Huawei, Lenovo others, prep Windows 8 Tablets…as users demand more than entertainment

It has always been thought that the mobile age, of which the Steve Jobs magic fell on with the iPad, enjoyed nothing more than playing games, chatting, taking/sharing pictures and generally engaging in ‘non-productive’ activities, are not interested in working on the go. Even the foray of Google into the space with Android did little to change that belief.

By the time Windows entered the mobile space, many were of the view that the mobile space is not for ‘stiff and serious’ stuff. Wrong! Maybe its just about time the mobile age lets ‘serious work’ catch up with them as well as play.

As fallout of the aggressiveness seen from Microsoft since the introduction of the Windows 8 multi-platform environment, a number of PC makers have already confirmed their plans to create Windows 8 tablets, including HP, Lenovo and Dell. Now a new report claims that a Chinese smartphone maker, Huawei, has its own plans for releasing a Windows 8 tablet, along with smartphones that will run on Windows Phone 8, code-named Apollo.

The report, from China's WPDang (via IntoMobile), cites unnamed sources who claim that Huawei has an engineering team of 70 employees working on the Windows Phone 8 devices. It also reports that it has people in the US working directly with Microsoft on this. So far Huawei has launched its range of Windows 8 Smartphones in Africa with Nigeria as first destination. Aptly tagged, Huawei 4Afrika – it is a full functionality Windows Phone 8 which comse pre-loaded with select applications designed by Africans, for Africa.

It is claimed that the company has two current designs for its upcoming Windows Phone 8 devices. One is based on a previous Android phone design while the other is an all new creation with a touch screen that's said to be over four inches in size. Details about Huawei's Windows 8 tablet are scarce, with no word on if it will use an Intel/AMD x86 processor or one based on ARM's design. WPDang does claims it will have a built it wireless antenna that will support LTE-based networks, but offers no information on availability outside of China.

Chengdong Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Area has announced on Chinese social networking site Weibo the fact that a model related to MediaPad 10 FHD is in development, with Windows 8 on board. It could be a successor of the MediaPad 10, or simply that version with another OS. I’m curious to see how Huawei will price the product, considering the usually put out cheap devices. It will also be interesting to see if Microsoft allows them to use their own quad core CPU or make them comply to using an Intel chipset or an ARM one.

The MediaPad FHD 10 is a very appealing tablet, with the latest Android on board, so a Windows 8 version will also be pretty appealing. Huawei has another model in the works as well, with LTE connectivity and this product seems dedicated to the US market. Don’t be surprised if you also see them launching more Windows Phone 8 devices.

Sepura unveils its new branding at Critical Communications World

The rebranding reflects the expansion of Sepura’s activities and products to deliver a complete solution for all of our customers’ critical communications, including the acquisition of 3T Communications whose comprehensive infrastructure offering has proved a valuable addition to Sepura’s market-leading TETRA product portfolio.  Combining 3T Communications infrastructure and Sepura’s terminals played a key role in securing contracts with a range of prestigious organisations such as Audi, Malaysian Airports and CERN.

To consolidate its assimilation into the Sepura family, 3T Communications AG will become Sepura Systems GmbH.  Sepura’s new look reflects the integration of the two companies and marks the organisation’s transition from the design and manufacture of TETRA digital radios to provider of full end-to-end critical communications solutions.

“The last year has been marked by many significant successes for Sepura,” said Marketing Manager Rebecca Greenall.

“In addition to securing a host of contracts, we’ve garnered a succession of business awards, including Turnaround of the Year at the PLC Awards and Best use of TETRA for Public Safety at the International TETRA awards.  Our new brand embodies the spirit of innovation that has shaped these successes, encapsulating our heritage and reflecting the fresh thinking of the company that will take us into the future.”

“Through the acquisition of 3T Communications, we have significantly strengthened our competitive position, whilst underlining our drive to further enhance shareholder value” added Gordon Watling, Sepura’s CEO.

“It’s therefore appropriate that our branding should reflect the integration of the two business strands, and Sepura’s transition to a ‘one-stop shop’ that addresses all of our customers’ critical communication needs.”

Sepura also unveils its new-look website which, in line with the new brand, hosts for the first time a solutions section and features the newly launched lines of business: applications and systems. The new website promises visitors a thoroughly engaging and informative experience with complete ease of navigation at every step of the way.

Sepura is a global leader in the design, development and supply of TETRA digital communications solutions and offers one of the most flexible TETRA systems on the market. 

JACITAD Policy Forum Reviews Lawful Interception Regulation

The Joint Action Committee on ICT Awareness and Development (JACITAD), the umbrella body for ICT media in Nigeria has announced plans to host the inaugural edition JACITAD Policy Review Forum on the Draft Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations that was recently released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecommunications industry regulatory authority in the country.

The Draft Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations will empower security agencies in the country to monitor telephony, Internet and other electronic communications as part of measures by the government to secure lives and property in Nigeria when it goes into effect.

Communications Officer of JACITAD, Mr. Emeka Aginam said that the ICT journalism interest group is organising the Policy Review Forum to generate feedback on the draft regulation from a cross section of stakeholders and also foster public understanding of its implications for Nigerians.

The JACITAD Forum will hold on May 14, 2013 in Lagos and is expected to attract speakers from the diversity of ICT industry stakeholder associations, journalism groups, civil liberty groups and the political

elite.

The telecommunications regulator said that the Regulations are made to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of communications in Nigeria by designated law enforcement authorities in the interest of national security, for the purpose of preventing or investigating a crime and for the purpose of protecting and safeguarding the economic well-being of Nigerians.

The Regulation also seeks to safeguard the interest of public emergency or public safety and give support to any international mutual assistance agreements for the collection and disclosure of intercepted communications, among others.

According to Mr. Aginam, "JACITAD is pleased to convene the forum as part of its contribution towards promoting public understanding and discourse on the draft regulation and also foster better understanding of the subject matter by the journalism community and by extension, the audience of the media in Nigeria."

The JACITAD Policy Review Forum will be attended by the ICT Journalism Community in Nigeria cutting across Reporters, Bloggers, Correspondents, Editors and Publishers from leading Newspapers, Magazines and Specialised Industry Journals.

SAP Simplifies Mobile Access For Enterprise Workers...Offers New Solution for Enterprise Technology

SAP AG has announced a new rapid-deployment solution that simplifies access to analytics on mobile devices, enabling enterprise customers to put real-time insight in the hands of their workers for better, more informed decisions on the go. The SAP Mobile Analytics rapid-deployment solution offers preconfigured software, implementation services, content and end-user enablement. 

It puts both a fixed scope and price for creating a mobile channel into existing SAP HANA platform and SAP BusinessObjects business intelligence (BI) solutions or populating pre-existing mobile apps with data analytics. SAP can have mobilised data analytics up and running for enterprise customers in as little as three weeks or less.

“An important element to unlocking the value of big data through business analytics is being able to push real-time insight to all levels of enterprise employees,” said Dan Vesset, Program Vice President, Business Analytics at IDC. “Close to 40 percent of enterprises are planning to increase the number of users with mobile access to their BI and analytics solutions. 

Once an analytics platform is in place, these organisations can benefit significantly from a faster and lower risk solution, like the SAP Mobile Analytics rapid-deployment solution, for extending that platform with mobile capabilities to drive real-time decision-making."

SAP Mobile Analytics offers comprehensive, real-time access on the performance and metrics of a company through popular mobile devices. Workers no longer need to go through a chain of processes to get the information they need. The data is presented through a user-friendly mobile app that can produce reports, charts and graphs. A sync option with SAP HANA significantly bolsters the quality and speed in analytics mobile apps, enabling workers to pull down analytics in a fraction of the time. All the end users and generated content are managed on a single platform, cutting down on complexity. 

As part of an end-to-end solution, customers can achieve broader capabilities by layering additional rapid-deployment solutions along with SAP Mobile Analytics in an “assemble-to-order” approach.

“SAP is extending the power of SAP HANA and BI to mobile devices in the enterprise,” said Bernd Welz, Senior Vice President and Global Head, Solution & Knowledge Packaging, SAP. “We are bringing workers closer to analytics all within a framework that any enterprise customer can deploy with lower costs and fewer risks along the way.”

Heritage Bank, partners CWG and Infosys for core banking solution

Heritage Banking Company Limited, a commercial bank in Nigeria and Infosys Ltd the leading universal banking solutions provider recently commenced a partnership in which Heritage Bank would deploy Finacle as its banking solution; and Computer Warehouse Group the local business partner of Infosys in Africa is right in the middle of the coalition playing an integral role in the implementation and go-live support of Finacle solutions at Heritage Bank.

When Heritage Banking Company (HBC), formerly Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN) regained its operating license from Central Bank of Nigeria, it was clear that the era of innovation has come to the Banking Financial Services landscape in Nigeria. HBC team understood and embraced the application of technology as the engine of innovation and excellent customer service experience and hence the partnership to deploy Finacle core banking application.

Finacle core banking solution is a comprehensive, integrated, yet modular and agile business solution, addressing all the core needs of banks, in easy-to-configure modules. Finacle provides all the building blocks of business functionality, enabling users to configure products and processes flexibly in order to adapt to a dynamic environment. With a 360-degree single source view into customer accounts, banks can empower customers with relevant information and delight them with the right offerings, presented at the right time through the right channel.

Heritage bank is being empowered to create a differentiated customer experience through personalized offerings, bundled products and an enriched segment-specific portfolio. The solution’s proven scalability and support for true 24X7 multi-channel transactions, added to its keen understanding of the banking context in Africa will power the bank’s determined growth plans.

Mr. Ike Williams, Chief Information Officer, HBC noted in his statement on this solution that the HBC team are optimistic that Finacle Technology platform will drive their banking innovation, and position them as the best in Electronic banking in the markets, whilst also creating added value and banking convenience for their customers across Nigeria. “We intend to make a difference... Deploying innovative solutions that make our business and operations unique, accessible, customer-friendly, reliable and secure, is a continuous process for us, and we will not relent in that drive.” He said.

The software Division Head of CWG, Mr. Femi Ibine said; “We are delighted to be a part of this success story and are strongly committed to ensuring that Heritage Bank is among the other Finacle customers in Africa, who enjoy the superb after sales support services CWG local team provides from her 24x7 Support Hub located in Lagos, Nigeria”.

According to Austin Okere, CEO, Computer Warehouse Group; “This partnership is indeed a stepping stone and confirmation of HBC’s determination to deliver excellent customer service that will truly harness their customers’ wealth and grow it for today and future generation as quality banking technology like Finacle is a necessity to achieving and exceeding customers’ expectation.” He also affirmed that CWG as usual, will give HBC unreserved support that will ensure superior competitive advantage for Heritage Bank in the Banking sector.

Computer Warehouse Group PLC (CWG) is a Technology enabler to businesses across multiple sectors in Nigerian and Africa. With staff strength of over 650, and customer base spread across the blue chips, Computer Warehouse Group has earned a reputation for dedication to customer service excellence.