At Home

Vodacom has officially launched international call rates that undercut Cell C’s signature 99c tariff by 10c. SA’s first mobile operator announced the induction of its 89c promotion that came to light at the end of September, when a source revealed the operator’s imminent plans to trim international tariffs. – ITWeb

Cell C has returned fire in the latest mobile war skirmish, undercutting Vodacom’s recent 89c international rate promotion by 4c – and stripping SA’s largest mobile operator of its ‘lowest international rate in SA’ title. “Calls to 50 international destinations will now cost 85c per minute on per second billing for Cell C customers,” said Cell C in a statement. – ITWeb

Internet service provider MWeb announced three new uncapped hosting packages for small businesses, home offices and personal Web sites. The products include an entry-level product, Basic Lite (R29 per month), and two higher end products, Pro (R49 per month) and Ultra (R99 per month). The Pro package includes access to additional tools like reporting, Web site statistics and Web applications. – ITWeb

A local start-up has become the first to launch a friend-to-friend social gifting platform in SA. Entrepreneur Kevin Tucker took the opportunity to launch GoGifting – a wholly South African-owned and funded operation. Tucker said: “We understand the needs of all the retailers and brands, and we’ve made all possible attempts to fit into their traditional gift card/vouchering systems.” – ITWeb

Nashua Mobile has extended its flat-rate mobile services Xtreme Data and Xtreme Data Premium to selected Samsung Android handsets, following the launch of the tariff plan in March. “Users who prefer Android smartphones will now be able to enjoy all the benefits of the mobile Internet for an affordable monthly tariff,” says the service provider. – ITWeb

<a href=

Jacques Malherbe, Westcon SA" src="http://www.iweek.co.za/images/stories/2010/Nov/jacques_malherbe.jpg" />Jacques Malherbe has resigned as CEO of Westcon SA, after holding the reins at the distributor for over seven years. Keith Rich, senior VP for the AIME region, will assume the top spot on a temporary basis, until a permanent appointment is made. Malherbe, who has over two decades in the ICT and logistics industries, joined Westcon at the beginning of 2006. – ITWeb

Vodacom says earnings per share for the first six months of the year benefited from its sale of Gateway Carrier Services at the end of August. The cellular operator says its 2011 results included a R318 million write-down of Gateway, which was sold on 31 August, and profit from the sale had a favourable impact on earnings per share for the first half of the year. – ITWeb

The Pending Protection of Personal Information Act (PPI) – which is expected to cut down on unwanted telemarketing calls – could inadvertently lead to as many as 35 000 jobs being lost in three years. Andy Quinan, MD of CareerCall, says, based on reports, a reasonable estimate is that 35 000 jobs will be at risk by 2014, and will probably be lost by 2015. – ITWeb

Into Africa

Zimbabwean telecommunications company, Econet Wireless, recorded a 17% jump in operating revenue for its half-year period ending August 2012. The company said operating revenue amounted to $339.5 million against the previous period’s $290.9 million. By the end of the period, Econet had 2 537 710 broadband subscribers, a 75% increase from last year’s figure of about 1 448 000 broadband users. – ITWeb Africa

Electronics maker Samsung has announced it has opened a brand store in Gaborone, Botswana, making it the second in the country. Mokgethi Magapa, country manager for Samsung Botswana, says: “Experiential product displays are key to ensuring that consumers understand our products and can make informed purchase decisions.” The store is located in the Airport Junction Shopping Centre, in Gaborone. – ITWeb Africa

<a href=

Sifiso Dabengwa" rel=tag>Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Group" src="http://www.iweek.co.za/images/stories/2010/Nov/sifiso_dabengwa.jpg" />Mobile operator MTN Group’s total customer base grew by 3.8% to 182.7 million across its African and Middle East operations during the three months to September. “The group’s performance was underpinned by solid operational management and the roll-out of appealing value propositions, despite aggressive pricing competition, regulations and economic challenges across the different markets in which the group operates,” said MTN Group CEO Sifiso Dabengwa. – ITWeb Africa

Kenya’s biggest mobile operator by market share, Safaricom, has for the fifth consecutive year emerged as the country’s highest taxpayer, resulting in praise from the nation’s president. Mwai Kibaki lauded the telco for its contribution, which he says has enabled government to finance key projects and boost the country’s economic development. – ITWeb Africa

Subscribers of Kenya’s leading mobile operator, Safaricom, can purchase solar home lighting solutions on hire purchase via mobile money transfer service M-Pesa. To access the light solar home system, dubbed ‘d.light’, subscribers have to make a 2 500 shillings ($31) deposit and pay daily instalments of 40 shillings ($0.50) via M-Pesa for one year. – ITWeb Africa

Telecoms services provider Bharti Airtel has announced it’s reached 60 million customers in Africa. According to Wireless Intelligence, Airtel has 250.04 million connections across its African and Asian markets. “Since launching the Airtel brand in Africa in 2010, Airtel has been on a steady growth path,” said Andre Beyers, CMO, Airtel Africa. – ITWeb Africa

Abroad

Microsoft put its Surface tablet centre stage at its Windows 8 launch event, hoping the sleek new device will spark a fightback against Apple and Google in the exploding mobile computing market. With interest in traditional computers waning, the world’s largest software company is attempting to reinvent the Windows PC in a new format and directly challenge Apple’s all-conquering iPad. – Reuters

Panasonic will slash a significant portion of its mobile phone business as it struggles to make headway in the global smartphone market, dominated by Apple and Samsung Electronics. Panasonic has been facing sluggish sales in Europe. The company has already begun restructuring its business by shutting down its domestic cellphone factory in Shizuoka Prefecture and moving production to Malaysia. – Reuters

Yahoo bought a small, mobile start-up company in New York, marking one of new chief executive Marissa Mayer’s first moves to revamp the struggling Web pioneer by acquiring outside products and technology. Yahoo purchased Stamped, which makes a product that lets consumers share favourite restaurants and music on their smartphones. It did not disclose financial details. – Reuters

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is to sell part of a manufacturing plant it is closing in Salo, southwest Finland, to drug-maker Orion. Nokia is seeking to bolster its cash position as it launches smartphones aimed at recapturing market share lost to Apple and Samsung. The property includes production facilities and warehouses, the companies said. – Reuters

Sony plans to shut operations in a Tokyo office building that houses 8% of its Japan staff, one of the first concrete moves by the electronics and entertainment company, to pave the way for 4 000 job cuts. Sony will shut down the Shinagawa Technology Centre, a 31-storey building it has occupied since it was built in 1998. – Reuters

US wireless carrier Sprint Nextel said it will introduce new rate plans for 4G tablets that offer customers up to 20% more data than rivals for the same price. Sprint also said in a statement it is waiving, for a limited time, the activation fee on all 3G and 4G LTE tablets. – Reuters

Telecoms equipment maker Ericsson reported a 42% drop in core profit and promised more cost cuts to protect itself from tough competition and slowing orders. Ericsson said sales in its key networks unit fell 17% year-on-year, reflecting lower sales in parts of Europe; a continued decline in older standard networks in the United States and China; and lower 3G sales in Russia. – Reuters