SimbaPay chatbot debuts for Africa, Europe

ITREALMS:

London based digital money transfer provider, SimbaPay has launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered chatbot service which now makes International Money Transfer (remittance) possible with only an SMS, reports ITRealms.

The SimbaPay chatbot will also enable 24/7 instant customer service for its customers across Africa and Europe.

“We’re thrilled at the prospect of the chatbot service resolving most customer enquiries instantly at any time of day or night” said Daniel Howard, CTO for SimbaPay. “Another major objective we achieved with the chatbot service is that it also works without internet. This means customers with a mobile phone, even a basic phone without internet access, can access the SimbaPay chatbot using SMS”.

Speaking on the Interswitch partnership with SimbaPay, Paul Mwaura Ndichu, CEO Interswitch East Africa (K) said, “Interswitch is proud to be associated with a company as innovative as SimbaPay which is continually looking to improve and expand its product offering. We will continue to collaborate in development of products and services that contribute to expansion of the fintech space”.

Together with Interswitch, SimbaPay’s B2B division offers its instant remittance technology to banks & telcos who want to provide their customers with a modern digital remittance service.

SimbaPay platform senders can now send money with just an SMS. All they require is the recipient’s phone number and the chatbot will automatically obtain the recipient bank account or mobile money details.

With this launch, recipients of money transfers from SimbaPay now also have the flexibility of choosing whether to get their cash delivered to their Mobile Money wallet (e.g. M-Pesa, MTN Money, Airtel Money) or their bank account.

In some instances, recipients may not have a smartphone or internet data bundles or airtime credit. To address this, the SimbaPay chatbot is accessible through free of charge SMS.

Some of the banks that offer SimbaPay powered remittance services have millions of customers and therefore receive a high volume of enquiries. The chatbot provides the scalability to handle thousands of customer enquiries per hour.

The SimbaPay chatbot service is also accessible on SimbaPay’s social media channels including Facebook. Popular enquiries that are now resolved by the chatbot include exchange rate queries, how to send money instructions and coverage enquiries.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Opeke, MainOne CEO tops EMEA influencer at DataCloud Europe

ITRealms:

The chief executive officer of the acclaimed West Africa’s premier connectivity and data center solutions company, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke has been nominated as one of 50 top influencers transforming the data center and cloud landscape in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) reports ITRealms.

The DataCloud Europe conference, ITRealms gathered attracted over 1800 data center and cloud executives from over 60 countries as well as over 90 exhibiting companies, is the foremost networking event for data center players in EMEA.

During the conference, Gbenga Adegbiji, General Manager of MainOne’s MDXi Data Centers, joined an expert panel on the Africa Data Centre Leadership to discuss strategies for achieving improved Data Center and Cloud penetration across the continent. 

Adegbiji asserted that despite the limitations, the opportunities for data center growth are enormous given the upsurge in the use of ICT services and mobile broadband, the migration towards a digital economy with Internet underpinning a lot of services across the region, better adoption of e-Governance, e-Health and e-Commerce initiatives and businesses looking to host their growing digital information locally.

According to him, MainOne is anticipating the growing demand and has started building its second Tier III+ data center in Sagamu, a blooming industrial cluster in South-West Nigeria.

Chuks Egbune/GEE 

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Nollywood week @Paris Film Festival calls for submissions

ITRealms:

The organisers of the NollywoodWeek Paris Film Festival have open calls for submissions for the 4th edition of one of Europe’s leading film festivals and the biggest celebration of Nollywood in France each year, reports ITRealms.

The 4th edition which will be held at the Cinema l’Arlequin in Paris, France from June 2-5, 2016, will feature a more diverse film selection, more events and more audience surprises. “We are excited about this year’s edition of NollywoodWeek which is growing into a global model and promises to be even bigger and better” says co-founder Serge Noukoue.

In just three years this unique film festival has already made its mark with some noteworthy achievements, namely 24 Nigerian films translated into French and screened in Paris, over 20 Nollywood actors, directors and producers hosted in the city of lights, partnerships, acquisitions and co-production deals for people active in the industry and over 5500 attendees over the past 3 years.

The co-founders Serge Noukoue and Nadira Shakur are now looking forward to accommodating the growing audience size especially as the festival gains attention from surrounding European countries. “Every year we receive festival goers from various countries outside of France and we want this to continue. This festival has become THE festival to watch the best of Nollywood in Europe and this year will not disappoint!” stated Shakur.

NollywoodWeek Paris has also raised the profile of an industry that was stigmatized by enforcing a very strict film selection process which only allows top quality works to be in the official selection. “We want the terms “NollywoodWeek” and “Quality” to be synonymous in people’s minds,” said Executive Director, Serge Noukoue. “The festival also helps the directors get a real feel for their audience and through the Public Choice Award, we can really measure the audience’s preferences.”

More than ever, NollywoodWeek Paris remains committed to providing Nigerian filmmakers a platform to showcase their work. Film submissions have opened allowing any Nigerian film-maker to submit their short or feature film to the festival for a chance to be screened in Paris. The deadline for submission is February 12, 2016. The official selection will be announced in March 2016.

 

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China, Europe, US agree to provide observation data to developing countries

ITRealms:

The 12^th session of the inter-governmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) ended in the city of Mexico city at the weekend with renewal of pledges by the trio of China, Europe and the United States to provide critical earth observation data to developing countries, reports ITRealms.

Highlight of the session made available to ITRealms by the Senior External Relations Manager, Group on Earth Observations, Robert J. Samors, stated that the three countries have renewed commitment to GEONETCast, an initiative of these countries to this effect.

Samors also quoted the South Africa´s Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, pointed out that the responsibility before African leaders is to ensure the targets of the global goals for Sustainable Development are met.

“We should not take science for granted. We need to provide adequate funding for scientific research and global collaboration,” Pandor said.

Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Jianlin Cao, noted that the promotion of open access data, knowledge and information has become imperative.

“… Data sharing is key for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). As Co-Chair of the Asia-Pacific region, we will implement more activities to enforce GEO cooperation with other countries, such as capacity-building, data sharing, eco-environment, disaster monitoring and climate change observing,” the minister assured.

ITRealms recalls that the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is comprised of some 100 member states, including the European Commission, and 92 Participating Organizations, whereas GEO strives to improve the world’s observation systems and provide policy makers and scientists with accurate and useful data that could be used to make informed decisions.

GEO’s primary focus is to develop a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to enhance the ability of end-users to discover and access Earth observation data and convert it to useable and useful information.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +ITRealms DSA  +Nnenna Nwakanma +Open Data Center Alliance 
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ICANN’s first DNS-Entrepreneurship roadshow kicks off in EMEA

ITRealms:

 The Los Angeles-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has commenced its first-ever Domain Name System (DNS) Roadshow in the Europe, Middle East and Africa, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the series of workshop DNS-Entrepreneurship Center’s (DNS-EC) enters the second year.

Communications Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at ICANN, Ms Luna Madi said the the DNS-EC, a partnership between ICANN and Egypt's National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), aims to contribute to the evolution of the domain name sector in Africa and the Middle East through a series of workshops. 

According to her, the workshop entitled “SWOT Workshop for National DNS Markets,” serves as seminars aimed at developing expertise in the DNS business related areas, and provide resources to support the implementation of initiatives and projects in this field. 

The Domain Name System (DNS), she said, helps users find their way around the Internet. 

“The DNS matches domain names, which we use to access the Internet, with numeric addresses (IP addresses), which digital devices use to communicate with each other. It’s very much like how a phone book matches names to phone numbers,” she said in a press statement made available to ITRealms.

Equally, ITRealms gathered that four workshops have been planned from this month until the end of the year, 2015, with the first two scheduled to hold this October.

One in Tunis, Tunisia, with the collaboration of partners like the Tunisie Internet (ATI), she said, would take place from Thursday through Friday, 8-9 October 2015.

This, ICANN official said, would be followed by a second workshop, to be hosted by Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) in Doha, Qatar between 11-12 October 2015.

The objective of the workshops, she said, is to construct a Strategic Plan for ccTLD Registry based on a SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) analysis of the country’s DNS market. 

Potential attendees, Madi said would include ccTLD managers, IDN ccTLD manager, and the Registrars/Resellers in the respective countries, stressing the two workshops would be conducted in partnership with EnCirca Domain Name Registrar and Startingdot Registry. 

“We are very excited about this road show. It comes at just the right time, as the DNS-EC enters its second year and becomes more proactive in addressing the needs of the DNS community by expanding its outreach and building the necessary infrastructure across Africa and the Middle East.”

ITRealms gathered that the DNS Entrepreneurship Center (DNS-EC) which debut in June 2014, during ICANN50 in London, is an important milestone, materializing the plans set out by the Middle East Strategy for ICANN, to serve communities in Africa and the Middle East.

The project is a partnership with Egypt’s NTRA, and is being implemented in three phases – Foundation (1 July 2014-30 June 2015), Launch (1 July 2015-30 June 2017) and Operation (On-going). 
+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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DellPrecision tower, mobile workstations coming to market

ITRealms:

The new DellPrecision tower workstations and their mobile counterparts, will be coming to the market on October15 and 27 respectively, ITRealms reports.

Also on the unveiling list is the new Dell UltraSharp 25 monitor available to purchase on Dell.com across Europe, the Middle East and Africa starting at USD649.99, about N129,510.51 and the Dell UltraSharp 27 monitor, available for purchase starting at USD899.99, about N179,323.01 

Redesigned inside and out, IITRealms gathered that the new mobile workstations combine the beauty of thinner, lighter industrial designs and brilliant displays with the performance of the latest graphics technology with new processors and faster memory and storage. 

The Executive Director, Dell Precision, Rahul Tikoo, said that this portfoli, makes huge leaps in performance with innovative new screen and configuration options.

“We listened to our customers in categories such as media and entertainment, engineering, manufacturing, finance and beyond, to deliver a high-performing system for their workload needs. This portfolio combines the great, new technology from our hardware partners, seamless functionality with the applications of our software partners, and the amazing innovation from our Dell Precision engineers and product teams to deliver the most powerful and beautifully-balanced mobile workstations on the market,” Tikoo said.

“The new Dell Precision workstations also offer the best experience for professional users by adding certifications for various professional applications, hardware customisation to ensure systems are tailored to specific needs, and the industry-leading ProSupport Plus for PCs and Tablets offers complete support service with priority access to expert support, accidental damage repair, and proactive, predictive monitoring for automatic issue prevention and resolution, so customers spend more time creating with Dell Precision Workstations,” he further revealed.

Dell, ITRealms gathered claims the number one monitor brand worldwide and its award winning suite of monitors allow creative professionals to revolutionise their viewing experience with uncompromising performance, unmatched reliability and innovative design.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE 

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UNICEF raises alarm as Europe refugee crisis deepens

ITRealms:

The Executive Director, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Anthony Lake, has raised alarm over the increasing refugee challenges in Europe, ITRealms reports.

Lake expressed his bewilderment and worry in the following words: “Heart-breaking images of children’s bodies washing up on the shores of Europe … lying suffocated in the backs of trucks crossing borders … being passed over barbed wire fences by desperate parents.

“As the migrant and refugee crisis in Europe deepens, these will not be the last shocking images to ricochet around the world on social media, on our televisions screens and on the front pages of our newspapers.But it is not enough for the world to be shocked by these images. Shock must be matched by action. For the plight of these children is neither by their choice nor within their control. They need protection. They have a right to protection.

“We urge that the following measures be taken:Protect these children through the provision of essential services at all times – including health care, food, emotional support, and education – and adequate shelter for migrants and refugees that keep families together, Deploy adequate numbers of trained child welfare experts to support children and their families.

“Continue search and rescue operations – not only at sea, but also on land, as families move across countries – and make every effort to prevent the abuse and exploitation of migrant and refugee children.Put the best interests of children first in all decisions made regarding these children – including in asylum cases.

“Our hearts go out today to the families who have lost children – off the coasts, on the shores, and along the roadsides of Europe. As the debates on policies proceed, we must never lose sight of the deeply human nature of this crisis. 

 At least a quarter of those seeking refuge in Europe are children – in the first six months of this year, more than 106,000 children claimed asylum in Europe, ITRealms learnt.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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