Etisalat, Gionee Introduce IoT Ready Smartphone Device

Etisalat Nigeria and Gionee have Introduced the latest device, Gionee M6  Internet of Things (IoT) ready smartphone which can perform several functions including remotely controlling fridges, television sets, and other home electronics.

Speaking at the device unveiling in Lagos, Mr. Somoye Habeeb, marketing director (Gionee Nigeria) said “For the smartphone world, it is the best of times, as it is the time of bests. The Gionee M6 is a fresh evolution of the Gionee species that promises to raise the smartphone experience to newborn dimensions with a powerful battery, security chips and speed like never before.

“As smartphone increasingly become an integral part of our lives, the importance of mobile security grows increasingly paramount. Think about how much of our life is stored in that little device- private conversations and photos with loved ones; financial and employment information, detailed records of our daily habits. It is pretty scary, right? That is why Gionee makes mobile security the biggest priority with its newest smartphone, the M6 ‘the world’s safest smartphone’”.

e said that Gionee’s drive to provide extra security for smartphone is not entirely an altruistic one- part of this direction is to distinguish the M6 from the flood of new Android phones in the market, many of which are very excellent devices.

“But for those of you who really are constantly concerned about the threat of cybercrimes, Gionee M6 will ease your concerns”, Habeeb said.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Idowu Adesokan, head, High Value and Mass Market segment, Etisalat Nigeria, said that the network had launched mobile fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) service into the Nigerian market, offering the customers increased access to high speed data and quality voice services real time.

With the new technology and Gionee M6 device, he said that the customers will enjoy efficient broadband internet and uninterrupted connectivity to increase access to online streaming and ultra-high definition videos.

“Unlike others, our customers do not have to go through the inconveniences of executing a SIM swap before they can enjoy 4G LTE since all Etisalat SIMs are already LTE enabled. Etisalat’s 4G LTE network supports the widest range of LTE devices so many subscribers can immediately enjoy the benefits of LTE, this is what birth this partnership,” he said.

Speaking, specifically about Gionee M6 device, Habeeb said, “Everybody needs space and speed and Gionee M6 can afford you plenty. Its internal memory is a whopping 64GB ROM which can store more of your files, music, games and movies. The M6 also has a 4GB RAM. So, you see? Like speed, like never before. You can open more apps at the same time with the support of Etisalat (4G LTE) services.

Despite IT Boom, over 90% of Africa Has No Internet Access

Internet access: Vital to providing wider access to education and health awareness in rural communities in Mozambique

The Internet is one of the most important enablers of social development and education. While Internet services have been quite phenomenal in the rest of the world, access to the Internet remains very low in Africa, especially in the rural communities. According to the Internet World Stats for Africa 2016 (http://APO.af/AvhzA), only 9.3% of people across the African continent are Internet users.

“A few years ago anyone who could not read and write was considered illiterate, but today this concept goes further, encompassing people who do not know how to use information and communication technologies. Health organizations and schools in Africa often face a unique set of obstacles, including a lack of access to much-needed health education and counselling platforms. The Community Tablet was created to help solve these problems”, says Dayn Amade.

In today’s digital world, bringing Internet access to rural communities is a tremendous step in the right direction of social development and education. Mozambican technology start-up company Kamaleon (http://Kamaleon.co.mz) has developed an innovative and engaging way of promoting digital literacy through a shared platform called the “Community Tablet” (“Tablet Comunitário”). The Community Tablet is a solar powered mobile computer with touch screen displays and virtual keyboards built in on a trailer to provide Internet access to remote areas. In order to facilitate interaction with the virtual world, Kamaleon also offers training on how to use the Internet and its features to members of the community and the local workforce.

Launched in November 2016 in Mozambique, the Community Tablet ultimately aims to promote digital inclusion and a knowledge based society in Africa. Beginning in Mozambique with an astounding 24 million people with no Internet connection, the Community Tablet will be used to support campaigns on various Health and Education initiatives in partnership with governmental and private organisations. Spreading up-to-date messages and interactive lessons that showcase symptoms, prevention and treatment options – replacing the need for leaflet distributions to convey life saving information. Kamaleon is on a mission to close the digital divide and empower more people in Africa to engage in the digital economy and its educational benefits.

“I believe technology and digital literacy can contribute to greater effectiveness of civic education campaigns in various communities”, says Dayn Amade.

Nigeria’s internet users drop to 93.2m in October

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday said the number of internet users in Nigeria’s telecommunications networks had reduced to 93.2 million by October.

The telecommunications industry umpire made the disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscribers Data for October, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The data revealed that internet users on both Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks had decreased by 391,679 in October.

It showed that of the 93.2 million internet users in October, 93.1 million were on GSM networks, while 38,309 users were on CDMA networks.

Also, the GSM service providers lost 378,015 internet customers after recording 93.1 million users in October, as against 93.5 million it recorded in September.

The CDMA operators lost 13,664 internet users, after recording 38,309 in October, against 51,973 recorded in September.

The data revealed that MTN had 32.4 million subscribers browsing the internet on its network.

It explained that MTN recorded a decrease of 306,480 internet subscribers in October, after recording 32.7 million in September.

According to the data, Globacom has 27.2 million customers surfing the net on its network in October, giving an increase of 297,623 users, from the 26.9 million that surfed the internet on the network in September.

Airtel had 18.8 million internet users in October, the same it recorded in September.

 The data also showed that Etisalat had 14.7 million customers who browsed the internet in October, revealing a decrease of 369,158 users against the 15.1 million users recorded in September.

The NCC data revealed that the CDMA operators, Multi-Links and Visafone, had a joint total of 38,309 internet users on their networks in October.

It showed that the only two surviving CDMA networks in the country recorded a decrease of 13,664 internet subscribers in the month under review from the 51,973 users they recorded in September.

According to the data, Visafone has a decrease of 13,664 customers surfing the internet in October, as it has 38,305, compared to the 51,969 users in the month of September.

Multi-Links had just four internet users in October, same as the users recorded in September.

The decrease in the use of the internet in October showed that more Nigerians needed to embrace data, as the next revolution.