VIA unveils pc3500 for Vista-ready PCs

In the bid to further drive the penetration of its VIA PC-1 Initiative, the foremost fabless supplier of market-leading core logic chipsets, VIA Technologies Incorporated, has unveiled pc3500 mainboard for Vista-ready Personal Computers (PCs).

Vice President of Corporate Marketing, VIA Technologies Incorporated, Mr. Richard Brown, said that this new product would strengthen the firm’s leadership in providing the world’s most energy-efficient computing platforms.

VIA Technologies announcement of the VIA pc3500 Mainboard, which is a low power, feature-rich platform, he said, enables Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators to build Windows Vista Basic PCs that draw less than 24 watts in Idle State – less than half the requirement of the US EPA’s latest Energy Star Program Requirement for Computers: Version 4.0.

He explained that to draw less than 24 Watts when in Idle, a system based around the VIA pc3500 Mainboard draws only 1.09 watts when in sleep mode, and 0.68 Watts in standby (off mode), comfortably meeting the latest energy star requirements for a category A system.

According to him, the system even draws less than 35 watts when playing back a Digital Video Display (DVD), one of the most power-intensive computing applications.

“With the launch of VIA pc3500 mainboard we are leading the way in developing innovative low power platforms that enable our OEM and SI customers to meet the growing worldwide demand for energy-efficient PCs,” he declared, adding that consumers and business users who purchase PCs based on the VIA pc3500 mainboard will not only be able to significantly reduce their energy costs but also minimize their environmental impact while running all the latest software applications.

Mr. Brown pointed out that the VIA pc3500 is the latest addition to the energy efficient VIA pc-1 Mainboard line, and is based on the VIA CN896 digital media IGP chipset, featuring the VIA Chrome9 HC IGP with a DirectX 9.0 3D accelerator for high performance, a 2D accelerator for productivity applications, and the Chromotion 3.0 video display engine for advanced hardware-based video processing.

Combined with the power efficient VIA C7-D processor supporting the 400MHz VIA V4 bus, the VIA pc3500 mainboard delivers high performance and a rich digital media experience at an average power consumption of less than 25 watts.

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Docemo launches services for SMEs

Experts in empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to optimise Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) tools, Docemo Business Systems, has launched its services in the country.

President, Docemo Business Systems, Prince Michael Docemo told Champion Infotel in Lagos that by opening its office in Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the nation, they are now ready for business in the most populous nation in West Africa.

According to him, Docemo has been in operation for over five years offering ICT-related training and advice to SMEs and decided to replicate the same services in the country.

He stressed that in ICT industry, Docemo has an edge in offering training for SMEs through enabling them to derive insight from customer relation management (CRM) modules to keep them in touch with their customers.

Prince Docemo also said that his firm’s focus would be on hands-on training to boost the application of IT tools by participants in its training.

“We try to focus on those who have theoretical experience by converting this knowledge into practices,” he said.

Docemo president accompanied by the Marketing Executive and Support Engineer, Messrs Emmanuel Okoye and Segun Bello, further said that his firm conducted a study in order to ensure that the business modules being introduced are in tandem with demands.

“We have done a study on this kind of project and we know people are looking for well-trained individuals,” he said.

Equally speaking the Managing Director of the company, Mrs Olori Maxine Docemo, said that its training takes up to six months segmented into phases of three months for practical and internship.

As said by her, the first three months would be devoted in acquiring practical experience for participants while the next three months would be for industrial training.

This, she said, would enable any participant have adequate practical to withstand the challenges in working environment.

“It takes six months - three months on practical which would be in house and another three months in the field and would cost about N70,000 per trainee,” she said.

Mrs Docemo expressed optimistic that the future looks really bright in the country in this kind of specialised training for SMEs.

“We’re really prepared to face the challenges in the Nigerian environment,” she declared.

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Telkom SA explains acquisition of Multi-Links

Telkom South Africa has explained why it recently acquired a Nigerian Private Telephone Operator (PTO), Multi-Links Telecommunications Limited, describing the step as a marriage of two giants across the continent, event as it said Multi-Link is a financially sound company.

This is coming as the telco plans to invest $1 billion in five years on Multi-Links expansion.

The South Africa’s leading fixed-line operator, Telkom, it would be recalled recently acquired 75 per cent of Multi-Links for US$280 million.

Giving this explanation, the new chief executive officer, Multi-Links, Mr. Justin Ramayia, in his maiden session with media in Lagos, said that although Telkom acquired Multi-Links based on its credential of quality of service and similarity in good corporate governance.

According to him, Multi-Links is a pioneer private telephone operator that was established in 1994 and got its first license to operate Private Network licenses on May 1, 1996.

He stressed that Multi-Links is an established trusted brand in telecommunications market in Nigeria.

“Known for good corporate governance, renowned for good service quality and has pioneered CDMA 2000 deployment in Africa,” he said.

Mr. Ramayia equally declared that Multi-Links is a financially sound telecommunications company, adding that investment into the telco in Nigeria would boost Information and Communication Technology knowledge and skills transfer that is needed to grow the industry.

He emphasised that Multi-Links’ subscribers within Lagos and its environs enjoy reliable wireless telephone service integrated with high speed Internet service.

Multi-Links, it was gathered has a loyal subscriber base of more than 100,000 and with its recent expansion the company is positioned to enhance this to over 500,000 by the end of 2006.

On the other hand, Telkom said it would bring its leadership on the continent to bear on the growth of the company as the largest fixed line operator in Africa.

Other services Telkom boast of include voice, data services, IPLC, leased hosting services, e-commerce platform and security among others.

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‘Reltel is CDMA company of the year’

The latest United Access Licensee, Reltelwireless, said it has won the “Coded Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Company of the Year,” at the Nigerian Telecoms Awards, held recently in Lagos.

Head, Corporate Communications at ReltelWireless, Mr. Oge Udeagha, informed that by this award, Reltelwireless has now won all the awards, from different industry, media and government organizations, in the CDMA category of the Nigerian telecommunications sector, from the last quarter of year 2006 till date.

Mr. Udeagha also said that the recognition was a tribute to the dedication and drive of the management, staff, dealers and other strategic partners of the company in providing best-in-class telecommunications solutions to its valued subscribers, at most cost-effective rates.

“This is not ‘yet another award’ to us. We’re extremely delighted to be recognized, once again, as the best. This one is for our subscribers whose loyalty to the network has ensured that we keep ahead of competition, and because of whom we are in business. We are humbled by this award, and wish to tell our subscribers to always expect nothing but the best telecommunications services from Reltelwireless,” he said.

According to him, ReltelWireless pioneered series of product and tariff re-engineering, and best CDMA network coverage in Nigeria, thus making us the undisputed leader of the category. These awards have confirmed this rating.”

He recalled that ReltelWireless has consistently won all recent awards in the CDMA category of the telecoms industry, including the Nigeria IT & Telecom Awards (NITTA), City People Award, Lagos Sate Government Enterprise Award among others.

Currently, he said, ReltelWireless covers more than 12 cities, with plans to go live in 30 more, within the next two months.

Reltelwireless, founded in 1998, offers fixed wireless, mobile telephone as well as high speed internet and data services.

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IT & Telecom Digest to host Ndukwe

Plans have been advanced for the hosting of the chief executive officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Chukwuka Anene Ndukwe, also known as Mr. Telecom, in Lagos, to commemorate his 59th birthday.

The occasion being organised by a Lagos-based Information and Communication Technology (ICT) magazine, IT & Telecom Digest, is scheduled to hold at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi-Lagos on Sunday, September 2, this year.

Revealing this plans to Champion Infotel, Editor-in-chief, IT & Telecom Digest, Mr. Mkpe Abang said that the event is in line to honour Dr. Ndukwe to a special dinner party specifically to celebrate him.

He also pointed out that it would be a double celebration for the NCC boss as the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operations in Nigeria mark six years of unmatched success and growth despite the odds and challenges.

“The evolution is evident in the ubiquity of the mobile phone device from the lower rung of the economic ladder to the society’s high and mighty,” he declared.

For him, Ndukwe has been widely described as an enigma not only in Nigeria but also outside the shores of the country.

“The over 38 million telephone lines growth that Nigeria has achieved under Dr. Ndukwe’s stewardship as the head of the NCC is a testament to the sheer ingenuity he has infused into the commission. It is interesting to note, and sometimes amazing to a segment of the society that the NCC is a government agency; yet it has earned the respect and even envy of the private sector,” he asserted.

noting that Ndukwe has remained unassuming, humble and modest in spite of his successes.

According to Abang, Dr. Ndukwe has given so much to his generation and the country that no amount of time or resources spent to celebrate him now or in the future should be spared.

“If we all can do even a minute part of what Ndukwe has done for this country, then certainly Nigeria will be ahead of many so-called advanced countries,” he declared.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the industry have been expressing support for the initiative taken by IT & Telecom Digest to host Mr. Telecom.

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EIU ranks Africa 4th in broadband penetration

Africa has been ranked the fourth in broadband penetration among six continents that were sampled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in the year 2007.

The study conducted by the EIU, according to the Highway Africa News Agency (HANA) reports, rated Africa as fourth in its uptake of broadband services within the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, scoring 7.4 behind North America 10, Western Europe 9.9, Central and Eastern Europe 7.6. After MEA came Latin America with 7.3 and Asia Pacific 7.1 within the six regions under review.

“Scores are on scale of 1-10, with 10 representing the highest level of affordability,” EIU stated.

Africa’s positive but slow response to broadband is attributed to Africa’s gradual liberalisation of the telecommunications market.

EIU precisely cited South Africa as an example of where broadband deployment progress has made broadband access much more affordable in recent years if online retails sales are anything to go by, said the report.

“South African e-commerce consultancy World Wide Worx reports that online sales of consumer goods grew by 25 per cent in 2006 to the tune of R688 million (about $94 million), and expects it to expand by another 35 per cent in 2007,” EIU added.

South African enterprises, the study indicated have in turn leveraged online services to manage growth more efficiently, particularly in newly competitive industries: low-cost airlines have burgeoned in South Africa in the post-apartheid era, in large part owing to online bookings.

EIU explained this phenomenon by citing four primary airlines who sell online tickets and have made a fortune of R1.8 billion in 2005, with Kulul.com accounting for 60 per cent of that trade, thus becoming the country’s largest online commerce site.

The study released at the 2007 eNNOVATE expo in Lagos, further noted that as broadband goes increasingly wireless, consumer familiarity with mobile devices such as phones and handheld computers would help individuals make the most out of the Internet.

The survey also showed that the ability to tap into broadband while on the move is increasingly becoming a contributor to improved employee productivity in many countries.

The EIU also said that this influence is not in the area of penetration only but equally its affordability to households in developing economies most of which are in Africa matters.

“Broadband is increasingly affordable in the developing world,” the white paper made available to HANA stated.

In addition, EIU pointed out that the goalpost has shifted in terms of connectivity based on broadband accessibility.

The study also shows that certain types of connectivity are proving better than others in enabling e-readiness and broadband has been found to be enjoying more effect in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry worldwide.

The study was written in co-operation with the International Business Machines (IBM) Institute for Business Value.

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ATCON partner PMM on Cyber cafe workshop

Umbrella body of telecommunications entities in the country, the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), is partnering with Private Media Mart (PMM) to organise a one-day workshop for survival for Cyber Café operators in the country.
Affirming this, ATCON president, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem said that all is now set for the workshop.
He noted that lack of information on appropriate technologies, wrong choice of hardware and software as well as poor management techniques have been the reason why many cyber café operators are closing shop.
Dr. Ekuwem pointed out that out of all the cyber cafes that began business with the boom in the Internet business within the tail end of the 20th century in Nigeria, less than 1 per cent is presently in business, adding that out of this figure, some of them are working under capacity.
He also said that the workshop is to proffer solutions to the operational challenges facing these café operators.
“ATCON in partnership with Private Media Mart Limited (PMM) has concluded plans to host a Cyber Café survival workshop in Lagos,” he declared.
According to him, the idea behind the workshop is the need to conduct a business cum technology solutions forum for the players in the industry.
The workshop, slated to hold on September 21, 2007 in Lagos, will bring together investors and prospective investors in the cyber café business to engage in knowledge sharing with providers of appropriate technologies and professional management consultants.
The technologies targeted at the workshop include, but not limited to Internet solutions, computer software, cyber café business consultants, power solutions, Internet applications, security solutions and Small and Medium Enterprise fund providers.
Daily Champion gathered that the workshop is also aimed at encouraging more potential investors to participate in efforts at accelerating the expansion of Internet services to sub urban and rural communities in Nigeria.
“That is why we are involving the Ministry of Information and Communications, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as well as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) are billed to participate,” he said.
Also speaking, Managing Partner, PMM, Mr. Ejiofor Agada said that the workshop is not going to be another discussion session for telecom industry players, stressing, “It is going to be an avenue where challenges are resolved, problems solved, cyber business interests rekindled and the high mortality rate amongst cyber cafes across the country arrested.”
The workshop will equally feature a mini exhibition where technology providers would showcase the latest solutions for cyber cafes and other Internet users.

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Celtel FDI reaches N379bn, launches SME scheme

By end of this year, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of the Pan-African Celtel Nigeria must have reached $3 billion, about N379 billion in the country, within its two years of operation.

Disclosing this at the launch of the telco’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) scheme in Lagos on Tuesday, the chief executive, Celtel Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of MTC Group, Mr. Adebayo Ligali, said that the mobile company targeted investment profile by December 31, 2007 would be about $3 billion.

“By the end of 2007, Celtel Nigeria, through our parent company, the MTC Group would have invested a total of $3 billion FDI in Nigeria in two years. The launch of this SMEs bundle pack today is yet another promise kept aimed at making life better for our customers,” he declared.

He also said that the features of the product for the SMEs involves a special number range like 0808 SME XXX has been made available in three Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards per park.

This, Celtel explained would enable SME to benefit from the friendly tariff plans structure to boost their growth and access to enjoy over 70 per cent discount on comprehensive motor insurance cover via public quoted Leadway Assurance Plc.

Mr. Ligali equally said that the bundle offer comes with entrepreneurship training opportunities, access to online SME directory as well as SME compact disc (CD) tool kit included to empower them knowledge-wise.

In addition, interested SMEs would have the opportunity to join the Celtel SME club Internet access and attend Celtel SME exhibitions, which would be sponsored by the telco.

Just as they have a dedicated first-rate customer care line available on 131* among others, which initial cost has been fixed at N3,600.

According to Mr. Ligali, the new product is aimed at empowering potential entrepreneurs to grow profitable businesses under the micro, small and medium enterprises scheme.

The special guest to the occasion and governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, represented by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Niyi Oyemade, commended Celtel for the SME initiative.

He noted that the initiative is coming at a time unemployment has assumed an exceptional height, even as he disclosed Lagos state government has begun a programme of empowering youths in gainful employment through its holiday job scheme.

Gov. Fashola also enjoined the telco to partner with the state government under the Public, Private Partnership (PPP) in “provision of social amenities through the construction of health facilities, renovation of schools within you Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budget.”

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Telkom votes N12.6 trillion on Multi-Links’ expansion

Telkom South Africa, the new owners of the pioneer Private Telephone Operator (PTO) and Unified Access compliant in the country, Multi-Links Telecommunications Limited, has announced its resolve to invest a total of $100 billion (about N12.632 trillion) on the network in the next five years.

Champion Infotel recalls that recently South Africa’s fixed-line operator, Telkom, acquired 75 per cent stake in Multi-Links for US$280 million, about N35.3 billion.

Disclosing this latest development, the new chief executive officer, Multi-Links, Mr. Justin Ramayia who led other management team to address the media in Lagos, said that the current owners of the company, Telkom South Africa is determined to expand its operations in Nigeria in all the states of the federation with voice and data services.

Mr. Ramayia also said the issue of quality would be sustained as far as the network is concerned.

“There is need for continuity and Telkom would continue with the progress made so far,” he said.

Mr. Ramayia equally said that Telkom has instituted a market research on the modules to take in repositioning the company, just as the telcom expects to grow its subscriber-base to 1 million before the end of its next financial year.

According to him, the new management would build its operation based on what he described as triple bottom line, namely people, profit and social responsibility.

“As much as we do business, we must focus on the people,” he assured.

He further lamented that almost every major operator is building its own network infrastructure in the country, which has affected SAT-3, noting that Multi-Links under Telkom is determined to do business with any entity that is willing to relate with the company.

Mr. Ramayia noted that Telkom currently has presence in South Africa, Kenya, Code d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nambia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

Telkom, he said, would soon erect a replica of its Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Nigeria to serve its West Africa market, just as there would be an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skill transfer for Nigerians.

Mr. Ramayia informed that Telkom would be deploying its security expertise to assist Nigerian security agencies, especially in Lagos State.

Multi-Links prides itself as the first to introduce the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA 2000 1X) technology in the country and have been consistent in its deployment of state-of-the-art wireless technology.

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Nigerian CSOs kick against OOXML approval

Nigerian-based Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have kicked against the plans by the global software giant, Microsoft Corporation to get its DIS 29500 "Office Open Markup Language (OOXML)" certified by the International Standard Organisation (ISO).

Daily Champion recalls that on Sunday, September 2, 2007, ISO is voting on Ecma 376, “OOXML” while various countries voting dates have been chosen at random, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is expected to hold its voting on the issue on Wednesday, 29, 2007 at its Lekki office in order to form a consensus.

But sounding a note of warning, the CSOs argued that OOXML has several flaws that make it fall short of admission into a global standard, more so by ISO.

XML is a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) initiative that allows information and services to be encoded with meaningful structure and semantics, which computers and humans could understand. XML is great for information exchange, and could easily be extended to include user-specified and industry-specified tags.

“The DIS 29500 Office Open XML h (OOXML) does not meet the criteria defined by ISO and others for an International Standard, “ CSOs insisted.

According to sources close to the body, OOXML is an immature documentation of one vendor’s proprietary document format, which depends on software patents held by this vendor.

This, CSOs noted, block interoperability, hence its in conflict with existing ISO standards.

“More than two hundred other technical comments have been raised by industry, academics, researchers, and experts,“ our source informed, stressing that the ISO JTC-1 directive paragraph 48 section 9.8 requires national bodies to vote “NO with comments” if there remain unanswered technical problems.

“The accuracy and honesty of the voting process has been questioned in many countries,” our sources added.

Already, a website www. NoOOXML.org has added voice to the calls on all ISO members to apply the proper rigor and allow sufficient time to examine all technical comments by ensuring a fair and accurate vote in all advisory committees under a neutral chairman.

Just as experts advised that by abstaining from voting would not be in the best interest of any country.

It was also gathered that SON intends to call for stakeholders meeting in its office in Lekki to ensure full community participation.

“They plan to call a stakeholder meeting on Wednesday next week but confirmed that they can also accept email inputs,“ our source declared.

The Wednesday meeting, our source added, is where they want stakeholders to present facts for or against the proposed standard.

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