Tech boost for cash-strapped NGOs

Mimecast introduces mobile archiving for iPhone

Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Mimecast, a supplier of cloud-based email archiving, continuity and security for Microsoft Exchange and Office 365 - announced that it has extended its mobile services to the iPhone. With the Mimecast iPhone App, employees gain a bottomless mobile inbox, and the ability to search and access archived emails from their mobile device.  The new Mimecast iPhone App is free and available now for download from the App Store. The company’s new Mobile Access licensing plan, [...]

2011: the year of big data

Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: This was the year of big data. In the last two to three years we have accumulated more data than ever before[1]. This provides both a challenge and an opportunity for companies, and the ones who get it right fastest are going to lead the pack. There are three trends related to this growth in big data – both contributing to the growth but also providing part of the solution to managing such large [...]

2011: the year social went mobile

Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: The most significant communication trend to emerge in 2011 was mobility, which is beginning to drive major changes in the way the global economy operates. There are other important development emerging that demand attention, however my best bet is it that mobility will remain a dominant force in 2012. Mobile social media Social media has been around for years, but 2011 was the year in which it began to re-shape the global economy. The [...]

FNB enhances eWallet Solution

Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: First National Bank (FNB) today announced that it has enhanced its eWallet solution with two new features – enabling users to pay money from eWallet directly to a bank account, and allowing users to pay bills from their eWallet.   ‘When we created the eWallet, recipients were only able to send money to another cellphone.  With this enhancement, eWallet users are able to pay funds directly into an individual’s bank account at any of the [...]

Tech boost for cash-strapped NGOs

Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Prefix Technologies says it will make its bulk email communication software, pMailer, available to South African Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which face budget constraints.  Through SANGOTeCH –a technology donation and discount portal created by TechSoup Global and the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) – the network hopes to help NGOs leverage their scarce resources more effectively. “NGOs have always played a key role in helping South Africa’s marginalised population groups to turn their lives around. [...]

2012 - year of the ultrabook

Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Next year is set to be the year of the Ultrabook – a device that works like a laptop, but is half the size – says Intel. That was the from 2011’s final SHIFT event – SHIFT Ultra, a young adult speaker series hosted by Intel and Lenovo, and headlined by popular radio and television personality Gareth Cliff. Analysts predict that fully 40% of all laptops sold by the end of 2012 will be [...]

Starship: New Enterprise

For those close to me (and the three people who read my monthly column), you all know my love for flying, movies and Star Wars.

Now for those of you who are familiar with Star Wars and its greater community, you know that Jedi and Starfleet personnel do not see eye to eye. You are either a Trekkie or of the Force. So why am I telling you something you already know?

Two reasons; one, my father dared me to write about my greatest enemy in my next article and two, because the Starship Enterprise is a great analogy for Enterprise IT Management. Sad but true, as good as the Death Star is, it blows up twice and always seems to miss its true potential (beyond just destroying planets).

8ta to lose R2.2bn

Telkom expects its mobile arm, 8ta, to lose approximately R2.2 billion for the 2012 financial year after eliminations.

The mobile arm was introduced in October last year and currently has a market share of nearly 2%. Despite the expected losses, Telkom expects 8ta’s operation to achieve 12% - 15% revenue market share by the 2016/17 financial year.

In its most recent financial statements, Telkom says 8ta has delivered a below target performance on its pre-paid offerings. Commenting on 8ta’s challenges, group CEO Nombulelo Moholi said it was always going to be difficult to compete.

Governance and innovation – mind the gaps

Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: It’s widely accepted that embracing IT service management (ITSM) good practice frameworks such as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) enables organisations to standardise their service management processes and use a common language when talking both internally and with IT service providers and technology vendors. ITIL gives detailed descriptions of a number of important IT practices and provides comprehensive checklists, tasks, and procedures that IT organisations can tailor to their own needs. This improves [...]

CellC contracts available through FNB

First National Bank is offering its customers cellphone contracts with handsets at subsidised rates, in conjunction with Cell C.

The cellphone contracts are offered through the existing account opening process where the branch systems have been integrated with Cell C’s retail systems.

“This is yet another first from FNB and is in line with our philosophy of using innovation to add convenience and value to our customers’ lives. Customers will know instantly if they qualify for a cellphone contract. No additional paperwork is required and the cellphone application process is completed in a few minutes,” says Ravesh Ramlakan, CEO of FNB Cellphone Banking Solutions.