Today 6th/June/2012, Airtel one of the largest mobile operator in the world entered into an agreement with Opera Software, under which its customers across India, Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be able to access a customised version of the latter’s internet browser on their mobiles.
This came after MTN early May signed same agreement.

Oslo-based Opera Software has agreements with 13 of the top 30 operators globally. Its Opera Mini browser is used by over 168 million active users, though it gives access to over 1.6 billion users.

The customised browser has Google search engine, Gmail and YouTube, apart from various applications of Airtel that include Airtel Self Care, Airtel.com and Airtel Life, on the default page. Even Facebook will be available on the introduction page.

A 24-year-old Anthony Mutua from Kenya has developed an ultra-thin chip of crystals that can charge mobile phones when placed in shoe soles and the technology is set to go into mass production soon enough.

The chip, once installed into a regular shoe, generates electricity when you step on it, and can be harvested in one of two ways. You can either charge a phone while in motion through a thin extension cable running from your shoe to your pocket, or, you can choose to store the electric energy and charge your phone after you have stopped walking or running, after taking your shoes off.

Either way, there’s no doubt that this is cool, and you’ probably will want to start taking care of your shoes more if you choose to go for this innovative technology.

Mutua, the technology’s inventor, expects the crystals to go into mass production very soon, especially due to the fact that they can store energy, which could make them very popular for “people looking to charge phones as a commercial activity”. However it is not known whether it will charge all kinds of phones as it was announced that the technology has the ability to charge several devices simultaneously. This is, of course, if you walk enough.

The chip can be inserted inside the sole of any shoe, with the exception of bathroom slippers, and you shouldn’t worry too much about deteriorating or wearing out your footwear, as the crystals can always be transferred from an old shoe to a new one.

The technology’s price in Africa is set to be quite affordable, especially considering that no one has really tried to bring something like this to market before. The equivalent of $46 will buy you a chip with a two and a half-year warranty, which will be fitted to a shoe of your choice in no time.

The National Council of Science and Technology (NCST) has funded the project with around $6000 so far, but Anthony Mutua has been promised additional financial help for getting the technology to mass production and to larger markets beyond Kenya.

Nairobi, the country’s capital, was the host of the invention’s official debut, at the recent Science and Innovation Week, but things have moved on very fast since then. The idea has already been patented by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute and there are rumors going around of private companies wanting to financially aid the further development of the project.

I personally think this is one of the coolest inventions I’ve had the privilege to write about in a long time, as it has the ability to provide an alternative and easy to use energy source for cell phones worldwide while encouraging people to do more physical exercise at the same time. Also, it might be nice to see a few girls wearing the same pair of shoes for more than two consecutive days for a change!

The Government has handed over full control of Uganda Telecom (utl) to LAP Green, the parent company of utl. LAP Green’s directors were fully reinstated and have now resumed their management control responsibilities of the company.

Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, LAP-Green’s chairman Wafi k Al-Shater said the team now resumes full operational management control.

“This sends a clear message to others who are thinking of doing business in Uganda that investors are not only welcome, but their enterprises and investments will be treated fairly and with full respect for their rights in law,” said Shater.

Meanwhile, utl has appointed a new chief executive offi cer following a series of changes the company is undergoing since the UN lifted sanctions over the fi rm early in 2012.

David Holiday, A British national replaces Abdulbaset Elazzabi, the Libyan who left the company during the height of the Libyan uprising last year. Donald Nyakairu, the Ugandan national who has been acting CEO resumes his former post as corporation secretary and has been lined up “for a bigger role at the Group level”, was recognised by the Group for his “fortitude.”

The appointment of a foreign national continues to raise the question on whether there are no local managers capable of managing top corporates in the country or whether they cannot be nurtured as understudy to take over.

Most top corporate entities are run by foreign nationals. Sources said several meetings regarding board and management positions have been going on and had to be approved by the Government.

He said Libya and its people have come through tough times, and with elections about to take place for a democratic government, there is a new sense of optimism and stability for the future.

LAP Green has been assessing the various operations and has developed a good understanding of what the requirements are going forward in the restoration of its assets across Africa.

UCOM, the holding arm of LAP Green, has invested about $200m in utl and controls a 69% stake in the telecom fi rm.

From New Vision

News from BusinessTech

MTN is back in the firing line, this time in Uganda, after the Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC) said it may impose fines on telecoms operators for poor service delivery.

BusinessTech confirmed with the UCC that a decision would be taken within the next two weeks, although it is unclear just how much the fines will amount to.

IT News Africa cited Godfrey Mutabazi, the executive director of UCC as saying: “We started doing benchmarking and we are compiling the results and within the next two to three weeks, we shall release the results and once we approve the sanctions, then the fines will be imposed.”

Uganda has as many as six operators including MTN Uganda, Orange Telecom, WARID Telecom, Airtel, Uganda Telecom and Smile Telecom.

In 2011, the UCC found that all six operators were not meeting the minimum operating standards, standards required by the watchdog.

Earlier this month, regulators in Nigeria fined four mobile phone carriers, including MTN Nigeria, a total of $7.3 million over poor service.

The Nigeria Communications Commission also fined Bharti Airtel, Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat, and local firm Globacom. Etisalat and MTN were ordered to pay $2.25 million apiece, while Airtel was asked to fork out $1.68 million and Globacom $1.125 million.

The fines were issued for poor service, dropped calls and bad line quality in March and April.

Last Friday evening at the Serena Hotel, the 2^nd edition of the Annual Communications Innovation Awards (ACIA) came to pass. Organized by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for the purpose of recognizing 'excellence through innovation' in Uganda's communications sector, this year edition came just six months after the initial edition was held last October at the Common Wealth Resort, Munyonyo.

UCC Executive director; Godfrey Mutabazi, said this year's Awards event had been realigned so as to coincide with the World Telecommunications and Information Day which took place last Thursday.

At the end of the evening which featured a prodigious, several-course dinner and performances from Maurice Kirya, Jackie Chandiru and Iryn Namubiru, several organizations and individuals went off smiling with awards for their respective categories. There were five categories - Student Research, Rural Services, Local Content, Green ICT and E-Government.

Set Muhairwe and Michael Opaka respectively walked off with the students' Awards for under-graduate and post-graduate research walking off with cash prizes as well.

National water and Sewerage Corporation won the E-Governance category for using ICT in the billing and payment transactions with their customers.

F.I.T Uganda, a leading private sector business development consulting company won the Rural Services Category.

Logitel Project won the Green ICT category, while none of the nominees for local content category satisfied the judges' requirements to win the category.

Labs@Mak won the Best Exhibitor's award for the communications exhibition that was held in the Serena Hotel Gardens before the party moved indoors for the Award ceremony.

Guests included the speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, the Minister of ICT Ruhakan Rugunda, Multichoice Country MD Charles Hamya, Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga, the entire ICT committee of parliament.

The chief guest was Dr. Veena Rawat, from Blackberry Canada.

From New Vision