Author: Akin Naphtal

Flex Yang, the former CEO and founder of Babel Finance, is leading the restructuring efforts of the now embattled crypto asset unicorn while introducing a new decentralized project called Hope. The project aims to blend centralized finance (CeFi), decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi) to offer transparency and security while providing easy access to users. The Hope project has its namesake token, which will eventually be pegged close to the dollar as adoption grows. However, the token will initially use Bitcoin and Ether as reserves instead of cash and cash-equivalent assets, which may raise some eyebrows. Yang compares Hope…

SAP, the German software company, has sold its American subsidiary Qualtrics to a consortium led by US and Canadian investment firms for $7.7 billion. The sale of the online market research software firm comes as SAP is looking to focus on its core cloud businesses, amid turbulence in the tech sector. The transaction was conducted at a price of $18.15 per share and SAP had bought Qualtrics several years ago for $8 billion. The total value of Qualtrics is now $12.5 billion, according to SAP. READ ALSO:Silex Technology unveils Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module for NXP i.MX series TuneIn Launches Interactive…

Silex Technology has launched a new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SDIO module named SX-SDMAX, designed to improve wireless connectivity for the NXP i.MX series and other platforms. The module, using the NXP Semiconductors IW611 chipset, supports the latest 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standard, providing secure, reliable and easy-to-add wireless connectivity that allows better communication in dense environments. Silex Technology also offers custom driver development and patching services, helping NXP i.MX customers to eliminate driver development and integration efforts or get custom, local support to help design their products. Silex Technology has designed the module to provide a product lifecycle of up to…

TuneIn, a radio service that allows users to livestream news, sports, music and podcasts, has announced the launch of TuneIn Explorer, an interactive map feature, for iOS and Android devices. TuneIn Explorer enables users to access over 100,000 local AM/FM radio stations from almost every country in the world. This feature was available on the web since February and has now been expanded to mobile devices. To use the TuneIn Explorer feature, users click on the “Radio” tab in the TuneIn mobile app, which takes them to a world map where they can zoom in to find a specific region…

Naspers Foundry, the South Africa-focused venture capital fund of Africa’s most valuable tech company by market capitalization, Naspers, has been shut down due to challenges in the venture capital industry, according to local news outlet BusinessDay. The firm will maintain its investments, including writing follow-on checks, in its nine portfolio companies. These include Planet42, SweepSouth, Naked Insurance, Aerobotics and WhereIsMyTransport. Naspers Foundry, which launched in 2019, was established to back South African startups in Series A and B stages. Its investment strategy was aligned with Naspers’ focus on internet businesses, such as food, payments or classifieds, as well as any…

MTN Group records a strong 2022 financial performance, including an expansion in return on equity to 23.4% and a 10% increase in the dividend to 330 cents per share, in a challenging macroeconomic environment of elevated inflation across our 19 markets. In the year to 31 December 2022, total subscribers rose 6% to 289 million, with data subscribers growing by more than 12% to 137 million and Mobile Money users up by 21% to 69 million. Demonstrating good operational execution and ongoing strategic delivery, in constant currency terms the Group reported a 15.3% increase in service revenue to R194 billion…

Telehealth startup Cerebral has inadvertently shared sensitive information of over 3.1 million patients with third-party advertisers, including Google, Meta and TikTok. The company admitted to the oversight on its website, stating that it exposed a range of patient data through tracking tools used as far back as October 2019. The information compromised includes patient names, phone numbers, email addresses, birth dates, IP addresses, insurance information, appointment dates, treatment and more. It may have also revealed the answers patients provided as part of the mental health self-assessment on the Cerebral platform, which they can use to schedule therapy appointments and receive…

Etisalat by E& has become the first telecoms operator in the UAE to deploy EUTELSAT QUANTUM satellite technology to expand its 5G network capabilities. The technology will offer customers enhanced coverage and scalability to meet future demand for high bandwidth applications. Etisalat tested the technology with customers for over a year and installed Eutelsat’s latest technology Quantum satellite with the state-of-the-art Newtech Dialog Hub to enhance mobile network capability. The deployment of the satellite solution is seen as an important step in the region’s 5G adoption and bridging the digital divide. Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology and Information Officer, etisalat by…

The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, launched two Jitume Kazi labs in Vihiga County on Friday. The labs are part of an initiative to provide young people with access to computers and the internet. The two labs, located at Friends College Kaimosi and Sabatia Technical and Vocational College, were launched with 100 computers each donated by the government in collaboration with Konza Technopolis and the ICT Authority. During the launch, Owalo urged the youth to embrace technology and become self-employed by working online since there are not enough white-collar jobs. The…

The Nandi County Government’s digitization of the health care and agri-business sectors has enabled women to embrace mobile service technology. According to Ruth Koech, the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Health, maternal health care has been digitized and pre-natal and post-natal care services are available through mobile services. Women under maternal care are now required to have mobile phones to monitor their health and that of their children. Koech said that with digital technology, maternal child health mortality rates have reduced by fifty percent. “Cancer screening and its care have also been digitized in our level four hospitals…