The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Thursday in Abuja, directed telecom operators in the country to stop forthwith, all the lottery-related activities and desist from charging premium rates for non premium services.
Head, Media & Public Relations, Mr. Reuben Muoka, who confirmed this to ITRealms Online, said that this directive was based on its statutory responsibility to protect the interests of consumers against unfair practices and consequent upon incessant complaints received from various stakeholders about telecom operators engaging in lottery activities and unsolicited Short Messaging Service (SMS).
A press statement endorsed by Mr. Muoka also declared that “Sending of SMS prompting telecom subscribers to participate in lotteries is suspended until further notice.”
Also, he said, the Commission noted that while promotions are allowed under the guidelines already published by NCC, with set minimum requirements and standards of advertisements and promotions, lotteries are excluded from such activities.
“Promotions as defined in the guidelines do not include lotteries where the consumer does not receive commensurate service or value for money spent,” he said.
The Commission, therefore warned Nigerians, saying that operators should henceforth be guided accordingly, stressing that all promotions carried on by telecom operators must be in accordance with the Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions published by the Commission.
“No telecom operator is allowed to carry-out any lottery activity as defined above under the license issued by the Commission; Operators are also advised to take due care in the timing, frequency and content of their multi-cast messages to subscribers to reduce nuisance associated with these messages,” Muoka noted in the press statement made available to ITRealms Online.
Additionally, NCC pointed out that sending of SMS prompting telecom subscribers to participate in lotteries is suspended until further notice.
“Operators should desist from charging premium rates for non-premium services,” part of the statement read.
NCC further cautioned that “all network operators are to ensure strict compliance with this Notice, as appropriate sanctions in accordance with the Act and the Enforcement Regulations, 2005 shall be applied to erring operators”.
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
MTN, Etisalat step-up campaigns
Following the official commencement of Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) cards registration exercise in the country on May 1, this year, two operators among the pack may have stepped up campaigns in this regard.
They are the leading Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators, namely MTN Nigeria and Etisalat Nigeria.
MTN in its own campaign strategies, which came in form of turn-over leaflet, noted that fields marked with (*) are compulsory and encouraged subscribers to fill in the form beginning with their phone number that is, ‘most active’, Personal Identification Number (PIN) unblocked key (PUK), line two and PIN unblocked key.
This was followed by the title circle, nationally, surname, first and middle names as well as marital status of single, married or divorced.
Equally, MTN’s registration form contains gender; male or female, date of birth starting with date, month and year and any other contact number, left thumb, right thumb as well as left and right index, then signature and passport photograph, contact address, town, state, electronic mail.
MTN also made provision for proxy registration which includes surname, other names, relationship, phone and vendor code for MTN use only, with a caution to “See the reverse side for terms and conditions.”
ITRealms Online gathered that the mobile operator advised that the PIN Unblocked Key (PUK) could be obtained on the network by sending ‘PUK’ to 789 from the phone to retrieve the PUK on the phone, mostly for those who may have lost their pack.
On the proxy registration, MTN explained that in order to register an MTN line on behalf of some one else, that is, after completion of aforementioned steps as specified, proxy’s surname and other names, relationship and type of association that proxy has with the registrant, MTN phone number of the proxy before submitting the form.
On the other hand, Etisalat Nigeria used the Short Messaging Service (SMS), to implore subscribers to stay on the network and ensure they register their SIM cards.
An SMS to this effect read: “Stay with the 0809ja family. Register your SIM at any Etisalat shop, dealer shop or designated registration outlets. For more details, visit www.etisalat.com.ng.”
ITRealms Online recalls that last week, NCC made a public statement ordering operators to register subscribers on their networks.
The statement entitled “Registration of SIM-based telephone subscribers” the telecom regulator noted that in furtherance of “its earlier public notice and recent campaign through the electronics media, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, hereby informs all network operators and the general public” on two highlights.
These highlights comprised of the fact that with effect from May 1, 2010, “all subscribers acquiring new SIM cards are required to be duly registered before the SIM cards could be activated.”
NCC noted that the registration would involve capturing of biometric data, which includes digital photographs, finger prints and other basic identification information.
The second highlight by NCC, according to the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Dave Imoko, who endorsed the notice, registration of existing SIM-based telephone subscribers would commence at a date to be announced soon.
NCC, however, urged the public in the telecommunications sector to note that all telephone operators and or their agents as well as outlets are mandated to ensure strict compliance with these requirements.
At present, Nigeria has several mobile operators with five on Digital Mobile platform, including MTN, Zain, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTel), Glo Mobile Limited and Etisalat Nigeria.
This is in addition to eight operators licensed under the unified access service since 2006, among others awarded hitherto.
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Wanted! A CIO for President Jonathan
The notice by President Goodluck Jonathan to engage social media accounts for electoral reforms and carry the youths along is giving concern due to inactivity on his random Facebook pages. REMMY NWEKE in this report, makes case for the appointment of Chief Information Officer (CIO).
During his recent visit to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, it was awash in the nation’s media that President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed intensions to set up social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, for electoral reforms in order to carry the youths and Nigerians along in his bid to contest in the 2011 general elections.
This interest in social media, especially Facebook or YouTube may not be unconnected with the recent fact that over 1.2 million Nigerians are on Facebook as at March 2010, but, lack of activities may defeat the purpose.
Investigations by ITRealms Online, last weekend, showed that currently, Mr. President has about five Facebook accounts and there are no activities since these pages were created from his end.
It was also gathered that some Nigerians are worried over the authenticity of Mr. President’s Facebook accounts; whether they were set up for Goodluck Jonathan or by some individuals to allow fans to fool around by leaving comments and questions without even a word from Mr. President.
For instance, some of Mr. President’s Facebook pages go by the name ‘Goodluck Jonathan’ with 4,891 friends, the purported certified official Facebook page ‘PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (NIGERIA),’ has 14,770 followers and 113 links; another ‘Goodluck Jonathan’ has 250 people as followers, and ‘Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’ has 396 followers, yet another Goodluck jonathan has 2,972 people on its trial.
One of the concerned followers of Mr. President’s pages on Facebook, Ms Udoka Ekpete-Okeke, said that this group seems to be just for “talk and suggest and no implementation or even response or action. Let it not be that we are just wasting our time here. I still remain loyal though.” Yet,16 hours later, there was no response of any kind officially, at least, to allay her fears.
Segun Elusak in his contribution wondered on how many people Mr. President could respond to but expressed confidence. “If you think Mr. President has a chance to reply? Or do you even think he personally opened this (Facebook) account? Someone, somewhere in the Aso Villa did, and don’t expect response, but know that every comment, suggestion and request is noted.”
For Shehu Mustapha Babura, “If the President is indisposed due to his tight schedules, may I suggest that Mr. President personally assigns a special aid to handle this ‘IMPORTANT’ account on his behalf?” Stressing that it would be great and encouraging if Mr. President finds the time to chip in his response even if it’s once in a week. This, he said, would re-enforce the people’s belief that he is a responsive President.
Apart from no activities on these Facebook pages in terms of official communications, the pages were not cohesive, hence, Mr. President may do well to heed an advice by a Nigerian Information Technology (IT) enthusiast, Mr. Oladejo Fabolude recently in Lagos.
Fabolude while commending Jonathan for the decision, cautioned that it could only be a successful step when complimented with the appointment of a chief information officer (CIO), who on assumption of office would take on a very crucial position in the administration of President Jonathan, considering the huge responsibility in managing the new technologies.
He described it as a good omen that someone at the city of power, Abuja, suddenly woke up to discover all these tools of the 21st century and deserves applause, outlining that these Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools would be profitable to the populace, only if it aids public workers in doing their jobs, develop and implement technological policies and strategies. Just as he declared “This IT department doesn’t do technology for technology’s sake, but its function is to provide technology to achieve the organisation’s goal.”
He reasoned that Nigeria as a country needs a practical IT department, although the Ministries of Information and Science and Technology exist, their portfolios are too broad for this.
“While it is possible for someone in either of these organisations to fulfill this role, I believe this is a role that belongs to the Presidency, pretty much the same way the Department of Petroleum Resources is in the Presidency,” he said, citing an instance with President Barrak Obama’s administration in the United States, whose Chief Information Officer (CIO) is Mr. Vivek Kundra and plays “a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible.”
He pointed out that it would be a priority to focus on some key areas, explicitly to make certain openness and transparency, lowering the cost of government, cyber-security, participatory democracy, and innovation, to name a few.
According to him, one of Kundra’s first projects was the launch Data.gov, a site for providing access to raw government data, followed by the launch in June 2009 of the Federal IT Dashboard, which gives an assessment in terms of cost, schedule and CIO ranking of many large government’s IT undertakings.
He suggested that Nigeria’s CIO should have a similar job, specifically, besides being responsible for developing an information technology platform to be used by all tiers of government in running their operations.
Fabolude also said that the CIO would specify a standard for collecting, creating and storing government information, a set of tools for accessing and transforming that information for actionable intelligence, and security policies to ensure the integrity and availability of same, to enable government to operate more efficiently by reducing bureaucracy, wastage, duplication of effort, cost of running the nation and time to get things done, even as this would make provision for the prevention and detection of fraud and corrupt practices.
Further, he said, that the position would involve developing a simple mechanism to facilitate Nigerians engagement of their governments in any form, shape or fashion using telephony and internet technologies.
He anticipated that this mechanism would afford the government to aggregate information about what is happening in the lives of ordinary Nigerians in order to formulate relevant policies and proper deployment of resources.
The CIO, he said, would serve was as a resource to various ministries and parastatals in the execution of IT projects as well as the law establishing the office, to ensure that all projects with IT component over a certain amount of Naira value, be included in the CIO’s office as part of the project.
In addition to guiding Senate and House on the formulation of laws that regulate and promote information technology, e-commerce and internet privacy as well as enabling law enforcement agencies to battle cybercrime.
As noted by several other stakeholders, this kind of position is long overdue to show IT seriousness as a tool for running of the government, there is need to evolve a top-down methodology to absorb IT into the fabrics of nation building.
Like another interest party, who described himself as Mr. Kehinde noted, having a CIO is a very good idea, because Nigeria needs to move up the ICT ladder and hopes that whoever is chosen would be a very vast, knowledgeable, technological savvy, up to date and experienced person whose decisions will be respected.
And for President Jonathan to really make inroad on his plan to contest the 2011 election, more so pulling the youths and youths at heart along his proposed electoral reforms, there is need for an appropriate and defined management of his Facebook pages and other social media platforms.
Perhaps, a cursory look at how President Obama is using Facebook could be of a great inspiration for our President.
This, at least, would be a step in the right direction in achieving one of the predictions of president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu that its high-time Nigerians look out for those who are ICT savvy for political positions if the nation must move forward.
A stitch in time, saves nine.
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ICT: Experts call for converged regulation
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts who participated at the opening session of the WiMAX Forum 2010 in Lagos on Tuesday, lamented non-institutional convergence for the regulation of the sector.
ITRealms Online recalls that currently, the Nigerian Communications Commission regulates telecom, the National Broadcasting Commission, while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) applications, even as they are scattered in the Ministry of Information and Communications, as well as Ministry of Science and Technology.
Some of those who spoke at the event included former Executive Director, MultiLinks Telkom, Chief Ezekiel Fatoye, president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi and President, Digital Bridge Institute, Prof. Raymond Akwule among others.
In his submission, Chief Fatoye noted that it is worrisome for the various frequencies needed for the deployment of WiMAX in the country to be scattered across regulatory agencies.
For instance, he noted that 2.3 Gega Hertz is supposedly in the position of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), while the 2.5 GHz is in the custody of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), saying that this non-harmonisation though there is a National Frequency Management board has brought confusion into the sector due visibility of convergence.
He, therefore, urged that convergence should be accelerated to clear this confusion.
For Mr. Ajayi, as far as he is concerned, the 2.3GHz is being withheld by a court since the Ministry of Information and Communications is still contesting a recent court ruling on the award of the license to some four industry players by NCC.
Decrying that the 2.5GHz is with NBC, Ajayi pointed out that 3.5 GHz which should have been an alternative is resident at NigComSAT and in fact, suggested that
Professor Raymond Akwule, who dwelt on “Regulatory and Policy Imperatives of Emerging Last Mile Technologies in the Era of Convergence: WiMax and NGNs” pointed out that following the convergence of network and services,” it is important to ensure that the market is open for different technologies to compete on equal terms.”
As said by him, the most important in a Nigerian context is convergence of the regulatory institutions and canvassed that policy makers should aim to create a favourable environment for investment and innovation as well as ensuring a predictable legal and regulatory environment for market participants.
Consider a series of possible barriers to competition and investment that may arise following the deployment of WiMax or NGNs.
He also called for the review of the universal service obligations and mechanisms to achieve them in the context of convergence.
“Ensure that contributions to universal service funds respect the trend towards convergence of network and services, and review how universal service is funded,” he said.
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ITRealms Online recalls that currently, the Nigerian Communications Commission regulates telecom, the National Broadcasting Commission, while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) applications, even as they are scattered in the Ministry of Information and Communications, as well as Ministry of Science and Technology.
Some of those who spoke at the event included former Executive Director, MultiLinks Telkom, Chief Ezekiel Fatoye, president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi and President, Digital Bridge Institute, Prof. Raymond Akwule among others.
In his submission, Chief Fatoye noted that it is worrisome for the various frequencies needed for the deployment of WiMAX in the country to be scattered across regulatory agencies.
For instance, he noted that 2.3 Gega Hertz is supposedly in the position of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), while the 2.5 GHz is in the custody of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), saying that this non-harmonisation though there is a National Frequency Management board has brought confusion into the sector due visibility of convergence.
He, therefore, urged that convergence should be accelerated to clear this confusion.
For Mr. Ajayi, as far as he is concerned, the 2.3GHz is being withheld by a court since the Ministry of Information and Communications is still contesting a recent court ruling on the award of the license to some four industry players by NCC.
Decrying that the 2.5GHz is with NBC, Ajayi pointed out that 3.5 GHz which should have been an alternative is resident at NigComSAT and in fact, suggested that
Professor Raymond Akwule, who dwelt on “Regulatory and Policy Imperatives of Emerging Last Mile Technologies in the Era of Convergence: WiMax and NGNs” pointed out that following the convergence of network and services,” it is important to ensure that the market is open for different technologies to compete on equal terms.”
As said by him, the most important in a Nigerian context is convergence of the regulatory institutions and canvassed that policy makers should aim to create a favourable environment for investment and innovation as well as ensuring a predictable legal and regulatory environment for market participants.
Consider a series of possible barriers to competition and investment that may arise following the deployment of WiMax or NGNs.
He also called for the review of the universal service obligations and mechanisms to achieve them in the context of convergence.
“Ensure that contributions to universal service funds respect the trend towards convergence of network and services, and review how universal service is funded,” he said.
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Microsoft, PIN, others launch Maga No Need Pay tunes
Software giant, Microsoft Corporation and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), last weekend in Lagos, jointly launched the Maga No Need Pay tunes and video, as part of the campaign against raising cyber crimes in the country mostly among the youths.
Also on the line of partnership is the Osun State University and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Speaking at the occasion held at the University of Lagos, Akoka main auditorium, the Executive Director, PIN, Mr. Gbenga Sesan commended the aforementioned partners, especially Microsoft, and promised that they would strive to keep the project alive.
In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Prof. Sola Akinrande, was optimistic that by giving students the knowledge on technologies would afford them to use their brilliance positively.
“Hence, we are keen on the partnership with Microsoft and PIN on this project to extend this message to other institutions by joint effort to ensure its success,” he said.
In her remarks, the Citizenship Lead, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola, noted that the next phase after this formal launch of Maga No Need Pay, which was part of the first phase, but the second phase, would include involvement of mass media extensively.
She also revealed that plans are up for the hosting of the first West African Cybersecurity summit in September this year.
This, she said, has become necessary due to the growing rate of cyber crime among the citizens of the sub-region.
She noted that hitherto, it was only Nigeria and Ghana, but nowadays, it crime has extended into Cameroon.
“So, we have to join forces on this,” she declared.
Ajijola also disclosed that the call for next set of Microsoft Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (MISSPIN) ambassadors have opened and is expected to close by August 30, this year.
She further lamented lack of legislation to fight the increasing menace of cyber crime in the country, noting Nigerian youths are very talented, adding that all they need is the right mentoring to excel honestly.
“The momentous thing about this is that Nigerian youths realize and appreciate the kind of situation we are in as it concerns how the world views us as cyber criminals. It is a perception, so these youths are acting as role models to refocus the energy of these Nigerians on the alternative to cyber crime that they do not have to commit the ‘yahoo, yahoo’ to make a living but there are alternatives by being honest while working in the cyber world,” she said.
On the philosophy of Mega No Need Pay, she said the Maga in the yahoo, yahoo world is the victim and this means that crime does not pay, and the victim does not have to pay.
“These artistes are good role models, because there were no Magas in their life, they are successful and achieved whatever they are now through hardwork and honesty. This is an awareness creation platform to take it to a larger number of the population since music is the biggest attention grabber today,” she said.
Underscoring the fact that the nations ruling the world today, economically, are those that have harnessed ICT to make progress and one hallmark of ICT is the internet and that if the nation’s internet space is considered not safe then Nigeria has been left behind.
She revealed that the project enjoys a lot of partnership from a lot of organizations but that they still need more organisations to come onboard.
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ICANN may invite experts proposal on transparency
In compliance with the Affirmation of Commitments (AoC) signed with the United States Department of Commence (DoC), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) may invite experts’ proposal on transparency and accountability to conduct a review since the latest agreement on September 30, 2009.
Assistant, Organizational Reviews at ICANN, Ms Alice Jansen, made this disclosure, last weekend, saying that this would be in expression of commitment to improve robust mechanisms for public input, accountability and transparency.
“So as to ensure that the outcomes of its decision-making reflect the public interest and are accountable to all stakeholders,” she said.
Jansen noted that the AoC prescribes the setting-up of a Review Team as to evaluate ICANN’s accountability and transparency, which led to the creation of the first ATRT in March 2010.
This step, she said, would enable the appointment of an independent expert, adding that it was respect of this examination of ICANN’s activities, that the first ATRT recently published some “Questions to the Community for Public Comment.”
According to her, the purpose of this assignment is to perform an assessment of ICANN decision-making to identify whether ICANN’s processes and procedures are designed and executed in a manner that ensures its AoC commitments.
Ms Jansen pointed out that interested parties are invited to provide relevant background material, written methodology for execution of this task, views on the tentative timeline enclosed in the RfP, a proposed budget, resumes, references and financial information by June 11, 2010.
She further revealed that based on review of the June 11, 2010 submissions, parties may be invited to present their proposals to perform this study to the ATRT during its meeting on June 18-19, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.
ITRealms Online recalls that the purpose is that an assessment of the decision-making at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to identify whether ICANN’s processes and procedures are designed and executed in a manner that ensures accountability and transparency and reflects the interests of global Internet users.
The AoC, she said, recognizes the conclusion of the Joint Project Agreement between ICANN and the Department of Commerce and institutionalizes and memorializes the technical coordination of the Internet’s domain name and addressing system (DNS), globally by a private sector led organization.
A key element of the Affirmation, she said, is the establishment of four ongoing reviews of ICANN’s execution of core tasks through “review teams” pointing out that the first review team, the Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT) is examining ICANN’s activities to ensure they are accountable, transparent, and undertaken consistent with the public interest.
The review team will make recommendations, as needed, to the ICANN Board for improvements by December 31, 2010.
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Assistant, Organizational Reviews at ICANN, Ms Alice Jansen, made this disclosure, last weekend, saying that this would be in expression of commitment to improve robust mechanisms for public input, accountability and transparency.
“So as to ensure that the outcomes of its decision-making reflect the public interest and are accountable to all stakeholders,” she said.
Jansen noted that the AoC prescribes the setting-up of a Review Team as to evaluate ICANN’s accountability and transparency, which led to the creation of the first ATRT in March 2010.
This step, she said, would enable the appointment of an independent expert, adding that it was respect of this examination of ICANN’s activities, that the first ATRT recently published some “Questions to the Community for Public Comment.”
According to her, the purpose of this assignment is to perform an assessment of ICANN decision-making to identify whether ICANN’s processes and procedures are designed and executed in a manner that ensures its AoC commitments.
Ms Jansen pointed out that interested parties are invited to provide relevant background material, written methodology for execution of this task, views on the tentative timeline enclosed in the RfP, a proposed budget, resumes, references and financial information by June 11, 2010.
She further revealed that based on review of the June 11, 2010 submissions, parties may be invited to present their proposals to perform this study to the ATRT during its meeting on June 18-19, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.
ITRealms Online recalls that the purpose is that an assessment of the decision-making at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to identify whether ICANN’s processes and procedures are designed and executed in a manner that ensures accountability and transparency and reflects the interests of global Internet users.
The AoC, she said, recognizes the conclusion of the Joint Project Agreement between ICANN and the Department of Commerce and institutionalizes and memorializes the technical coordination of the Internet’s domain name and addressing system (DNS), globally by a private sector led organization.
A key element of the Affirmation, she said, is the establishment of four ongoing reviews of ICANN’s execution of core tasks through “review teams” pointing out that the first review team, the Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT) is examining ICANN’s activities to ensure they are accountable, transparent, and undertaken consistent with the public interest.
The review team will make recommendations, as needed, to the ICANN Board for improvements by December 31, 2010.
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Science & Tech are divine tools – Ekuwem
Immediate past national president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, has outlined the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in ensuring a technology-driven economy.
Addressing participants at a recent Internet for Job (I4J) seminar at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) organized by the school and Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) as guest speaker, Dr. Ekuwem who also is the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Teledom Group, said that Science and Technology are divine tools for man to conquer the world.
Also, he said that in Science man seeks to know and unravel the mysteries by “piercing the cloud of the unknown, defeat ignorance, conquer fear and superstition and at the end when applied to technology gives a better lives.
Every second, he said, something new is known, describing economy as “practical administration and/or adjustment and/or organisation and management of resources to deliberately to ensure sustainable growth and development of a society and better the lot of the citizenry.”
According to him, ICT progressively engenders a competitive edge for any society that accepts and adapts it to their advantage.
Production, he said, has become proactive actions that could be relevant terms for stages and progress of human civilization of people, society, thus, production as an economic activity aids growth.
Economic development at this century, he said, has become competitive globally, since ICT has made the world a global village, so there is no longer local economy, which must strive to satisfy the well-being, human needs, food, shelter and health.
He urged participants at the seminar to remember the Biblical divine order “go and multiply and subdue the earth,” stressing that civilization is a divine mandate and such, science and technology are divine tools as well as common heritage.
He also reminded the gathering made up largely of students that education means liberation from ignorance.
Knowledge of the present, Ekuwem said, provides the building blocks to build into the future to discover new knowledge.
“Ideas or knowledge are the building blocks of every creative society,” he declared, hence, a living society is necessarily dynamic in the sense that a social system of continuously available new knowledge is crucial for human development.
As said by him, the present body of knowledge is cross-sectoral, therefore, it is about all of human life, noting that knowledge in one component of life can be applied in others.
“There are therefore as many ‘small or tiny’ reservoirs of knowledge as there are human beings and human settlements scattered all over the world,” he said.
Hitherto, these “tiny” reservoirs of knowledge existed in isolation in manual and physical forms and could only be accessed by physical human movements to their locations
Ekuwem maintained that there would be as many physical routes to these knowledge locations as there are human beings and human settlements.
But for progress of civilization, academia offers the process of knowledge transmission and acquisition is institutionalized and made sustainable in very conducive environments.
“… From the teachers to the students who can in future become teachers,” he asserted.
The former NIG president equally said that in research and development of body corporate, this process is directed not at teaching but at targeted business interests, proving the impetus that “Knowledge is power, mainly because it empowers the possessor and these “tiny” reservoirs of knowledge, isolated and scattered all over the globe were accessible to very, very few.”
Pointing out that because of the isolation, their updates and refreshments were not made very often, with external access being difficult if not impossible, hence leading to many instances of “re-invention of the wheel.”
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Addressing participants at a recent Internet for Job (I4J) seminar at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) organized by the school and Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) as guest speaker, Dr. Ekuwem who also is the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Teledom Group, said that Science and Technology are divine tools for man to conquer the world.
Also, he said that in Science man seeks to know and unravel the mysteries by “piercing the cloud of the unknown, defeat ignorance, conquer fear and superstition and at the end when applied to technology gives a better lives.
Every second, he said, something new is known, describing economy as “practical administration and/or adjustment and/or organisation and management of resources to deliberately to ensure sustainable growth and development of a society and better the lot of the citizenry.”
According to him, ICT progressively engenders a competitive edge for any society that accepts and adapts it to their advantage.
Production, he said, has become proactive actions that could be relevant terms for stages and progress of human civilization of people, society, thus, production as an economic activity aids growth.
Economic development at this century, he said, has become competitive globally, since ICT has made the world a global village, so there is no longer local economy, which must strive to satisfy the well-being, human needs, food, shelter and health.
He urged participants at the seminar to remember the Biblical divine order “go and multiply and subdue the earth,” stressing that civilization is a divine mandate and such, science and technology are divine tools as well as common heritage.
He also reminded the gathering made up largely of students that education means liberation from ignorance.
Knowledge of the present, Ekuwem said, provides the building blocks to build into the future to discover new knowledge.
“Ideas or knowledge are the building blocks of every creative society,” he declared, hence, a living society is necessarily dynamic in the sense that a social system of continuously available new knowledge is crucial for human development.
As said by him, the present body of knowledge is cross-sectoral, therefore, it is about all of human life, noting that knowledge in one component of life can be applied in others.
“There are therefore as many ‘small or tiny’ reservoirs of knowledge as there are human beings and human settlements scattered all over the world,” he said.
Hitherto, these “tiny” reservoirs of knowledge existed in isolation in manual and physical forms and could only be accessed by physical human movements to their locations
Ekuwem maintained that there would be as many physical routes to these knowledge locations as there are human beings and human settlements.
But for progress of civilization, academia offers the process of knowledge transmission and acquisition is institutionalized and made sustainable in very conducive environments.
“… From the teachers to the students who can in future become teachers,” he asserted.
The former NIG president equally said that in research and development of body corporate, this process is directed not at teaching but at targeted business interests, proving the impetus that “Knowledge is power, mainly because it empowers the possessor and these “tiny” reservoirs of knowledge, isolated and scattered all over the globe were accessible to very, very few.”
Pointing out that because of the isolation, their updates and refreshments were not made very often, with external access being difficult if not impossible, hence leading to many instances of “re-invention of the wheel.”
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West Africa needs to harmonise ICT policies – Zinox boss
Chairman, Zinox Technologies Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh has re-echoed the need to harmonise the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies in the West Africa sub-region.
Dr. Ekeh who spoke at the recently ended West African ICT (WAFICT 2010) Congress in Lagos, was represented by the Managing Director, Zinox Computers, Mr. Emomine Mukoro, noted that there is a need for harmonisation of the operating and policy environment of West African countries if the sub-region is ever going to make more progress.
This, he said, would help remove the various bottlenecks that continue to impede the actual development of ICT in these countries.
He predicted that West Africa may require another 500 years to reach where countries of Europe and America are presently, mostly if they refuse to harmonise industry-based policies.
“This paradigm shift in both regulatory and investment climates should not be cosmetic but be backed by genuine intentions,” he said.
Equally speaking, the General Manager, Customer Care of MTN Nigeria Mr. Akin
Braithwaite, pointed out that on the need to appropriately educate consumers by operators and businesses in the ICT sector.
Dwelling on Business Growth as Corollary of the Chemistry of Customer Care, he said the customer must be educated to retain his or her total loyalty.
Braithwaite insisted that the customer must not be perceived as just as a common peach when one does not need care or attention or the misconception in most organisations where the customer care unit is seen as a cost centre unit that must be treated with levity.
In his part, President, Nigerian Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi, identified the enormous work that still needs to be done by Nigerian companies especially in the area of data, in spite of the large number of voice subscribers.
According to him, despite this aspect of success, African Internet penetration has remained behind and suggested an urgent step to remedy this situation.
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Dr. Ekeh who spoke at the recently ended West African ICT (WAFICT 2010) Congress in Lagos, was represented by the Managing Director, Zinox Computers, Mr. Emomine Mukoro, noted that there is a need for harmonisation of the operating and policy environment of West African countries if the sub-region is ever going to make more progress.
This, he said, would help remove the various bottlenecks that continue to impede the actual development of ICT in these countries.
He predicted that West Africa may require another 500 years to reach where countries of Europe and America are presently, mostly if they refuse to harmonise industry-based policies.
“This paradigm shift in both regulatory and investment climates should not be cosmetic but be backed by genuine intentions,” he said.
Equally speaking, the General Manager, Customer Care of MTN Nigeria Mr. Akin
Braithwaite, pointed out that on the need to appropriately educate consumers by operators and businesses in the ICT sector.
Dwelling on Business Growth as Corollary of the Chemistry of Customer Care, he said the customer must be educated to retain his or her total loyalty.
Braithwaite insisted that the customer must not be perceived as just as a common peach when one does not need care or attention or the misconception in most organisations where the customer care unit is seen as a cost centre unit that must be treated with levity.
In his part, President, Nigerian Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi, identified the enormous work that still needs to be done by Nigerian companies especially in the area of data, in spite of the large number of voice subscribers.
According to him, despite this aspect of success, African Internet penetration has remained behind and suggested an urgent step to remedy this situation.
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WiMAXForum’10 kicks off in Lagos
WiMAX forum takes off in Lagos
A two-day 2010 edition of WiMAX forum commenced Tuesday in Lagos to provide an open platform to discuss the context of investing in emerging technologies.
Chief executive officer, The Executive Cyberschuul, Lagos, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu said that the Technical Committee of the WiMAXForum 2010 has concluded arrangement to provide ample time for delegates to discuss issues deemed prevalent in the context of investing in emerging technologies especially WiMAX.
“It would be preferable to limit format of the forum would to take one Commercial and two Technical papers,” he said.
According to him, five technical and three commercial papers were earlier shortlisted for selection, but based on the feelers, the Committee indicated that prospective participants from within the industry favour an open discussion forum where the experiences of early investors in the technology would form the basis of a report to be collated by the Technical Committee.
In addition, he said that eventually, this collation would be escalated to the government, regulator, operators, and industry associations.
The forum will also generate and industry networking data, which the organisers said would be the basis of future expansion data for an Industry Compendium the 2010 edition of which is also to be served free to delegates at the forum.
Omo-Ettu further said that a keynote address by the Acting Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Mr. Stephen Bello, would herald the opening of the forum, and then followed by the technical papers.
The three lead papers selected for presentation, he said, would deal with regulatory imperatives for a future of investment in emerging technologies including WiMAX; Lean Operator model as option for WiMAX service providers and an overview of the critical issues of numbering plan and spectrum management as the industry takes on widespread broadband access to over 120 million excluded Nigerians.
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A two-day 2010 edition of WiMAX forum commenced Tuesday in Lagos to provide an open platform to discuss the context of investing in emerging technologies.
Chief executive officer, The Executive Cyberschuul, Lagos, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu said that the Technical Committee of the WiMAXForum 2010 has concluded arrangement to provide ample time for delegates to discuss issues deemed prevalent in the context of investing in emerging technologies especially WiMAX.
“It would be preferable to limit format of the forum would to take one Commercial and two Technical papers,” he said.
According to him, five technical and three commercial papers were earlier shortlisted for selection, but based on the feelers, the Committee indicated that prospective participants from within the industry favour an open discussion forum where the experiences of early investors in the technology would form the basis of a report to be collated by the Technical Committee.
In addition, he said that eventually, this collation would be escalated to the government, regulator, operators, and industry associations.
The forum will also generate and industry networking data, which the organisers said would be the basis of future expansion data for an Industry Compendium the 2010 edition of which is also to be served free to delegates at the forum.
Omo-Ettu further said that a keynote address by the Acting Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Mr. Stephen Bello, would herald the opening of the forum, and then followed by the technical papers.
The three lead papers selected for presentation, he said, would deal with regulatory imperatives for a future of investment in emerging technologies including WiMAX; Lean Operator model as option for WiMAX service providers and an overview of the critical issues of numbering plan and spectrum management as the industry takes on widespread broadband access to over 120 million excluded Nigerians.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
3 Nigerian students excel @ SAP certification
Three students of a Lagos-based New Horizons have emerged successful during an online SAP certification examination.
SAP is one of the world’s biggest Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications with certified specialist earning big digits remuneration either in salary or as consultants.
Chief executive, New Horizons, Mr. Tim Akano made this disclosure, said he was happy to announce that three of his students were successful in the on-line examination where other students from South Africa and other SAP partners failed.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online, quoted one of the students, Mr. Ben Osasona as saying that their success at one sitting is very exciting and remarkable based on the kind of support facility, ambient environment and warm reception of the officers at New Horizons.
“I had always wanted to be a SAP consultant for as long as I can remember, and New Horizons availed me that opportunity through the eAcadamy programme,” he said.
Osasona also said that New Horizons provided him a quiet and comfortable environment for this exam and study at his own pace.
“The staffs are very friendly and family-like, and New Horizons’ dedication to get me a job placement after the program is quite commendable. Thank you, New Horizons” he said.
Another student who was successful at the examination Mr. Kelechi Ehiogu said it was a wonderful experience.
“I did SAP Financials with New Horizons Ikeja and passed very well. The course content was voluminous and demanding but New Horizons provided the right atmosphere and motivation that stirred me to success,” he said.
As said by him, the main challenge of SAP e-Academy is the fact that one has to do it by himself, because there is no physical teacher to ask questions and to direct one.
“However, I was able to conquer this through determination and hard work. The examination is based on technical and application knowledge of the SAP ERP central component. It is very detailed and lasts for three hours, but if you are thorough with the syllabus and have the determination to succeed, you can always pass. At New Horizons everything you need to start a career in SAP is available,” he said.
In his own remark Dr. Tunde Afolabi said the training was a good experience for him.
“It equally demanded time and devotion, especially considering the fact that he had to study either late into the night after work or in the wee hours of the morning before going to work,” he said.
Stressing that this was also necessitated his buying a broadband internet modem for personal study at home.
“All in all, I was able to complete the online study presentation videos on time” he said.
Dr. Afolabi attested to the fact that the support from SAP e-academy and the mentoring was satisfactory.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
SAP is one of the world’s biggest Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications with certified specialist earning big digits remuneration either in salary or as consultants.
Chief executive, New Horizons, Mr. Tim Akano made this disclosure, said he was happy to announce that three of his students were successful in the on-line examination where other students from South Africa and other SAP partners failed.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online, quoted one of the students, Mr. Ben Osasona as saying that their success at one sitting is very exciting and remarkable based on the kind of support facility, ambient environment and warm reception of the officers at New Horizons.
“I had always wanted to be a SAP consultant for as long as I can remember, and New Horizons availed me that opportunity through the eAcadamy programme,” he said.
Osasona also said that New Horizons provided him a quiet and comfortable environment for this exam and study at his own pace.
“The staffs are very friendly and family-like, and New Horizons’ dedication to get me a job placement after the program is quite commendable. Thank you, New Horizons” he said.
Another student who was successful at the examination Mr. Kelechi Ehiogu said it was a wonderful experience.
“I did SAP Financials with New Horizons Ikeja and passed very well. The course content was voluminous and demanding but New Horizons provided the right atmosphere and motivation that stirred me to success,” he said.
As said by him, the main challenge of SAP e-Academy is the fact that one has to do it by himself, because there is no physical teacher to ask questions and to direct one.
“However, I was able to conquer this through determination and hard work. The examination is based on technical and application knowledge of the SAP ERP central component. It is very detailed and lasts for three hours, but if you are thorough with the syllabus and have the determination to succeed, you can always pass. At New Horizons everything you need to start a career in SAP is available,” he said.
In his own remark Dr. Tunde Afolabi said the training was a good experience for him.
“It equally demanded time and devotion, especially considering the fact that he had to study either late into the night after work or in the wee hours of the morning before going to work,” he said.
Stressing that this was also necessitated his buying a broadband internet modem for personal study at home.
“All in all, I was able to complete the online study presentation videos on time” he said.
Dr. Afolabi attested to the fact that the support from SAP e-academy and the mentoring was satisfactory.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Monday, June 14, 2010
Google changes web alert to ‘everything’
Online search engine giant, Google Incorporated, has changed its web alert to ‘everything’ to improve the service delivery of the alert platform.
Google has over 150 domains under its care and where those seeking information in many different languages which could be translated in between them; check stock quotes and sports scores, find news headlines and look up the address of local post office or grocery store to name a few, could find their search to their queries.
Google alerts are electronic mails (e-mails) sent to subscribers when Google finds new results such as web pages, newspaper articles or blogs that match their search term, even as subscribers could use Google alerts to monitor anything on the world wide web (www) including finding out what is being said about their company or product, monitor a developing news story, keep up to date on a competitor or industry, get the latest news on a celebrity or sports team and themselves.
Product Manager, Google Alerts, Mr. Marcel Gordon, revealed this in a public statement made available to ITRealms Online, saying that they have decided to rest the Google web alerts and alternate this with alert type called ‘Everything’.
He said that the company has decided to rest Web alerts because it has not be very popular, hence it was being used by a very few people.
He also said that though an alert of type ‘Everything’ would find the same results but in a more elaborate manner.
“We’ve decided to retire Web alerts because (1) they are used by very few people and (2) an alert of type Everything will find the same results,” he said.
Gordon further said that last week, Google changed all alerts of type ‘Web’ into alerts of type ‘Everything.’
“Your alert will continue to include results from all kinds of web sites,” he assured Google alert users
Explaining that the fact is that with this change, subscribers of this alert service may receive more results afterwards.
“If you find that you are getting too many results, you can change the “How often” setting to “once a day” or “once a week,” h advised.
Stressing that they can also change their search queries on the alerts management page or by removing the alert using the link at the bottom of each alert email and create it again with different settings.
He expressed hope that with this change, Google alert users would continue to find their alert useful.
Additionally, he said, there is a lot of information in the world that is not yet online, emphasizing that Google is working to get more of it digitized, such as in Google Books or the Google News archive.
“We also know that whenever you search the web you want it to be as fast as possible, with all your favorite websites at your fingertips, so we offer software like Google Toolbar and Google Chrome to help you browse the web quickly and easily,” he said.
Pointing out that search is how Google began, and it’s at the heart of what the company is doing today.
“We devote more engineering time to search than to any other product at Google, because we believe that search can always be improved. We are constantly working to provide you with more relevant results so that you find what you’re looking for faster. To that end, we’ve added services such as personalized search, which tailors results for you if you are signed in to your Google account,” he said.
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Google has over 150 domains under its care and where those seeking information in many different languages which could be translated in between them; check stock quotes and sports scores, find news headlines and look up the address of local post office or grocery store to name a few, could find their search to their queries.
Google alerts are electronic mails (e-mails) sent to subscribers when Google finds new results such as web pages, newspaper articles or blogs that match their search term, even as subscribers could use Google alerts to monitor anything on the world wide web (www) including finding out what is being said about their company or product, monitor a developing news story, keep up to date on a competitor or industry, get the latest news on a celebrity or sports team and themselves.
Product Manager, Google Alerts, Mr. Marcel Gordon, revealed this in a public statement made available to ITRealms Online, saying that they have decided to rest the Google web alerts and alternate this with alert type called ‘Everything’.
He said that the company has decided to rest Web alerts because it has not be very popular, hence it was being used by a very few people.
He also said that though an alert of type ‘Everything’ would find the same results but in a more elaborate manner.
“We’ve decided to retire Web alerts because (1) they are used by very few people and (2) an alert of type Everything will find the same results,” he said.
Gordon further said that last week, Google changed all alerts of type ‘Web’ into alerts of type ‘Everything.’
“Your alert will continue to include results from all kinds of web sites,” he assured Google alert users
Explaining that the fact is that with this change, subscribers of this alert service may receive more results afterwards.
“If you find that you are getting too many results, you can change the “How often” setting to “once a day” or “once a week,” h advised.
Stressing that they can also change their search queries on the alerts management page or by removing the alert using the link at the bottom of each alert email and create it again with different settings.
He expressed hope that with this change, Google alert users would continue to find their alert useful.
Additionally, he said, there is a lot of information in the world that is not yet online, emphasizing that Google is working to get more of it digitized, such as in Google Books or the Google News archive.
“We also know that whenever you search the web you want it to be as fast as possible, with all your favorite websites at your fingertips, so we offer software like Google Toolbar and Google Chrome to help you browse the web quickly and easily,” he said.
Pointing out that search is how Google began, and it’s at the heart of what the company is doing today.
“We devote more engineering time to search than to any other product at Google, because we believe that search can always be improved. We are constantly working to provide you with more relevant results so that you find what you’re looking for faster. To that end, we’ve added services such as personalized search, which tailors results for you if you are signed in to your Google account,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Zinox dedicates OEM award to TotalFinaElf
Zinox Computers has dedicated its latest Award as the Best Original Equipment Manufacturer, (OEM), to TotalFinaElf for the company’s unwavering commitment to indigenous technology.
Receiving the award, which held in Lagos recently, the Managing Director, Zinox Computers Mr. Emomine Mukoro commended the management of CommunicationsWeek, saying that the heights attained by Zinox Computers today may not have been possible without the unflinching support of companies like TotalFinaElf.
He also said that the records show that at the launch of Zinox, TotalFinaElf demonstrated great foresight and understanding by standardizing on Zinox Computers.
Mukoro said that the action by TotalFinaelf was not the result of any persuasive marketing overtures nor was it motivated by any social factors but was based purely on the desire of the TotalFinaElf management to encourage the growth of local technology.
He recalled that in spite of the inspiring scope of the Zinox launch, many companies remained skeptical about the capacity of Nigerians to deliver on the promise of manufacturing world class computers.
“Most of the blue chip companies adopted the negative Nigerian attitude of ‘siddon look’ but TotalFinaElf aligned herself to the collective aspirations of Nigerians by being the very first company to standardize on Zinox Computers,” he said.
Therefore, Mukoro called on the Federal Government to establish a process that would automatically reward corporate persons like TotalFinaElf for incorporating local content in their operations.
“Multinationals should pay more than lip service to the concept of giving back to Nigeria and Nigerians by emulating the example of TotalFinaElf,” he said.
Earlier, the editor, CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Ken Nwogbo said that the award of the Best OEM of the Year 2009 was won by Zinox Computers for a number of reasons.
He noted that the globally competitive quality of Zinox Computers has remained consistent over the last decade in addition to the fact that Zinox PCs have done more than any other OEM in this country, through themes and schemes, to speed up the pace of ICT penetration in the country.
According to him, Zinox Computer brand has attained cumulative multi lateral values that mean many positive things to the Nigerian project including being a source of national hope and pride, enjoining other Nigerian companies to borrow a leaf from the steadfast focus of Zinox Computers.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Receiving the award, which held in Lagos recently, the Managing Director, Zinox Computers Mr. Emomine Mukoro commended the management of CommunicationsWeek, saying that the heights attained by Zinox Computers today may not have been possible without the unflinching support of companies like TotalFinaElf.
He also said that the records show that at the launch of Zinox, TotalFinaElf demonstrated great foresight and understanding by standardizing on Zinox Computers.
Mukoro said that the action by TotalFinaelf was not the result of any persuasive marketing overtures nor was it motivated by any social factors but was based purely on the desire of the TotalFinaElf management to encourage the growth of local technology.
He recalled that in spite of the inspiring scope of the Zinox launch, many companies remained skeptical about the capacity of Nigerians to deliver on the promise of manufacturing world class computers.
“Most of the blue chip companies adopted the negative Nigerian attitude of ‘siddon look’ but TotalFinaElf aligned herself to the collective aspirations of Nigerians by being the very first company to standardize on Zinox Computers,” he said.
Therefore, Mukoro called on the Federal Government to establish a process that would automatically reward corporate persons like TotalFinaElf for incorporating local content in their operations.
“Multinationals should pay more than lip service to the concept of giving back to Nigeria and Nigerians by emulating the example of TotalFinaElf,” he said.
Earlier, the editor, CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Ken Nwogbo said that the award of the Best OEM of the Year 2009 was won by Zinox Computers for a number of reasons.
He noted that the globally competitive quality of Zinox Computers has remained consistent over the last decade in addition to the fact that Zinox PCs have done more than any other OEM in this country, through themes and schemes, to speed up the pace of ICT penetration in the country.
According to him, Zinox Computer brand has attained cumulative multi lateral values that mean many positive things to the Nigerian project including being a source of national hope and pride, enjoining other Nigerian companies to borrow a leaf from the steadfast focus of Zinox Computers.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Bank to accept deposits from mobile phones
A Philadelphian-based bank, Conestoga Bank has concluded plans to accept cheque deposits through mobile phones by using a hosted mobile-deposit solution from J & B Software Incorporated, reports ATMMarketplace.com.
Disclosing this, the Chief executive officer, Conestoga Bank, Mr. Richard Elko said, customers of the bank in suburban Philadelphia would soon be able to deposit cheques from their mobile phones as part of a deal sealed last week between the two companies.
This service, he said, would be available before the end of September this year, declaring “It will be available in September after summer ends.”
According to the report, part of the deal stipulated that, J & B Software, a payment processing, imaging and electronic content-management company, would provide a hosted mobile-deposit solution for Conestoga’s customers, thereby enabling them to deposit cheques into their accounts from their iPhone, Blackberry, Android and other cellular phones.
He explained that Conestoga Bank decided to offer customers cheque deposits from their mobile phones because J & B Software hosted services would reduce several upfront costs of installing a mobile-deposit system, stressing that all cellular telephone owners need to do is to download the application onto their phones.
J&B Software, which is based in Blue Bell, partnered with Mitek Systems, a San Diego-based company that developed an application for mobile phones.
The application photographs the front and back of the check before transmitting the cheque’s image to the individual’s bank’s account, Mitek spokesperson highlighted, noting that Conestoga’s resolve to offer deposits from mobile phones breaks a pattern with banks that publicly so far have offered the service.
USAA Bank, which is based in San Antonio, Texas, and Bancorp Bank in Wilmington, Del., which either offer mobile deposits or plan to offer the service later this year, are Internet banks that do not have ATMs or branches.
The report added that prior to accepting deposits made from mobile phones, USAA bank customers, primarily active and retired military personnel and their families, mailed check deposits to the bank. Just as Bancorp also accepts deposits by mail or UPS delivery.
Conestoga Bank, however, owns 14 branches throughout Philadelphia county and each office has an ATM, even as the financial institution expressed the belief that mobile deposits would attract new and younger customers, thus reflecting a changing bank market.
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Disclosing this, the Chief executive officer, Conestoga Bank, Mr. Richard Elko said, customers of the bank in suburban Philadelphia would soon be able to deposit cheques from their mobile phones as part of a deal sealed last week between the two companies.
This service, he said, would be available before the end of September this year, declaring “It will be available in September after summer ends.”
According to the report, part of the deal stipulated that, J & B Software, a payment processing, imaging and electronic content-management company, would provide a hosted mobile-deposit solution for Conestoga’s customers, thereby enabling them to deposit cheques into their accounts from their iPhone, Blackberry, Android and other cellular phones.
He explained that Conestoga Bank decided to offer customers cheque deposits from their mobile phones because J & B Software hosted services would reduce several upfront costs of installing a mobile-deposit system, stressing that all cellular telephone owners need to do is to download the application onto their phones.
J&B Software, which is based in Blue Bell, partnered with Mitek Systems, a San Diego-based company that developed an application for mobile phones.
The application photographs the front and back of the check before transmitting the cheque’s image to the individual’s bank’s account, Mitek spokesperson highlighted, noting that Conestoga’s resolve to offer deposits from mobile phones breaks a pattern with banks that publicly so far have offered the service.
USAA Bank, which is based in San Antonio, Texas, and Bancorp Bank in Wilmington, Del., which either offer mobile deposits or plan to offer the service later this year, are Internet banks that do not have ATMs or branches.
The report added that prior to accepting deposits made from mobile phones, USAA bank customers, primarily active and retired military personnel and their families, mailed check deposits to the bank. Just as Bancorp also accepts deposits by mail or UPS delivery.
Conestoga Bank, however, owns 14 branches throughout Philadelphia county and each office has an ATM, even as the financial institution expressed the belief that mobile deposits would attract new and younger customers, thus reflecting a changing bank market.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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