Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

Microsoft has made the HoloLens 2 available in South Africa, bringing mixed reality to local enterprises across various sectors. HoloLens 2 is a comfortable mixed reality device, with industry-leading solutions that deliver an immersive experience. Mixed reality covers the spectrum from augmented reality to virtual reality, so that these worlds…

Microsoft has launched Teams Essentials, a standalone version of its video conferencing software explicitly aimed at small businesses (SMB market). Previously, businesses who wanted a more capable Teams experience would have to subscribe to one of the company’s Microsoft 365 packages. Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365, said: “Teams Essentials simplifies…

US motor giant Ford Motor Company Thursday announced an investment of R600 million in the Struandale Engine Plant in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth. This investment will support the launch of a new 3.0L V6 turbodiesel engine Ford Ranger, as well as upgrades to the existing assembly line for the 2.0L…

Many consumers are still opting to shop online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with goods delivered to their door. Digital shopping and delivery startup Quench knows something about adapting to change, as it is one of the liquor delivery services that turned to on-demand groceries and other essential products during…

As businesses struggle to adjust to an evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Alphabet Inc.’s Google employees will not be returning to their offices as planned in January and this is the fourth time the company has delayed a mandatory return of its workforce to offices as the threat of new Omicron coronavirus…

JSE-listed technology company Altron has appointed Andrew Whittaker as its new Managing Director of Altron Security (previously Ubusha Technologies), with effect from 1 December 2021. Previously Executive: Services and Business Development at Altron Security, Whittaker was responsible for sales, business development, marketing, and services management, Whittaker takes over from Marius…

To enable digital transformation powered by Africans for Africa, Microsoft, the worldwide tech giant is establishing the Africa Transformation Office (ATO) as part of doubling down on its investment in the continent, and this new office will be headed by the new Managing Director (MD) Wael Elkabbany. In a statement,…

The Vumela Fund, established by FNB Business and Edge Growth, today announced a new investment in Kusini Water, a cleantech enterprise that provides clean drinking water to local communities and corporates by manufacturing mobile, solar-powered water purification systems made from locally sourced macadamia nut shells and nanotechnology. The investment will…

Africa Data Centres, the continent’s leading carrier-neutral co-location data centre provider, is strongly expanding in Nairobi. The company has begun the development of a second data centre of up to 20MW of IT load and is securing land for a third facility. This $200 million-plus investment will double the country’s…

YouTube has kicked off the second edition of Africa Creator Week. The programme seeks to showcase and support content creators from across the continent and extend YouTube’s commitment to nurturing black creators and artists as part of the #YouTubeBlack Voices programme. The YouTube Africa Creator Week 2021 runs from 29…

David Marcus, the head of Facebook parent company Meta’s cryptocurrency efforts, announced on Tuesday he will be leaving the company at the end of the year after seven years to pursue other projects, and his departure comes after the company tried and failed to launch Diem digital currency that could…

Absa Group says that it is set to exceed its goal of equipping 1,500 staff members across Africa with cloud-computing skills this year through its cloud incubator initiative. Absa launched the cloud incubator programme in March to support its digital transformation journey. According to Absa, a total of 1,496 participants…

One of South Africa’s largest independent payment processors, Adumo, today announced it has acquired SwitchPay, a South African startup providing alternative payment services to merchants and retailers, for an undisclosed amount. According to Adumo CEO Paul Kent, the investment comes at a time when consumer interest in new payment options…

Samsung Electronics announced Tuesday that it would supply automotive chips to Volkswagen. The Exynos Auto V7, used for comprehensive in-vehicle infotainment systems, is in mass production. It’s a component of Volkswagen’s latest in-car application server. A global chip shortage is disrupting the auto industry. The tech giant has also announced…

Samsung Electronics continues to invest in the automobile market. The company unveils three new automotive chips: the Exynos Auto T5123 for 5G connectivity, the Exynos Auto V7 for in-car infotainment systems, and the PMIC (power management integrated circuits) S2VPS01 ASIL-B certified for the Auto V series. Samsung continues its interest in the automobile…

Last year Facebook (now Meta) acquired Giphy, the popular platform of sharable animated images, in a deal worth around $400 million, and now the latest news is that the UK’s competition watchdog has told Facebook owner Meta to sell GIF-sharing platform Giphy in Britain’s first such move against so-called Big…

TechWomen is a professional exchange program that directly supports the U.S. foreign policy goal of advancing the status of women and girls around the world by enhancing their skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to enable participating women to reach their full professional potential. When applying, women will select one of six tracks: information…

International aviation consultancy firm ALAS Group, which has representation in Europe, the United States of America, Central and Southeast Asia is now extending its operations to Southern Africa as it seeks to harness opportunities that have arisen during the post-COVID-19 recovery. It is envisioned to presence in Namibia, Zambia, Botswana,…

The expansion of Africa’s digital economy is gaining momentum, with the potential to reach US$180 billion by 2025, about 5% of the continent’s gross domestic product, according to a recent report released by the International Finance Corporation and Google. To meet the increasing demand for digital services in Africa, Vodacom…

As global markets fell last week on news of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, one cryptocurrency with the same name soared after the Greek letter entered the investor lexicon. The price of the hitherto-obscure digital token, whose Twitter feed has little more than 1,000 followers, rose almost ten-fold from Friday to Monday morning when it…