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David Mphelo, Cisco SA

According to the Cisco 2014 Annual Security Report, South African businesses face unprecedented levels of cyber attacks as global security vulnerabilities and threats against systems, applications and personal networks have reached their highest recorded level. The report notes that in the rapidly evolving world of security threats, total global threat alerts increased 14% year-on-year from 2012 to 2013. – ITWeb

According to wiGroup’s white paper on in-store mobile transacting, South African consumers are driving a mobile transacting revolution enabled by a slew of innovative homegrown technology companies. Bevan Ducasse, CEO of wiGroup, explains that local retailers, brands and agencies are leveraging the power of mobile transactions in clever ways to unlock new revenue streams and boost customer retention. – ITWeb

The Western Cape government launched a free WiFi pilot project recently, giving Internet access to people from Atlantis, Robertson, Delft and the Garden Route. According to a government statement, more than 90 000 residents will be able to access wireless Internet during the pilot phase. Three non-profit organisations have been allocated funds to set up WiFi zones in specified areas during the pilot phase. – ITWeb

According to Gareth Slaven, CEO at online media, Internet and e-commerce company, Ensight, the increasing availability of broadband, both mobile and fixed, is helping shape SA’s digital marketing landscape. “A lot more people are starting to interact with the Internet as the primary source of information,” notes Slaven. – ITWeb

French mobile operator Orange is planning to launch a pilot WiFi project in SA this year, as the company continues to try and make its mark on the local market. It aims to become a mobile virtual network operator that can take on the country’s mobile giants. Tom Wright, corporate press officer at Orange, says WiFi is the operator’s next big challenge. – ITWeb

According to David Mphelo, director of public sector business at Cisco SA, SA’s public sector has the capacity to benefit by adopting Internet of everything principles in a bid to meet the country’s challenges, but communication costs will first need to be addressed. Broadband prices need to be more accessible in order to create the best conditions for the Internet of everything, says Mphelo. – ITWeb

Sanofi has teamed up with Vodacom to unveil MyStar-Care, an interactive mobile patient support programme that provides precise, real-time monitoring of diabetic patients to ensure their well-being. “MyStarCare, which is rolling out initially in South Africa, is aimed at helping patients take control of their diabetes by assisting them with real-time support to help them live a fulfilled life,” says John Fagan, GM at Sanofi SA. – ITWeb

BlackBerry’s ‘communications-centric’ 9720 smartphone is now available in purple in SA, the company has announced. Designed for emerging markets and mirroring the look and feel of its mid-range Curve series, the 9720 features BlackBerry’s iconic trackpad, a qwerty keyboard and 2.8-inch touch-screen. The device also comes in blue, pink, black and white and is available on prepaid. – ITWeb

Into Africa

Somalia is set to become the next African country to launch a 4G/LTE network in that country’s capital city, Mogadishu. Global voice, data and carrier solutions provider Glocall Telecom announced it plans to set up a 4G network in Somalia. The company plans to partner with Tazca Connects to help businesses, schools and homes connect to a fast and reliable Internet connection. – ITWeb Africa

Zambia’s government has warned it will deal firmly with the country’s mobile phone service providers that are giving Zambians poor services. Outgoing minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Emmanuel Chenda said it was unfair for consumers to subscribe to mobile service providers in order to communicate and to access information, yet receive inconsistent and poor services with dropouts in service. – ITWeb Africa

Zimbabwe’s telecash agents and merchants have increased by a thousand to 2 600 since the launch of the mobile money transfer service earlier this year. Telecash is the mobile money service that was launched by Zimbabwe’s second largest mobile operator, Telecel Zimbabwe. According to a press statement, telecash agents and merchants increased from 1 600 to 2 600 from when the service was unveiled. – ITWeb Africa

Kenya’s plans to migrate to an electronic tax collection system hit a snag after the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) pushed the migration date to the new system, citing overloading by large numbers of users trying to use the system. KRA’s commissioner for medium and small tax payers, Alice Owour, announced the new system would be effective from 1 June, instead of the initial set date of 1 March. – ITWeb Africa

MTN has partnered with Ecobank to allow users of the MTN mobile money service to withdraw cash from the bank’s ATMs. Twelve countries are to benefit from the deal: Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, the Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Congo Brazzaville, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Zambia. Mobile operators and banks are working together to get the ‘unbanked’ banked. – ITWeb Africa

Microwave networking solutions firm Aviat Networks has inked an expanded managed services deal with MTN Nigeria, as Africa’s largest mobile network further cuts its costs. According to a press statement, Aviat Networks currently provides value-added services such as network design and planning, inventory, spares management and product support for MTN Nigeria. The deal comes as MTN Nigeria is on a drive to lower its costs. – ITWeb Africa

Fixed-line, mobile and Internet provider Uganda Telecom (UTL) has appointed a new chairman and three board members following years of uncertainty at the telecoms company. Former central banking executive Stephen Kaboyo replaces Dr Ben Mbonye, who has resigned after four years’ service as chairman at UTL. “UTL has great potential for growth throughout Uganda,” said Kaboyo in a statement. – ITWeb Africa

Abroad

TANGO, the mobile messaging app maker, announced it has raised $280 million in a new funding round led by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding. Alibaba invested $215 million while the remainder of the funding came from Tango’s prior investors, which include Access Industries, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Jerry Yang, a co-founder of Yahoo, Tango said. – Reuters

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Meg Whitman, HP" />Hewlett-Packard will outline plans to enter the commercial 3D-printing market in June, saying it has solved a number of technical problems that have hindered broader adoption of the hi-tech manufacturing process. CEO Meg Whitman told shareholders on Tuesday the company will make a “big technology announcement” that month around how it will approach a market that has excited the imagination of investors and consumers. – Reuters

The Polish unit of France’s Orange will work with mBank, a unit of Germany’s Commerzbank, to provide mobile financial services, both companies said in a statement. Orange and mBank want to create a mobile retail bank for smartphone and tablet users under the Orange brand in the second half of 2014. The companies declined to offer any financial details. – Reuters

Oracle posted higher third-quarter revenue and profit that failed to satisfy investors looking for signs of a sustained turnaround, and its shares fell about 4%. Shareholders had grown more optimistic after Oracle’s previous quarterly results, but still worried about slow IT spending and growing competition from smaller, nimble rivals. The company also forecast current-quarter results roughly in line with investors’ targets. – Reuters

Sony unveiled a prototype for a new virtual reality headset accessory for its PlayStation 4 games console at the annual Game Developers Conference, in San Francisco, as it bids to further acceptance of the concept. The headset, still in development, is said to be available to game developers soon. Sony has not set a date for its release. – Reuters