OxygenBroadband Networks, one of Nigeria’s leading providers of social internet is expanding its network across the country riding on the back of new strategic alliances in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) hospitality, music, software industry - all geared towards further strengthening Nigeria’s broadband ecosystem. Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, weekend, Wande Adalemo, chief executive officer, OxygenBroadband, disclosed that it had built Wi-Fi hotspots in nine  locations across Lagos. These locations include: Freedom Park, broad Street; E-Centre, Sabo, Yaba; Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall; Choicest, Festac; Stalad Garden, Abule Egba; Clean Expressions, Ago Palace Way; Grand Cafe, Amuwo Odofin; Eva Sports Bar and Slicks bar, VGC. 

Acer, a leading global manufacturer of Information and Communication Technology products, has renewed its commitment towards deepening Nigeria’s Personal Computer (PC) market with the introduction of a range of new products into the market. Studies have shown that Nigeria’s PC penetration stands at an abysmal 4.5 percent of the country’s teeming population. The new products are two tablets: Iconia W700P and Iconia W510P, and an ultrabook, Apire S7 series. The Acer Iconia W700P tablet is powerful and ultra-responsive. It features a cradle that stands in portrait or landscape view to provide various usage modes, as well as a bluetooth keyboard to keep users productive anytime, anywhere.

Although some computer users may actively seek pirated software in hopes of saving money, the chances of infection by unexpected malware are one in three for consumers and three in 10 for businesses, according to a new study commissioned by Microsoft Corporation and conducted by IDC. As a result of these infections, the research shows that consumers will spend 1.5 billion hours and $22 billion identifying, repairing and recovering from the impact of malware, while global enterprises will spend $114 billion to deal with the impact of a malware-induced cyber attack.

The BlackBerry Z10 has finally arrived after what has been a very tough year for the company and with the rumoured iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S4 handsets due to land in 2013, the battle has only just begun. Blackberry launched the device in Nigeria yesterday. It is priced at N100, 000.

Oracle, United States (US) technology firm, says it is well positioned to assist banks in Nigeria build world-class data centres needed to improve business flexibility. Tom Pegrume, Vice President, hardware sales for Middle East and Africa, Oracle Corporation made this known in Lagos while speaking with BusinessDay. Driven by regulatory pressure, banks are expected to build  in data centres in-country. With the implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) for banks in 2011, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had disclosed plans that required lenders to maintain independent servers within Nigeria to manage their critical and sensitive data.

Millions of mobile users owning basic mobile phones across Africa and Asia are now able to join the online community using a new low-cost USSD messaging service from Etisalat. This service will provide access to email, social networking and messaging services, to basic mobile devices and feature phones at very affordable prices.  This follows an agreement between the Etisalat Group, the leading operator in the Middle-East, Africa and Asia, and Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobile financial and value added solutions, which was signed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.  

Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman of Zinox Group, says his company is responsible for the computerisation of over 65 percent of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria, further adding that the technology firm could do more in terms of bridging the country’s digital divide if only the operating environment was conducive. He made these remarks while receiving Global Vice President, Intel Corporation,  Greg Pearson who paid a courtesy visit to the Zinox Headquarters.  The Zinox boss called on the federal government to grant tax exemptions to computer makers in Nigeria in order to provide them with requisite capacity to develop locally relevant technologies for socio-economic development.

The commencement of the much anticipated Mobile Number Portability (MNP) scheme by the end of the first quarter of this year, will drive down tariffs as telecommunications operators battle fiercely to attract and retain phone subscribers, a new report has shown. Industry analysts told BusinessDay that the number portability scheme, when introduced, would enable the holders of Nigeria’s over 113 million lines to retain their phone numbers when changing from one mobile operator to another. BusinessDay sought the views of some industry analysts.