ICTworks by Inveneo

The Kenyan FOSS based crowdsourcing and incident reporting application Ushahidi is getting great publicity. The application that came out during one of the darkest times in Kenya's history is shining star in Kenya's tech space. See this article that discusses more about its application in other parts of the world.
http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/open_source_for_humanitarian_act...

jmatogo

The catholic University of Easter Africa is launching its first LPIC-1 training schedule on 12th February 2012.
This is a follow-up to the Linux Pre-certification training that  the we conducted in December 2011 which was organized to demystify Linux.
So far we have 15 students registered to start.
Our goal with this program is to ensure that all students undertaking Computer Science at the university undergo LPIC-1 training and at least 20% become LPIC-1 certified.

FRancisthuok

Following the Linux training that took place in august 2011, We decided to start the LPIC-1 training in Catholic University of Eastern Africa as soon as possible.
However to start the course we saw the need to first have a introductory course expose our students. WE called the course, Linux Pre-certification. The students after undertaking the course were supposed to sit for an exam and after passing would get a certificate  issued by the LPA-Kenya.

read more

FRancisthuok

With advancement in Technology, it is possible for #DSTV to allow people to customize channels they want and pay for them. When I put the same question to DSTV General Manager Mr....kachwanya

In oteKBits:
PocketMoni is the brand name of eTranzact Mobile Money service and is being proclaimed to be the first truly operational mobile commerce application that is multi-network capable with the ability to interface seamlessly with third party payment schemes.
The service in line with international standards is secured utilizing 3DES encryption technology. In addition a PIN is required for every transaction. PocketMoni customers can securely, conveniently and cost-effectively send money to family and friends.

Colleagues, We are most fortunate to have frog founder and Strategy Director visit Uganda, and giving a hands on workshop with developers, start-up entrepreneurs, senior managers.  You have probably heard about workshops that cost hundreds of dollars to attend.  This is one of them – except that Ravi is offering his services to you FOC. [...]danielrstern

“In Africa we don’t lack ideas,we only lack people who believe in our ideas and can genuinely invest in them” said Terry- a young Nigerian i met recently who shared some of his great ideas with me. Terry, no doubt is one of the millions of African youths whose ideas are yet to see the light of the day because they haven’t got the needed financial support to turn those ideas into profitable ventures. I totally agree with Terry and others not just because am involved but the truth.

Interestingly, in a deeper chat with Terry,i found out something, I realised there are very simple things he would have done himself to startup his idea. I have observed that people will only support you when they see you have invested what you have to at least get the idea started. This whole thing is like dancing, people starts liking your dance and clapping for you when they see you are really into your dance.I can deduce from Terry’s statement that most of us have great ideas but very few go the extra mile to get it started,having an idea is not just enough these days. We are all waiting for the convenient time when all the resources needed will magically get into our hands, and when that is yet to happen many get frustrated and clueless about life in this interesting digital age of unlimited possibilities.

What am simply saying is that no matter what the reasons are, there is always a way to get your idea started!Where there are a lot of problems lies a lot of solutions only waiting to be discovered as opportunities. The truth is that African youths with Technology have a future.Technology is thattool that can help the young people in Africa achieve whatever their desires arein life. Technology has the answer to the several questions in the minds of our young people who are passionately seeking for a way to make positive impact in their world.

Exploring the opportunities of new technologies especially the Internet in our world today has several benefits for Africans.From Tunisia to Egypt,Libya,Nigeria,African youths have demonstrated that they can use technology to drive social and political changes in their environment.It is now time to also use those technologies to give our ideas a quantum leap after all Facebook, Google, Twitter, YouTube we all use and admire were all founded by young people elsewhere in the world who also had their own daunting challenges in their environment as Startups.

Having established the fact that there is no reason whatsoever for failure in life, It’s now time for the African youths to start asking those critical questions like – in what simple form can I get my idea started with the technologies readily available to me? Where lies the opportunities around me that I can leverage from?what can I do to position myself for the future? Finding the answers to these pertinent questions leads you in the right path of fulfillment.

But how do African Youths use the Internet?

Let me even ask, How do an average African youth use the Internet, what do they use it for? .The Internet is one of the greatest inventions on earth today. Most young people all over the world especially in America making great impact in the technology space, have their successes connected to the internet in one way or the other. A great number of African youths who use the internet have no idea how the internet can be used positively to improve their lives. The very few who understand this are already making impact in their chosen endeavor. I recently saw an infograph of how Africans use tweeter, how they tweet, very interesting statistics, but I was wondering what where they tweeting about?The world as a global place has metamorphosed into a web with unlimited opportunities and that is the Internet.The interesting thing about the Internet is that it is still evolving and changing with the times.We haven’t seen the best of websites yet. There is room on the internet for that great idea of yours if you can just start up!Africa is just waiting to celebrate you and the world is waiting to honor you!

The following points will guide you in starting out your ideas and making a global impact.

Learn the necessary skills in technology:With the way things are going,not every skill,vocation or training will be relevant for the future.It is time for African youths to start getting into the field of Software Engineering, Microelectronics,Nanotechnology,Computer and information sciences,Physics,Mathematics and related courses. Here, am not just talking about getting the certificate or degrees and then go to look for a job, am talking about learning it so you can start up something with what you have learnt, you begin to create value in the society as well. For instance,the IT certifications you have today in those specific products might not be relevant tomorrow for the future tech products. Ever thought of that?

Generate Ideas from problems in your environment

Africa is faced with a lot of problems no doubt; it simply means that there are a lot of opportunities in finding the solution to those problems. Studying the problems and proffering a solution to them using technology is what am talking about here. Generate ideas that will address those problems like poverty, lack of quality Education, unemployment, social changes, bad governance, environmental challenges, Technology deficiency, health and many others.

You should also explore the use of Mobile phones and Mobile Internet then Mobile Applications; these are growing so fast in Africa. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com said this about the Internet just before he started his online bookstore” Anything growing that fast is going to be ubiquitous very quickly” Seeing this about the Internet at that time motivated him to start Amazon.com and today Amazon is the leading bookstore on the internet. m-Commerce, m-Health, m-learning, m-agriculture, m-governance, m-social etc. are some of the areas you can develop a mobile focused idea because Mobile is the future of Africa.

Imbibe the Success Attitude

The words of Thomas Edison,the great inventor suitably summarized the attitude you need to have. He said”The most important factors of invention can be described in few words.They consist first of definite knowledge as to what one wishes to achieve,one must fix his mind on that purpose with persistence and begin searching for that which he seeks,making use of all accumulated knowledge on the subject.He must keep searching no matter how many times he may meet with disappointment.He must refuse to be influenced by the fact that someone else may have tried the same idea without success.He must keep himself sold on the idea that the solution of his problem exists somewhere and that he will find it.When a man makes up his mind to solve any problem,he may at first meet opposition, but if he holds on and keeps on searching, he will be sure to find some sort of solution. The trouble with most people is that they quit before they start. In all my experiences, I do not recall having ever found solution to any problem connected with my work on my first attempt. And one of the most surprising things is the fact that when I discovered the thing for which I am searching, I generally find that It has been within my reach all the time; but nothing except persistence and a will to win would have revealed it”

Then open your eyes and ears for opportunities

It is now time to open your eyes and ears for opportunities you can leverage to grow your idea. The money you seek to grow your business can come in any form. Use the Internet to explore several ways/places you can get venture funds for African startups, partnerships etc.These days there are various competitions,awards, grants going on for Africa Startupsyou should be part of, who knows one day, you may meet that Angel you seek!

Talk of 4G service in Namibia has returned to the forefront after leading mobile operator MTC conducted a second series of public tests.

Nearly one year ago amid great hype, MTC, one of two mobile operators in Namibia (leo being the other), conducted 4G trials in Windhoek. Nothing has happened since. One year later, the mobile operator is still waiting on obtaining the appropriate spectrum license. Even if MTC secures more funding, the ball is in the national regulator’s court to green-light the request for 4G.

The writing has been on the wall from the beginning. How can the Namibian user-base immediately support 4G service if only five countries in the world had deployed 4G technology at the time of the first trial in Windhoek? At the time, MTC quoted 98% national coverage with 3G speeds of up to 7.2Mbps, but actual speeds were (and are) much lower. Comments on MTC’s Facebook page suggest 3G speeds are hardly at 2G levels. Multiple MTC users ask why 4G is necessary when enhancements to 3G would be the next logical step.

The New Era newspaper uncovered that, in addition to MTC’s lack of a license and the delays with the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia in granting the license, the City of Windhoek is also slowing the process with demands of revenue from the yet-to-be-built network.

A timeline of events sheds light on the drawn-out situation:

• February 2, 2011: “Prime Minister Nahas Angula has called on the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) to urgently award a license to MTC to implement fourth generation (4G) technology.” {Namibia Press Agency}
• February 17, 2011: A 4G trial in front of government officials held in Windhoek showed speeds of “over 100Mbps, which is 20 times faster than the speeds churned out by the current 3G technology.” Streaming mobile video was also demonstrated. However, MTC acknowledged a need to build some more base stations, still was waiting on clear guidelines from the authorities, and stressed the need for fibre to carry the bandwidth. {MTC}
• February 1, 2012: In a press release mirroring that of February 2011, MTC announces a second successful 4G trial. The results were identical to the test run in 2011. Now, MTC cites 29 nations operating 4G technology – but none are in Africa. The wording is very careful, but MTC says they are ready to launch and are waiting on the regulatory body to grant the proper spectrum. {MTC}
• February 2, 2012: MTC told Namibia media that the company is “facing a number of challenges in implementing 4G technology.” {New Era}

The benefits of enhancing the quality of 3G service are more important than winning the race to see which nation and/or operator can first launch 4G in Africa. MTC would be wise to compete with leo for the most robust 3G network instead of competing for a title. What would happen if MTC were to end up with sub-par 4G service but leo were to deliver solid 3G bandwidth?

For your viewing pleasure, we’ve included video of 2011′s first round of public 4G trials:

Talk of 4G service in Namibia has returned to the forefront after leading mobile operator MTC conducted a second series of public tests.

Nearly one year ago amid great hype, MTC, one of two mobile operators in Namibia (leo being the other), conducted 4G trials in Windhoek. Nothing has happened since. One year later, the mobile operator is still waiting on obtaining the appropriate spectrum license. Even if MTC secures more funding, the ball is in the national regulator’s court to green-light the request for 4G.

The writing has been on the wall from the beginning. How can the Namibian user-base immediately support 4G service if only five countries in the world had deployed 4G technology at the time of the first trial in Windhoek? At the time, MTC quoted 98% national coverage with 3G speeds of up to 7.2Mbps, but actual speeds were (and are) much lower. Comments on MTC’s Facebook page suggest 3G speeds are hardly at 2G levels. Multiple MTC users ask why 4G is necessary when enhancements to 3G would be the next logical step.

The New Era newspaper uncovered that, in addition to MTC’s lack of a license and the delays with the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia in granting the license, the City of Windhoek is also slowing the process with demands of revenue from the yet-to-be-built network.

A timeline of events sheds light on the drawn-out situation:

• February 2, 2011: “Prime Minister Nahas Angula has called on the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) to urgently award a license to MTC to implement fourth generation (4G) technology.” {Namibia Press Agency}
• February 17, 2011: A 4G trial in front of government officials held in Windhoek showed speeds of “over 100Mbps, which is 20 times faster than the speeds churned out by the current 3G technology.” Streaming mobile video was also demonstrated. However, MTC acknowledged a need to build some more base stations, still was waiting on clear guidelines from the authorities, and stressed the need for fibre to carry the bandwidth. {MTC}
• February 1, 2012: In a press release mirroring that of February 2011, MTC announces a second successful 4G trial. The results were identical to the test run in 2011. Now, MTC cites 29 nations operating 4G technology – but none are in Africa. The wording is very careful, but MTC says they are ready to launch and are waiting on the regulatory body to grant the proper spectrum. {MTC}
• February 2, 2012: MTC told Namibia media that the company is “facing a number of challenges in implementing 4G technology.” {New Era}

The benefits of enhancing the quality of 3G service are more important than winning the race to see which nation and/or operator can first launch 4G in Africa. MTC would be wise to compete with leo for the most robust 3G network instead of competing for a title. What would happen if MTC were to end up with sub-par 4G service but leo were to deliver solid 3G bandwidth?

For your viewing pleasure, we’ve included video of 2011′s first round of public 4G trials:

The Catholic University of Eastern Africa conducted a Linux Pre- certification this was majorly to prepare the students for the LPI certifications. The students under went a basic training on linux and later sat for the exam. The total number that had enrolled for the course was 83, but 49 students sat for the exam at the end of the training.

irene misoi

If this scoop by The Register is to be believed, Symbian is finally dead.

In brief, Nokia won’t push out 150 million Symbian devices again as previously announced, and are cancelling all future Symbian devices except one – an N8 successor.

If the N8 successor is a compelling upgrade, I’m game. And then, the curtain closes on Symbian. The register calls it pouring oil on burning Symbian. I call it The end.

The future may be trackpads but if you're looking for a mouse today, the Logitech MX Anywhere is our favorite.

Canalys have released their Q4 2011 and full 2011 estimates, and the above and below tables give the summaries.

Notable Highlights

Besides the obvious, here are some other notable points from the Canalys report:

1. Total annual global shipments of smartphones exceeded those of client PCs (including pads) for the first time
2. Samsung shipped 3.8 million Bada OS smartphones
3. Nokia shipped 1.2 million Windows Phone smartphones
4. Nokia shipped only 0.6 million MeeGo smartphones, so the N9 didn’t sell as much as some hoped

Nobody is paying Bada OS much attention, but Samsung is making great progress with it. 3.8 million Bada OS smartphones is no joke. It is doing significantly better than Windows Phone at the moment, though that may change as Nokia increases Windows Phone shipments this year.

Most importantly is the fact that smartphones have finally overtaken the PC. Do click the source link below to access the full report.

Source

Mobile education projects haven't replaced face-to-face teaching, but they can be a valuable addition to lessons. The Mobile Learning Toolkit, written by Jenni Parker and developed for my.coop (an organization that teaches agricultural cooperative management techniques to people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America), is an adaptable work that outlines techniques for using mobile technology in educational training systems.

The Mobile Learning Toolkit is broken down into four sections, focusing on Delivering Content, Gathering Feedback, Assigning Tasks, and Providing Support. Although the toolkit was designed for agricultural training sessions, it is open source and can be adapted to other areas that would benefit from using mobile technology to connect with beneficiaries before, during, and after on-location training sessions.

An important point reiterated throughout the toolkit is the importance of face-to-face trainings, and how mobile technology is not a replacement for face-to-face education, but rather an enhancement to it. Many of the SMS, voice, and photo-based modules ask participants to report on and gather data from their daily experiences before attending face-to-face sessions, and the trainings are built around content that comes directly from participants. Making the m-learning sessions more about learning and less about mobile helps training leaders understand what participants want and need, and shifts the focus back to locally relevant education.

What Is In The Mobile Learning Toolkit?

The toolkit has 15 individual training modules that explain how trainers can incorporate mobile technology into agricultural education. Each section has lessons that focus on engaging participants before, during, and after the session through SMS, voice calls, IVR, and mobile web, and each module explains preparation for the lesson, how the lesson will be implemented, the technology necessary for the lesson, and how the lesson can be customized.

An important theme that is repeated through the toolkit is that trainers should adapt the technology to the needs of their participants. For example, if a training session calls for participants to document their daily routine with photos, trainers should be aware that not all participants will be able to send photos via MMS or email due to technological limitations. The 15 modules are pick-and-choose, so anyone adapting the toolkit to their training session doesn't have to follow the organizational structure or lesson plans of the original.

What Does It Mean For Other Organizations?

The Mobile Learning Toolkit outlines the benefits of using mobile technology in conjunction with face-to-face educational meetings. Some of these benefits include:

Participant Buy-In: Creating buy-in among participants is necessary for any project or educational effort. By using mobile technology to reach out to participants before and during trainings to ask what they want and need, trainers can tailor their lessons plans to local needs. Parker writes, "Shifting the generation of discussion topics from the trainer to the participants can give them more ownership," as it allows participants to direct the topics.

Locally Focused Training Sessions: The Mobile Learning Toolkit outlines the importance of asking well-structured questions, focusing on key concepts, and avoiding misunderstandings in participant outreach. Using SMS and voice technology to send updates and ask questions of participants ensures that content is locally applicable. Asking participants about issues that relate to their everyday lives and experiences means that each lesson is applicable to the local operational environment.

Confidentiality: A benefit of conducting polls and outreach before group training sessions is the confidentiality of mobile submissions. By having participants privately submit discussion topics before sessions, trainers can encourage a more open atmosphere during face-to-face training sessions. If participants are reluctant to speak up during sessions and ask questions, mobile technology can provide another outlet for outreach.

Sustained Follow Up: Several of the modules focus on keeping sustained contact with training participants after the initial face-to-face sessions. One module, called "newsflash," uses SMS to send updates on new developments after the originial training. Mobile technolgy can help maintain communication between trainers and participants even when distance could otherwise prevent regular meetups to share information.

The m-learning field still has a long way to go, but combining face-to-face educational trainings with mobile technology is a good start. The Mobile Learning Toolkit is worth a read for ideas on how to reach out to participants and create stronger relationships and sustained communications between trainers and trainees.
 

Countries and Regions Sub-Saharan Africa 2phones.jpg Featured?:  Yes Featured on homepage?:  Yes AnneryanHeatwole

February may be the shortest month, but there's no shortage of upcoming mobile events. Read on to find out what's happening this month in the mobile world, and please add in your own events in the comments!

• 7-9 February, BlackBerry DevCon Europe (Amsterdam, Netherlands) If you're curious about what's involved in developing for the BlackBerry market, check out the BlackBerry DevCon. The event features demonstrations, hands-on labs, and discussion panels to show attendees how to build for the BlackBerry platform.
  

• 9 February, Mobile Disconnect (Washington, D.C., USA) Mobile Disconnect examines the hype around mobile technology and its role in combatting global poverty and social issues. The panel will discuss the potential and limitations of mobile technology for social change and development.

• 10 February, mEducation Alliance Seminar (Washington, D.C., USA) USAID and the mEducation Alliance are hosting another event in their seminar series. This month's seminar features a discussion with One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) on the new XO 3 tablet and learning. You can register to attend virtually by RSVPing to mobilesforeducation@gmail.com

• 10-12 February, Android Homecoming (Mountain View, California) If you love Android, The Android Homecoming is for you. The event brings together Android developers and enthusiasts for a weekend of hackathons and discussions on designing for the Android platform.

• 22-23 February, Mobile Web East Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) What's happening with the mobile web in East Africa? This two-day conference focuses on a wide variety of topics such as the role of government in ICT, how mobile network operators can embrace the mobile web, how to reach out to mobile users, and an examination of the current mobile landscape in East Africa.
  

• 27 February - 1 March, The GSMA Mobile World Congress (Barcelona, Spain) The Mobile World Congress brings together thousands of people in the mobile industry to network, learn about new mobile technology, and participate in hundreds of exhibitions and demonstrations. Learn more here!

• 26 February - 2 March, The Mobile World Congress Fringe Festival (Barcelona, Spain) Are you going to the Mobile World Congress, but want to find out what else is happening around town? Check out the MWC Fringe Festival, a collection of discussion panels, barcamps, and demos outside of the official conference.

• For upcoming events in March and April, check out MobiThinking's events listings to stay aware of what's in store for the mobile industry. 

Countries and Regions Europe North America Sub-Saharan Africa handphone.jpg Featured?:  Yes Featured on homepage?:  Yes AnneryanHeatwole

I’ve been fortunate in my career to have had two people who have taken the time to mentor and help me. Unfortunately, finding a mentor is more luck and timing than anything else. It’s not something you can count on, so the next best thing may be peer coaching.

There is now a collaboration between whydev and Development Crossroads, where they are launching a peer coaching matching service.

“We believe that young professionals, graduate students, and others starting out in international development could benefit from peer coaching. We want to develop a service that best matches up with your needs, and supports your peer coaching relationship. We also want to know if you would actually use such a service!

We are still in the design phase, and would like to use this opportunity to get your thoughts through the online survey below. Would you want a peer coach? What would you like to get out of such a relationship? How often would you keep in touch? How much input and oversight would you want from us? These are the type of questions we would love to get your thoughts on.”

They’re asking anyone that’s interested to complete a survey through GoogleDocs. Here’s the link.

Here’s a comment from Brendan Rigby from whyDev

“Thank you for your support Saundra. We will be sure share the results with you, and what our next steps are. Just to reiterate. We really are at the design phase, and will seriously take into account feedback offered by those interested. We want this service to reflect the needs of aid and development workers. In addition, it should be stressed that it is not just limited to young professionals, graduates, etc., but will be for all!”

Arianna Huffington has announced The HuffPost Streaming Network, a 24/7 live-streaming TV network to launch this summer and feature 12 hours of original programming, five days a week. The network will spotlight the biggest, hottest, most engaging stories HuffPost is covering at any given moment and use them for conversations, commentary, and comedy. My take: This is what I expected from Nigeria’s NEXT instead of going print. It disrupted the online news industry, but could have changed the game further with a 24-hour Internet TV channel. [via: Huffington Post]

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Skype for Windows version 5.8 is out, bringing several interesting features, including full HD video-calling, group screen sharing and Facebook integration. But you will need to have a HD webcam to enjoy the Full HD video calls. On the other hand, video calling for Facebook works even with users who don’t use Skype. [Via: Mashable]

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In a rapidly changing technology world, it’s not only important that one understands how to do your current job/technology well but also be exposed to new ones, particularly in open source and cloud...

[Visit www.afrinnovator.com for full links, other content, and more! ]

A Design Africa profile of MAM Production,Senegal:
MAM, specializes in producing luxurious hand embroidered household linens for bed and table. Creator Marie-Amy Mbow, a trained archeologist working from Dakar, Senegal, takes inspiration from the rich African archeological and cultural heritage she shares with her collaborators...[more]