Messaging app Viber on Thursday announced it is cutting ties with Facebook over its mismanagement of user data and failure to combat violent rhetoric. Viber with over 1 billion said that effective immediately, it will stop all ad spending on the social networking platform, and it plans to remove Facebook…
Author: Oluwasegun Olukotun
Google today announced it is starting a licensing program to pay publishers for some content. However, the company was quick to note that it will only pay publishers for “high-quality content” that will launch later this year. Brad Bender, VP Product Management in a released wrote, “A vibrant news industry…
TikTok has announced to advertisers that the platform is now open for business. The company today officially introduced a new brand platform called TikTok For Business that will serve as the home for all its current and future marketing solutions for brands. Sequel to the launch, the site will include…
The United Nations is forging a partnership with Africa-focused wireless carriers including MTN Group Ltd. and Orange SA on a mobile-data platform that will help disseminate information on coronavirus around the continent. According to Vera Songwe, the executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the service will be…
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will rename its headquarters after Mary W. Jackson who served as the agency’s first African American female engineer and whose story inspired the book and movie “Hidden Figures.” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in the agency’s announcement on Wednesday said, “Mary W. Jackson was…
Mastercard Inc. is taking a major step away from traditional card payments with the acquisition of technology firm Finicity in a deal worth $825 million. The deal will give Mastercard more resources that help banks hasten credit decisions or enhance account verification processes, using Finicity technology that lets companies share…
Botswana interactive web-based platform e-Thuto was yesterday recognized today by the United Nations Public Service Awards 2020 for its valuable contributions to the communities in North-East Botswana after an exhibition a year ago at the Botswana Public Service Day. The digital learning platform connects teachers, learners, and parents to enhance…
Microsoft has shut down its Mixer live streaming service in favour of Facebook Gaming. Mixer shot to prominence last year when it entered into an exclusivity deal worth multi-million dollar with Ninja, a big star on rival platform Twitch. However, Microsoft has said that the platform will close in one…
Sony Music Entertainment Africa (SMEA) has entered into a partnership with Celebrity Services Africa (CSA) to nurture new talents and also foster existing artiste-brand opportunities on the continent. The partnership which is the first of its kind on the continent was announced in an official statement released on Monday. The collaboration…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to establish 142 agro-processing hubs across the six geopolitical zones in the country. The project announced by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the Minister of Agriculture, Saba Nanono will be funded by the “Green Imperative” programme a $1.2 billion joint…
Hackers have leaked more than 20 years’ worth of FBI and police document online. The leak containing potentially sensitive law enforcement information and intelligence is said to be over 270GB in size. The Hackers who collected the documents under the title “BlueLeaks” uploaded them to the Distributed Denial of Secrets…
Plentywaka, the solution-based innovation tech company, has launched Logistics By Plentywaka (LBP), an expansion to the company’s bus transportation network in the city. In a direct response to the city-wide lockdown and restriction of movement, the Lagos-based business-to-consumer delivery service will provide its customers with same-day service and range of…
Grammy-nominated singer Akon is launching a cryptocurrency ‘Akoin’ that will also be used as the local currency in Akon City in a 2,000-acre development in Senegal. The Singer also hopes that Akoin which will be likely launched in July will be adopted across Africa and beyond according to Jon Karas,…
The Executive Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde has launched a N1billion Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Scheme as part of plans to accelerate the economic recovery of businesses in the state. The financial intervention scheme is expected to catalyze the recovery of the local economy of the…
Twitter is rolling out a new feature that allows users to compose tweets with voice recordings. The new feature which Twitter started rolling out today is available for now on iOS for a limited group of people and allows users to compose tweet of up to 140 seconds of audio…
Qualcomm yesterday announced it is introducing the newest 5G chip in its series aimed at cheap smartphones. The new chip called snapdragon 690 marks the first time Qualcomm is making a 5G offer towards the lower-end of its smartphone chip lineup. The company has had 5G modems for premium smartphones…
The founder of a cryptocurrency firm Robert Farkas and two other founders Sohrab Sharma and Raymond Trapani of Centra Tech Inc. have admitted to scheming to dupe investors into committing over $25 million to the enterprise by deceiving them into an initial coin offering. The trio was charged in 2018…
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has exposed some phony phishing websites that are circulating misleading information that the Federal Government has given its nod to the approval of the disbursement of funds under a fictitious name called “Lockdown Funds”. The agency on Monday tweeted via its official handle…
Microsoft is launching a financial tool dubbed ‘Money in Excel’ that enables its millions of users to use Excel to keep tabs on budget and personal finances. Money in Excel is a template and add-in for Excel that lets Microsoft 365 subscribers to securely connect to bank, credit card, investment,…
WhatsApp today has announced that it is rolling out payments in its app. The Facebook-owned messaging service is rolling out the payment service first to its users in Brazil. Users from the South American country will be the first to be able to send and receive money by way of…