Maximizing 3G services with Bluetooth solution

Features of the week:

The avalanche of Third Generation (3G) services last quarter hit the nation’s telecom market, but the question now is how would subscribers maximize this evolution, mostly by going wireless via Bluetooth solution? Writes REMMY NWEKE.

Ready for 3G:

Upcoming 32-year-old Lagos-based professional, Joseph Igboba, thrives on any kind of information, be it mere data or statistics and when he heard that some hitherto Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators have succeeded in obtaining Third Generation (3G) licences from the telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), after due process, he quickly decided to change his mobile handsets, that is, three of them to cover the active GSM turned 3G operators.

This is in spite of the stiff competition being dangled by the 3G cum the largest Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator, Starcomms Limited.

Multiple handsets per subscriber:

Joseph’s three phones cut across the Sony Ericsson M600i on Celtel network, a Blackberry on MTN and camera-centric Nokia N82 on Glo. For him each of these phone sets has its own symbolic needs and that was actually why he got them since it is no longer news that telecom networks in the country are not stable as they should be and for him those phones are not for showing off but for keeping contacts with his business associates and aiding his job.

For instance, it was a decision to ensure that all his sets are high-ended phones, thus 3G enabled. Hence the Sony Ericsson M600i is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) which came handy with a data cable; the Blackberry which offers him Internet access 24/7, anytime and anywhere came without a data cable, whereas the Nokia N82 – a mobile phone with five mega pixels camera; the same pixels for his Maginon camera, paved the way for him to abandon the Maginon camera at home, thereby limiting the number of gadgets he carries in the course of his work to just three.

Going wireless:

Unfortunately the Nokia N82 data cable could not be found in the market with excuse that the product is still new in the market and is yet to be explored by the Chinese.

However, one day, he was in need of a photograph he recently took in Dakar, Senegal to aid his proposal presentation, precisely with his Nokia N82, but could not print it out in order to align it with the presentation.

In the course of finding solution for this hiccup, he recollected that since his three sets are 3G enabled, they should have Bluetooth facilities. So, he made out time to search for the Bluetooth connectivity on them and succeeded in linking the trio. Therefore, he was able to transfer the picture after the handsets have been paired correctly.

To pair two Bluetooth gadgets, the user needs to use one to search for the other devices and then highlight the chosen ones to pair with and after entering the required pass codes, usually four figures with default set at 0000 the gadgets could see each other and by activating the authorisation, the gadgets can now see and connect seamlessly.

The Bluetooth advantage:

In the actual sense, pairing takes place by placing both devices in the connection mode after duly charged, powered up, and the Bluetooth functionality turned on; each device needs to initiate a communication session.

As a rule, in a connection between two devices, one device acts as the ‘host’ and the other as the ‘guest.’ The device in the host role is the one with the user interface from which most of the connection set-up will take effect, while a device could be in the host role with one device and in the guest role with another device.

For example, in a phone and wireless headset pairing, the phone is the host, but in a phone and laptop pairing, the laptop automatically assumes the host position.

And following relevant responses to the request by entering the pass-code, which at default is four – 0000, but could be changed as users deem fit on one or both devices.

Nevertheless, Joseph also used Bluetooth connection to transfer over 250 contacts on the PDA set to his latest Nokia N82 phone, which was accomplished in a jiffy, rather than the rigorous method of writing out the contacts, one after another on a piece of paper before entering same into the new phone book.

Gradually, Joseph began to gain confidence on the ability of Bluetooth to salvage his challenges, hence, he wasted no time in transferring the needed pictures from the Nokia N82 to his PDA because that is the only handset with its data cable available. Incidentally, the data cable developed fault and was unable to access his laptop.

Then, tension began to gain currency on him because the deadline for the proposal presentation was fast drawing nearer, when he remembered that Computer Village Ikeja-Lagos is just few kilometres away from his office; a market where Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessories encompassing GSM phones, CDMA phones, and cables to name a few, could easily be picked. So, the next morning, he took a commercial cyclist popularly known as ‘Okada’ to the Computer Village.

On getting there, he was advised at the first shop visited to purchase a Universal Serial Bus (USB)-based Bluetooth for Personal Computing and not yet convinced, he went on to another shop, where after explaining his predicament, the shop owner still advised him to go for Bluetooth, and forget about data cables for life.

Internet on the go:

An instant search on his Blackberry handset showed that such Bluetooth connection could link him up successfully by way of transferring data and he settled for Bluetooth USB Dongle, a Chinese product, which description showed that it’s a quick and inexpensive solution as a Bluetooth plug-on modules to computers.

It also enables computers to communicate with any Bluetooth peripherals such as computers, PDAs, mobile phones, and printers among others, wirelessly.

The specification of the Bluetooth USB Dongle indicated that it’s a Bluetooth V2.0 compliant, USB V2.0 compliant with operational range of Bluetooth class 2 and 1 ranging from 0 to 100 metres.

In addition, the Dongle has in-built antenna with frequency band located in the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) radio band of 2.4 Gega Hertz (GHz), even as it comes with maximum data rate of 3 Mega Bytes (3MB) and sensitive to 98dBM@ 0.1 per cent Ber attached with LED status indicator.

The Bluetooth USB Dongle has at least three software support, including Windows 98/98SE/ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP as well as comes along with an installation compact disc (CD), which he purchased for N5,000 about US$43.35 with an underlining payoff to ‘Make life freedom’.

3G takes off:

The last quarter of year 2007, no doubt was a beehive of activities as competition got hotter, especially on who should be the first and invariably gain upper hand in the launch of Third Generation (3G) services in the nation’s telecommunications sector.

Despite the drive for the first position among key operators who have now migrated to 3G operators, what now remains is how to maximize the services embedded in the Third Generation platform whether as a 3.5G or 3G Plus.

The fact nowadays is the modules of living the 3G services out by subscribers of Globacom and MTN, alongside Starcomms, the acclaimed leader in 3G cum CDMA, while those on Celtel network await its official launch, predictably before this year runs out.

As a way of imbibing the culture of optimising 3G services by common subscribers, there is need to eliminate data cable usage. Take for instance, any one like Joseph with three mobile handsets may need to have three different data cables, plus charging cables because of the epileptic power situation so as to charge randomly wherever, whenever they find electric power and intends to spend upto an hour, mostly in the offices.

Between Broadband and 3G:

As part of his New Year message, the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, in the first quarter of 2007 declared that it’s ‘a year of broadband for Nigeria.’

Obviously some industry analysts did not understand the declaration, but by the time year ended, several initiatives in terms of telecommunications development gave pointed out to the fact that the EVC was predicting from a knowledge base of an expert as it turned out to be realistic due to the number of broadband-driven Value Added Services (VAS) that hit the sector.

Although broadband has been primarily associated with fast, permanent Internet connection, it could equally be received through the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), a form of DSL offering data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone, cable, 3G or satellite technology deployment. While Third Generation (3G) specifically is a wireless technology making mobile videophones and high-speed Internet access a reality.

Experts at Intel’s body of glossary, described Broadband as a term applied to high-speed data transmission, such as cable, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), thus Broadband technologies provide faster connections to the Internet than traditional dial-up services.

Oragon Health and Science University defined Broadband as a way of transmitting large amounts of data, voice, and video that is greater than telephony networks. While experts at SearchTelecom.com, described broadband as generally telecommunications platform, in which, a wide band of frequencies is available to transmit information – data, facilitating multiplexing of information to be sent on different frequencies or channels within the band concurrently, thus allowing more information to be transmitted in a given amount of time, as much as more lanes on a highway allow more cars to travel on it at the same time.

Equally, specialists at the 3Gnewsroom.com, said that Broadband is a classification of the information capacity or bandwidth of a communication channel. Broadband is generally taken to mean bandwidth higher than 2 Mega Bytes per second (Mbps).

Relatively, Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia explain that 3G is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology, after 2G, based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) family of standards under the International Mobile Telecommunications programme, “IMT-2000”.

3G technologies, experts at Wikipedia online opined, enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency with available services including wide-area wireless voice telephony and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment and naturally, provides service at 5-10 Mega Bytes per second (Mbps).

Stressing that the 3G networks are wide area cellular telephone networks, which evolved the incorporation of high-speed Internet access and video telephony.

As at November 2007, estimated 190 countries have developed 3G networks against 40 in year 2005, across Africa, Asia, Europe, Canada and the United States, according to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), even as telecommunications companies are using the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access ( W-CDMA) technology with the support of around 100 terminal designs to operate 3G mobile networks, which tends to increase data transmission rates in GSM systems by using the CDMA air interface instead of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA).

State of emergency on broadband:

This is coming as the alliance of 26 Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) firms with focus on broadband deployment and development, has urged the newly elected President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua, to declare state of emergency on broadband.

The alliance known as Naija WiFi Consortium, dominated by the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country, pointing out that Broadband is a transmission medium capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies, typically from audio up to video frequencies.

Broadband, experts said, could carry multiple signals by dividing the total capacity of the medium into multiple, independent bandwidth channels, where each channel operates only on a specific range of frequencies.

Speaking through the interim chairman of the consortium, Mr. Ndukwe Kalu of Amsco Telecom, they said the declaration would enable the government to give a focused attention to broadband deployment.

3G in 190 countries:

Noteworthy is that rollout of 3G networks was delayed in some countries including Nigeria because of the enormous costs of additional spectrum licensing fees.

By June 2007 the 200 millionth 3G subscriber had been connected. Out of 3 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide this is only 6.7 per cent and now that Nigeria as the fastest emerging telecom market has entered the stage, a drastic change would definitely be witnessed in the GSA records by end of 2008, given the velocity of Nigerian subscribers approach to technology be it 3.5G or 3G Plus.

For the chief operating officer (COO), Globacom, Mr. Mohammed Jameel, the 3G Plus also offers other advanced mobile services such as Video Greeting Kiosk, video mail box, video conferencing on both phones and Personal Computers (PC) and so many other services on the 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA).

This, he noted, offers speed up to 3.6 Mega bytes per second (Mbps), even as it provides Nigerians with mobile Television (TV) to name a few. “We are empowering our subscribers to enter the next generation of technological innovations made in advanced countries and this will inevitably benefit the lives and businesses of the subscribers that utilise these products,” he said.

In addition to giving customers high- speed mobile Internet access, Glo 3G Plus allows them to do video calls and video streaming on their 3G mobile handsets. It also offers other advanced mobile services such as Video Greeting Kiosk, Video Mail Box, Video conferencing on both Phones and PCs and so many other services on the 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, which enables speeds up to 3.6 Mega bytes per second (Mbps).

“By providing Nigerians with high speed internet access, video calling and mobile TV, amongst other services, we are empowering our subscribers to enter the next generation of technological innovations made in advanced countries and this will inevitably benefit the lives and businesses of the subscribers that utilize these products,” Globacom, Chief Operating Officer, Mohammed Jameel stated at the launch.

And for the chief executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ahmad Farroukh, the launch of its 3.5G was based on the telco’s “unending quest to avail our customers with the best possible value derivable from information and communications technology has again been made manifest. Indeed we are the first ever telecom operator in Nigeria to make third generation mobile telephony commercially available to customers and potential customers alike”.

He also said that third generation telephony would run on a High Speed Packet Access platform (HSPA), which is technically mid-way between third generation and fourth generation mobile telephony.

“It’s referred to technically, as 3.5G and represents an advanced form of third generation mobile telephony,” he explained, adding that the major benefit of the company’s evolution from second-generation mobile telephony to third generation is the wide array of possibilities that 3.5G offer.

He equally outlined some major benefits of third generation technology to include enhancement of access to broadband availability, stressing, “In an era where it has been proven that Internet penetration has a direct correlation with social and economic development, it is our expectation that our evolution to 3.5G will speedily and significantly enhance Nigeria’s broadband penetration and ultimately help provide for millions of Nigerians, a reliable broadband connection, even when they are on the move,” he said.

As said by him, MTN’s investment in its network and infrastructure rollout continues to benefit not only from significant inflow of local and foreign funding but also from strong market insight.

ITU approves new 3G standards:

The launch of 3G products in the country came as ITU recently approved the new 3G standards to what some expects at the Radiocommunication Assembly 2007 (RA-07) accepted as a new global importance to include Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX), which is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data.

This approval paves the way for the deployment of a range of voice, data, and multimedia services to both stationary and mobile devices, just as it significantly opened the door to mobile Internet, catering to demand in both urban and rural markets.

At the meeting, the RA-07 formally recognized technology derived from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE 802.16) standards by incorporating it as the sixth terrestrial IMT-2000 radio interface.

Director of the ITU Radio-communication Bureau, Valery Timofeev, noted that this is the first addition to IMT-2000 since the original five were adopted years ago as part of the 3G radio standards being used globally and pushes the technological envelope of IMT-2000 capabilities.

He also said that IMT-2000 is a global standard defined by ITU in a set of interdependent ITU recommendations, which include the specifications for the radio interfaces of advanced wireless communications systems such as 3G mobile.

An initial application for the IMT-2000 advanced standard, he said, was made at the ITU-R WP8F meeting in Kobe, Japan, in January last year, adding that the adoption of the latest radio interface was the culmination of tireless effort among administrations, industry and ITU experts.

Conclusion:

To maximise the latest offering of 3G despite the brand name they may come with, the Nigerian telecom subscribers have to got to tap into the evolution to make their lives easier or better still ‘Make life freedom’ according to Dongle, by going for wireless solution like Bluetooth, mostly considering the hiccups associated with cable-related connection.

Only time shall tell how this adaptation would prevail before the end of this year. Before then, free yourself by going wireless.

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Multiple challenges for OLPC

The year 2008 obviously began with strong signals for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project, following the bowing out of its former chief technology officer, Mrs Mary Lou Jepsen, last December.

Also, the withdrawal of its partnership by chip manufacturer, Intel Corporation a fortnight ago was another painful experience.

This sad notes were somewhat thickened by the revelation at the weekend that Jepsen newly formed company, Pixel Qi, is touting to come out with another version of cheap laptop expected to be on offer for $75, about N8,853.

Even as Pixel Qi has developed switching monitors to facilitate computers and cell phones screens to be read in direct sunlight, which would be incorporated in the new products.

The switching monitor is a technology that hitherto was not available, according to reports.

Jepsen latest endeavour was the development of a sunlight screen that could make it easy for computers and cell phones with screens to be read in direct sunlight.

The latest product could be on store shelves by the end of this year, the designer of the breakthrough display technology told Reuters, weekend.

The report also has it that the high-resolution monitors switch from colour to black and white, allowing the screens to be clearly viewed in direct sunlight, a feature unavailable in current high-end laptop computers that cost thousands of Naira.

It was also learnt that she developed the display while still working for the One Laptop Per Child Foundation, which produces low-cost computers for poor children around the world initially known as $100 laptop.

In addition, Mrs Jepsen was reported to have resigned her post as chief technology officer at the foundation at the end of last year to start her own company, Pixel Qi, which will license the display technology.

Noting that her target is that the first batch of the screens would hit the stores before the end of 2008.

Pixel Qi, she added, will further develop and license technology that extends the battery life of laptops by reducing power consumption.

“I don’t want to sell last year’s technology next year,” Jepsen said, adding, “Both the price and performance of display and power management technology can be improved. They need to be made in different sizes and shapes and for different platforms with different goals.”

Analysts said they expect the world’s top computer makers to be eager to incorporate some of Jepsen’s technology into their products as easily readable displays and long-lasting batteries are highly coveted features for any laptop.

In a related report, Pixel Qi was said to have commenced attempts at producing even more cheaper laptops than OLPC XO-1 series, which is currently at $188, over N22,000 and is a spin off of the previous $100 initiative, plans to sell its own laptop at $75 only.

Acknowledging this fact, Pixel Qi in a press statement, cited the use of ultra-low-cost laptop as an inspiration for a new sort of hardware design that encourages starting with a clean sheet rather than trying to re-invent the wheel.

The company indicated that prices for the next-generation hardware could be brought down by allowing multiple uses of the key advanced technologies.

Pixel Qi also informed that it would offer its products to OLPC at a cost, while also selling the sub-systems and devices at a profit for commercial use.

However, no official release date or projection has been made public for the launch of Pixel Qi $75 laptop,

Analysts are waiting to see if when eventually Pixel Qi hits market whether it would stick to the introductory price of $75.

On the other hand, chip maker, Intel Corporation fortnight ago bowed out of the OLPC board, probably as a New Year gift to the foundation.

A step analysts said was another heavy blow to the project and its mission of making laptops available to children of school age in developing countries including Nigeria, where its proposal has been accepted.

The Intel exit described as ‘dramatic’ was hinged on what the company said was ‘philosophical’ differences as its main reason for backing out of the project.

Nigeria currently is having trail of some OLPC machines at the various nationwide and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after paying fully for its 1 million units earlier ordered.

The OLPC is a United States-based non-profit making organisation with focus to drive laptops initially at a cost of $100 per PC but have since escalated to over $200, about (N28,000), even as Federal Government recently expressed dismay over the modules of producing the so-called $100 laptops, alleging that it could turn the nation’s schools into dumping grounds.

According to BBC reports, Intel pulled out of the project through its hitherto funding and technical support.

Noteworthy is that the first versions of the OLPC or XO laptop were powered by a chip made by Intel’s archrival AMD.

The green and white XO machine was designed specifically for children, and supposedly made rugged to cope with conditions in developing nations and could be kept powered using a hand crank.

Intel spokesman, Mr. Chuck Molly was quoted as saying the company had taken the decision to resign from the OLPC board and end its involvement because the organisation had asked it to stop backing rival low-cost laptops.

On the OLPC board with Intel are 11 other companies including Google and Red Hat among others.

In addition, Intel has been promoting its own cheap laptop, Classmate PC, in many of the same places as the OLPC and with the intent for Pixel Qi to emerge, the tragedy is too many too soon and may affect the penetration negatively.

Mr. Chuck said that OLPC had asked Intel to end its support for non-OLPC platforms, including the Classmate PC, and to focus on the OLPC platform exclusively, hence the decision to quit since it cannot stomach the request.

He equally said that the use of AMD chips in the first XO laptops had not influenced its decision.

Prior to Intel’s involvement, OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte criticised the chip firm for what he called its attempts to undermine the project’s work.

He said Intel was selling its Classmate PC at a loss to make the XO laptop less attractive.

While Dr Negroponte’s initial aim was for a laptop costing only $100, the final versions under-going trials in Nigeria and Uruguay cost $188 (£95).

Costs were supposed to be kept low by governments ordering the XO laptop in shipments of one million, but large orders for the XO laptop have, so far, not materialised.

In a bid to boost the numbers of laptops available, OLPC ran a “Give One, Get One” programme in the US from 12 November to 31 December.

This allowed members of the public to buy two XO machines - one for themselves and one for a OLPC project elsewhere, even as it said the success of this campaign had paved the way for its launch in Haiti, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Afghanistan.

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Battling Spam mails with Sender ID (2)

Market Intelligence:

Visitors to these fraudulent websites are asked to disclose personal information, such as credit card numbers, or to purchase counterfeit or pirated products.

Sender ID seeks to verify that every e-mail message originates from the Internet domain from which it claims it was sent.

Thus, Sender ID checks the address of the server that sent the mail against a registered list of servers that the domain owner or e-mail recipient have allowed to send e-mail.

The Internet Service Provider (ISP) or recipient’s e-mail server automatically perform this comparison before the e-mail message is delivered.

According to experts, if the Sender ID verification passes, the message is delivered as regular mail.

“If the check fails, the message is further analyzed and the receiving server may refuse to deliver the e-mail, or it may flag the e-mail as a possible deceptive message.

“Depending on the recipient’s ISP or e-mail server software, messages that fail the Sender ID check may be flagged and sorted differently. For example, a simple icon may be displayed in the message to indicate the failure.

“Or the message may be sent to the junk mail folder for the recipient’s review, or it may be automatically rejected and deleted.

“There is no single solution to stopping all spam and online fraud.”

However, Sender ID is a significant first step that many in the industry support to counter spam and online phishing attacks.

So, make use of Sender ID while you have it.

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I-Cash products hit market

Intercontinental Bank Plc, on Monday in Lagos unveiled two new electronic-based banking products into the nation’s market, namely the I-Cash International and I-Cash Mobile.

Unveiling the products at the company corporate headquarters, the acting chief executive of the bank, Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf said that the launch came handy as the continent heads to Ghana for the MTN African Nations Cup due in few days time.

He also said that Intercontinental Bank plans to take this product beyond the West African region down to the United Kingdom and United States as well as Middle East.

According to him, the essence of the dual products is to facilitate easy transfer of money both internationally and locally.

The I-Cash international, Alhaji Yussuf said is a safe and convenient way of transferring money for customers and non-customers alike, using the bank’s branches scattered all over the world.

He stressed that presently, this product is available in Nigeria and Ghana offices because they think it’s urgently needed in these countries due to the forthcoming soccer fiesta slated for Accra.

“It would be extended to other parts of the world as soon as we open our offices in those countries,” he said, adding that plans have reached advanced stages for opening of offices in major commercial centres of the world, including UK, US, Asia, Middle East and some other key financial centres on the continent.

For the I-Cash mobile, he said that it would serve the needs of people within Nigeria who desire the fastest means of transferring funds to their loved ones, folks, friends and business partners.

“I-Cash mobile is an electronic funds transfer medium to be operated through the use of mobile phones between the transferor and beneficiary who can collect the money from any of the over 250 branches of Intercontinental Bank nationwide,” he said.

Alhaji Yussuf equally disclosed that the I-Cash Mobile is facilitated in collaboration with e-Tranzact switching platform, which is a robust e-banking podium and is available to customers of the bank and non-customers respectively.

While guaranteeing the security of the platform, he said that charges on I-Cash mobile is minimal.

Also speaking, Head, Foreign Business Development at Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Anthony Obayemi while formerly presenting I-cash at the launch, said that transfer on I-Cash mobile, for instance, takes an average of 10 to 30 minutes to be concluded.

The Personal Identification Number (PIN) used in transferring fund within this medium, he said, is only known to the sender, which means the receiver does not have reason to worry.

He added that for anyone to use this service he or she must register with the bank, especially for those who are not customers in a simple format of Know Your Customer (KYC).

He explained that there are two ways to transfer funds to a third party through mobile phones that are General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enabled.

Interested public could download the transfer module by typing D space ICB and send to 4045 for those using MTN, 30030 for Glo and 38060 for Celtel subscribers in that order.

As said by him, Short Messaging Service (SMS) could equally be used by creating a message reading for instance, “MT- space – beneficiary phone number – space – amount – space – access code – space – PIN, then send.”

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TD, Toshiba enter strategic deal

The foremost Information and Communication Technology (ICT) distributor in the West African region, Technology Distributions (TD), has entered into a strategic partnership with Toshiba, a global leader in mobile technology to provide the region with next generation computer systems.

TD’s firm grip of the Nigerian market coupled with its unparalleled distribution network in the West African sub region attracted Toshiba intents to deliver cutting edge technology to the ICT savvy West African market.

Sources close to TD office in Lagos, informed that the partnership codenamed ‘providing quality choices’ would be formally cemented on February 1, 2008, at the Banquet hall of the Eko Le Meridian Hotel, Lagos.

Affirming this development, Marketing Manager Africa, Computer Division at Toshiba, Mr Andreas, said that Technology Distributions Limited is a premium platform through which Toshiba intend to reach a greater part of regional ICT market.

“We’re excited by the fact that they are leading the way in making world class ICT equipment available to the West African market, which has always been our goal to make computers available and affordable to the people,” he said.

According to him, the world has been taken over by ICT and “we must not allow affordability and availability to be a hindrance to access.”

At Toshiba, he noted, they are determined to bring to the market an entirely new experience in mobile computer technology which is hoped to deepen TD’s market share in the region.

“They possess a wide branch network, competent manpower as well as excellent logistics expertise that will enable Toshiba deliver the industry’s leading innovation in mobile computers to the market,” he said.

As said by him, by integrating next generation systems into TD’s excellent distribution network, Toshiba is sure to reach people with high performance systems that will delight the market.

Andreas also explained that it took Toshiba close to two years to arrive at the choice of TD for a partner.

Disclosing that various indices were considered while searching for appropriate partner in the region, which include the distribution network, the quality of staff, antecedents, reseller network, financial capabilities, ability to move bulk and many other factors, adding that TD offered the best option for Toshiba to launch into the West African market.

“We know we would not be disappointed because we are working with the best,” he declared, assuring that with Toshiba the market was in for a new and pleasant experience in terms of world-class computer technology as well as after sales support which many Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) shy away from.

Toshiba, he emphasised, has a long tradition of excellent services and products even as the company plans to take a good share of the hardware market within a short period of time because the market is getting better options for less.

Commenting on the development, Corporate Affairs Officer at Technology Distributions Limited, Mr. Hamza Danlami Yusuf, said that TD is delighted to partner with technology leader like Toshiba, whose visionary commitment to the user experience has inspired the embrace to mobile technology.

“Toshiba is a global super brand with excellent products and processes,” he asserted, adding that at TD they are constantly looking for innovative ways to bring the best to the West African region and this partnership reflects this commitment to making available the best products from the best brands in the world.

“We have through this partnership demonstrated our commitment to reaching out to new markets, to expose our customers to a whole new experience in mobile technology. The partnership comes with an after sales support agreement and right now we are setting up support centres in our various branches,” he disclosed.

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NITEL explains inability to honour Interstella contract

Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (Nitel) has adduced reasons why it failed to honour the contractual agreement with Interstella Communications, a Nigerian Internet gateway operator.

NITEL in a letter dated July 3, 2007 from its lawyers, Messrs Ikechukwu Uzuegbu & Co, and sighted by Champion Infotel, explained that the service could not be rendered due to some restrictions by the SAT-3 network administrator.

The letter endorsed by NITEL company secretary, Hadiza Dogabana Sani, affirmed that Interstella Communication Limited paid the sum of N65.6million for 1*5TM-1-SAT 31 PLC(Half Circuit) capacity.

But lamented that this service could not be successfully carried out by NITEL administrator based on new capacity activation in view of Nitel’s unpaid liabilities.

NITEL further stated that Interstella’s request for collocation services at NECOM House, Lagos, has been confirmed and the cost implication is being worked out in line with the network administrator.

Champion Infotel recalled that a Federal High Court in Umuahia Judicial Division recently ordered Nitel to pay over N14 billion to Interstella for the breach of contract.

Interstella had dragged Nitel to the court on June 15, 2007, praying that the court should declare among others that Nitel’s conduct is a breach of contract, an order directing it to provide it with half STM1 circuit on SAT 3 which it paid for since October 2006.

Interstella also asked the court to order Nitel to pay it the sum of N1.9 billion per annum as revenue accruable to it per annum, 150.000 dollars, being the lost of medical treatment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and $2.4million per month, being the monthly revenue accruable to the plaintiff’s investment on half 1*STM2 circuit on SAT3 since October 2006.

The company further prayed the court to order Nitel to pay it the sum of N2billion as exemplary damages for injury inflicted on Interstella business.

And after hearing Chief S.A Solomon Esq., the counsel to Interstella and Ikechukwu Izuegbu, Nitel’s attorney, the court presided over by Justice H.T Soba granted all the relieves sought by Interstella.

The court ruled that Nitel’s conduct is a breach of contract, by failing, refusing and/or neglecting to provide the services contracted by it when leased out its 36 E1 switch ports, 9 E1 transmission Links; and ½ 1 * STM1 Circuit on SAT3 to the plaintiff. Subsequently, the court directed Nitel to immediately provide the plaintiffs with ½ ISTM1 Circuit on SAT3, which the plaintiffs paid for since October 2006.

Nitel was also ordered to pay the sum of N1, 944 billion per annum accruable to the plaintiffs per annum as revenue from their investment on 36 E1 switch port beginning from 2002 accumulated is paid in arrears.

Besides, Nitel was also ordered to pay the cost of medical treatment of the 2nd plaintiff/ Chief Executive Officer amounting to the sum of 150,000:00 Dollars.

And to cap it all the court directed Nitel to pay 30 per cent per cent interest rate until date of judgement and thereafter at 25 per cent until date the liquidation of judgement debt hereby granted.

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Symbian welcomes Moto Z10, Nokia N95

Symbian Limited has welcomed the MOTO Z10 at the 2008 international Consumer Electronics show which held in Las Vegas recently, based on the deployment of Symbian OS and UIQ software platform for Third Generation (3.5G) hinged on High Speed Data Packet Access (HSDPA) and Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) cum General Packet Radio System in relation with the /GPRS/EDGE.

This is coming as the company also welcomed the launch of Nokia N95.8 Gega Bytes in North America, reports UGOCHI NKWOCHA.

MOTOZ10 is a complete pocket size, mobile film studio and it also represents a next generation of mobile device technology for on the go content consumer and creators.

While Symbian is a software licensing company that develops and licenses OS to market leading operating system for advanced data enabled mobile phones known as smart phones.

The MOTOZ10 is a stylish ergonomically designed kick slider that features a 22”QVGA screen displaying video at 30frames per second in millions of colours, with and external storage of up to 32GB of capacity, 3.2megapixel camera, an auto focus and auto save functions ideal for media sharing.

The phone also allows users to capture high quality video, edit clip, create transitions between scenes and add title slide and soundtracks.

MOTOtmZ10 enables users to upload their creation to share with friends and family through any number of websites.

In a related development, Symbian Inc also welcomed the launch of the new North American optimised Nokia N95 8GB multimedia computer based on S60 3rd Edition and Symbian OS v9.2.

This new Nokia N95 8GB offers North American 3G/HSDPA/UMTS compatibility while retaining all the popular functionality of the existing Nokia N95 8GB.

The phone features a 2.8-inch QVGA screen with support for up to 16 million colours, eight gigabytes of built-in memory, A-GPS positioning for improved location access and a 5 Mega Pixels (MP) camera with Carl Zeiss optics.

Also, the N95 8GB, Nokia said, will start shipping its Nseries for retailers across the United States, to the Nokia flagship stores as well as online e-tailers during the first quarter of 2008.

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Sanusi commends Chams on ISO 9000

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Joseph Sanusi, has commended the management of Chams Nigeria Limited over its achievement of the International Standardization Organisation (ISO) 9000.

Chief Sanusi spoke as a special guest and chairman of the occasion at the presentation of the ISO 9000 certificate to Chams Nigeria Limited in Lagos, by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on behalf of ISO.

He pointed out that the achievement was as a result of hardwork of the management and staff of Chams in the last 22 years of the company.

For him, this shows that Chams has exhibited future prospects capping it all with integrating its operations.

Chief Sanusi further said that certification by SON is another reassurance to stakeholders of the firm, stressing that in the near future they would be able to reap the fruits, mostly now that Chams is selling shares.

He tasked the management and staff of Chams to see the ISO 9000 certification as a challenge.

“This certificate should serve as a challenge for keeping high standards in Chams,” he declared.

Also speaking, the Director-General of SON, Dr. John Akanya represented by a director in SON, Mrs. Margaret Eshiet urged Chams team to keep up the good standards they have developed in offering quality services to their customers.

She later presented the certificate to the Managing Director, Chams, Mr. Demola Aladekomo, who also unveiled the framed certificate alongside the DG representative and Chief Sanusi.

Champion Infotel recalls that the prime indigenous Information Technology (IT) company with speciality in plastic card technologies and electronic payment solutions, Chams Nigeria Plc, was honoured with the ISO 9000 certification.

The ISO 9000 is a family of standards for quality management systems maintained by the ISO and is administered by accreditation and certification bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Commenting on the certification, Corporate Affairs Manager, Chams Plc, Mr. Idowu Logile said that the renowned IT firm got the certification from SON after thorough scrutiny of the systems and processes of the company.

He also said that the certification is an endorsement of the standards upheld by Chams management.

“This Certification by SON is a further attestation to the relentless pioneering spirit of Chams Nigeria Plc,” he said.

Champion Infotel further recalls that Chams is currently undergoing a recapitalization process and is reputed to have pioneered several technologies in country, including being the first local company to offer Personal Computer (PC) maintenance and Wide Area Networking (WAN) services.

The firm also known to have conceptualised the emergence of Valucard Nigeria Plc, the first local company to offer card technology services in the country and had issued the first flourishing sets of national identification card in the country.

In addition, Chams designed and built the most modern card personalisation plant in the continent located at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Just as the company prides itself as having produced 52 million cards in eight weeks for a national project commissioned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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UNESCO releases guide to community radio

United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has released a user guide for conducting of interviews for community radio in developing countries with focus on India, reports UGOCHI NKWOCHA.

Tagged, “Community Radio: A user’s guide to the technology” is a guide to technical parameters of community radio in India.

Produced for potential community radio operators, UNESCO said the technical manual takes into account the intention of the government of India to establish 4000 community radio stations by 2008.

The publication, which aimed at interested organizations in the demystification of each piece of equipment usually found in community radio stations, its role and function within a wider social context, advantages and disadvantages of its usage. For others, who dare to be technically more adventurous, detailed notes on equipment were also provided.

Champion Infotel recalled that in November 2006, the Indian government announced a new Community Radio Policy, which permits Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other civil society entities to own and operate community radio stations.

This new policy has brought a flood of questions from prospective community radio applicants/operators and in particular: what equipment do you need to set up a community radio and how much would it cost?

While there are many solutions that are available off the shelf, the main line of advice that the manual provided was “costs depending on the context of the community radio station you are trying to build.”

Further, the manual recommended to being small and grow inch by inch with the community.

Equally, the publication offers the information on the different options open to community development specialists in sourcing, maintenance and operation of the equipment that is most suited to their individual needs.

“It has been designed keeping in mind the knowledge levels of the end user and is packed with illustrations, photographs, cross references and a list of organizations who can further assist in technical and social aspects of community radio,” UNESCO said in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel.

It noted that through localisation not only of content, but also of technology that the community radio movement in India could be accelerated making, therefore, the intentions of the Government a live reality.

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eLearning Africa receives 380 proposals for Accra summit

An estimated 380 proposals have been received by the organisers of the eLearning Africa for the third Pan-African conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Development, Education and Training.

The organisers affirmed that the event scheduled to take place between May 28 and 30 in Accra, Ghana would see the Ghanaian Minister for Education, Science and Sports, Prof. Dominic K. Fobih, presiding over at the conference.

A press statement made available to Champion Infotel on Monday, informed that the Programme Committee has commenced evaluation of all submissions, and the preliminary agenda would be available by the end of February.

“More than half the papers submitted came from African countries, with 61 nations from all over the world represented, including development projects and best-practice examples on ICT in education,” the organisers stated.

Among the applicants are universities and education institutions, renowned development organisations, grass-root projects, as well as large corporations and small and medium-sized companies.

Managing Director and Project Manager of eLearning Africa, Ms Rebecca Stromeyer, said that they are working hard to compile another high-quality agenda for this year’s conference.

“This will guarantee that eLearning Africa participants will have an unprecedented opportunity to use the conference to benchmark, learn, share and network, thus strengthening the continent’s many and varied educational technology initiatives and projects,” she said.

According to her, eLearning Africa has established itself as the largest and most comprehensive capacity-development event for technology-enhanced education and training on the continent.

The conference is organised by ICWE GmbH and Hoffmann & Reif and focuses on ICT for development, education and training in Africa. The event establishes and links a pan-African network of decision makers from governments and administrations with universities, schools, governmental and private training providers, industry and important partners in development cooperation.

Each year a different African country serves as the venue.

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