“Steve” from “Beep Bank” has become something of a meme among SA consumers. The First National Bank advertisements, which poke fun at the company’s rivals, imploring consumers to switch banks, have become the subject of everyday conversation, with people regularly wondering aloud which bank “Steve” really works for
Browsing: Duncan McLeod
The country’s move to digital TV has been plagued for years by delays and bad decisions. It’s tempting to call it a comedy of errors, except this isn’t funny. The delays could cost SA dearly, particularly as vast chunks of valuable spectrum being used by broadcasters needs to be freed up so
The resignation last week of Vodacom Group CEO Pieter Uys raises interesting questions about the future of SA’s most powerful mobile phone operator under the UK’s Vodafone, especially as it faces an increasingly fractious and competitive industry. When
Alan Knott-Craig’s move to simplify Cell C’s tariff structures is a smart strategic manoeuvre. He’s making it easy for customers to understand what they’re getting for their money. It’s long overdue in an industry where the bigger players bewilder their
Microsoft dealt a blow to its partner Nokia late last week when it said current Windows Phone devices would not get upgraded to the latest version of the operating system. In the process, the US software giant may have shot itself in the foot. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop could be forgiven for thinking
It had all the hallmarks of an Apple keynote. No one knew exactly what Microsoft would be announcing in Los Angeles, but the excitement among gadget junkies about a potentially game-changing product from the US software giant was palpable. What
Events of the past week have shown that it’s become more urgent than ever that government sell its stake in Telkom . If it continues as a significant shareholder, it risks further undermining one of SA’s most important companies and inflicting long-term damage on SA’s economy. The opportune
Government first raised the idea of a deal between Telkom and Korea’s KT Corp. So, last week’s decision by cabinet not to support the transaction comes as a surprise and a setback for the JSE-listed company and raises serious concerns for shareholders and
In the escalating smartphone wars, the battle for supremacy is being waged between Apple and Samsung Electronics. In the first quarter of 2012, it’s estimated the two companies consumed all of the industry’s profits and 74% of its revenues. Where does this leave BlackBerry’s Research in Motion, Nokia
Extraordinary events took place behind the scenes in SA’s cellphone industry in the past week. Alan Knott-Craig played his first hand as Cell C CEO, slashing prepaid voice prices, and Vodacom reacted almost immediately with new rates of its own. But then the bigger operator botched its counter attack by