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DOC hosts internet governance talks

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Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: The two day Internet governance forum hosted by the Department of Communications (DOC) is set to kick off today.   The South African Internet Governance Forum (ZAIGF), aims to formulate a local position on global internet governance. South Africa, through the DoC has adopted the Geneva Action Plan and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society which was endorsed by the heads of states. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was established in [...]

Vodacom cuts prepaid data prices

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Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Following data price reductions for contract customers several weeks ago, Vodacom has now announced cuts in data prices for its prepaid customers. Effective 19 September 2011, customers buying MyMeg 100 will pay 39% less, with the price per MB reduced from 80c (for the previous MyMeg 110) to 49c. “Internet access isn’t just a nice to have; it’s an essential part of modern life. With these data price reductions, more customers than [...]

Another superhero in this Instant-On world

Having been in the IT management space for the past 18 years, I have seen a dramatic change in what is expected from IT.

I guess we all have. It reminds me of the song by Bob Dylan, “Things they are chang’in”. Having met three customer CIOs last week, the discussion was very similar with all of them.

IT has to provide more innovation and get closer to business, while driving down costs through standardisation, automation and consolidation.

IT certainly does need a new hero if it has to drive all this innovation and save costs in an ever more complex IT fabric. A new breed of CIO is needed to support the instant-on enterprise. Everything is demanded now, whether working from home and requesting new flights, submitting your tax reports, collaborating with friends and communities or giving your customers the information they need, on time, accurately and securely.

The growth of BPM in SA

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Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Although the concept of business process management through a corporate lens is not a new one, it is an approach which is continuously fine-tuned and updated to suit the exponential rush of new technologies that are being brought to market each year. The method of aligning business processes in favour of greater efficiency and organisational effectiveness is persistently being affected by the ebb and flow of international technology tides. As a result [...]

Dinaledi schools go online

Following years of delay, the Department of Communications (DOC) has revealed that its e-connectivity programme for 125 Dinaledi schools and 1525 district schools is underway.

While the DOC failed to connect 250 schools in the 2008/09 financial year - it has now finalised MoUs and User Requirement Specifications as it looks to make a start on the initiative.

Following a meeting of government’s Infrastructure cluster, the DOC noted that the implementation of its e-connectivity programme for schools had kicked off.

In 2008, the department revealed plans to provide 250 schools with ICT connectivity in the 2008/09 financial year – but failed to connect any schools.

8ta shakes up prepaid market

8.ta has introduced a new offer with low broadband rates for prepaid users.

Following the introduction of its 10GB contract data bundle promotion, the mobile operator is now looking to shake up the prepaid market.

8.ta is offering a 3GB pre-paid data bundle promotion at R149, which consists of 2GB anytime data and 1GB Midnight Surfer data for use between 12am and 5am. Users will basically be paying 5 cents per MB.

Managing executive of Telkom Mobile, Amith Maharaj, said 8.ta has responded to the need for an aggressively priced pre-paid data bundle.

Buy car insurance online

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Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Consumers can now quote, buy and manage car insurance online with the introduction of dotsure.co.za - the country’s first e-commerce portal for car insurance. Encouraged by trends in countries such as the US, UK and Australia – where approximately 80% of car insurance is done online – the company seized the market opportunity not yet filled locally. While there are some local aggregators which provide quoting and premium comparison facilities, South Africans [...]

Outsourcing as a step towards IT as a utility

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Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: Cloud computing is the IT buzz phrase of the moment and, if one cuts through the profusion of definitions of what Cloud computing actually is, it boils down to IT as a utility – a pay per use approach akin to other utilities such as electricity and telephones. Best guesses by IT gurus, however, are that the end game of IT as a utility is some five to ten years away and [...]

MobileTV wraps up technical trials

MobileTV says it has completed the technical tests of its Korean Digital Media Broadcasting (DMB) technology, successfully and before schedule.

According to founder and chairman, Mothobi Mutloatse, the company submitted its technical report and an initial request to formalise its application for a permanent commercial licence.

“We are more than ready to roll out the ubiquitous media revolution called DMB - within two months of licensing - that is

surely to introduce innovations of an interactive nature in both television and radio services never experienced on this massive scale in SA, turning the whole print and electronic media and advertising sectors alike on their heads,” said Mutloatse.

FNB Pay Wallet users on the rise

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Archived; click post to view. Excerpt: FNB says its Pay Wallet solution has been used to pay over R42 million to more than 19 000 people since its introduction in July 2010. Pay Wallet is a solution that enables FNB corporate, commercial and public sector clients to electronically pay their employees directly to their cellphones or into a debit card. The recipients are then able to access their money immediately at any full service FNB ATM, with or [...]