Glo slashes tariff to 15k/sec with Yan-Me-More

Globacom Limited has slashed calls tariff to 15 kobo per second with its bumper package, tagged ‘Yan-Me-More.

ITRealms Online gathered that with this, subscribers on Glo network could talk ceaselessly at an incredible, according to the Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mohammed Jameel.

He also said that the introduction of Yan-Me-More, is to make life more interesting and convenient for the people.

“This is an anniversary gift to Glo subscribers and indeed all Nigerians as the network marks its eight anniversary,” he said, stressing that this was part of Glo’s desire to sustain the tradition of empowering Nigerians, through the provision of affordable prizes and products.

He explained that with Glo Yan-Me-More, calls are charged at 15k per sec and subscribers would enjoy unlimited free calls, everyday, from midnight till 5am.

Additionally, he said, callers on Yan-Me-More could earn up to 20 per cent bonus on recharge, just as they would enjoy the possibility of N9 per minutes on all International calls.

Equally speaking, Globacom’s General Manager, Prepaid Marketing, Mr. Ashutosh Tiwary, said this is the biggest offer, as callers could talk for as long as they desire  to loved ones and business partners for just 15k per sec.

“Calls on-net costs only 55k per second in the first minute and 15k per sec from the second minute. Off-net calls, however, costs 25k per second,” he outlined.

He explained that Yan-Me-More, or tell me more, literally, is the latest in a long list of life changing initiatives by Globacom in the recent past.

As said by him, Glo Power Box which was launched about a week ago and targeted at low entry individuals comes as a special telephone and SIM bundle, adding that the package is sold for only N2000 but comes with N3000 worth of freebies. 

Even as he said, Glo Flexi, another fantastic product, offers subscribers a tariff plan with discounts of up to 99 per cent, which he described as the biggest discounts ever, by any network.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

IPTV: Ericsson powers Chunghwa Telecom

Ericsson is powering the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platform in the Taiwanese Chunghwa Telecom to boost its customers’ base of over 900,000 users with multi-screen and interactive multimedia services.

Director: Media and Public Relations, Region sub-Saharan Africa, Ms. Omasan Ogisi also said that Ericsson would handle design, systems integration and deployment of the operator’s next-generation IPTV platform and provide end-to-end multi-screen solution.

She also said that Ericsson Media Connect, an IPTV remote availability were included in the contract, stressing that Chunghwa Telecom, is the Taiwan’s largest telecom operator and has chosen Ericsson  to deploy and integrate a new IPTV platform that would deliver multi-screen interactive multimedia services to more than 900,000 subscribers.

Ogisi informed in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online that the new platform would replace Chunghwa’s existing IPTV system and respond to a growing demand from consumers for content anywhere, any time on a wide range of devices including TVs, computers, smartphones and tablets.

“The Chunghwa Telecom deal also includes Ericsson Multiscreen TV and the Ericsson Media Connect (IPTV Remote) service. The new services are due to be available to subscribers in December of this year,” she said.

She pointed out that the number of IPTV subscribers worldwide is expected to explode over the next five years, increasing from 35 million at the end of 2010 to 155 million by the end of 2016, attributing this to a recent report by a Digital TV Research published in July 2011.

Even as over 70 per cent of these 120 million new subscribers are expected to come from the Asia-Pacific region.

She quote the President, Ericsson China & North East Asia, Mr. Mats H Olsson, as saying that by working in close partnership with operators such as Chunghwa, Ericsson is able to give consumers more flexibility, mobility and freedom through access to media content on any screen, anywhere.

“By offering this enhanced viewing experience; Chunghwa will be able to maintain its leading position in the IPTV arena. Our end-to-end solution will also enable the operator to enjoy new revenues from advanced TV services,” Olsson said.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

ISPON opens software contest for students

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has finalized arrangements to stage the first National Software Competition billed to take place in Calabar, Cross River State, just as it plans Software Development Clubs in universities across the country.

Chairman, publicity committee of ISPON, Mr. Moses Braimah disclosed this on Monday, saying that the contest is perhaps classified as the greatest IT-Quest and knowledge encounter of the year 2011.

He noted that for the past one year, ISPON National Executive Council had been busy laying the ground work for the event.

According to him, following extensive interactions with university students and the leadership of National Association of Computer Students (NACCOS), ISPON has rolled out strategies for the establishment of Software Development Clubs in Nigerian universities.

The clubs, he said, would serve as foundation for building the collaborative communities and connections to the larger stakeholder ecosystem that are pivotal to the emergence of a sustainable knowledge culture and capability for software development.

“At the last count, more than 32 universities have either been registered or applied for registration,” he said.

Braimah explained that the National Software Competition is informed by the strategic imperative to anchor Nigeria’s aspirations for global competitiveness in the knowledge economy on building capacity in knowledge industries such as software.

“With 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population under 30 years of age, ISPON believes that the dream of Vision 20:2020 is realizable only by accelerated efforts to build and unlock the innovation capabilities of our youth, who have propelled Nigeria over just four years to becoming the 10th largest internet user base in the world with 43m users as at August 2011,” he said.

In order to harness the enormous energy of the youth population, he said, ISPON has declared the competition open and released guidelines for the high profile National Software Competition for all tertiary institutions scheduled for October 18, this year.

“The competition will be held at the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar, with the Cross River State Government as the chief host,” he said.

Braimah further said the competition would attract an audience of over 1,000 youths, supported by endorsements from MTN, UBA, NITDA, VISAFONE, Samsung, CPN, NCS, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and other corporate and institutional top institutions.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Agada advocates use of indigenous content firms

Information Technology (IT)-based publicity analyst, Mr. Ejiofor Agada has advised African corporate entities to inculcate publicity management and media access for global outreach through indigenous public relations newswire agencies for 21st century purposes.

Agada, who is the chief executive officer, Private Media Mart Limited, made his views known at the recently concluded electronic media content and technology marketing event tagged ‘DISCOP 2011’ in Nairobi, Kenya.

The three-day DISCOP Africa event, which was launched in 2009, is a meeting-centric market bringing together international suppliers of television content, with programming acquisitions executives representing African broadcasters, pay-TV operators, media practitioners and alternative content distribution platforms.

Presenting a paper entitled ‘Stretching the Boundaries of Modern Newsgathering: The PR Newswire Model Approach’ Agada said, the changes that has occurred in the process of newsgathering within the last one and a half decades across the globe has changed the way people perceive contents, especially news materials.

“Though the basic tenets of news states that it is what the media gatekeeper say it is, with the editor concentrating mainly on certain determinants or ingredients in measuring newsworthiness, changes recently recorded in the role of business concerns in political and economic landscape has altered the trend of newsgathering,” he said.

This, he said, has made it imperative for corporate entities, mostly on the continent of Africa to maximize the publicity and media access of their information to the larger audience by utilizing online PR newswire service that target African media practitioners.

He cited the situation whereby European, Asian and American business interests are utilizing PR newswire service to distribute news content within their regions, Agada explained that if their African counterparts do not tow the same line, they would continue to be at disadvantage in the global information flow ratio.

He argued, this has been because news sources for the journalist, which was formerly, restricted to the efforts of the individual journalist through research, investigations, interviews, scoops, and media briefings, conferences, has so far been enhanced by the importance and use of PR Newswire service by corporate entities.

Further, he cited PR Newswire service as the ‘next step’ after the advent of conventional news agency services, Mr. Agada explained that the rise in the use of PR newswire services, which started as far back as 1954, could be related to the emergence of the New media using the internet and mobile.

According to him, “PR Newswire Service is now a generic term to describe new media formats, usually on the internet; hired by corporations, public relations firms, governmental and non-governmental institutions to deliver news and multimedia content to journalists, consumers and investors who access the content via the Web, RSS, e-mail, satellite, equities terminals, and mobile.”

While pointing out the overall influence of such agencies in that genre in Europe and America, that has not only increased options of news sources for journalists, but also increased the distribution of corporate news on the internet, Mr. Agada lamented that African business concerns are not adapting same PR Newswire services.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

NiRA hosts AGM, Switchto.ng workshop

Mrs. Mary Uduma, NIRA president

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) would tomorrow commence a two-day packed Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a Switchto.ng workshop.

The Chief Operating Officer, NiRA, Mr. Ope Odusan made this disclosure in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online at the weekend, saying that the Switchto.ng workshop holds today, Wednesday, and the AGM proper takes place tomorrow at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan-Lagos.

Odusan, who also is the secretary to the executive board, said that the AGM is coming after enough time has been given as stipulated in NIRA’s constitution.

He also said that the agenda for the 4th AGM would include the receipt of the Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ended May 2011, together with the Auditor’s Report; Business Plan and Budget for the period of the current financial year beginning June 1, 2011, as well as consider other businesses that members properly bring before the meeting.

He noted that the Special Business of the AGM is to deliberate on the proposal to have the NIRA Financial Year changed from the month of May.

On Switchto .ng workshop, Odusan said the event is being organized in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and NIRA, which is aimed at promoting the adoption of the country’s Top Level Domain .ng, with a view to building the Nigerian internet economy.

He said that a wider adoption of .ng, would help improve Nigeria’s image on the internet space, build local content, and most importantly, arrest capital flight to foreign service providers.

Stressing the need for Nigerians to switch to .ng, he said that one of the unique features of the nation’s country code Top Level Domain is the ease of use, even as several choice domains are still available on .ng.

Odusan added that registrations could be done online via any of it’s over thirty accredited registrars which are listed on the NIRA website.

He pointed out that participation at the workshop is drawn from government ministries, departments and agencies, in addition to the private sector, stakeholders and the media, just as some accredited registrars would be on hand to assist applicants with the process of registering .ng domains.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Finacle boosts WemaBank customer base

The recently deployment of Finacle from Infosys Limited by Wema Bank plc was to boost the bank’s customer base.

Indian Infosys Limited, partners with banks to power-up their innovation agenda, enabling them to differentiate their products and service, enhance customer experience and achieve greater operational efficiency.

While Nigerian Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), is the local business partner of Infosys for over a decade in the country, playing an integral role in the implementation and go-live support of Finacle solutions at Wema Bank. 

A press statement endorsed by the Head, Corporate Communication and Marketing, CWG, Mr. Chidi Okpala and Head, Corporate Communications, Femi Adeniran, quoted the Divisional Head, Information Technology and Operations, Wema Bank, Mr. Olayinka Oni, as confirming this deployment, saying that Wema Bank plc, a mid-sized commercial bank in Nigeria has selected Finacle as its banking solution aimed at strengthening its retail banking services over 150 branches in its home market.

According to Oni, Infosys would implement Finacle core banking, consumer e-banking and treasury solutions at Wema Bank, to effectively drive the bank’s objective of enhancing productivity and innovation-led customer experience in all its operations.

He noted that by leveraging Finacle, Wema Bank would be empowered to create a differentiated customer experience through personalized offerings, bundled products and an enriched segment-specific portfolio.

Oni also said that the solution has proven scalability and support for true 24x7 multi-channel transactions added to its keen understanding of the banking context in West Africa to power the bank’s ambitious growth plans.

“Our clients are our number one priority, and it is essential that we possess the best technology to meet their needs effectively. We are confident that once Finacle is implemented, Wema Bank will be able to create value adding customer experience through innovative products, a unified customer view and seamless integration across channels. We are delighted to partner with Finacle and Infosys and look forward to a successful transformation journey,” Oni said.

Equally commenting, Vice President and Global Head, Business Development, Client Engagements and Alliances for Finacle at Infosys Ltd, Mr. Sanat Rao said, they were delighted to partner with Wema Bank and are strongly committed to ensuring it makes rapid progress on its path to achieving improved customer-centricity.

“Finacle has 25 customer banks in Africa with 11 of them in Nigeria itself. West Africa continues to be a strategically important market for Finacle and as the preferred banking technology providers in Africa we have consistently delivered solutions that help banks hurdle challenges typical of the region,” Rao said.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D