Local smart meter developer Invirohub has integrated Bitcoin into its systems, allowing consumers to buy electricity using the digital currency. Once enabled on its smart meters, any user who has Bitcoins will be able to pay the Bitcoin address associated with each meter. Each meter has a built-in 3G Sim
In recent years, Samsung has become a formidable competitor in the smartphone space. Its products offer a good balance between form and function, and there is always some sort of added value the Korean company offers customers that purchase its products. When the Galaxy S4 was launched
Nine in 10 bosses of telecommunications companies in South Africa are confident about their firms’ ability to grow revenues over the next three years, despite growing competitive pressures. This is a key finding of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 17th annual global CEO survey, which was released this month. Collaboration is top
A security report released by IT consultant Johan Pienaar claims accounting software firm Sage Pastel left customer data exposed on an FTP server used by its technical support department to assist clients when they encounter problems with its software. Founded in 1989, Sage Pastel is a large South African developer of payroll
Ten million wearable computing devices will be sold worldwide this year, generating US$3bn in sales from smart glasses, smart watches and wearable fitness trackers. That’s one of the predictions in Deloitte’s 2014 technology, media and telecommunications trend report. But the sale of wearables remains small fry next to smartphones
It appears that one of world’s most popular music subscription services, Spotify, is getting ready to launch in South Africa, and possibly other markets in Africa, in the coming months. The Swedish company has appointed Oscar Sehlberg Westergård to head up the region and sources say the firm, which already offers its services in 56 countries, is
Ttrumpet, a new mobile application that enjoys the backing of billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe, will be launched in the next few weeks, offering consumers access to voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) services, along with instant messaging and a patented online vouchering system. Co-founder Grant Theis says Ttrumpet
Seven-year-old Neotel, which is currently the subject of a takeover bid by Vodacom, is showing strong customer growth in the business, small enterprise and retail market segments. Its revenue for the financial year ended 31 March 2014 was R3,9bn, up by 23% from a year ago, with the business and the small enterprise and retail market
In its 2014 Global Security Report, information security specialist Trustwave estimates that investigations into security breaches increased by 53,6% last year compared to 2012. The data was gathered from 24 countries. Trustwave Africa director Andrew Kirkland says many organisations don’t have the skills to address information security adequately, and many businesses
US$100m, or over R1bn. That’s the amount South African e-commerce site Takealot has raised from Tiger Global Management, an international investment company, according to a report on US website TechCrunch. Takealot CEO Kim Reid CEO says Tiger Global has been a shareholder in Takealot since its inception
