The Karnataka Vocational Training and Skill Development Corporation (KVTSDC), associated with the state’s Department of Labour, has announced that it has partnered with IBM to develop a Smarter Employability Platform to increase effectiveness of employment and skill-enhancement programmes in the state. Through this first-of-a-kind (FOAK) project with IBM Research – India, KVTSDC will address the challenges of reaching millions of potentially employable individuals and empowering them, especially in rural areas and in the unorganised sector.
As part of this project, IBM will create a platform to effectively connect job-seekers and job-providers along with training and certification agencies in employability marketplaces accessible through mobile phones in local and vernacular languages. Job-seekers will thus be able to find available jobs and apply for the same, while understanding job-trends, and also refer opportunities to their friends: all through mobile phones. Similarly job providers can post jobs, increase their reach, find matching candidates, connect with trainers, and track latest trends through both mobile phones and web channels.
Illiterates Get A Break – IBM Develops A Voice-Activated Job Search
Etisalat Signed US$650m via Nigerian Banks – Nigeria Telecom Market Is Indeed Healthy
With the signing of $650m loan with Nigerian banks, Etisalat just proved that Nigerian telecommunication industry is just starting. One way of knowing when an industry is healthy is evaluating the the loan structure in the industry. $650m is a big money especially for banks operating in Naira, but since the banks agreed to do this, it validates that the telecom market is huge and healthy. Simply, you must believe in Etisalat to compete very well in Nigeria before writing that cheque. With this, one can confirm there is a sustainable optimism and progress in the mobility and telecommunication industry in Nigeria.
Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Ltd (EMTS), trading under the name of Etisalat Nigeria today 10 March 2011 in Lagos sealed agreements for a US$650 million loan split into 2 tranches: NGN 82.5 billion and US$100 million.The loan is from a consortium of eight leading Nigerian banks, namely; First Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, United Bank for Africa, Bank PHB, Guaranty Trust Bank and Oceanic Bank. The loan will support its expansion plan across the country.
Speaking about the loan signing, EMTS Chairman, Hakeem Belo-Osagie, noted that the loan represents a critical milestone in the growth of the company. “It is significant that Nigerian banks are availing us of a facility, which will be a boost for our long term growth and by implication growth for the sector and the wider economy. The loan underpins their belief in and support for the EMTS vision and the Management Team of the business. We are grateful for the support of all the lending banks whose contribution made this loan possible. We must also acknowledge the critical contribution of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the regulatory agencies, who have together created an enabling environment that has made our success possible.”
UK-Based Lebara Mobile Prepaid Mastercard Targets Nigeria And Other Payment Destinations
Ethnic market Lebara has launched a new sub brand, Lebara Money, to provide customers with a range of financial services and products.
Lebara Money’s first product, the Lebara Prepaid MasterCard offers customers – particularity those from ethnic communities – an international money service where they can issue ‘sub cards’ to family or friends overseas.
The service has been developed by Lebara in conjunction with MasterCard and the Newcastle Building Society. Its leader, Yoganathan, said the move into the money transferring market was a logical step for the company.
“Lebara made making calls home easy, efficient and affordable. We want to offer customers the same high level of service and peace of mind when they send their hard earned money home,” Yoganathan said.
The card is currently being aimed at a number of ‘key payment destinations’ including Nigeria, Ghana, the Philippines and China and can be purchased directly from Lebara on its website for £14.90
Name Yahoo Products! Yahoo Mail and News Aggregation – A Web Entertainment Company?
Simple question! What does Yahoo do these days? We mean what products are being offered by Yahoo to the customers.
Yahoo Buzz was shutdown on April 21, 2011 as promised:
As we all known that Yahoo! Buzz is the hot spot to share the best stories and you can talk about them with the people around the web world which help us to gain traffic to a website. A sad news is Yahoo! Buzz was shut down by April 21, 2011 as I came to know through the SEO magazines and journals today.
Yahoo Search has been outsourced to Microsoft.
So what does Yahoo do these days. We think News Aggregation – the news you read on their home page. Oh Yes, its most popular product – the Yahoo Mail. And of course, Yahoo sells adverts but we do not think that is a big one when you compare with Google.
Please share with us other things Yahoo does. We are aware that Yahoo Jobs have also been sold in the past. The same applied to the Yahoo wallet when those days we could store our files online via our Yahoo accounts. We want to know if Yahoo is still a technology company or just a web entertainment company!
Acer Iconia Tab W500 Arrives Nigeria – N85,000
The tablet space is becoming very interesting. A big one is arriving in the nation; Acer Iconia Tab W500.
Iconia Tab W500 has unique detachable keyboard that turns the thin slate into a full-fledged Windows notebook. The Iconia Tab W500 starts at N85,000 and includes the keyboard dock. These are some of the features from Amazon.
- With the unique hybrid design you have the option to take this Tab on-the-go or insert it into the docking station with full-size chiclet keyboard
- With the latest Dual-Core AMD C-50 Processor, this hybrid Tab has the power to handle Flash 10.1 HD while also enjoying long battery life
- 32GB of Solid-State Storage provides fast data access, is light and quiet, and features a sturdy design for your ultraportable Tab
- The 10.1″ 720p HD capacitive multi-touch display with wide viewing angles enhances your digital world and makes everyday activities simple
- SocialJogger puts your social life in one place so you can check updates from your Facebook and Twitter contacts in a single glance
Who said that Windows is not cool? This tablet is a great beast and Windows must not be respected as Windows Mobile arrives. Microsoft will fight this batter with products like Acer Iconia W500.
This is from the official press release from Acer
“The Acer Iconia Tab W500 is the perfect tablet for people who want the touch capabilities that are so natural and efficient on the go, but also need a Windows environment to access productivity applications for work and school,” said Eric Ackerson, senior product marketing manager, Acer America. “So much of what we’re doing on the go is accessing information and consuming content in cloud-based applications, such as realtors and salespeople who need access to databases and Intranet sites. The Acer Iconia Tab W500 is the ultimate reflection of our lives – able to multitask between work and fun, and ready at a moment’s notice.”
A Nigerian company will be selling it an N85,000 starting June 2011.