All the latest technology news from South Africa and around the world.
JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms has partnered with international security software provider Symantec to pilot its mobile phone security suite in SA. Blue Label co-CEO Brett Levy says Symantec approached Blue Label to act as distributor of the product in SA. “It is a good opportunity for us because people can no longer ignore security risks on their phones,” says Levy.
Apple’s iPad could go on sale in SA within a matter of weeks. Core Group, Apple’s sole local distributor, has confirmed it is in talks with the US company about bringing the tablet computer to the country.
Core Group executive director Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk says the company has held “lengthy discussions” with Apple and that Core will distribute both versions of the iPad – the cellular-ready product and the Wi-Fi-only configuration – exclusively to the SA market.
Charismatic empowerment advocate and IT industry personality Mthunzi Mdwaba has been “removed” from his position as deputy CEO of Kelly Group. He has also been stripped of his board responsibilities. Mdwaba is CEO of Kelly’s technology training subsidiary, Torque IT.
A free telecommunications industry conference, set to take place on 8 September in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, will explore the whether smaller market players can compete effectively with the big incumbent providers. The event, called VoiceSA, will explore how the smaller players can take on the big boys.
JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms says a controversial contract signed with Telkom’s ailing Nigerian operation, Multi-Links, is being reviewed. Blue Label co-CEO Mark Levy says the contract has reached its annual review time, and the company is willing to make some concessions to help save the troubled Multi-Links.
The SABC board has moved to suspend CEO Solly Mokoetle, it emerged on Tuesday. The news was revealed soon after the Western Cape high court overruled attempts by parliament to hold a briefing on the latest trouble at the public broadcaster behind closed doors. “They have served him with a legal letter with the intention to suspend him and he has been given an ‘x’ number of days — exactly how many days I don’t know — to respond to the letter to explain why he should not be suspended,” said Ismail Vadi, chairman of parliament’s portfolio committee on communications.
Telkom has resumed its high-profile anti-Neotel taunts on Gauteng billboards, this time erecting a giant sign just metres in front of its rival’s new head office in Midrand, north of Johannesburg. In a clear reference to Neotel’s orange corporate branding, the Telkom hoarding says: “Remember, exercise caution when you see orange.”
MWeb’s uncapped broadband products have hammered the margins of many local Internet service providers, says BMI-TechKnowledge director of research Brian Neilson. And some might not survive. Speaking at a BMI-T telecommunications briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning, Neilson said the uncapped model, and the price war it sparked had turned broadband provision into a volumes game.
Uncertainty in SA’s telecommunications industry has played havoc with product and network planning, says research firm BMI-TechKnowledge (BMI-T). BMI-T director Brian Neilson says mobile termination rates and the regulatory environment have been the primary drivers of uncertainty in the market.
The Western Cape high court has ordered that parliament’s communications portfolio committee may not proceed with Tuesday’s closed meeting with the SABC board. The ruling was handed down as an interim order shortly before noon by acting judge Sven Olivier. It followed an urgent application by the SA National Editor’s Forum.
