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MTN Builds Own Messaging App to Integrate Its Mobile Money Service

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MTN has developed an instant messaging platform which it hopes will become the “African WeChat”, with plans to launch it in two markets in the next month or so.

 

“We intend to launch it across the entire portfolio, South Africa included, but we will start with the West and Central Africa (WECA) markets as a kind of a pilot or beta stage,” MTN group president and CEO Rob Shuter told a media briefing after the group’s full year results presentation in Johannesburg.

 

WeChat is a Chinese messaging, social media and mobile payment app developed by Tencent. Shuter said MTN’s messaging app also plans to integrate payments into the messaging platform.

 

“The plan is to integrate MTN Mobile Money (MoMo). This is obviously more relevant in markets where we have MoMo. I’ve made the parallel that it will be the African WeChat, but it will look like a messaging-centric app where you imbed a payment mechanism,” he said.

MoMo is active in 14 markets with plans to soon launch in four more, including SA. At the end of December 2018, MTN had a total of 27 million active MoMo subscribers.

Shuter said the messaging app will also be different from its peers as MTN is building in SMS integration.

“The existing instant messaging apps only really work from a data subscriber to a data subscriber. As the penetration of data customers increases in our market, increasingly they will be conversing with non-data subscribers, so this is going to be an important differential between the existing instant messaging apps and the one we are building.”

Shuter said MTN is doing a lot of local market customisation for the messaging app, including local languages, and already has 54 languages on the service.

“Another big thing is we will increasingly bundle it into the underlying data services as well. That is a key differentiator for the telcos.”

Shuter himself has been testing the beta version of the app for the last few months. He said his team built the app from scratch, “we didn’t white-label, we didn’t buy it” and he sees it as “a very exciting development for us”.

Besides the messaging app, MTN also wants to launch its own music streaming application in 2019 as an extension of its digital strategy and spread MTN Mobile Money into new geographies.

MTN will re-launch MoMo in SA and extend the service to Nigeria, Afghanistan and Sudan as well, boosting its MoMo reach from 14 to 18 countries.

Shuter announced last November that he wanted to bring MoMo back to SA, where it previously failed and was decommissioned in September 2016.

He said the previous version of MoMo was too focused on building a digital banking system that would compete with the commercial banks. The strategy this time would be to target the areas of SA where there are large unbanked or under-banked populations.

“What we see in the rest of the markets is we are successful when we set ourselves up to compete with cash. Because these are markets with large cash economies, and customers that are operating in the cash economy are already used to recharging for prepaid airtime and it’s very easy to basically transform that system to not be just airtime recharge but make it e-money recharge and then people can do person-to-person payments, remittances, bill payments, etc, and your primary objective is to displace cash,” Shuter said.

“So when my guys ask me who we are competing against I say you are competing against cash. A lot of the newer digital players, the commercial banks are competing against each other; that’s not really our sweet spot.”


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New CAMON Device Set to Redefine Mobile Content Creation

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TECNO is gearing up to launch the next CAMON series device, which promises to be the next evolution in mobile photography.

TECNO

The CAMON lineup has always been known for its innovation in capturing and sharing cherished moments. Now, TECNO is taking it to the next level with a groundbreaking camera innovation that aims to redefine what’s possible.

For years, the CAMON series has been the driving force behind countless memorable shots, empowering users to unleash their creativity and capture the world in stunning detail. With the upcoming device, TECNO promises to exceed your expectations and deliver an unparalleled photography experience that’s second to none.

The new CAMON device will feature cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance, setting a new standard for mobile photography and content creation. Imagine being ten steps ahead of the curve, armed with a device that empowers you to capture the perfect shot every time.

Stay updated on the latest news and announcements regarding the upcoming TECNO CAMON device by following TECNO on FacebookInstagram, and X(Twitter). Join TECNO on this exciting journey towards the future of mobile photography!


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Data Protection: NIMC’s Licensees to Face More Scrutiny

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Following the reported incident of unauthorized NIN verification by expressverify.com, investigation reveals that a third-party who, among others, was originally authorized to provide verification services to citizens and genuine businesses might have allowed expressverify.com to use its NIN verification credentials to conduct verification. The circumstances surrounding this permission is still under investigation.

 

To remedy this incident, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in line with established remediation protocols, barred all forms of access to its database.

Though necessary, barring all forms of access affected all genuine and crucial verification requests. After a painstaking review, limited access has been granted to few establishments that are providing pivotal public services such as education and security.

Ongoing investigation – by relevant agencies – seeks to establish the medium through which expressverify.com obtained the credentials of bona fide third parties and to determine the liability of persons involved in line with extant laws.

At the moment, data processing by licensees generally are to be scrutinized and only those that are cleared based on credible evidence of regulatory compliance will be permitted to carry out NIN verification going forward.

Furthermore, series of intensive trainings will be conducted in order to ensure that personnel and licensees are abreast of the duty of care and the standard of care mandated by the Nigeria Data Protection Act, NIMC’s Privacy Policy and other relevant regulatory protocols.

In the meantime, NDPC calls on members of the public to see NIN as an essential data for sustainable development. While existing technical and organizational measures are being strengthened to ensure the protection of this data, it is important for citizens to ensure that they are not left unidentified in various frameworks for development. It is equally important to be vigilant when sharing personal information on various online platforms.


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5 Common Backup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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Are you confident that your valuable data is protected from unexpected disasters or cyber threats? Consider this: 1 in 10 computers fall victim to viruses, and a staggering 113 phones are stolen every minute every day[1].

With data loss being a sudden and potentially irretrievable nightmare, ensuring reliable backups is non-negotiable. March 31st, celebrated as World Backup Day, is a poignant reminder of this essential task. Let’s delve into the common backup mistakes people make and how to steer clear of those.

1. Skipping regular backups:

The most common mistake is forgetting to back up data regularly. Whether personal files or crucial business documents, not establishing a consistent backup routine leaves you vulnerable to data loss.

Unexpected system crashes or malware attacks can happen anytime, making your precious data inaccessible or permanently lost. But you can help avoid such a situation by setting up automatic backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
2. Putting all faith in a single backup device:

A device can get damaged or stolen, putting your backups at risk, so depending entirely on one storage medium is playing a dangerous game with your data’s safety.

 Instead, diversify your backup storage solutions with a combination of external HDDs, NAS, and cloud storage.

Portable HDDs like those from WD like Western Digital’s My Passport offer up to 5TB for simple, cost-effective backups. For smartphones, 2-in-1 flash drives such as SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C and SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe are convenient options.

These drives, compatible with USB Type-C devices, automatically back up photos, videos, and more. Just plug and play for seamless data transfer across devices.

If you need a device to store huge amounts of data, then the desktop drive called My Book  from WD is just the product for you, with up to 22TB of storage capacity.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
storage device

3. Forgetting version control:

Overlooking version control during backups is another blunder. Not keeping multiple versions of files increases the chance of saving corrupted or wrong data over previous versions.

Without a proper versioning system, fixing mistakes or retrieving older versions can become a challenge. To prevent forgetting version control, establish a system that tracks changes to your files over time.

This ensures that you can always revert to earlier versions if needed, helping protect against accidental data loss or corruption.

Regularly maintaining this system will help you stay organized and prepared for any unforeseen issues.

Additionally, it’s crucial to verify the version you’re backing up to ensure it’s the correct one.

This simple step can help prevent accidental overwriting of important data with potentially corrupted or incorrect versions.

Double-checking ensures that you’re safeguarding the most up-to-date and accurate information, minimizing the risk of errors during backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
4. Ignoring off-site backup solutions:

Many people overlook off-site backup solutions, assuming local backups are foolproof. However, relying solely on local backups makes you vulnerable to site-specific disasters like fires or theft.

Using off-site backups means keeping copies of your data in different places so that if something bad happens in one area, your data stays safe.

As an alternative, you could use cloud storage. Cloud backup devices are popular for remote data storage accessible via the internet. Various online cloud services offer features like file synchronization, sharing, and encryption for secure data storage.

5. Underestimating encryption:

Not prioritizing encryption in backups can be a costly mistake. Storing unencrypted backups makes your sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized access or breaches.

Implementing strong encryption ensures even if your backups fall into the wrong hands, the data remains protected.

However, it is equally important to remember not to opt for out-of-the-box encryption solutions, as they might make it difficult for you to retrieve the backed-up information later.

My Passport HDD and My Book from WD come equipped with built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection that helps keep content secure.

Additionally, maintaining proper key management practices is essential to ensure smooth decryption and access to your data when needed.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
Monitor and storage device

This World Backup Day, Western Digital urges you to back up your data safely, and at the same time, prepare for the unexpected by having a contingency plan in place for device mishaps like crashes, theft, or damage.

Worrying about losing data isn’t something you have to lose sleep over if you have an active data backup strategy.

A common rule of thumb for keeping important data from disappearing forever is the 3-2-1 Rule. It dictates that you should:

3. Have THREE copies of your data. One is a primary backup and two are copies.

   2. Save copies of your backups on TWO different types of media or devices.

   1. ONE backup copy should be kept offsite in case of disaster.

Determine where and how you’ll store backup files and identify support contacts for swift assistance.

These proactive measures ensure quick data recovery and safeguard your cherished memories for the long haul.


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