Google Rolling Out New Search

By Tech Mtaa | On Thursday, April 1st, 2010 - 11 Comments »

Google has rolled out new search according to streams in Twitter. The Next Web is reporting that and it seems only that a few users already have the new search which is being rolled-out. Google has been testing the search randomly on users and had not indicated to a launch today. The new search was highlighted sometime back by Search Engine Land.  

Tech Mtaa April Fools Day Prank List

By Tech Mtaa | On Thursday, April 1st, 2010 - 2 Comments »

Google pulled it on us. It is April 1st and Google just announced in this blog post that it is changing its name to Topeka. It went ahead and explained that it changed it’s name because of the name changing act by Topeka City in USA to win the Google broadband. In Kenya, Nation carried out the story of Al-Shaabab attacking Kenya, Standard carried the story of Obama agreeing to visit. 

Safaricom To Start Testing 4G Before Fully Deploying 3G?

By Tech Mtaa | On Thursday, April 1st, 2010 - 1 Comment »

Safaricom CEO, Michael Joseph announced at the Connected Government Summit in Diani that the company is to start deploying 4G network countrywide. The announcement is somewhat suprising considering that Safaricom has not fully deployed 3G with even many areas in Mombassa and even Nairobi still on EDGE. Speaking during the opening of the Connected Government Summit in Mombasa, the CEO said. 

When Safaricom Phone Promotion Goes Wrong

By Tech Mtaa | On Friday, March 26th, 2010 - 2 Comments »

Safaricom launched today what they billed as “end of the month offer” but it turning out to be End of The Month Chaos at most retail centres. It was a wise idea to sell the old stock at half or upto 80% cheaper but it ws wrong to do that without preparations at all. I started my journey from Buru Buru centre and asked for Blackberry 8900 and HTC Touch HD both which were available. 

Video: Makmende Returns and Takes Facebook and Twitter by Storm

By Tech Mtaa | On Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 - 1 Comment »

Its been one hell of a Makmende week in Kenya with virtually Facebook and Twitter taken over by a new trending topic which if you are in then you are in but if you dont grasp an idea of what Makmende is then you will just not understand it. In every hood, street and ghetto there are victims and villains. Those growing in Kenyan urban centres had a guy who would kick-ass and bring all bullies. 

Madagascar Live on EASSy

By Tech Mtaa | On Sunday, March 21st, 2010 - No Comments »

The Island nation of Madagascar has been connected to Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System, EASSy fibre optic cable that connects countries on Africa’s eastern coast to the rest of the world, Telecom Malagasy (Telma) said Saturday. The Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) is an initiative to connect countries of eastern Africa via a high bandwidth fibre optic cable system. 

Nokia’s Dorothy Ooko Very Angry and All For The Wrong Reasons

By Tech Mtaa | On Sunday, March 21st, 2010 - 3 Comments »

Nokia Communication Manager for East and Southern Africa, Dorothy Ooko, is a very angry lady. She sent an email which borders in torture to the reader to this write claiming this and that. I wrote Nokia EA some mail back asking for information about some products they were intending to launch and also information about some research they were carrying out. Nobody got back to me and so I went. 

Safaricom CEO, Michael Joseph to Retire This Year

By Tech Mtaa | On Friday, March 19th, 2010 - 2 Comments »

Safaricom CEO, Michael Joseph has just confirmed that yes he might be retiring this year but no decision on the actual date or if at all he is going this year has been made yet. In a one line email responding to my question, Mr Joseph says that no decision has been made yet. Rich broke the news of the impending retirement in a podcast featuring an interview with Joseph. It will be interesting. 

“Computers Stolen, No Backups” What Happened?

By Tech Mtaa | On Friday, March 19th, 2010 - No Comments »

Early this week, Ndung’u Wainaina the ICPC Executive Director claimed how the offices of his organisation was broken into, computers stolen and so they have lost important and incriminating evidence against post-elections violence perpetrators. I have not come to understand how this happened. But simple questions through email sent to Ndung’u Wainaina made him inform me that in. 

Mainstream Media Display Fear of Social Media

By Tech Mtaa | On Friday, March 19th, 2010 - 4 Comments »

The PanAfrican Media Summit is happening in Nairobi. It is jointly organised by Africa Media Initiative and Nation Media group and it comes at a time when Nation is Celebrating 50 years since the first publication of the then “The Nation”. Key points from the discussions have basically been on how African media can tell the African story, how citizen journalism is making an impact. 

Why Orange Kenya will continue crying wolf

By Tech Mtaa | On Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 - 15 Comments »

Orange Kenya has been on the media crying alot about not making money or being cheated out of the whole deal by the Kenyan government. What Orange Kenya is not talking about is its very pathetic customer care. I have had issues dealing with very very rude customer care agents. Its not the telecare agents but also the customer care or salespeople at its shops. Take the case where I went to. 

Rwandatel to introduce `Mobile Money’ services

By Tech Mtaa | On Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 - No Comments »

Rwanda’s mobile money transfer services are set for further expansion following Rwandatel’s intention to offer the service to their clientele. It follows in the footsteps of rival MTN Rwanda which was the first telecoms provider to offer the services. MTN announced that it had assisted its clients transfer Rwf 60 million ever since it launched the services in January this year. . 

Microsoft Organises a Girls Digital Mentorship Program

By Tech Mtaa | On Monday, March 15th, 2010 - 1 Comment »

Its happening today at International School of Kenya and it’s such an inspiring bit of Tech event where Microsoft is having the DigiGirlz forum. Its a place where inspiring stories are told. Should have heard these wonderful ladies talk; Njeri Rionge (Wanachi Group), Muthoni Masinde (University of Nairobi), Hital Muraj (Cisco Networking Academy), Wanja Muriithi (Impact Distribution),. 

YouTube Introduces Ads For it’s Mobile Site

By Tech Mtaa | On Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 - 1 Comment »

In a blog post today, YouTube announced that it is now able to show ads in Mobile version of the video sharing website. The increased usage of high-end smartphones like the Nexus One,  iPhone, Nokia and Android is making mobile advertising easier and more effective for advertisers. YouTube is launching ads on the home, search and browse pages of its American and Japanese mobile websites.