.

Champion Infotel recalls that recently, Kleynhans had outlined what to lookout for in making a choice a UPS especially in Nigeria.

He noted in a country like Nigeria, where power problems are common, companies require specific power protection features to help ensure uninterrupted computer availability.

Based on this, he advocated that organisations and computer users generally select the best UPS to protect themselves from the damage to hardware and lost data.


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Starcomms rolls out in Katsina

STARCOMMS Plc said it has launched services in the ancient emirate city of Katsina.
Affirming this in a statement, Starcomms chief executive officer (CEO), Mr. Maher Qubain, said telecom subscribers in Katsina should end their search for the best of voice and data experience as the telco has extended its reach to the city.

He said that Starcomms, a leading Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a triple play network that has delighted Nigerians in other parts of the country with effective voice and data services.

“These comprise of the fixed wireless and the roaming line services and come with value added services like call waiting and missed call notification,” he said.

Highlighting that call waiting services affords subscribers to carry out two conversations interchangeably and at the same time sustaining both calls. “The missed call notification informs the subscribers of all the calls they missed when they switch off or move out of service range,” he said.

Equally, Maher said, Starcomms customers in Katsina could now take advantage of several other products and services in its basket, including the 1x CDMA Internet access, especially the highly affordable Starcomms Neo, which will give them the benefit of surfing the web at a cost effective rate.

In addition, he said, this comes with free internet access of one hundred hours for the first month of installation.

Katsina, the capital city of the state that bears the same name and its surrounding villages will enjoy all other Starcomms offerings for both business and pleasure.

One of the entry point benefits that Katsina enjoys is the Starcomms Smart Centre.

“This innovative small scale business concept is designed to empower Katsina subscribers of Starcomms through the pay phone business,” he said, noting that it is a venture that provides more profit and more opportunity for operators to enjoy the latest technology being delivered by Starcomms for better telephony in the country.

“With two models in place: Smart Centre for the youth, and business people, the ultimate aim is the economic prosperity of the operator in terms of profit.

“It is our practice in Starcomms to ensure that telecommunications services led by Starcomms change livelihoods, capacity building and enables economic growth for all Nigerians. That is why we have continued to access the best of technologies for use in our industry to satisfy our customers. Our Katsina subscribers are being served accordingly,” Qubain said.


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