... As Nigeria, China finalize deal on satellite 2, 3
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and its Chinese counterpart have reached agreement on the replacement of the nation’s NigComSAT-1, which was de-orbited early last November, just as the tentative completion date for the replaced satellite to return to orbit has been scheduled for last quarter of 2010.
These indications were given, last weekend, by sources close to the presidency, even as another casualty was recorded in the global satellite industry by the European satellite operator, SES, which culminated in the shutting down of its ASTRA 5A, based on reported technicalities.
Unlike NigComSat-1, ASTRA 5A has a back-up satellite, which paved the way for its operators, SES to commence procedures for immediate return to orbit within the possible time.
Our sources also said that in order to guard against lack of back-up in the future, the Chinese authorities has reached another deal with Nigeria to split the NigComSAT-2 and 3 into phases.
This step is anticipated to cushion the effect of any eventuality as regards to the satellite failure in the future, with its attendant lose of clientele.
To prevent a recurrence, our source continued, China has decided on a phased out plan for the unleashing of NigComSat-2 and 3, which would be built into the new deal as part of strategies to avoid the dilemma faced by NigComSat-1 customers when the solar panel of Africa’s first communication satellite failed last quarter.
ITRealms Online also gathered that in the latest deal, NigComSat- 2 and NigComSat-3 will be launched into orbit six and 12 months after the replacement of NigComSat-1 by 2010.
“Between six and 12 months after the return of NigComSAT-1, the two phased out backups will be launched,” our source said.
It was further gathered that as replacement work has commenced, under-writers across the two countries, have been working on insurance claims of the satellite by China and Nigeria.
ITRealms Online recalls that NigcomSat-1 was built by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation at a cost of $250 million. It became the first African geosynchronous communications satellite when it was launched. It is operated by NigComSat Limited.
NigComSat-1 was insured by a consortium of international insurance firms, including SpaceCo of France, Munich Cray of Germany, and the People’s Insurance Company of China.
Equally, local insurance companies, banded together as co-insurers retained about 10 per cent of the risks shared, an equivalent percentage of the premium.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Main One engages US firm, Pioneer Consulting
Main One Cable Company Limited with licenses to land its undersea cable in the country and Ghana, has engaged a United States-based telecommunications consulting, engineering and market research firm, Pioneer Consulting.
Chief Executive Officer, Main One Cable, Ms. Funke Opeke, who made this known to ITRealms Online, said the consulting firm was hired as an integral part of the Main One management team, to supervise the implementation of the network.
“It will provide expert advice while tracking the design, engineering and implementation of the project,” she said.
The development, she said would enable the company to remain focused on ensuring that deadlines are met.
“And we’re very happy at the tremendous progress we have continued to record in this regard. We trust that on completion in May 2010, the Main One project will usher a new lease of life in international connectivity on the West African coast,” Opeke assured.
In his comment, the Managing Partner, Pioneer Consulting, Mr. Howard Kidorf, expressed confidence that his team would deliver.
“Our team of experts is delighted at the opportunity to work with the team at Main One Cable Company,” he said, noting that their excitement was that Main One Cable Company recognized the import of Pioneer Consulting to deliver a comprehensive project management and engineering services that the project needs to be successful.
Director, Submarine Networks, Pioneer Consulting and lead project manager, Mr. Keith Schofield said, “Main One is progressing ahead of schedule with marine route survey activities underway and key licenses being confirmed. We have also undertaken a full contract review audit of the system supplier.”
He further pointed out that Main One Cable Company and Pioneer Consulting are determined for the busy manufacturing schedule and construction of cable stations, both in Nigeria and Ghana, to complement the Portuguese station already in place.
“Pioneer Consulting’s long experience in submarine networks makes us the natural choice for soundly implemented projects,” the project leader said.
ITRealms Online brings to mind that the phase one of the Main One undersea cable project which began since last year is expected to connect Africa through Europe to the rest of the world. The first phase is 6,900 kilometers long and will extend from Portugal to Nigeria and Ghana respectively.
The second phase is expected to extend by another 6,000 kilometers to South Africa.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Chief Executive Officer, Main One Cable, Ms. Funke Opeke, who made this known to ITRealms Online, said the consulting firm was hired as an integral part of the Main One management team, to supervise the implementation of the network.
“It will provide expert advice while tracking the design, engineering and implementation of the project,” she said.
The development, she said would enable the company to remain focused on ensuring that deadlines are met.
“And we’re very happy at the tremendous progress we have continued to record in this regard. We trust that on completion in May 2010, the Main One project will usher a new lease of life in international connectivity on the West African coast,” Opeke assured.
In his comment, the Managing Partner, Pioneer Consulting, Mr. Howard Kidorf, expressed confidence that his team would deliver.
“Our team of experts is delighted at the opportunity to work with the team at Main One Cable Company,” he said, noting that their excitement was that Main One Cable Company recognized the import of Pioneer Consulting to deliver a comprehensive project management and engineering services that the project needs to be successful.
Director, Submarine Networks, Pioneer Consulting and lead project manager, Mr. Keith Schofield said, “Main One is progressing ahead of schedule with marine route survey activities underway and key licenses being confirmed. We have also undertaken a full contract review audit of the system supplier.”
He further pointed out that Main One Cable Company and Pioneer Consulting are determined for the busy manufacturing schedule and construction of cable stations, both in Nigeria and Ghana, to complement the Portuguese station already in place.
“Pioneer Consulting’s long experience in submarine networks makes us the natural choice for soundly implemented projects,” the project leader said.
ITRealms Online brings to mind that the phase one of the Main One undersea cable project which began since last year is expected to connect Africa through Europe to the rest of the world. The first phase is 6,900 kilometers long and will extend from Portugal to Nigeria and Ghana respectively.
The second phase is expected to extend by another 6,000 kilometers to South Africa.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
20 millionaires to emerge in Zain Valentine promo
Zain Nigeria has introduced a Valentine Millionaire promo scheduled to make 20 subscribers on the network millionaires within one month.
The promo which is to run for four weeks is expected to produce at least, 5 millionaires per week.
The promo designed to give many Nigerians and especially subscribers on Zain network a lift financially, despite the current global meltdown, was introduced to provide people with the wherewithal to celebrate Valentine Day.
Head, Corporate Communications, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, who announced this, said the promo which commenced last Tuesday, January 20, 2009, nationwide, would end on February 16, 2009.
“The Promo is opened to every subscriber of Zain Nigeria,” he said.
Weekly, he said, winners would be selected and announced every Monday via the mass media during the duration of the promo.
“Cash prizes will be presented to the winners later in line with the terms of the promo,” Oparah said.
He explained that 30 successful participants would emerge winners weekly, out of which the top five among them would receive N1,000,000.00, (a million naira) each, while 25 others will receive N100,000.00 Naira.
He also said that in all, 20 lucky participants will become millionaires, while 100 (one hundred) other winners will receive N100,000.00 each.
Oparah enlightened that in order to participate in the Valentine promo, Zain subscribers in the country are expected to use a minimum of N100 daily for one week, that is, Tuesday through Monday.
“A minimum usage of N700 per week in N100 usage per day for seven days, will guarantee the participant one entry for a weekly draw,” he said.
Participants, he said, could enhance their chances of becoming millionaires by increasing the number of entries during the promo duration.
To increase subscribers’ chances of winning, Oparah advised Zain customers to participate in the weekly promo cycle throughout the four weeks by ensuring that they use, at least, N100 daily during the designated period of the promo.
“We want our customers to derive more value from the use of their phones. We are determined to improve the financial profile of many Nigerians, lifting many out of poverty and enriching those who are not exactly poor but desire to have more money,” said Oparah.
According to him, the promo has been carefully timed for the Valentine period when people need money to buy gifts or go on holiday with their loved ones.
“Weekly, our promo will produce millionaires and other winners,” he declared.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The promo which is to run for four weeks is expected to produce at least, 5 millionaires per week.
The promo designed to give many Nigerians and especially subscribers on Zain network a lift financially, despite the current global meltdown, was introduced to provide people with the wherewithal to celebrate Valentine Day.
Head, Corporate Communications, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, who announced this, said the promo which commenced last Tuesday, January 20, 2009, nationwide, would end on February 16, 2009.
“The Promo is opened to every subscriber of Zain Nigeria,” he said.
Weekly, he said, winners would be selected and announced every Monday via the mass media during the duration of the promo.
“Cash prizes will be presented to the winners later in line with the terms of the promo,” Oparah said.
He explained that 30 successful participants would emerge winners weekly, out of which the top five among them would receive N1,000,000.00, (a million naira) each, while 25 others will receive N100,000.00 Naira.
He also said that in all, 20 lucky participants will become millionaires, while 100 (one hundred) other winners will receive N100,000.00 each.
Oparah enlightened that in order to participate in the Valentine promo, Zain subscribers in the country are expected to use a minimum of N100 daily for one week, that is, Tuesday through Monday.
“A minimum usage of N700 per week in N100 usage per day for seven days, will guarantee the participant one entry for a weekly draw,” he said.
Participants, he said, could enhance their chances of becoming millionaires by increasing the number of entries during the promo duration.
To increase subscribers’ chances of winning, Oparah advised Zain customers to participate in the weekly promo cycle throughout the four weeks by ensuring that they use, at least, N100 daily during the designated period of the promo.
“We want our customers to derive more value from the use of their phones. We are determined to improve the financial profile of many Nigerians, lifting many out of poverty and enriching those who are not exactly poor but desire to have more money,” said Oparah.
According to him, the promo has been carefully timed for the Valentine period when people need money to buy gifts or go on holiday with their loved ones.
“Weekly, our promo will produce millionaires and other winners,” he declared.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Internet growth records 23.4% in 2008 - IWS
Internet World Statistics (IWS) has declared a fantastic growth in the internet penetration globally to the tune of over 1,573,269,743 persons worldwide, in the just ended year, 2008.
This, IWS said, amounts to 23.4 per cent penetration rate as at the last quarter of 2008.
IWS justified its percentage mark based on the considerate global population of 6,708,755,756 persons according to the United States’ Census Bureau data.
In efforts at setting the records straight, IWS informed in a press statement, last Sunday that Internet had fantastic expansion in 2008, because almost every region of the world recorded interesting growth.
“All world regions showed growth, however, at very different rates,” part of the press statement read.
However, IWS attributed this development to cultural, social and economic differences.
“It is quite normal due to cultural, social, and economic differences prevailing in each part of the world as well as the already existing number of users in each region,” IWS said.
IWS further noted that it did not want to publish this information before now, but due to various conflicting reports, it was forced to, hence it apologized for publishing partial result.
“… Because, we have not finished updating all the Internet World Stats website. Circumstances beyond our control have forced us to speak up and publish partially updated statistics, sorry about this.”
According to IWS, useful growth trends were evident at the various geographic regions, noting that the number of Internet users in the world grew by 253,397,634 persons in 2008 alone.
This, IWS said represents a 19.2 per cent yearly increase with regard to the number of estimated users that existed one year ago at year-end 2007.
Described as the “early adopters” IWS said North America and Australia showed the smallest growth in the year under review.
“This is considered a normal behavior because the “early adopters” have already completed their fast growth phase,” IWS explained, pointing out that the Internet penetration rates were already very high in those areas.
The territories and regions identified as “late adopters” logically are just initiating their high growth rates, such as South America, the Middle East the Caribbean, and Africa show this trend, with corresponding high growth rates of 63.2 per cent, 34.6 per cent, 33.6 per cent and 19.8 per cent.
IWS noted that Internet users in Europe increased by 48,709,081 persons, while the region finalizes its fast growth phase, evidenced by the low 14.0 per cent growth rate.
Asia, on the other hand, according to the report, is just starting its high growth phase and the current growth rate of 26.8 per cent would soon go up.
“Asia Internet users increased by 136,689,484 persons and is by far the region with the largest population of Internet users,” IWS said.
The current low Internet penetration rate in Asia indicates that there is much potential for future Internet usage growth in Asia.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
This, IWS said, amounts to 23.4 per cent penetration rate as at the last quarter of 2008.
IWS justified its percentage mark based on the considerate global population of 6,708,755,756 persons according to the United States’ Census Bureau data.
In efforts at setting the records straight, IWS informed in a press statement, last Sunday that Internet had fantastic expansion in 2008, because almost every region of the world recorded interesting growth.
“All world regions showed growth, however, at very different rates,” part of the press statement read.
However, IWS attributed this development to cultural, social and economic differences.
“It is quite normal due to cultural, social, and economic differences prevailing in each part of the world as well as the already existing number of users in each region,” IWS said.
IWS further noted that it did not want to publish this information before now, but due to various conflicting reports, it was forced to, hence it apologized for publishing partial result.
“… Because, we have not finished updating all the Internet World Stats website. Circumstances beyond our control have forced us to speak up and publish partially updated statistics, sorry about this.”
According to IWS, useful growth trends were evident at the various geographic regions, noting that the number of Internet users in the world grew by 253,397,634 persons in 2008 alone.
This, IWS said represents a 19.2 per cent yearly increase with regard to the number of estimated users that existed one year ago at year-end 2007.
Described as the “early adopters” IWS said North America and Australia showed the smallest growth in the year under review.
“This is considered a normal behavior because the “early adopters” have already completed their fast growth phase,” IWS explained, pointing out that the Internet penetration rates were already very high in those areas.
The territories and regions identified as “late adopters” logically are just initiating their high growth rates, such as South America, the Middle East the Caribbean, and Africa show this trend, with corresponding high growth rates of 63.2 per cent, 34.6 per cent, 33.6 per cent and 19.8 per cent.
IWS noted that Internet users in Europe increased by 48,709,081 persons, while the region finalizes its fast growth phase, evidenced by the low 14.0 per cent growth rate.
Asia, on the other hand, according to the report, is just starting its high growth phase and the current growth rate of 26.8 per cent would soon go up.
“Asia Internet users increased by 136,689,484 persons and is by far the region with the largest population of Internet users,” IWS said.
The current low Internet penetration rate in Asia indicates that there is much potential for future Internet usage growth in Asia.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Telecom subscribers lose 1m handsets annually – Expert
Annually, telecommunications subscribers in the country an estimated 1 million mobile phones are reportedly stolen, according to the chief executive officer, NetVisa GSMSecured Nigeria Limited, Prince Emeka Uchendu.
NetVisa was licensed three years by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to put in place the relevant strategies for the implementation of an anti-theft mobile phone initiative in collaboration with the regulator.
Uchendu, who gave this insight last weekend in Lagos, in a chat with newsmen, on the preparation of his firm for the commissioning of the nation’s Central Equipment Identity Registry (CEIR), said that all is set for the official of the registry by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Declaring that registration of stolen phones would be free-of-charge as from February 2009, Prince Uchendu, said that precisely, Nigerians reported in the last eight years of GSM advent, more than 750,000 stolen mobile phones.
“Between 750,000 and 1m are reportedly stolen per year. Each year in Nigeria, more than 750,000 mobile phones are reported lost or stolen,” he asserted.
Stressing that this figure precisely depicts that 1423 mobile phones are lost each week, or “Eight mobile phones are lost every hour.”
He said that several stolen mobile phones were taken from cars, social venues such as restaurants, bars and clubs.
While mobile handsets stolen from cars represented 28 per cent, Uchendu noted that those lost at eatery accounts to 20 per cent, pointing out that a substantial number of thefts occur at the homes of the victims, thus recording nine (9) per cent, whereas workplace witnessed eight (8) per cent.
Also, Prince Uchendu said that most mobile phones reported stolen were on Monday.
“Phone thefts have also been reported in several armed robberies. Most phones are reported as lost or stolen on Monday, suggesting that most phones go missing over the weekend,” he declared.
Explaining that blocking of mobile phones is not limited to GSM handsets alone, but cut across all mobile devices, especially phones.
“All mobile network operators, both GSM and CDMA – Code Division Multiple Access – send a list of phones to be blocked or unblocked each day or in real time and also receive the details of phones to be blocked or unblocked from the other service providers,” he enlightened.
NetVisa, he said, has the facilities to engage the operators once a mobile phone has been reported missing.
“The whole process is facilitated through an Electronic Information Exchange messaging platform hosted and operated by NetVisa Mobile Device Security,” he said.
Further, he said, that Tuesday, January 27, the federal government would commission the nation’s CEIR spearheaded by NCC, maintaining that registration of stolen phones would be free-of-charge.
According to him, the initiative slated to be officially opened by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was conceived by the government through NCC, while it was put in place by NetVisa GSMSecured Limited, in affiliation with the global operators group, the GSM Association (GSMA) and Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Uchendu also said that the commissioning would pave the way for the full implementation of the project by all mobile operators in the country, through enabling telecom operators to be cautious of stolen phones and block same when eventually it is appropriately reported by their owners.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
NetVisa was licensed three years by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to put in place the relevant strategies for the implementation of an anti-theft mobile phone initiative in collaboration with the regulator.
Uchendu, who gave this insight last weekend in Lagos, in a chat with newsmen, on the preparation of his firm for the commissioning of the nation’s Central Equipment Identity Registry (CEIR), said that all is set for the official of the registry by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Declaring that registration of stolen phones would be free-of-charge as from February 2009, Prince Uchendu, said that precisely, Nigerians reported in the last eight years of GSM advent, more than 750,000 stolen mobile phones.
“Between 750,000 and 1m are reportedly stolen per year. Each year in Nigeria, more than 750,000 mobile phones are reported lost or stolen,” he asserted.
Stressing that this figure precisely depicts that 1423 mobile phones are lost each week, or “Eight mobile phones are lost every hour.”
He said that several stolen mobile phones were taken from cars, social venues such as restaurants, bars and clubs.
While mobile handsets stolen from cars represented 28 per cent, Uchendu noted that those lost at eatery accounts to 20 per cent, pointing out that a substantial number of thefts occur at the homes of the victims, thus recording nine (9) per cent, whereas workplace witnessed eight (8) per cent.
Also, Prince Uchendu said that most mobile phones reported stolen were on Monday.
“Phone thefts have also been reported in several armed robberies. Most phones are reported as lost or stolen on Monday, suggesting that most phones go missing over the weekend,” he declared.
Explaining that blocking of mobile phones is not limited to GSM handsets alone, but cut across all mobile devices, especially phones.
“All mobile network operators, both GSM and CDMA – Code Division Multiple Access – send a list of phones to be blocked or unblocked each day or in real time and also receive the details of phones to be blocked or unblocked from the other service providers,” he enlightened.
NetVisa, he said, has the facilities to engage the operators once a mobile phone has been reported missing.
“The whole process is facilitated through an Electronic Information Exchange messaging platform hosted and operated by NetVisa Mobile Device Security,” he said.
Further, he said, that Tuesday, January 27, the federal government would commission the nation’s CEIR spearheaded by NCC, maintaining that registration of stolen phones would be free-of-charge.
According to him, the initiative slated to be officially opened by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was conceived by the government through NCC, while it was put in place by NetVisa GSMSecured Limited, in affiliation with the global operators group, the GSM Association (GSMA) and Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Uchendu also said that the commissioning would pave the way for the full implementation of the project by all mobile operators in the country, through enabling telecom operators to be cautious of stolen phones and block same when eventually it is appropriately reported by their owners.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Monday, January 26, 2009
Omatek to unveil latest smart notebooks
On 8", 10"
Leading local Personal Computer (PC) assembly firm in the country, Omatek Plc, said that it has perfected strategies to unveil its latest and advanced version of smart notebooks. The new device comes in the eight and 10 inches categories.
Chief Executive Officer, Omatek Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki who made these disclosures in Lagos, at a media launch last week said that the latest smart notebooks from the stable of her company are coming due to customers’ demands.
According to her, the eight and 10 inches notebooks were initially manufactured for pupils, but demands spur her company to advance on the qualities and features of the smart notebooks to be optimally useful for even the working class who want to look smart and still be mobile.
Although she noted that the initial batch of 8 and 10 inches notebook from Omatek has the same specifications, their hard-disc sizes have improved from 216 to 512 and from 512 to 1 Gigabytes.
The batteries, she said, are normal computer batteries such that can last up to an hour or more, while the weight is lighter than before with strong Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) presence.
Also, the latest smart notebooks, she said, come with the Microsoft Starter Edition and could be used for the implementation of the Schoolnet.
“All we have to do is to load it and that’s the end of the story,” she declared.
Even as it is preloaded with Linux Operating System (OS) which offers the Open Office, a similar to Microsoft Word.
As of today, Mrs. Seriki said that Omatek is repackaging its education scheme; electronic youth (e-youth), e-tertiary to form Omatek for Education Initiative.
According to her, both states and local governments can tap into this initiative to better the lots of all categories of students in the nation’s school system.
Above all, Omatek, she said, has entered into partnership with the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom to ensure that it delivers on this new deal with internet connectivity.
“Our USB (Universal Serial Bus) Internet modem is very compact for mobile people,” she said.
She underlined the fact that the scheme would continue to enjoy the support of the likes of First Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
She pointed out that the latest Omatek smart notebooks, especially the 8” for instance is AMD Geode LX 800, 500 Mega Hertz (MHz), while the Central Processing Unit (CPU) has 0.9 Watts processor.
Equally, she said, that it is a mobility notebook with alloy casing, stressing that both 8” and 10” have been renewed with ultra low voltage processors and low power consumption.
The 8”, she said, for instance, has 800 x 480 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) resolutions, upgradeable memory sizes of 256 megabits (Mb), 512 Mb and 1 Gigabytes.
On the storage, Mrs. Seriki explained that the product now has 2.5 inch 60 Gegabytes of hard disc drive (HDD), whereas the battery capacity is now 400mAh, in addition to having wireless local area network (LAN) 802.11b/g, two USB ports, SD, MS, MMC compatible as well as 0.3 Mega pixels camera.
The same, she said, also apply to the new 10” with a wider screen size for feasibility, just as she allayed the fears of smart notebooks not having compact disc drive (CD), explaining that Omatek has made provision for slim portable optical drive to be attached to the package, which uses USB 2.0 connection.
This, she further said, could be used for CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW. Combo, DVD-RW.
ITRealms Online recalls that Omatek Computers Ghana Limited, recently launched its e-xpress consumer initiative to make computer acquisition easy and affordable.
Launched in conjunction with the Ministry of Communication under the umbrella of the Ghana Government Assisted PC Programme otherwise known as i-Advance, Omatek e-xpress Consumer Scheme comes with a huge funding support from partnering banks which makes it easy for civil servants, corporate executives, corporate organizations, educational institutions, small and medium enterprise (SME’s) as well as students to acquire computers through a convenient payment plan which spans between 12 and 24 months.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki said the collaboration between Omatek e-xpress scheme and the i-Advance will help to bridge the digital divide, while enhancing IT penetration in Ghana.
Mrs. Seriki said, Omatek remains the only company in East, West and Central Africa that produces computers and casings from Completely Knocked Down (CKD) components sourced from the highest grades of manufacturers, thereby making all Omatek computers of world-class standards comparable to any other foreign brand.
She further said that the international quality consciousness for Omatek brand of products is reflected in ‘The Best Systems Builder Award’ presented by Microsoft in 2005.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Leading local Personal Computer (PC) assembly firm in the country, Omatek Plc, said that it has perfected strategies to unveil its latest and advanced version of smart notebooks. The new device comes in the eight and 10 inches categories.
Chief Executive Officer, Omatek Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki who made these disclosures in Lagos, at a media launch last week said that the latest smart notebooks from the stable of her company are coming due to customers’ demands.
According to her, the eight and 10 inches notebooks were initially manufactured for pupils, but demands spur her company to advance on the qualities and features of the smart notebooks to be optimally useful for even the working class who want to look smart and still be mobile.
Although she noted that the initial batch of 8 and 10 inches notebook from Omatek has the same specifications, their hard-disc sizes have improved from 216 to 512 and from 512 to 1 Gigabytes.
The batteries, she said, are normal computer batteries such that can last up to an hour or more, while the weight is lighter than before with strong Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) presence.
Also, the latest smart notebooks, she said, come with the Microsoft Starter Edition and could be used for the implementation of the Schoolnet.
“All we have to do is to load it and that’s the end of the story,” she declared.
Even as it is preloaded with Linux Operating System (OS) which offers the Open Office, a similar to Microsoft Word.
As of today, Mrs. Seriki said that Omatek is repackaging its education scheme; electronic youth (e-youth), e-tertiary to form Omatek for Education Initiative.
According to her, both states and local governments can tap into this initiative to better the lots of all categories of students in the nation’s school system.
Above all, Omatek, she said, has entered into partnership with the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom to ensure that it delivers on this new deal with internet connectivity.
“Our USB (Universal Serial Bus) Internet modem is very compact for mobile people,” she said.
She underlined the fact that the scheme would continue to enjoy the support of the likes of First Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
She pointed out that the latest Omatek smart notebooks, especially the 8” for instance is AMD Geode LX 800, 500 Mega Hertz (MHz), while the Central Processing Unit (CPU) has 0.9 Watts processor.
Equally, she said, that it is a mobility notebook with alloy casing, stressing that both 8” and 10” have been renewed with ultra low voltage processors and low power consumption.
The 8”, she said, for instance, has 800 x 480 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) resolutions, upgradeable memory sizes of 256 megabits (Mb), 512 Mb and 1 Gigabytes.
On the storage, Mrs. Seriki explained that the product now has 2.5 inch 60 Gegabytes of hard disc drive (HDD), whereas the battery capacity is now 400mAh, in addition to having wireless local area network (LAN) 802.11b/g, two USB ports, SD, MS, MMC compatible as well as 0.3 Mega pixels camera.
The same, she said, also apply to the new 10” with a wider screen size for feasibility, just as she allayed the fears of smart notebooks not having compact disc drive (CD), explaining that Omatek has made provision for slim portable optical drive to be attached to the package, which uses USB 2.0 connection.
This, she further said, could be used for CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW. Combo, DVD-RW.
ITRealms Online recalls that Omatek Computers Ghana Limited, recently launched its e-xpress consumer initiative to make computer acquisition easy and affordable.
Launched in conjunction with the Ministry of Communication under the umbrella of the Ghana Government Assisted PC Programme otherwise known as i-Advance, Omatek e-xpress Consumer Scheme comes with a huge funding support from partnering banks which makes it easy for civil servants, corporate executives, corporate organizations, educational institutions, small and medium enterprise (SME’s) as well as students to acquire computers through a convenient payment plan which spans between 12 and 24 months.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki said the collaboration between Omatek e-xpress scheme and the i-Advance will help to bridge the digital divide, while enhancing IT penetration in Ghana.
Mrs. Seriki said, Omatek remains the only company in East, West and Central Africa that produces computers and casings from Completely Knocked Down (CKD) components sourced from the highest grades of manufacturers, thereby making all Omatek computers of world-class standards comparable to any other foreign brand.
She further said that the international quality consciousness for Omatek brand of products is reflected in ‘The Best Systems Builder Award’ presented by Microsoft in 2005.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
1st Edo ICT summit holds in May
Plans have reached an advanced stage for the hosting of the maiden first Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) summit in Edo State. The event is slated to hold in May this year.
The event being organized by the Invest magazine a quarterly journal that projects Nigeria as a profitable destination for trade, tourism and investment in collaboration with Centurion Information Technologies (CIT).
Head, Media & Marketing for the 1st Edo ICT Summit 2009, Mr. Tunde Omiwole, told ITRealms Online at the weekend that the technology event has been scheduled to hold in Benin-City, Edo State, from May 18-20, 2009.
“The summit aims to help to create a world-class information and communications technology industry in Edo State to support the state’s economic transformation in the years ahead,” he said.
Omiwole who noted that the theme of the summit would be on “Leveraging ICT as a Competitive Economic Advantage,” emphasized that the objectives of the summit include to mobilize the Edo State business class throughout the country to invest massively in ICT in the state and in its 18 local governments areas; to tap generously into the technological resources of the Edo State diaspora populations in the developed world; and to mobilize Edo State tertiary educational institutions to become change agents.
Omiwole in a press statement also made available to ITRealms Online quoted the publisher, Invest, Mr. Frederick Apeji, as saying that the forthcoming 1st Edo ICT Summit 2009, will provide a platform to analyze the current realities of the economy of Edo State.
“And to discourage over-dependence on the oil-generated federal allocations, as its major available resource for economic growth,” he said, stressing that the ultimate goal is to create a ‘silicon valley’ in Benin-City, Edo State, during the next decade.
“The summit will therefore focus on what to do and how to do it, starting from 2009,” Apeji declared.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, CIT, Mr. Ugochukwu Mpamugo, said that his firm is pleased to partner in this project, which he described as a visionary technology project for Edo State.
“We believe that Nigerian states should identify certain niches around which to grow their economies,” he asserted.
Mpamugo further said that with the well-established tradition of promoting tertiary education on a massive scale, Edo State is a good candidate to spearhead an ICT revolution in the country.
“We, therefore, look forward to contributing our expertise and growing experience in public sector ICT consulting to make this summit a success,” he said.
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The event being organized by the Invest magazine a quarterly journal that projects Nigeria as a profitable destination for trade, tourism and investment in collaboration with Centurion Information Technologies (CIT).
Head, Media & Marketing for the 1st Edo ICT Summit 2009, Mr. Tunde Omiwole, told ITRealms Online at the weekend that the technology event has been scheduled to hold in Benin-City, Edo State, from May 18-20, 2009.
“The summit aims to help to create a world-class information and communications technology industry in Edo State to support the state’s economic transformation in the years ahead,” he said.
Omiwole who noted that the theme of the summit would be on “Leveraging ICT as a Competitive Economic Advantage,” emphasized that the objectives of the summit include to mobilize the Edo State business class throughout the country to invest massively in ICT in the state and in its 18 local governments areas; to tap generously into the technological resources of the Edo State diaspora populations in the developed world; and to mobilize Edo State tertiary educational institutions to become change agents.
Omiwole in a press statement also made available to ITRealms Online quoted the publisher, Invest, Mr. Frederick Apeji, as saying that the forthcoming 1st Edo ICT Summit 2009, will provide a platform to analyze the current realities of the economy of Edo State.
“And to discourage over-dependence on the oil-generated federal allocations, as its major available resource for economic growth,” he said, stressing that the ultimate goal is to create a ‘silicon valley’ in Benin-City, Edo State, during the next decade.
“The summit will therefore focus on what to do and how to do it, starting from 2009,” Apeji declared.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, CIT, Mr. Ugochukwu Mpamugo, said that his firm is pleased to partner in this project, which he described as a visionary technology project for Edo State.
“We believe that Nigerian states should identify certain niches around which to grow their economies,” he asserted.
Mpamugo further said that with the well-established tradition of promoting tertiary education on a massive scale, Edo State is a good candidate to spearhead an ICT revolution in the country.
“We, therefore, look forward to contributing our expertise and growing experience in public sector ICT consulting to make this summit a success,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Millionaires emerge @ Nokia Gift Fest promo
Two more winners last week emerged at the Nokia’s Gift Fest promotion currently on the third draw, as they won one million Naira each.
Those who emerged at the latest draw include a recharge cards dealer, Rotiba Gbenga and a staff of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Hassan Fatai.
While Fatai, who bought the phone for his brother received the news with skepticism, Gbenga, who lives in Ketu, Alapere in Lagos, simply went into a frenzy screaming.
Champion Infotel recalled that the draw saw 15 people in the white category winning 50,000 each; six in the Green category winning 100,000; four winning N250,000 in the red category; two in the Gold category winning 500,000, while two in the Blue category won one million naira each.
Speaking at the event held in Lagos, Manager, Retail and Customer Marketing, Nokia, Mrs. Titi Olubiyi, said that Nokia used the promo to appreciate its loyal consumers and to empower them financially during and after the yuletide.
She also said that Nokia thought of a perfect gift that would be convenient and create some excitement around its brands, promising that 2009 will be more exciting.
“Any Nokia brand with 12 months warranty logo sticker on the box, qualifies everybody to participate in the Nokia Gift Fest,” she said.
She equally said the company is always thinking of new ways to reward its customers and that the next promo will be for the Valentine urging its customers to watch out for it.
The event further saw the presentation of cash prizes to winners of the second draw in the various categories that were present.
In her comment at the occasion, Communications Manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mrs. Ngozi Anene, said everybody irrespective of the type of phone purchased, is qualified as longs as the handset has the Nokia warranty logo sticker.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Those who emerged at the latest draw include a recharge cards dealer, Rotiba Gbenga and a staff of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Hassan Fatai.
While Fatai, who bought the phone for his brother received the news with skepticism, Gbenga, who lives in Ketu, Alapere in Lagos, simply went into a frenzy screaming.
Champion Infotel recalled that the draw saw 15 people in the white category winning 50,000 each; six in the Green category winning 100,000; four winning N250,000 in the red category; two in the Gold category winning 500,000, while two in the Blue category won one million naira each.
Speaking at the event held in Lagos, Manager, Retail and Customer Marketing, Nokia, Mrs. Titi Olubiyi, said that Nokia used the promo to appreciate its loyal consumers and to empower them financially during and after the yuletide.
She also said that Nokia thought of a perfect gift that would be convenient and create some excitement around its brands, promising that 2009 will be more exciting.
“Any Nokia brand with 12 months warranty logo sticker on the box, qualifies everybody to participate in the Nokia Gift Fest,” she said.
She equally said the company is always thinking of new ways to reward its customers and that the next promo will be for the Valentine urging its customers to watch out for it.
The event further saw the presentation of cash prizes to winners of the second draw in the various categories that were present.
In her comment at the occasion, Communications Manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mrs. Ngozi Anene, said everybody irrespective of the type of phone purchased, is qualified as longs as the handset has the Nokia warranty logo sticker.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
EFF solicits support on FreeYourPhone campaign
San Francisco-based non-governmental organization, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is soliciting public’s support in its new campaign to free cell phones from the software locks that stifle competition and cripple consumers.
A press statement endorsed by the Civil Liberties Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Ms. Jennifer Stisa Granick and Senior Intellectual Property Attorney at EFF, Mr. Fred von Lohmann, said that the campaign’s website is FreeYourPhone.org.
According to them, hundreds of thousands of cell phone owners have modified their phones to connect to a new service provider or run the software of their choosing, and many more would like to.
“But the threat of litigation under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has driven them underground,” EFF said.
They noted that the DMCA prohibits “circumventing” technical protection measures used to protect copyrighted works. But many cell phone manufacturers and service providers build these software locks to protect their business models instead of copyrighted material.
“Apple locks its iPhone to AT&T and prevents users from installing any software that has not been pre-approved by Apple,” said EFF Senior Intellectual Property Attorney Fred von Lohmann, insisting that consumers need a DMCA exemption to lift the cloud of legal risk that otherwise serves only to reduce competition and consumer choice.
Every three years, the U.S. Copyright Office convenes a rulemaking to consider granting exemptions to the DMCA’s ban on circumvention to mitigate the consumer harm. EFF has already filed exemption requests with the Copyright Office addressing the issues, but the rulemaking proceeding also accepts public comments about the proposals.
“Companies are using the DMCA to threaten customers out of exercising their consumer rights,” said EFF Civil Liberties Director Jennifer Granick, who stressed that the Copyright Office needs to hear real stories about how these software locks frustrate consumers and developers.
On FreeYourPhone.org, people can sign EFF’s petition to the Copyright Office and share their stories about cell phone frustrations. EFF will also help people officially submit those stories to the Copyright Office before the February 2 deadline.
The Copyright Office will hold public hearings on the DMCA exemption requests in Washington, DC, and California in the spring, and the final rule making order will be issued in October.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
A press statement endorsed by the Civil Liberties Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Ms. Jennifer Stisa Granick and Senior Intellectual Property Attorney at EFF, Mr. Fred von Lohmann, said that the campaign’s website is FreeYourPhone.org.
According to them, hundreds of thousands of cell phone owners have modified their phones to connect to a new service provider or run the software of their choosing, and many more would like to.
“But the threat of litigation under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has driven them underground,” EFF said.
They noted that the DMCA prohibits “circumventing” technical protection measures used to protect copyrighted works. But many cell phone manufacturers and service providers build these software locks to protect their business models instead of copyrighted material.
“Apple locks its iPhone to AT&T and prevents users from installing any software that has not been pre-approved by Apple,” said EFF Senior Intellectual Property Attorney Fred von Lohmann, insisting that consumers need a DMCA exemption to lift the cloud of legal risk that otherwise serves only to reduce competition and consumer choice.
Every three years, the U.S. Copyright Office convenes a rulemaking to consider granting exemptions to the DMCA’s ban on circumvention to mitigate the consumer harm. EFF has already filed exemption requests with the Copyright Office addressing the issues, but the rulemaking proceeding also accepts public comments about the proposals.
“Companies are using the DMCA to threaten customers out of exercising their consumer rights,” said EFF Civil Liberties Director Jennifer Granick, who stressed that the Copyright Office needs to hear real stories about how these software locks frustrate consumers and developers.
On FreeYourPhone.org, people can sign EFF’s petition to the Copyright Office and share their stories about cell phone frustrations. EFF will also help people officially submit those stories to the Copyright Office before the February 2 deadline.
The Copyright Office will hold public hearings on the DMCA exemption requests in Washington, DC, and California in the spring, and the final rule making order will be issued in October.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Yar’Adua to commission anti-theft mobile device
All is now set for the official commissioning of the nation’s multimillion Naira anti-theft mobile phone initiative being super-headed by the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in collaboration with NetVisa GSMSecured Nigeria Limited, by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The process which commenced three years ago, had undergone successful relevant trials, thus ready for launch.
Chief executive officer, NetVisa, Prince Emeka Uchendu, told Daily Champion at the weekend that the initiative would be commissioned on Tuesday, January 27, this year, at the Yar’Adua Conference Centre, Abuja, the federal capital territory, even as registration of stolen phones would be free-of-charge.
According to him, the initiative slated to be officially opened by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was conceived by the government through NCC, and was put in place by NetVisa GSMSecured Limited, in affiliation with the global operators group, the GSM Association (GSMA) and Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Uchendu also said that the commissioning would pave the way for the full implementation of the project by all mobile operators in the country, through enabling telecom operators to be wary of stolen phones and block same when eventually it is appropriately reported by their owners.
“The task of combating the menace of stolen phones in Nigeria is enormous and has risen to become a very frightening and national issue, mostly when a lot of lives are wasted everyday in the bid for criminals to steal mobile phones,” he said.
The NetVisa boss, equally said, that the need for the solution arose the primary concern of the regulator, which in turn licensed his firm after due process.
“In the past three years, we, at NetVisa have been working with mobile network operators to put a system in place that will curtail the theft of mobile phones in Nigeria and the regional West African countries,” he declared.
To this effect, he said, NetVisa has deployed a Central Equipment Identity Registry (CEIR) and is ready to implement this for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Uchendu pointed out that the kind of registry, presently deployed by Nigeria is the first of its kind in continent of Africa, although he was quick to add that there is a similar registry already existing precisely in Dublin, South Africa, but noted that it has not been successfully implemented to totally checkmate the predicament of stolen mobile phones.
“It is for the social well-being of all Nigerians who use mobile phones,” he said, encouraging subscribers in the country to ensure they promptly report theft of their phones, especially mobiles to the nearest police station and their network operator.
Disclosing that as from next month, February 2009, Nigeria would be able to block effectively any stolen mobile phone certified by the operators as may be reported by the owner with relevant evidence to support the claim.
He estimated that about 1million mobile phones are stolen annually since the coming of GSM into the country in 2001.
Uchendu, therefore, cautioned that at the beginning, the second hand phones would be waived from immediate blocking, since they may not have been stolen originally from this part of the world, but warned that in the months to come, this would change.
And to further safeguard mobile phones, he said that in the past 10 years, the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) embedded by manufacturers no longer come in Random Access Memory (RAM), but Read Only Memory (ROM), hence the CEIR installed have the capacity to block any modem phone reported stolen among mobile operators, rendering such phones useless in Nigeria.
“What this means is that with ROM, the IMEI numbers are visible but cannot be altered and any attempt could result in damaging the phone,” he explained, stressing that IMEI is a 15 digit code transmitted to the network each time a subscriber attempts to make call on a given network from a mobile handset.
Uchendu, accompanied by some officials of his firm, including the company secretary, Ms Amaka Ekweozor, Executive Director, Finance and Admin, Mr. Olayinka Giwa and Mr. Grema Abubakar, made it clear that subscribers are not supposed to pay any other additional money in order to be registered in the CEIR since they have paid for the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) pack at inception.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The process which commenced three years ago, had undergone successful relevant trials, thus ready for launch.
Chief executive officer, NetVisa, Prince Emeka Uchendu, told Daily Champion at the weekend that the initiative would be commissioned on Tuesday, January 27, this year, at the Yar’Adua Conference Centre, Abuja, the federal capital territory, even as registration of stolen phones would be free-of-charge.
According to him, the initiative slated to be officially opened by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was conceived by the government through NCC, and was put in place by NetVisa GSMSecured Limited, in affiliation with the global operators group, the GSM Association (GSMA) and Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Uchendu also said that the commissioning would pave the way for the full implementation of the project by all mobile operators in the country, through enabling telecom operators to be wary of stolen phones and block same when eventually it is appropriately reported by their owners.
“The task of combating the menace of stolen phones in Nigeria is enormous and has risen to become a very frightening and national issue, mostly when a lot of lives are wasted everyday in the bid for criminals to steal mobile phones,” he said.
The NetVisa boss, equally said, that the need for the solution arose the primary concern of the regulator, which in turn licensed his firm after due process.
“In the past three years, we, at NetVisa have been working with mobile network operators to put a system in place that will curtail the theft of mobile phones in Nigeria and the regional West African countries,” he declared.
To this effect, he said, NetVisa has deployed a Central Equipment Identity Registry (CEIR) and is ready to implement this for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Uchendu pointed out that the kind of registry, presently deployed by Nigeria is the first of its kind in continent of Africa, although he was quick to add that there is a similar registry already existing precisely in Dublin, South Africa, but noted that it has not been successfully implemented to totally checkmate the predicament of stolen mobile phones.
“It is for the social well-being of all Nigerians who use mobile phones,” he said, encouraging subscribers in the country to ensure they promptly report theft of their phones, especially mobiles to the nearest police station and their network operator.
Disclosing that as from next month, February 2009, Nigeria would be able to block effectively any stolen mobile phone certified by the operators as may be reported by the owner with relevant evidence to support the claim.
He estimated that about 1million mobile phones are stolen annually since the coming of GSM into the country in 2001.
Uchendu, therefore, cautioned that at the beginning, the second hand phones would be waived from immediate blocking, since they may not have been stolen originally from this part of the world, but warned that in the months to come, this would change.
And to further safeguard mobile phones, he said that in the past 10 years, the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) embedded by manufacturers no longer come in Random Access Memory (RAM), but Read Only Memory (ROM), hence the CEIR installed have the capacity to block any modem phone reported stolen among mobile operators, rendering such phones useless in Nigeria.
“What this means is that with ROM, the IMEI numbers are visible but cannot be altered and any attempt could result in damaging the phone,” he explained, stressing that IMEI is a 15 digit code transmitted to the network each time a subscriber attempts to make call on a given network from a mobile handset.
Uchendu, accompanied by some officials of his firm, including the company secretary, Ms Amaka Ekweozor, Executive Director, Finance and Admin, Mr. Olayinka Giwa and Mr. Grema Abubakar, made it clear that subscribers are not supposed to pay any other additional money in order to be registered in the CEIR since they have paid for the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) pack at inception.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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