Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Indonesia has blocked web-based access to a popular messaging service and threatened a full ban on the app due to its “terrorism” content, the government said. The communications ministry said in a statement that “so many channels in the (Telegram) service contain radicalism and terrorism… …
Read More »Uber merges with Russia’s Yandex in 6 countries
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Uber on Thursday announced that it was merging in Russia and five other ex-Soviet states with the taxi hailing app of the country’s leading internet giant, Yandex. “Uber and Yandex have entered into an agreement to form a new company,” the head of Uber’s operations …
Read More »Samsung confirms launch of refurbished Galaxy Note 7s
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | Samsung Electronics said Sunday it would start selling a refurbished version of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone this week after an embarrassing recall over exploding batteries rocked the tech giant last year. The recall of millions of Galaxy Note 7 devices cost the world’s …
Read More »Parliament resolves to extend SIM-card deadline to next year
Uganda’s Parliament has Thursday passed a motion extending the registration of SIM-cards deadline by not more than one year. Government responded soon after. Frank Tumwebaze, Spokesperson Government of Uganda said on twitter that “Government notes and will address issues of Parliament in regard to the SIM-card verification period, the deadline stands.” …
Read More »Italian court rules mobile phone caused brain tumour
Rome, Italy | AFP | In a potentially landmark case, an Italian court has ruled that excessive, work-related use of a mobile phone caused an executive to develop a benign brain tumour. In a ruling handed down on April 11 but only made public on Thursday, the court in the northern …
Read More »Next big thing at MTN
Company plans to widen data usage, lower tariffs MTN Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte who has spent eight months in office describes himself as a forward looking manager wanting his leadership to grow company profitability while meeting customer demands. He says the most critical thing he is currently preoccupying …
Read More »EU to end mobile roaming charges in June
Strasbourg, France | AFP | The EU will abolish mobile phone roaming charges from June 15 following a vote in the European Parliament on Thursday. MEPs backed a deal between operators and European Union member states that will mean the end of extra charges when people use their phones abroad in …
Read More »Five trends at Mobile World Congress
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | The phone industry’s largest annual trade fair, the Mobile World Congress which wrapped up in Barcelona on Thursday, was dominated by fast-charging phone batteries, virtual reality and connected objects, from toothbrushes to cars. LONGER LASTING BATTERIES AND FAST CHARGING Several phonemakers unveiled new smartphones with …
Read More »Telecom giant MTN posts first ever loss
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African telecoms giant MTN said Thursday that it made a $200 million loss in 2016 — the company’s first — after suffering a huge fine in Nigeria and currency challenges in key markets. “MTN Group’s financial results for 2016 reflect the most challenging …
Read More »China’s Huawei takes aim at ailing Samsung with new smartphone
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | China’s Huawei unveiled a new smartphone with a better camera on Sunday as it tries to fill the void left by Samsung’s withdrawal of its flagship device due to problems with the battery. Huawei’s P10 and the larger P10 Plus, launched on the sidelines of …
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