Stories by Olabisi Olaleye
Just like other apps trending online, google hangout is becoming a more popular term among digital natives across the globe including Nigeria. Although in Nigeria, it is often used by celebrities and very important personalities, like a former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who used it a couple of years ago.
Hanging out on Google also helps individuals to gather more information from experts or individuals who are knowledgeable on such subjects. It makes stream of conversation more real and authentic than just reading it (Facebook). There are interactions among the participants. However, the slow learner may ask, what is Google hangout? Simply put, hangouts are more of an engagement tool with friends, very much like Google chat and Skype.
There are two types of Google hangouts, hangouts and hangouts on air. Google Hangouts is an awesome instant messaging app. You can download it to your android device or iPhone/iPod/iPad. Also, you can download an extension for Google Chrome that will automatically start when you turn on your computer. Google hangout is like skyping or video chatting. You can only use it if you have a webcam on your computer. To use it, you go to your google + account (if you don’t have one, they are easy to set up; just go to more under google and join).
Simply put, a Google Hangout on Air is a great alternative to expensive webinar solutions where you and up to nine guests can hangout and discuss whatever topic takes your fancy and broadcast that conversation to the rest of the world. Your Google Hangout on Air is automatically broadcast live to both your Google+ home page and YouTube channel for the world to see.
Communication tax‘ll impoverish Nigerians – Nweke
The Communications Service Tax (CST) bill now before the National Assembly has been condemned by stakeholders in the Information and Communication industry, who argue, “the bill hinged on 9 per cent tax on all electronic services would further impoverish Nigerians.”
According to one of the stakeholders, and an Executive Director, Operations, at DigitalSense Africa Media, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, the 9 per cent tax on all electronic services will further impoverish the teeming unemployed Nigerian youths.This will then make it more difficult for people to access and share knowledge, which the electronic communication is made to abridge. Nweke, who was speaking during the Day-1 of the Nigeria DigitalSense Forum series on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) at the Digital Bridge Institute, Lagos, at the weekend, said Nigerian youths are already paying for all the mismanagement of their leaders. She also wondered why the government would want to make them pay more, especially in the current economic downturn.
Nweke also called on the Federal Government to make telecoms infrastructure a critical national resource as this would also mean protecting the jobs and businesses online because when telecoms infrastructure are tampered with, “our jobs and businesses online are affected.”
Copa America: Startimes offers freebies to subscribers
In order to woo its teeming subscribers to its platform, Startimes now has the exclusive right to broadcast the 2016 edition of Copa America in Nigeria and Africa.
Startimes Head, Pubic Relation, Israel Bolaji, revealed that Startimes has got exclusive rights and the tournament has started running live from June of this year on Startimes sports channels with many gifts to be given to subscribers during the soccer fiesta. Bolaji also revealed that in addition to other prizes, a whopping sum of $1,500 is to be won as the star prize with a VIP trip to Germany to watch Bundes Lega for existing and intending Startimes subscribers. He added that it was the collective desire of Startimes to bring sporting entertainments to all Nigerians, especially esteemed sports loving subscribers. “Whether it’s in the area of basketball, football, tennis or boxing, we consider it important bringing good sporting content to our subscribers”.
Also speaking, Startimes Ambassador, Jonathan Akpoborie, urged football lovers to take advantage of affordable Startimes subscription of N1,500 to watch the likes of Lionel Messi, Suarez and other big soccer stars during the event.
Visa, Tecom Group sign MoU
Visa and Tecom Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage and foster innovation, entrepreneurship and digital advancements. The MoU between the two organisations is expected to comprise a number of collaborative elements including an agreement to support the local startup and entrepreneur community through mentorship and guidance programme, leveraging each other’s networks for the promotion of digitally advanced and innovation related solutions, collaborating on pilot programmes, tests and trials within the Tecom Group and co-launching design thinking workshops and supporting local hackathons and developer workshops.
According to the Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships and Head of the Dubai Innovation Centre, Mr. John McGuire, “Visa is a technology company and we are constantly evolving to provide immersive, collaborative and localised experiences for our clients and partners in CEMEA,” noting that, “sitting at the virtual crossroads of tech and finance, Dubai is the ideal place to bring this collaborative approach to life for the diverse needs of this region.”
Also speaking, the CEO of Tecom, Malek Al Malek, said: “We are very proud to partner with Visa to further foster and support innovation in the region. This is a major strategic pillar for Tecom Group, which has played a vital role in Dubai’s diversification and is now supporting efforts to transform the Emirate into an innovation-led economy and Smart City.
“As part of Tecom Group’s innovation strategy, we have led major innovation initiatives including a strategic partnership with Smart Dubai, launch of the in5 Incubation arm in 2013 to support the growth of entrepreneurs and startups across our different verticals thus enforcing a solid entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region, as well as the launch of the Innovation Hub, which will see over 15,000 business professionals prosper to stimulate innovation and excellence across technology, new media, education and life sciences.
“Visa’s decision to launch its innovation centre in DIC is a testament to our partnership as well as the sector development across the UAE and our leading position in the region. We look forward to working closely with Visa to take the industry into further heights in innovation and creativity.”
Huawei sues Samsung for infringing patents on mobile devices
Following alleged patent infringement, Huawei has filed lawsuits against Samsung in the United States and China, including District Court for the Northern District of California and Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court.
In these lawsuits, Huawei seeks compensation for Samsung’s infringement of its intellectual property, including valuable patents relating to cellular communications technology and software used by Samsung’s mobile phones. As a major holder of standard essential patents relating to cellular networks, Huawei is committed to licensing these patents on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, but it believes that it is entitled to reasonable compensation from firms that use its technology without such a license.
Ding Jianxing, President of Huawei’s Intellectual Property Rights Department said, “Huawei believes that industry players should work together to push the industry forward through open, joint innovation. While respecting others’ patents, we will also protect our own. We have seen a large number of patent cross-licensing agreements signed in the industry to ensure legitimate use of technologies, as this is the basis for the healthy development of the smartphone industry. With such a belief, we have actively negotiated with other patent holders in the industry for cross-licensing over the years. Thus far, we have signed cross-licensing agreements with dozens of our competitors.”