Microsoft Mobile dangles N3.5m for Nigerian start ups

ITRealms:

Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, has announced its readiness to assist Nigerian startup with the award of N3.5m to 5 Nigerians with brilliant business ideas, reports ITRealms.

The scheme, ITRealms gathered would see the Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM activation campaign tagged ‘From Passion to Empire’, running from February 16, 2015 to March 31, 2015.

General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services for West Africa, Mr. Joseph Umunakwe, formed this development, saying that they are looking at discovering individuals with passion so as to transform same to empire.

“From Passion to Empire” initiative provides us the opportunity to help young entrepreneurs test the strength of their ideas, sharpen their skills and expand their frontiers as they go through a period of intensive business coaching with the aim to ultimately, establish their businesses,” he said.

Umunakwe stressed that running a start-up is challenging in any environment, so Microsoft Mobile seeks to empower entrepreneurs in Nigeria who have great business ideas. 

From Passion to Empire, he said, would not be about a cash grant only as the 5 winners will also be mentored by highly successful entrepreneurs like House of Tara’s Tara Fela Durotoye, Chocolate City’s Audu Maikori and Jobberman’s Opeyemi Awoyemi,” Umunakwe said.

Speaking on the initiative, Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, Mr. Olumide Balogun, said Lumia is for inspired doers who do not recognize boundaries when reaching for their goals.

“We know that such people abound in our country and we are happy to work with established entrepreneurs and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University to offer them the opportunity to soar,” he said.

ITRealms recollects that Lumia smartphones and tablets, including the Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM, specifically, provide the business tools every entrepreneur needs to achieve the extra-ordinary. The Lumia 535 Dual SIM offers five great integrated Microsoft experiences, a wide-angle 5 megapixel front facing camera, and a spacious 5 inch display protected with Gorilla Glass 3 which makes it a perfect device for entrepreneurs who want to be able to do more on the go. 

Also on the other hand, ITRealms notes that ‘From Passion to Empire’ is a 5-week campaign where budding entrepreneurs go through various stages of business screening from submission of ideas to selection of the 5 eventual winners. 

To participate in ’From Passion to Empire’ ITRealms gathered that interested entrepreneurs need to visit www.microsoft.com/mobile to submit their entries.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +Microsoft Corporation +Microsoft mobile  

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NiRA releases 1851 names from premium list

ITRealms:

Managers of the .NG country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) has released a total of 1851 names from its premium domain name list, reports ITRealms.

NIRA, ITRealms also reports had on Friday, February 13, 2015, announced the release of some .ng ccTLD premium domain names at the price of 2nd level domain names on its website.

The 1851domain names, ITRealms gathered were released from the premium list in fulfilment of NIRA promise to trim the number of premium domain names.

ITRealms, with this development, the 1851 domain names are now in the public domain for grabs based on the choice and interest, hence NIRA enjoin interested public including registrars and stakeholders to take advantage of this release and check on their choice name on the list.

 

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Glo’s Smart postpaid plan debuts for premium customers

 ITRealms

Globacom, has launched a new tariff plan for its premium customers to enable them enjoy more hours of talk time, data usage and text messages, reports ITRealms.

Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni told ITRealms that the new tariff plan, tagged Glo Smart Postpaid Plan, offers four different packages, depending on the usage pattern of individual subscribers. 

According to him, a subscriber who buys into a plan of N50,000 would get 50GB data, 50 hours of voice calls which he can use at any time of the day for local and international calls and 5,000 SMS‎.

He also described the offer as the best for postpaid subscribers in Nigeria as it gives more value for money.

Explaining further, Israni said that N25,000 plan would give the customer 25GB data, 25 hours of free voice calls and 2,500 SMS. He said N10,000 plan would give the customer 10GB data, ten hours of voice calls and 1,000 SMS.

He stressed that a subscriber who is on a plan of N5,000 will instantly get 5GB of data, five hours of free voice calls and 500 SMS.

Israni equally said, any plan from N10,000 and above comes with an opportunity for subscribers to choose a special vanity number.

To enjoy the benefits of the plans, all subscribers need to do is opt in and fund their accounts with the value of their choice ranging from N5,000 to N50,000.

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Startimes unveils Nova Bouquet

ITRealms:

StarTimes, has unveiled Nova bouquet as part of strategy to help Nigerians migrate to digital television before the middle of 2015 when the government intends to draw the curtain, ITRealms reports.

The Nova bouquet, ITRealms also reports, has gone live nationwide and is the fourth bouquet available on StarTimes, specially designed for the entry level customers.

Sources at StarTimes confirmed to ITRealms that its introduction was aimed at further facilitating a smooth and convenient transition from analogue to digital broadcasting by creating the most affordable bouquet that anyone can afford.

“This is really to make it easier and comfortable for more Nigerians to get access and enjoy digital television without stress or missing their favorite television programs when the analogue TV gets switched off later in 2015,” said Israel Bolaji, the public relations manager confirmed to ITRealms.

The Nova bouquet, he said, will be retailing at just N500 per month giving more new subscribers access to a digital television experience with over 15 channels; 8 international channels, including Star Kungfu, Star Music, Star Dadin Kowa (Hausa channel), E-Stars (Nollywood), Child Smile, CCTV-News, TBN, IQRAA and about 7 local channels, including NTA news 24, NTA sports, AIT, Channels TV, Silverbird, NTA Local, other state TV stations and other analogue TV stations like TVC, MiTV, Super Screen and Galaxy.

He also said NTA Star-TV Network, the new digital TV bouquet was designed to offer new subscribers an affordable bundle that makes switching over to digital TV more convenient, promote refreshing television experience and create values that will further deepen digital television penetration in Nigeria. 

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

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MoneyGram now in 25,000 locations in Africa

Trade & Investment@ITRealms:

Leading global money transfer company, MoneyGram has declared that its agent network in Africa has now reached 25,000 locations, following a strategic expansion initiative across the continent, reports ITRealms.

MoneyGram Vice President for Africa, Mr. Herve Chomel in his remarks attributed this feat to recent technology advances and new agent as well as sub-agent signings, including an agreement with the Mauritius Post Office to offer money transfer services at more than 100 locations, have contributed to achieving this company milestone.

“MoneyGram continues to grow throughout Africa as a result of forming strategic relationships with reputable companies, including banks, post offices and retailers, to bring added convenience and more choices for our customers,” said Chomel.

He stressed that remittances are an important part of economic development and financial inclusion throughout the region and are integral to providing household essentials, education and healthcare in many countries. 

“We are excited to be a part of the region’s growth,” he asserted in a press statement from the Africa Press Organisation (APO) and made available to ITRealms.

Consumers, he said, have access to MoneyGram’s services in more than 50 African countries. In a series of recent successes, the company signed an agreement with First Bank of Nigeria’s subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia, and also renewed a master agreement with Standard Bank Group, one of Africa’s top banks.

Additionally, he said, MoneyGram’s services are available at over 500 Standard Bank locations in South Africa and across 11 Southern and Eastern African countries.

According to Chomel, MoneyGram is also implementing innovative self-service channels to make it more convenient for consumers living in Africa or abroad to obtain needed funds

Just as MoneyGram recently consummated an agreement with Safaricom that affords consumers in over 90 countries outside Kenya to send funds directly to nearly 20 million customers of M-PESA, Kenya’s leading mobile wallet provider.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +MoneyGram 

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Pix: MoneyGram Vice President for Africa, Mr. Herve Chomel