IDC records PC Growth in East Africa…with HP in the Lead

The PC market in East Africa strongly expanded in the first quarter of 2011, even as the worldwide PC market contracted and the pan-African market almost stagnated, according to a recent report by market research company IDC. While global PC shipments declined 3.2% year on year during the first three months of 2011 and the overall African PC market grew a marginal 1%, East Africa (including Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Uganda) recorded a massive 76% growth in PC shipments. IDC expects that the East African PC market will further grow by about 35–45% in 2011 before cooling off in 2012.

According to the IDC report, the growth in Q1 2011 was fueled primarily by a healthy demand for notebooks, with Kenya showing the highest uptake. This quarter was a continuation of the dynamic development in 2010, supported by the resumption of commercial demand and strong advertising and promotion efforts by vendors, as well as their efforts to find new distribution channels and strengthen existing ones. This helped to stymie unofficial (gray market) shipments.

The report also said that consumer demand was dynamic in 2010 but relaxed in Q1 2011, due to a combination of factors that affected price levels, including unfavorable foreign exchange rates and inflationary pressures. In addition, competition between vendors caused consumer pricing to plateau, and thus prevented sellers from stimulating demand around attractive price points.

“We are continuing to see increased interest in the region from international investors, especially with Kenya’s new constitution, which is hoped to be fully implemented after the next general elections, Uganda’s oil discovery, and the formation of the East African Community (EAC) market, which has a combined population of over 130 million,” says IDC analyst Stanley Kamanguya. “Investors are looking at the region as the next frontier of growth, with Kenya as the hub.  Political risk will remain a key issue for investors, however. The extent of consequences of events in North Africa and the Middle East remains unclear, which will affect the market in the short term.”

Going forward, vendors will not rely on pricing or hardware specifications for a competitive edge, but rather on their ability to engage in demand-creation programs, mobilize channels, and articulate a message that their products will provide an unmatched user experience.

Vendor Outlook

• HP maintained its top position on the East Africa PC market, with shipment growth of 46% year on year, supported by strong commercial demand and improved run-rates during Q1 2011. The vendor remained very strong in the Kenya market but continued to struggle in Ethiopia and Uganda.
• Dell came a close second in Q1, with more than 600% year-on-year growth, after an aggressive channel recruitment and revamped drive from mid-2010. Dell continued to benefit more than other vendors from the shift from the gray market to official channels, especially in Ethiopia and Uganda, where desktop sales increased significantly.
• Acer was third in East Africa in Q1, with 200% year-on-year growth, mainly thanks to deals in the telecommunications space. This channel is expected to continue growing as telcos explore data services to supplement dwindling voice revenues.

It is quite instructive that Mecer, which came into the East African market (Kenya) at the same time its Nigerian version, Zinox came into being has not managed any significant sales achievement in that region. Meanwhile Zinox was last rated as the highest selling PC brand in Nigeria Q4 2010. 

IDC’s Quarterly PC Tracker is famed to deliver timely intelligence and an inclusive database detailing changes and trends in the African PC market. The tracker enables users to view data by volume, value, country, year, quarter, vendor, brand, processor brand, and channel. It also includes easy-to-read summaries that analyze volume and value by form factor, vendor, and end-user segment.

Oriental Battle Royale: Huawei In Patency War with Compatriot, ZTE

China's largest telecommunication equipment supplier, Huawei Technologies, has won a preliminary injunction prohibiting its hometown rival ZTE from using a Huawei trademark on USB broadband modems sold in Germany. The injunction is part of a larger legal battle over trademark and patent infringements the two companies are fighting in several countries.

This is coming on the heels of similar patency law suits filed by Ericsson against the same ZTE in several European courts a few months ago. The Swedish telecoms equipment maker filed the suits in the UK, Italy and Germany after trying to reach an agreement with ZTE about licensing its patents.

Huawei said last week that it had been granted the injunction in a German court. Two weeks ago, the company filed lawsuits in Germany, France and Hungary, alleging that ZTE had infringed on a series of Huawei patents involving mobile broadband modems and higher-speed fourth generation technology known as LTE (Long Term Evolution). The lawsuits also accuse ZTE of illegally using Huawei's trademarks on some of its modem products.

A copy of the German court document said that ZTE is temporarily prohibited from using a Huawei trademark on its USB broadband modems in the country. "The court's decision will protect our intellectual property and we look forward to ZTE ensuring that Huawei's innovations and technologies are used in a lawful manner," Huawei spokesman Ross Gan said via e-mail.

ZTE, however, contends that Huawei's lawsuit is without merit and suggests the case is being used as a tactic to interfere with the company's business in Europe. To all and sundry this appeared like a major victory for Huawei in its legal clash with ZTE, but ZTE issued a statement saying that the case isn't over yet and that it is still pursuing options that could turn things around.

ZTE said it wanted to clarify reports about the injunction, as many of them do not state that it is a preliminary and temporary one, granted as an interim legal process in the lawsuit. It said that all Huawei had to do to get the preliminary injuction was file an application with the court, suggesting it was simply a matter of paperwork.

The preliminary injunction centers on an environmental certification used in Europe indicating compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. Huawei had designed a trademark reflecting the certification, which the company now alleges ZTE has illegally used on its own modem products.

ZTE claims it stopped using the trademark in July 2009, months before Huawei applied for it as its own with the European Union. Furthermore, ZTE argues Huawei's RoHS designed logo shouldn't even be considered a legitimate trademark. "This is like having a little bit of graphic design around the words 'energy saving', and use it as a trademark of household appliances," ZTE said in a statement. "There is a clear lack of legitimacy."

ZTE added that it believed the trademark case goes "beyond normal technology, marketing and legal litigation."

Shortly after Huawei filed its lawsuits in Europe, ZTE fired back with its own patent infringement cases against its rival, filing them in China. ZTE has also applied with the E.U. to revoke Huawei's RoHS trademark. ZTE also claims that Huawei had no right to register the RoHS logo as a trademark in the first place and that ZTE has asked the EU to revoke it. Restriction of hazardous substances is part of EU legislation, but ZTE said that Huawei is attempting to misappropriate the term and logo for itself. It said this lacks any legitimacy, as it would be like trademarking the words "energy saving".

The dispute over this logo seems somewhat bizarre, as the RoHS logo definitely appears to be something that belongs more in the jurisdiction of lawmakers than technology firms, but Huawei and ZTE have been at each others' throats for some time now. Huawei sued ZTE for infringement of its mobile broadband data card and LTE patents, and ZTE responded with a tit-for-tat LTE lawsuit. The two Chinese telecommunications firms look set to engage in legal battles for a long time to come.

Both Huawei and ZTE are based in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, but their market reach has grown to expand outside of China. A majority of their revenues come from foreign countries -- about 54 percent for ZTE, and two-thirds for Huawei. Both mobile broadband modems and higher-speed LTE networks represent major product markets the companies compete in.

But unlike ZTE, Huawei has generally stayed away from controversy especially with competitors in the foreign market space.

VIA Technologies showcase its new QuadCore chip

Taiwan based VIA Technologies has announced the introduction of its new energy-efficient multi-core architecture that has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of only 27.5 watts and running at 1.2+ GHz. The VIA QuadCore processor is said to be 21% more energy efficient than the nearest competitor. VIA QuadCore processors combine four ‘Isaiah’ cores on two dies which enables multi-tasking and multimedia performance.

Years back when VIA released their first Nano based processor, which is essentially a 9th generation x86 processor with many advanced features which make it quite similar in ways to the Intel Core 2 architecture.  This super-scalar processor was very mean and lean, but initially came out in a single core solution.  What made this processor quite interesting was that the design was simplified to a great degree, but it still performed at a very high level.  It is said that to nearly 50% of a processor’s transistor budget is dedicated to squeezing out that last 10% of performance. 

Well, the Centaur design team behind Nano decided to forego that last bit of performance and just created an architecture which would still have next generation features, but will improve power consumption and die size while sacrificing some of the potential performance when compared to larger, more power hungry processors from the competition.

One could argue that VIA jumped on the low power bandwagon before it was really cool.  Way back in the late 90s VIA snatched up processor firms Cyrix and Centaur, and started to merge those design teams to create low powered x86 CPUs.  Over the next several years VIA was still flying high on the chipset side, but due to circumstances started to retreat from that business.  On the Intel side it was primarily due to the legal issues that stemmed from the front side bus license that VIA had, and how it apparently did not apply to the Pentium 4. 

On the AMD side it was more about the increased competition from NVIDIA and ATI/AMD, plus the lack of revenue from that smaller CPU market.  Other areas have kept VIA afloat through the years, such as audio codecs, very popular Firewire controllers, and the latest USB 3.0 components that are starting to show up.

Considering all that, VIA thought its best way to survive was to get into the CPU business and explore a niche in the x86 market that had been widely ignored except for a handful of products from guys like Nat Semi (who had originally bought up Cyrix).  In the late 90s and early 2000s there just was not much of a call for low power x86 products, and furthermore the industry was still at a point where even mundane productivity software would max out the top end x86 processors at the time. 

This was a time where 1GHz was still not common, and all processors were single core.  Fast forward to 2011 and we have four and six core processors running in excess of 3 GHz.  There’s also seen a dramatic shift in the x86 realm to specialized, lower power processors. It seems its gotten to a point where the combination of raw speed and pervasive, multi-core designs have become “good enough” for the majority of desktop applications out there. 

Certainly there are plenty of workstation class software products such as image manipulation, scientific models and simulations that require more than two cores and faster speeds, but for most users wishing to surf the internet, watch a few videos, and exchange emails, we are certainly at the level of “good enough” for a wide variety of low power/low cost processors.

The Nano has done well, even though VIA only has a small fraction of the x86 market currently.  Apparently it has sold quite well in Asia where cost and low heat production are key in many markets.  The combination of a Nano processor combined with the current VIA chipsets has kept VIA somewhat profitable and stable as a company.  The purchase of S3 graphics to design their latest GPU cores has also proven to be a good combination, as the VN1000 was able to match the feature set and performance of other integrated solutions from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel.

Microsoft acquisition of Skype: Marketing Matters Arising

The fact that Microsoft has acquired worldwide leaders in the VOIP scene Skype is no longer news. What is news however, are the chances of Microsoft making marketing headway with Skype in the mobile platform, especially through its mobile strategic partner Nokia.

According to industry analysts, it is not clear what kind of impact the software giant Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype could have, for instance on the fortunes of Microsoft's new partner Nokia. Microsoft Corporation announced recently that it has acquired Skype, the company behind the software application that allows users to make VOIP calls and chats over the Internet, for EUR 5.9 billion.    

In February, Microsoft and Nokia announced that they were to enter into a major strategic partnership agreement, under which Nokia would start to use Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system as its primary platform in smartphones.

In a recent report issued by International Data Corporation (IDC), senior research analyst Rosalind Craven estimated that the deep integration of Skype software into the Windows phone operating system would be a ”major selling point” for Nokia’s upcoming smartphones.  Skype’s current client software can already now be downloaded to mobile phones based on Android, iPhone OS, and Nokia's own Symbian platforms.

According to Craven, Microsoft could nevertheless wish to include in the Windows Phone version for example special features which would not be available for any other systems. When integrating Skype technology into its Windows Phone software, Microsoft could actually give its new handsets an attractive edge that could be used to compete against the Internet features provided by iPhone and Android-based mobile phones.

However, Craven warns that there is a downside: some operators could take a negative attitude towards the use of Skype becoming more common on mobile phones. Operators, even in developing markets like Nigeria, are not overly fond of Skype, as using the Internet phone company’s software and services allows consumers to make free or very cheap calls, taking money out of the operator's pockets.

Controlling the existing phone networks, operators exercise power over mobile handset markets as well. In many countries, operators are selling a major part of all handhelds in bundled deals with a mobile connection thrown in. Research company Morningstar’s analyst Sunit Gogia estimated that it will require some effort from Microsoft to turn the Skype deal into a money-spinner.

There’s no question that Microsoft snapping up Skype is as big as corporate deals get, and even though both companies have interests across a wide spectrum of consumer technologies, the deal is particularly significant for the mobile space. On the most basic level, it obviously means getting a Skype app up and running on Windows Phone 7 will now surely be a higher priority than before.

As things stood, however, the app was expected out in Q3, so it probably wouldn’t have affected Nokia’s Windows Phone handsets anyway, which are only expected to appear after that. And with Skype used by 170 million people worldwide, Microsoft would be foolish to rock the boat and start favouring one platform over another. In fact, Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer has already said directly that “we will continue to invest in Skype on non-Microsoft client platforms”.

But all the same, we have to agree that this move can only work out well for Nokia and its forthcoming Windows Phone 7 handsets. With Qualcomm and Nokia working together on the hardware and Skype and Microsoft on the software side all pulling in the same direction, it surely adds up to a serious recipe for smartphone success – or as My Nokia Blog puts it, “that’s NOT a juggernaut to mess with”.

HP repositions brand with former SAP chief

Hewlett-Packard Co (HP) has hired former SAP AG marketing executive Marty Homlish to lead HP's global marketing efforts, as chief executive Leo Apotheker continues to put his management team in place to drive growth. Apotheker, who formerly helmed SAP, is trying to galvanize HP's sprawling divisions and expand its software business to boost margins.

The addition of former SAP marketing executive Homlish should bolster its software effort. As executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Homlish will oversee and lead marketing across HP, reporting directly to Apotheker, the company said. Homlish, who helped double SAP's brand value, will help HP unify its marketing approach to "present 'one HP' to the market," Apotheker said in a statement. He was at SAP for 10 years, more recently as global chief marketing officer and at Sony (SNE) for 15 years prior to that.

HP's newly minted CEO has focused on the software business, calling it the "glue" of the sprawling computing giant's operations and has said he wants to restore HP's reputation for innovation -- a reputation stemming from its early days as a founding father of Silicon Valley - and invest in research.

The software division now accounts for less than 3 percent of revenue. Apotheker is also under pressure to appease investors and fend off a clutch of rivals ranging from Oracle Corp to IBM. HP's share price has dwindled since former CEO Mark Hurd -- a cost-cutter popular with shareholders -- left the company. Homlish replaces Michael Mendenhall who resigned from the company in January after four years in the role.

His resignation followed the high-profile executive of H-P’s chief executive Mark Hurd who left the company after an investigation found he had violated the business’ conduct standards.

HP is trying to tap into the growing appetite for cloud internet and mobile computing rather than just relying on PC sales. The company’s latest quarterly revenue figures, up 3.2% to $32.2bn (£19.6bn), fell short of analysts’ forecasts as consumer demand for PCs fell.

The firm is to launch a range of consumer and business products this year, including the roll-out its first tablet, the TouchPad, which is reported to come with a pre-installed cloud-based music streaming service. The launch of the cloud-based music locker would beat Apple and Google, who are also reportedly working on similar services, to the market. Separately, HP’s executive vice president for enterprise business sales and marketing left the company 19^th April to “pursue other interests”. He will be replaced by Jan Zadak, currently HP managing director for EMEA.

Flyer – HTC’s first tablet debuts in Taiwan

HTC Corp., the Taiwan-based world's leading smart phone makers, will officially debut its first tablet PC model HTC Flyer on the island. The HTC Flyer is expected to inject new revenue growth momentum into the firm.

The model was first unveiled on Feb. 15 this year at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 held in Barcelona, Spain. The HTC Flyer blends HTC's trademark design language with an all-new HTC Sense user experience that has been re-imagined for the tablets. Using an intuitive and innovative approach to tablets, HTC Flyer combines natural touch and pen interaction, according to company sources.

Encased in a sleek aluminum unibody, the HTC Flyer tablet exudes the iconic style and build quality HTC is known for. It is also ultralight, weighing as little as a paperback book, and is compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket. With a seven-inch display, lightning fast 1.5Ghz processor and high-speed HSPA+ wireless capabilities, the HTC Flyer tablet is perfect for those who have been waiting for a tablet that is both compact and powerful, the sources said.

The HTC Flyer tablet also offers uncompromised Web browsing with Flash 10 and HTML 5. With the new HTC Scribe Technology on the HTC Flyer tablet, people can rediscover the natural act of writing. HTC Scribe Technology introduces a wave of integrated digital ink innovations that make it easy and natural to take notes, sign contracts, draw pictures, or even write on a web page or photo.

The phone has features such as 4-inch WVGA Super LCD display and 8 megapixel camera equipped with dual LED-flash and offering image stabilization. It operates on 768 MB of RAM and 1.1 GB of ROM and also has a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera that can be used for making video calls.

There’s little doubt that HTC, which grew out of an unknown contract manufacturer into a bigger company than Nokia, is good at designing and making phones. Now, with its first tablet PC, the HTC Flyer, hitting stores HTC will have to prove that it can make more than just phones.

The Taiwanese company may be in for a bigger challenge this time. Unlike the mobile market, where HTC dominates because few other brands recognized the industry’s shift towards smartphones, HTC is releasing the Flyer at a time when nearly every other competitors – plus a few more from the PC industry – has already jumped on the tablet bandwagon. There is also no special treatment from Google or Microsoft this time around. While HTC had enjoyed a special relationship with Google and Microsoft with its smartphones a few years ago, because it was one of the few specialised smartphone makers, now Google has chosen Motorola to debut the first Android-based tablet.

Yet there are factors working in HTC’s favour too. It is now a much bigger and more well-known company than it was when it first started, and tablets are in some sense a return to HTC’s roots as a contract manufacturer, when it had built personal digital assistants for Compaq and Palm.

Jack Tong, vice-president for HTC Asia, said the Flyer seeks to “redefine the use and meaning of the pen for tablets.” HTC also appears to be going beyond just hardware design and manufacturing with its tablets by emphasising the company’s own online services and content.

HTC has also channelled Google’s aborted Wave project with some new features on the tablet. HTC Timemark, for example, associates content such as notes, photos, voice recording and videos with an entry in the user’s calender, which can then be shared with others. HTC Evernote provides cloud-based storage for this information.

At just 7-inches, the Flyer is also smaller than the standard 10-inch slates such as the iPad. This could be a good thing – a lighter, smaller device is more mobile, but equally it could be criticised for looking too much like a massive smartphone.

But this would not be such a bad thing for HTC. If its tablets fare as well as its smartphones has, there is every chance that the Taiwanese company could emerge as one of the winners in the tablet wars.

Etisalat Nigeria renews Alcatel-Lucent contract …gets new Brands /Communications Director

Alcatel-Lucent has been selected by Etisalat Nigeria (EMTS, Emerging Market Telecommunication Services), one of the mobile service operators in Nigeria, to continue providing managed services for their expanding mobile network. The operator’s subscriber base has dramatically grown 120 percent year-over-year to over seven million subscribers in just two years.  Alcatel-Lucent will continue supporting Etisalat Nigeria’s network transformation by developing and delivering new end-user services as required to meet its customers’ growing demands.

The renewed two-year multivendor managed services agreement will significantly reduce operational expenses, while improving service quality for Etisalat Nigeria’s subscribers. Alcatel-Lucent will be responsible for ensuring the high-quality and reliable performance of the network in the South-west of the country including Lagos by providing world class services which include network operations, consulting, design, network optimization, spare parts management, maintenance services, and project management.

By outsourcing the day-to-day operations and maintenance to Alcatel-Lucent, Etisalat Nigeria will be able to focus on their core business issues such as increasing average revenue per user (ARPU) and ensuring increased network quality and affordability while avoiding the complexity of network operations and management.

“This new contract further strengthens our long-standing cooperation with Etisalat and highlights their confidence in our ability to create, deliver and manage complex next-generation networks with strong local support capabilities,” said Adolfo Hernandez, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With our professional and managed services and advanced technologies, Alcatel-Lucent is committed to helping Etisalat’s sustainable development in Nigeria and to ensure the highest level of service to its customers located throughout the country.”

“Since it began operations in Nigeria, Etisalat has been committed to providing Nigerians with world-class service for which Etisalat is known for in all the countries where it operates.  That is why we have selected Alcatel-Lucent, a competent partner with global experience and we look forward to them meeting our high standards of network performance to satisfy the ever-increasing demands of our subscribers” said Steven Evans, CEO of Etisalat Nigeria.

Alcatel-Lucent has over 20 years of experience in managed services, and currently supports 250 million subscribers across 100 customer networks.  Etisalat Nigeria is one of many partners and major service providers around the world which rely on Alcatel-Lucent for network operations, network integration, multi-vendor maintenance, network outsourcing, applications integration and IP network transformation.

Etisalat Nigeria has also announced the appointment of Enitan Denloye as Director, Brands and Communications. The announcement made by the company Chief Executive Officer, Steven Evans takes effect from 1st March 2011 and will see the new Director articulate the strategic direction and implementation of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria.

Prior to his appointment, Enitan has garnered extensive experience at home and abroad in Sales, Brand Management, Marketing Communications and Management Consultancy, having worked at Procter & Gamble, the Coca-Cola Company, McKinsey & Co, and British American Tobacco (BAT), South Africa. He also has an MBA from the prestigious Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Illinois, U.S.A.

Blackberry® Playbook in good early showing despite poor reviews

The BlackBerry PlayBook beat expectations by selling more than 50,000 devices when it launched recently, according to estimates from RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky. That puts Research in Motion’s first crack at the tablet scene ahead of Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab in regards to units moved on launch day. Several analysts said the strong first-day showing probably came from pre-sales to business customers already toting a BlackBerry smartphone, which is critical to access some features on the PlayBook.

In a research note sent to investors yesterday, Abramsky said he and his team checked with 70 different retail stores, including Best Buy, Staples, and RadioShack outlets, to ask about PlayBook sales on the first day. The team found a range of responses from light sales to 11 percent of the stores sold out, but overall leading to an estimate of 50,000 sold on opening day this past Tuesday, including presales.

The PlayBook has earned a fair share of negative reviews based on some of its current shortcomings. Abramsky believes some of those issues may be largely resolved through wireless updates and new 4G versions of the tablet that RIM is planning for later this year. Currently available in a Wi-Fi-only version, a 4G edition of the tablet is headed to Sprint soon. RIM is also planning 4G versions that can run on Verizon Wireless's LTE network and the HSPA+ networks from AT&T and T-Mobile (PDF). For now, however, the company is running into some initial difficulties with both AT&T and Verizon.

AT&T has so far refused to support RIM's Bridge app that lets BlackBerry users pair their phones with the PlayBook over AT&T's 3G network. That piece is critical, as RIM has been touting the syncing capabilities between its BlackBerry phones and the new tablet.

The 7-inch tablet in itself is not a bad device by any stretch of the imagination in terms of build and operating system. Unlike Motorola’s Xoom — and the other Android tablets — there was virtually no interface lag to speak of. The multitasking was intuitive and the whole device just felt like a labor of love. The only problem is that It just doesn’t have the apps to back it up.

Research in Motion said 3,000 apps were ready at launch. But the iPad already sports more than 79,000 native tablet applications, and more than 300,000 iPhone applications that run on the iPad. Google is also pushing out a new version of its Android mobile operating system that is geared toward tablets as it makes a strong push into the tablet market — which will already have access to the more than 100,000 apps on the Android Marketplace. The PlayBook will support some Android applications, but none of them will be native — so they might face performance issues.

The PlayBook also still doesn’t sport a native email client and is missing a lot of other crucial BlackBerry features, like BlackBerry messaging and a calendar application. PlayBook owners have to connect the PlayBook with a BlackBerry phone with bluetooth wireless to gain access to those features. It’s largely for security reasons — but those missing features cripple the PlayBook when compared to other dominant tablets on the market like the iPad.

GMP Analyst Michael Urlocker downgraded Research in Motion despite the announcement, saying the BlackBerry PlayBook was not ready for the market due to missing features and a lack of applications. Apple’s iPad has so far sold more than 15 million units since it launched last April. New versions of the PlayBook that support various wireless networks should be out later this month — though no wireless providers have jumped on board with Research in Motion yet. So the PlayBook still can’t stand up in terms of sheer portability for tablet users that don’t have a BlackBerry smartphone to tether to the device.

The Art of War: Google vs Microsoft

Google is under siege in Washington like never before and it says an “anti-Google industrial complex” is to blame. In an interview recently, a Google spokesman argued that a cabal of antitrust lawyers, lobbyists and public relations firms is conspiring against the Internet search giant. The mastermind? Google says it’s Microsoft.

In the 1990s, Microsoft was the tech industry wunderkind that got too big for its britches and Google CEO Eric Schmidt, then an executive at Sun Microsystems and later Novell, helped knock the software titan down a peg by providing evidence in the government’s antitrust case against it. The constraints imposed on Microsoft in that case helped clear the way for Google’s rise to rule the Web.

Now as Google spreads its tentacles into everything from mobile phones to digital online libraries to green energy, some of Microsoft’s allies are saying it’s time for the search giant to get its comeuppance. “There is so much conduct that should be investigated,” said Pamela Jones Harbour, a former Federal Trade Commission member, who opposed Google’s merger with online advertising firm DoubleClick in 2007. Harbour, now an attorney specializing in competition issues, consults for Microsoft on competition and policy issues, and she says Google now has a monopoly.

But there are also increasing calls from some Silicon Valley competitors and Washington-based public interest groups for the Justice Department to launch a sweeping antitrust probe of Google. The European Union and the state of Texas have reviews under way. Google says its rivals are fueling the attacks. Specifically, the company points to Microsoft, which has a stable of consultants and lawyers in Washington banging the antitrust drums.

“We try to create lots of new technologies for consumers, and the companies and industries that we disrupt sometimes try to seek recourse in Washington,” said Adam Kovacevich, a Google spokesman, who recently was detailed to deal solely with antitrust issues. “In particular, Microsoft and our large competitors have invested a lot in D.C. to stoke scrutiny of us. But our goal is to make sure that we can continue creating cool new things for consumers.”

Microsoft declined to trade barbs publicly but argues that Google is lashing out amid a growing number of complaints to regulators and lawmakers about the company’s business practices. The company points out competitors usually are the source of antitrust complaints.

One of Microsoft’s antitrust attorneys, Charles “Rick” Rule, of the international law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, wrote in The Wall Street Journal in a September op-ed piece that Google is a monopolist and should face an investigation. “What goes around, comes around,” he wrote.

The war dance has continued to simmer and last year Google jumped directly into Microsoft’s home turf by announcing Google Chrome OS, its new operating system for PCs and netbooks. And while we’re still debating whether it will take down Windows or flop like a fish on land, we tend to forget that this isn’t the first time Google has challenged Microsoft. In fact, it’s become almost routine.

Whether its operating systems, documents, search, communication, or mobile, the two behemoths have been increasingly butting heads in a war for tech supremacy. Now with Google Chrome OS making headlines, maybe it’s about time for a straight-up analysis of where the competition between Google and Microsoft stands. So who’s winning the war? And how will Google Chrome OS affect this longstanding battle?

Search –

Search is to Google as Windows is to Microsoft. Google dominate the search market by a wide margin, despite Microsoft’s best efforts (including the company’s failed attempt to buy Yahoo and propping Bing with Blackberry devices). Microsoft had to do something drastic to compete in search, and they did with their recent activities with Bing. It’s received a lot of press, a lot of positive reviews, and has clearly caught Google’s attention. But does anyone seriously think it will overtake Google’s dominance in search anytime soon?

Documents –

Microsoft Office, with Word, Powerpoint, and Excel have been the leading way to create and edit documents for years, and for good reason – they’re widely used, widely known, and feature-rich. There’s also now Microsoft Office Live, which while not as collaborative as Google Docs, isn’t a bad solution and has the benefit of being connected to the desktop apps. Google Docs have been growing in features and users. They provide a level of collaboration that Microsoft documents simply don’t offer. But they don’t provide as many options as Microsoft Office and they just don’t have nearly as many users (they’ve been made inroads especially in Africa of late). This is one area where the majority of users still prefer the desktop to the web.

Communication, Email, and IM –

While Google’s probably more revered for Gmail and its communication suite, Hotmail is still bigger, and Live Messenger is heavily used. Microsoft also produces the popular Outlook software and has software in a variety of arenas, such as Windows Live Meeting, giving the company an edge in the enterprise. Google has a suite of very popular communication products – Gmail and Gtalk being the best known. The X factor in this debate though, is the upcoming Google Wave communication platform, which has impressed us so far. There’s also the intriguing Google Voice offering to consider.

Mobile –

Google’s has good traction with its Android mobile OS given that its relatively new to the space. It runs on more than one million T Mobile phones and has a strong app platform. Many of Google’s apps also run well on mobile phones, especially Google Maps and YouTube. Windows Mobile still shipped tens of millions of units up till 2009/2010, far outpacing Android. It also has apps to run Office, Outlook, and Windows Media Player. We think the long-term trend favors Google, but as of right now Microsoft is the leader.

Operating System –

This is Microsoft’s bread and butter. Windows is the reason Microsoft makes $60+ billion in revenue every year and has stayed on top for so long. Its stranglehold is legendary. Yet Windows Vista proved that it is not invincible, neccessiating the quick introduction of Windows 7. Let’s say this: we can’t wait to see what Google has in store for Google Chrome OS. We’re skeptical that it could ever kill Windows, but Google will be Microsoft’s most powerful challenger yet.

This is surely a battle to look forward to.

Signal Alliance Nigeria Expands Management Board

Leading information technology systems administrators and integrators, Signal Alliance has issued a statement announcing the expansion of its management board with the inclusion of a seasoned journalist and administrator, Mr. Emmanuel Agu and Mr. Lanre Onasanya as new members.

The announcement, which was issued from the Lagos head office of the group which includes Signal Alliance Limited and Dynamic Tribe limited. Describing the move as a “strategic move to consolidate the overall value and impact of the firm in the Nigerian and regional market”, the managing director of the firm, Collins Onuegbu explained that the individual experiences and corporate management insights of both candidates, gave them the qualification to be a part of an ambitious company like Signal Alliance.

One of the new board members, Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu Agu is best known for his two decades-long career at the Champion Newspapers Limited where he rose from pioneer editor of the Daily Champion in 1988 to Group managing Director in 2008 when he voluntarily disengaged from the company. He is currently the CEO of 3G Media Network Limited and publisher/editor-in-chief of Zest INTERNATIONAL magazine and Zest DAILY newspaper.

Prior to joining Champion Newspapers, Mr. Agu had climbed the professional ladder at the Imo State Government-owned Statesman group from staff writer on joining in May 1985 to Editor of the daily, The Statesman in 1988. A widely traveled journalist, Mr. Agu has remained faithful to his professional calling except for a brief period in 1993 when he served as chief press secretary to Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of the Interim National Government, ING in Nigeria.

Mr. Agu is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan from where he obtained a B.Sc. Honours degree in political science in 1981. He also holds the M. Sc. in International Relations and Strategic Studies (1984) of the University of Jos. Mr. Agu has attended several courses in Nigeria and abroad under the auspices of the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) which took him to Spain, Switzerland, Russia, and Australia. Between 2001 and 2006, he was General Secretary of the Newspaper Proprietor’s Association of Nigeria (NPAN). He is Fellow of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (FNUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

On his part, Lanre Onasanya, a business development practitioner with a strong focus on technology driven solutions, will be bringing his wealth of experience to bear. Mr. Onasanya has a Masters in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing. He has completed several trainings in the areas of management, sales, marketing and intellectual property.

He is currently the Lead Consultant for Africa and the Middle East for McGhee Productivity Solutions USA, where he oversees the business in the regions, with a presence in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. McGhee Productivity Solutions provides leading companies and not-for-profit organizations, the innovative action-management strategies and products they need to improve executive and employee performance.

Lanre Onasanya is also the CEO of Integral Assets Limited, a company with presence in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. Integral Assets aims to leverage human resource capacity and technology across the African continent for growth. He started his career in the financial services industry and subsequently led sales teams in logistics/courier companies before his foray into the Information Technology sector as a Business Development Manager in Resourcery Plc, Nigeria. He was a key part of the pioneer team that set up Microsoft Nigeria before his transfer to the Regional Headquarters of Microsoft in South Africa.