SMS revenue to drop by $23bn this year

SINGAPORE: Global telecommunications operators are expected to lose $23bn in SMS revenue by the end of 2012 as smartphone users shift to free messaging applications, an industry report said Thursday, 11 October 2012. Read more >>

MTN embraces opportunities to move towards converged solutions

The UBS SA Telecoms Infrastructure Day event aimed to define the telecoms landscape in South Africa at present, highlighting some of the key challenges and opportunities the industry faces. Read more >>

Video, audio apps will direct future of digital content distribution

Until recently, content has mainly been in text format. While other media like audio and video have been embedded in digital texts for some time, the full potential of multimedia has not been felt until the recent launch of fully-integrated as well as standalone audio and video apps. Read more >>

MTN supports Tech4Africa as a Platinum Sponsor

The MTN Group will support to this year's Tech4Africa conference, to be held at the Indaba Hotel, Joburg from 31 October to 1 November, 2012, as a Platinum Sponsor. The conference is for mobile and emerging technology and is themed "Unlocking the next billion consumers". Read more >>

Expansion at Amazon creates opportunities for developers

Amazon South Africa is growing fast, bringing some exciting career opportunities for both developers and skilled tech support staff. Read more >>

Silicon Cape receives donation from Groupon SA

Daniel Guasco and Wayne Gosling, founders of the successful Silicon Cape start-up Twangoo, which was acquired by Groupon in 2011, have donated R100 000 to the Silicon Cape Initiative. Read more >>

Facebook posts can be 'promoted' for a fee

Facebook has begun testing a new feature that would allow users to increase the visibility of their posts for a fee, in what appears to be a new bid to add more profitability to the social network. Read more >>

OECD says Internet is "a key economic infrastructure"

The information and communication technology (ICT) sector has resisted the economic crisis and is becoming a key infrastructure for the world's economy, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Thursday. Read more >>

Why isn't wi-fi free?

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] There are two definite trends taking place in the world today and its going to be interesting to see which of those ends up being the most successful. Read more >>

Mobile subscriptions in region to increase rapidly

[Thabiso Mochiko] Mobile and fixed telephony subscribers in Sub-Sahara Africa are expected to reach 266.1 million by 2017 while internet subscribers will hit 77.5m‚ according to research released on Tuesday by Frost & Sullivan. Read more >>

Gloves off in Vodacom's battle with Cell C

[Duncan McLeod] Vodacom's chief executive, Shameel Joosub's message to Alan Knott-Craig of Cell C is simple: we're not going to cede market share and if it's a fight you want it's a fight you're going to get. Read more >>

NATIVE Mobile Report highlights some NB industry issues

The latest issue of the NATIVE Mobile Report covers some important industry events - including the launch of iPhone 5 and the release of iOS6, the Loeries and the 4G race that is hotting up in SA. Read more >>

Network neutrality offers new advantage to business

[Danie Fourie] In South Africa, network neutrality now offers a decided advantage when it comes to getting connected and staying connected. With more and more telecoms infrastructure being installed nationally by multiple players and the undersea cables landing and launching, we are already seeing a drop in prices and "more for your money" throughput upgrades. Read more >>

RIM's shares rise 11.5% after results reported

NEW YORK, USA: BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion's stock rallied sharply after the company reported a narrower-than-expected loss, with shares jumping 11.5% to $7,95, still well below its 2008 high of $140. Read more >>

Comztek offers professional volume licensing service

Comztek is actively working with partners and resellers to ensure that customers better understand the nature of Microsoft volume licensing and are in a position to negotiate better deals that meet their pocket as well as their business. Read more >>

Business executives told that 80% of companies use cloud

Nearly 80 percent of organisations either use cloud computing in their business or are planning to do so over the next year, an audience of South African business executives has been told. Read more >>

The changing face of software sales

[Simon Campbell-Young] The shift from physical software distribution to electronic is being driven by faster broadband connections and an increasing number of consumers and businesses buying online, owning more connected devices and expecting to get software delivered how, where and when they want it. Read more >>

Time for SA organisations to start thinking about mobile security

[William James] With the rapid move towards enterprise mobility, workers are able to access corporate information and networks as well as carry out their tasks nearly anywhere. But along with the welcome benefits of productivity, efficiency and flexibility, the shift to a mobile world brings with it a range of new security threats that companies need to manage closely. Read more >>

How apps are taking over computing and content

[Wesley Lynch] Mobile apps are innumerable and integrated into almost all aspects of our daily lives. They have already changed computing in staggering ways, but there's room for more innovation on a similar scale. Read more >>

Operators will lose US$54bn by 2016 due to smartphone messaging apps

LONDON, UK: Ovum, one of the Datamonitor group of companies, forecasts that by 2016 operators will have lost US$54bn in SMS revenues due to the increasing popularity of social messaging* services on smartphones, more than double the US$23bn they are expected to have lost by the end of 2012. The global technology analysts believe that collaboration with handset manufacturers is imperative if operators are to remain relevant and competitive in the messaging industry. Read more >>

El Propio Chip: How to become the preferred mobile provider

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA: Comcel created a new product and character to become the preferred mobile provider on the coast of Colombia. Read more >>