Author: Akin Naphtal

Google Meet is currently developing an innovative “On-the-Go” mode aimed at providing a safe and convenient experience for users engaging in video calls while mobile. The existing mobile interface of Google Meet has been deemed distracting and potentially unsafe for users who are walking during video calls, according to a report by 9to5Google. The upcoming “On-the-Go” mode will offer users two simple ways to access its features. When the motion sensors on a user’s phone detect movement, Google Meet will prompt them to switch to the travel-friendly mode. Once activated, the mode will disable the smartphone’s cameras and pause the…

Professional Communication Corporation (Nedaa), the exclusive secure network provider for the Government of Dubai, has announced that Dubai has successfully won the bid to host next year’s Critical Communications World (CCW), the premier global conference and exhibition for the critical communications sector. Dubai stood out among a highly competitive field of renowned cities and business hubs from around the world, securing its position as the host city for CCW. The selection recognizes Dubai’s prominence as an exceptional candidate for hosting such a prestigious event. READ ALSO: Access Bank unveils first American Express Cards to be issued in Nigeria With a…

Microsoft India, in partnership with digital marketing agency ID8nxt, has introduced the ‘Fastest Coder’ digital hackathon to promote generative AI and GitHub Copilot. The hackathon aims to attract more than 20,000 developers from across India, providing them with an opportunity to develop innovative solutions using GitHub Copilot. Developers and software engineers participating in the event will have the chance to address real-world problems by building technology solutions using GitHub Copilot. The hackathon will reveal five problem statements, one hour before the challenge and participants will be required to solve one of them. READ ALSO: Microsoft Partners with OpenAI to Provide…

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has introduced a new chatbot called Metamate exclusively for internal use by its employees. The AI-powered chatbot, trained on Meta’s internal data, is being gradually rolled out to a small group of users. Metamate is designed to assist employees in various tasks such as coding, meeting summarization and feature debugging. Users can create prompts and share them with colleagues for enhanced collaboration. According to reports, Meta initially explored collaborations with Microsoft and OpenAI to develop a similar tool but ultimately opted to develop Metamate in-house. This move showcases Meta’s commitment to leveraging AI technology to…

Qatar University (QU) has announced the launch of its third faculty-led startup, SpaceVision Digital Solutions LLC. The spin-off venture was founded by Dr. Khalid Naji, Dean of QU’s College of Engineering. Dr. Naji and his team have developed innovative digital twinning, imaging and AI solutions integrated with drone technologies. The establishment of SpaceVision is part of QU’s ongoing efforts to create a comprehensive ecosystem for economic development within the university. These initiatives aim to facilitate the transfer of QU’s knowledge, research and innovations into sustainable socio-economic impact for Qatar, in alignment with the country’s vision for 2030. READ ALSO: Equinix…

In maintaining its leadership status as Nigeria’s most innovative bank, Access Bank has unveiled two new consumer credit cards: the Access Bank American Express Gold Card and the Metal Platinum Card. These are the first American Express cards to be issued in Nigeria and West Africa. By launching these cards, Access Bank has improved its overall offering to its retail and private bank customers, who can now enjoy the Membership Rewards loyalty programme and a wide range of travel and lifestyle benefits. In 2019, Access Bank signed an agreement with American Express to start acquiring merchants, enabling businesses across the…

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions,has announced the official opening of its African head office and state-of-the-art Customer Experience Centre, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to Wojtek Piorko, the recently appointed managing director for Vertiv Africa, the formal opening of the South African premises forms an important part of Vertiv’s ‘Africa for Africa’ initiative, and underscores the organisation’s investment in the region. “Vertiv is placing a strong business focus on Africa, as well as expanding our local network of authorised partners and service providers. Our ‘Africa for Africa’ project also emphasises the importance of…

QCell, a mobile operator in Gambia, has introduced the country’s inaugural commercial 5G service. Initially, the service is accessible only in selected areas within the capital city of Banjul, including Kairaba Avenue, Bakau-Fajara, Senegambia, and Brusubi Turntable. According to the QCell website, 5G technology will deliver download speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, but users are cautioned that it may lead to faster consumption of data packages. The operator stated that several device vendors, such as Apple, Huawei, and Techno, have collaborated with QCell to support the 5G network in Gambia. Many devices are initially locked, but as…

The new CEO of social media firm Twitter, Linda Yaccarino, has outlined her plans for “Twitter 2.0.”, after taking over from Elon Musk a week ago. She says the company is “on a mission to become the world’s most accurate real-time information source”. Since Mr Musk bought Twitter last year, it has faced criticism over its approach to tackling disinformation. In the last month, the company lost its head of trust and safety and pulled out of the EU’s disinformation code. In a series of tweets, which was also emailed to employees, Ms Yaccarino echoed Mr Musk’s goal, that Twitter…

Oman – The OMPay Merchant App, a mobile-based business platform providing cashless payment solutions for local businesses, has been launched in Oman. With the help of the one-stop app, merchants can digitise their billing processes without any extra-added or hidden costs. OMPay empowers its users with useful payment APIs such as a personalised dashboard, QR codes and payment link generation for sharing through chat portals, ease of view of transaction history, and enhanced data privacy and security. READ ALSO: Digital transformation ‘becomes a necessity,’ says Ahmad Hanandeh at FinTech Conference The app enables merchants to expand their services beyond POS…