Ghana seeks ICT assistance from India

Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, on Tuesday said Ghana is committed to strengthen relations with India to draw the expertise of the country in revenue mobilisation.

He said India would help the District Assemblies in mobilising money by tracking revenue through an electronic system.

Mr Ampofo was speaking when the new Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Rajinda Bahaght, paid him a visit in his office in Accra.

He said there was the need for Ghana to understudy India, which is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert globally.

He solicited the help of India to turn the Tema Community Centre into a modern ICT facility.

Mr Bahaght said his country is committed to the development of Ghana.

He said the Indian Government would support the Electoral Commission with the provision of indelible ink to be used in the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Mr Bahaght said India had indentified some areas to support Ghana’s development agenda to improve on the living standards of the people.

He said the areas include ICT and agriculture under which fertiliser and sugar plants would be provided to support farmers.

Mr Bahaght said this year India would give 116 scholarships to students to pursue Master of Business Administration.

He assured the Minister of turning the Tema Community Centre into an ultra modern ICT spot.

Source: GNA

Three banks begin integration to national switch

The process of integrating the switches and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) to the national switch has started with three banks.

The banks are Zenith, Prudential and Cal Bank, which are using the NCR ATMs and position switches, which have since been ready for the integration.

The management of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) said the integration process meant that very soon customers of the three banks would be able to use each other’s ATM to access their bank accounts.

The Chief Executive of GhIPSS, Fred France, said the company was working assiduously to ensure the operability of banks this year to make banking more convenient to the public.

The interoperability will ensure easy banking, a move that could potentially attract the unbanked population to start using the banking system.

“However, once it becomes possible for bank customers to use ATMs of other banks, it will no longer be necessary for each bank to site as many ATMs as possible to achieve that convenience,” Mr France said.

Meanwhile, suppliers of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and bank switches have resolved to ensure the speedy integration of their systems into the national switch.

General Manager in charge of Project and Business Development, GhIPSS, Mr Archie Hesse, said the various providers were determined to complete the processes to ensure that their systems were ready within the next two months.

Cyber fraud activities in Ghana peak at 1am daily – Report

A report by a US-based firm that protects online businesses from fraud and abuse has found that activities of cyber crime are conducted at 1am local time (5pm Pacific Standard Time) in Ghana every day in the year 2011.

In a press statement February 23, 2012, iovation says it came to these conclusions using data from more than two billion transactions it has protected in 2011 through its ReputationManager 360 solution which identifies computers, mobile phones and tablets used to commit fraud.

The firm recently rated Ghana ahead of West African neighbour, Nigeria as leader in global fraud.

For Nigeria, it said the time criminal cyber activities peak is 6am local time (9pm PST) while in the Philippines cybercrime activities surge around 3am local time (11am PST).

According to iovation, cyber fraud persons never sleep saying the time period was most dangerous hours in 2011 because online companies open business 24hours in seven days.

“Unlike brick and mortar businesses, companies with online storefronts are open for business 24×7 and therefore susceptible to fraud around the clock,” said Greg Pierson, CEO and co-founder at iovation in the statement on its website.

Top BlackBerry Torch 9800 apps

Since the release of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 in late 2010, the smartphone has managed to rank as one of the best BlackBerry devices ever. Although it looks similar to other phones, the combination of a sliding keyboard and bigger 3.2 inch 480×360 touch screen has made it hugely popular.

Research in Motion's Blackberry Torch 9800

The device hosts 512MB RAM and 4GB storage with the capacity for another SD card, which makes it perfect for downloading and installing apps from the BlackBerry App World. So with that in mind, we have compiled a list of some of the top apps built for, or compatible with, the BlackBerry Torch 9800.

• Capture It

Capture It allows the user to quickly and effortlessly capture any image, including browser screen shots, from the smartphone.  It comes in handy when users want to email or message photo from a website, but don’t want to download the photo itself.

• Google Maps

Any smartphone isn’t complete without a version of Google Maps. The application allows users to navigate their way around virtually any city, and with the latest addition of Google Street View, the app will become an invaluable tool.

• Plug It In

Running many applications at the same time can take its strain on any battery, but that is luckily where Plug It In comes in. The application lets users customise the battery use, and can also set up alerts for when the battery gets to a specific level.

• Amazon Kindle for BlackBerry

When going on a long road trip or flight, there is nothing worse than having nothing to do. But the Amazon Kindle for BlackBerry app allows smartphone users to access their Kindle library, and also allows them to purchase more.

• Pandora for BlackBerry

While undertaking that long flight and tired of reading a book, Pandora for BlackBerry will give users access to Internet radio stations. The app also features a Quick Mix mode where users simply select their favourite radio stations, and the app will create a custom mix from them.

• WorldMate for BlackBerry

Sticking to travel, WorldMate for BlackBerry is probably one of the most essential apps for world travellers. The app is a travel assistant and allows users to store their entire travel itinerary, book hotels or car hire and monitor airline schedules in real-time.

• BeBuzz Free – LED Light Colors

BeBuzz is a colourful app that displays who is calling the user with bright, flashing colours. The app can be customised to display certain colours for specific callers, so users will know at a glance who is trying to reach them.

• WhatsApp Messenger

No smartphone is complete without WhatsApp Messenger. The app is a cross-platform smartphone messenger, and uses data to contact anybody in the users contact list who also uses the app. The data cost to send a message is much less than a traditional text message.

• Photo Editor Ultimate FREE

With almost all smartphones having cameras, it has become very popular to edit photos and add effects to them before sharing the photographic master pieces with the world. Photo Editor Ultimate is one of the top free photo editing apps, and allows users to resize, rotate,  add colour filters and various effects.

• iSpeech Translator

Another favourite on the free app market, iSpeech Translator allows users to speak into the microphone and then translate it into multiple languages, including email or text. Currently it translates by speaking text in 7 languages and reads out translations in 18 languages.

Nigeria Ranked 2nd Highest Country in Software Piracy

82 percent of personal computer users in Nigeria acquire software illegally most or all of the time according to the most extensive study ever under taken on users’ behaviours and attitudes toward software piracy and intellectual property rights.The 32-country study, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for Business Software Alliance (BSA – www.bsa.org), ranks Nigeria’s software pirate population second only to China’s, which stands at 86 percent – looming far above the worldwide percentage of47 percent.

The study entailed surveying approximately15,000 PC users included 400to 500 in-person or online interviews per country. Its findings reveal that large majorities of computer users in the developing world regularly acquire software through illegal means — such as buying a single license for a program and then installing it on multiple machines,or downloading programs from peer-to-peer networks — even though they express support for intellectual property principles Anti-Piracy Manager for Microsoft Nigeria, Seye Oloruntoba notes that, “Pirating software is often seen as a ‘cheap’ alternative to purchasing it legally. 

However,in the long-term it can be far more costly, and for businesses, disastrous. It brings in many dangers in the form of malware, spyware, and viruses that can lead to identity theft, loss of data and more.”He added that “By providing an overview of global and country specific attitudes towards piracy, this study validates the work we are doing in the region to educate consumers about what software piracy is and the risks associated with non-genuine software.”

GTBank Rolls Out FX Fund Transfer, Opens e-Branches

As part of efforts to provide value adding services, GTBank has announced that its customers can now transfer funds in USD, Great Britain Pounds and Euro from their GTBank domiciliary account to beneficiaries abroad for several purposes such as payment of school fees, medical bills, mortgages, upkeep of wards.

The maximum foreign exchange outward transfer limit for cash lodgement are a daily transferable limit of $10,000 (about N1.55 million) or its equivalent in other currencies and a weekly transferable limit of $35,000 (about N5.45 million) or its equivalent in other currencies. All transfers will be treated within 24hours of receipt subject to GTBank’s terms and conditions. Beneficiaries will receive funds between 48-72 hours depending on their location.

In another development, the bank has announced the opening of 5 additional ebranches. This it said is to provide convenient, prompt and reliable services to its customers.

The e-branches will carry out operations such as Cash withdrawals via ATMs; Cash deposit s via ATMs and Internet Banking. Customers of the bank are advised to take advantage of the e-branches when performing any of these operations.

www.gtbank.com

Glo Ranked Among Africa’s 10 Most Valuable Brands

Globacom has been voted among the 10 most valuable brands in Africa and the only privately owned company to make the Top 10 at the inaugural Brand Africa 100 awards ceremony, which was held recently by Brand South Africa, and Brand Leadership Academy in South Africa.

According to the organisers, Brand Africa 100 (www.brandafrica.net) is based on a multi-tier methodology that incorporates qualitative, quantitative and secondary research.

Developed by the Brand Leadership Academy in partnership with TNS and Brand Finance plc, this seminal research has set the standard for brand evaluation on the continent. The valuation was conducted across Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Being named among the continent’s top indigenous brands is an honour on the Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga whose vision has propelled the company to this level in just eight years of its establishment. Adenuga’s dogged commitment to growing an African telecommunications behemoth has propelled the extension of Globacom to Benin Republic, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire, as well as the laying of a submarine cable from Europe to Africa with a dedicated extension to the United States.

Chairman and Founder of Brand Africa, Thebe Ikalafeng said the inaugural Brand Africa 100 “will signal which brands are getting it right on the continent.” Other brands that made the top 10 include MTN, Absa, NNPC, Eskom, Shoprite,Dangote, Woolsworths, Pick n Pay and Vodacom while GTB, UBA and First Bank made the top 20.

www.gloworld.com

Airtel Nigeria launches new BlackBerry packages

Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunications services provider, has launched two new Blackberry packages with enhanced features to delight Nigerians.

Research In Motion’s new BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone (image: RIM)

The new Blackberry packages from Airtel come loaded with unique features and the packages have been specially designed to help people stay connected to business partners, family and friends.

 

The two new packages, Blackberry Complete and Blackberry Social from Airtel, are available on the daily, weekly and monthly subscription options.

With the new packages, Nigerians can now enjoy Blackberry services from Airtel for as low as N100 (one hundred naira) per day, and N400 per week.

The monthly fee for the BlackBerry Social suite is now N1,2oo (one thousand, two hundred naira only) while the Blackberry Complete from Airtel package is available at N1, 400 (one thousand, four hundred naira only).

The BlackBerry Complete service from Airtel allows for internet browsing,100 free SMSs every month for on net (Airtel to Airtel), free 50 SMSs per week and free weekly information on the BlackBerry devices and the services it provides, while the Blackberry Social plan allows for all the benefits associated with the Complete plan except internet browsing.

Customers can activate the latest Blackberry plans from Airtel through SMS and by short code and have access to an exciting total Blackberry experience that offers email service, instant messaging, internet access, Blackberry App World and social networking, amongst others.

Customers can opt for the Airtel Blackberry Social Plan via SMS by simply sending the word “bsm” to 440 while those who choose the Complete Plan need to send the word, “bcm” to 440.

Customers can also use short codes to indicate and activate their preferred plan.  To activate the daily plan, customers are required to dial the short code *440*6#; and *440*5# for the weekly plan while the monthly plan can be activated with *440*5#.

Shedding more light on the service upgrade, Deepak Srivastava, the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, emphasized that the latest additions to the Airtel Blackberry bouquet was “hinged not only on the yeaning of customers for Blackberry internet service, but also on Airtel’s desire to give customers complete communication package that seamlessly connects them with loved ones and associates, keeps them socially relevant and serves as their mobile office while on the go.

“We have with these additions, further removed the entry barrier for both our old and new customers to have unhindered access to the Blackberry service irrespective of class or social standing. Through this intervention, we have made the service more affordable to Nigerians and at the same time, added more features that will clearly complement the lifestyles of our customers”.

The Airtel BlackBerry tiered service is designed to give customers across its various segments remote access to information. In addition to the latest services, Airtel BlackBerry suites of products boast of unique features such as Enterprise Solutions, Internet Solutions and BlackBerry Lite for both social and messaging plans.

YouTube in Nigeria –YouTube.com.ng

Nigerian content creators can now leverage the power of a localised version of YouTube to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural, social, educational, Journalism, Entertainment and other relevant content as Google recently announced the launch of YouTube in Nigeria, showcasing the best and brightest local talent.

YouTube Nigeria will now offer some of the most informative and entertaining video content from around the world through a local interface, www.youtube.com.ng  ,that promotes content that is most relevant to Nigerians.

There is something on YouTube for everyone, as shown by individuals such as Jason Njoku, the entrepreneurial spirit behind Nollywood Love , or companies such as 37th State , which set up an urban, African culture and lifestyle channel.

From amateur to professional content, from the unexpected to the emotionally affecting, the educational to the entertaining, Nigerians now have greater flexibility to tell their stories, and find videos most useful to them.

At the YouTube launch event in Lagos today, Google Country Manager Juliet Ehimuan welcomed Patrick Walker, YouTube’s Senior Director, content Partnerships, for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With over 3 billion views a day, YouTube is the world’s largest audience, and a mode of communication that allows everyone’s voice to be heard”, said Walker. “Nigerians are passionate about music, entertainment and many other genres that YouTube offers. By launching YouTube locally, we help people to find the most popular videos in Nigeria, along with those that are rising in
popularity”.

YouTube Nigeria makes it easier for Nigerian users to find and view the videos most relevant to them. Content uploaded by Nigerian users will show up as “browse pages” on the YouTube Nigeria site, creating a new virtual space for the national community and giving Nigerians the opportunity to increase their exposure online. Also at the YouTube launch event in Lagos today, Nollywood Love announced the launch of iRok TV, whilst Storm 360 announced the launch of 6 new YouTube channels. 37th State announced the premiere of its first short film and documentary, Nkiru, which is to take place on December 18, 2011.

“The power of the internet presents great opportunities. YouTube gives people the power to broadcast themselves,” said Obi Asika from Storm360, a leading entertainment company in West Africa. “Our channel has helped connect us with local and international fans and artists all over the world, and is helping us to achieve our full potential. For users with slow connections, they can use YouTube Feather for better performance”.

One of YouTube’s key priorities, in addition to the making the platform a
comprehensive destination is to ensure that videos load and play quickly, even in places where bandwidth is at a premium.

Improving Internet access remains a key challenge across Africa which in my opinion Google should support Africa fully in increasing internet access especially in rural areas before unleashing her products on us!
In addition to the standard YouTube experience, users have the option to watch videos with YouTube Feather. This “light” version only includes the site’s most basic features, to help ensure that those with low-speed Internet connections are able to play videos play faster. YouTube Feather can be found in TestTube, the area on the site where new products are tested.
It is our  believe that Nigerians will explore the opportunities with YouTube to positively change our image online.