The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Google

  • Google to support Cyber Crime Act’s implementation

    American search engine Google has pledged to support the Federal Government in the implementation of the Cybercrime Act to ensure that the country tapped fully from the limitless potential of the internet.

    Its Policy and Government Relations Manager, Titi Akinsanmi, said Google would work with the Nigerian government in a better way to ensure that opportunities that come with having the internet are not lost while trying to make sure that the internet space is regulated in a particular way.

    Speaking in Lagos during training on Safer Internet Day at Queens College, Yaba, Akinsanmi said one of the things missing in the internet space was local data, adding that Google would collaborate with the relevant stakeholders to address the issue.

    “We hear story, hear information but we do not have concrete data to be able to identify the number of young people who are actually online; what they are doing online or the location of the online user. We have institutions working around this but more importantly it is for us to be able to measure it in  concrete terms. What we want to do at Google is to put in place within the internet space measures that pulls data and is able to measure the quality of internet access, the kind of people and users locations among others,” she said.

    She said young internet users, particularly between the ages of 10 and 18 are active users and must be well mentored to prevent crime, scams, hackering and other forms of internet fraud. She said this age bracket must also be prevented from having an online exposure that is above their age.

    She insisted that kids should not be prevented from the internet; rather, parents, teachers and guardians should be responsible to guide them.

    She said: “Google cannot be the parent. This is why we interfere in the role of the parent or their teachers to equip them to ensure that the young ones actually engage in a safe space online.

    “There are many offerings that we have at Google that we do not just have the adult version but we have the kids version too.”

  • Air Peace, Yudala, others emerge top trending Nigerian brands on Google

    Air Peace, Yudala, others emerge top trending Nigerian brands on Google

    Despite the attention given to the general elections and new cabinet last year, some local brands were able to break through the mental ceiling and retain the interest of Nigerians. Their reward was to keep trending.

    Google has captured a list of the top ten trending Nigerian brands of 2015, highlighting the brands that had the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2015 as compared to 2014. The list begins with a huge surprise.

    Flying high on the line-up is the new kid on the runways of Nigeria’s airports, Air Peace. Led by Allen Onyema, the airline made its debut in 2013. Perhaps speculation about a possible connection between Air Peace and the wife of the former President of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan set the search engines revving and kept the airline on the minds of controversy-loving Nigerians.

    Composite online and offline retail chain, Yudala, sits pretty in second place. Following its well-publicised launch in August, Yudala made waves in the marketplace with its promise to deliver purchases via drones. Reports of its first successful drone-powered drop off in November kept Nigerians talking for the rest of the year.

    Free online classifieds site, jiji.com, takes the next spot, ahead of online retail site, Payporte, online classifieds site,  efritin.com and online shopping site Kaymu. Remarkably, global market leader in the online classifieds space, OLX, did not make the list of top trending brands in Nigeria. neither did Konga.

    Dubai-based mobile device start-up, Injoo made the list at number 8, riding on the success of its ‘reasonably priced’ smartphones and tablets. Injoo leads regional and International carrier Medview Airline and local telecomms operator, Smile Communications in the trend stakes.

  • Google incorporates mobile devices into wellness 

    Google incorporates mobile devices into wellness 

    Want to keep fit and diet without going to the gym? You can do that in the comfort of your bedroom with handy do-it-yourself (DIY) instructions on your mobile device. Yes, easy exercise and diet regimen are now available on handsets. Google has incorporated in mobile devices into fitness regims to improve the efficacy of workout sessions and tips for healthier life.

    To show that technology should be a part of everyday life, Google organised ‘Get Fit with Google’ to demonstrate how mobile devices can be incorporated into fitness regimens.

    Its Communications and Public Relations Manager, West Africa, Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said this was necessary because people search online daily for health/fitness/gyms to improve on their well-being.

    He spoke at Google’s get fit programme in Lagos.

    He said Google decided to incorporate mobile devices into fitness regimen health/fitness/gym because people search for fitness regimen in December and January across the world, while in Nigeria, it follows a quarterly pattern as people search for gyms more than health, wellness or fitness. ”Yet that search goes down in the first quarter because of other things that compete for time. We want people to sustain that tempo round the year because health is wealth, now they can get instructors to help them out in the comfort of their homes, using their mobile devices,” said Kola-Ogunlade.

    At a group session where the mobile devices were tested, Analytical Lead at Google, Mr Abdulsalam Abdullateef,  demonstrated how a various Android apps and Android wearable devices can be used during exercise or just to make daily activity much easier.

    He said some devices, for example, can be used for checking the weather news, asking for directions and surfing the internet as well as taking dictation, among others.

    “People should check their  health numbers through: ‘Ok Google’, ‘Let’s Recap’, for a description of the devices and apps. For example, Tabata and  Fit App, which works with an accelerometre on Android smart watches to measure distance walked, calories burnt, heart rate, among others, during workouts.

    Participants were put through their paces with aerobics and cycling session, among other exercises.

    Chef Uzo Orimalade was also on hand to demonstrate practical way of getting the best out of fruits, vegetables and water/teas as snacks or whole meal.

  • Etisalat, Google urge SMEs to explore e-commerce platforms

    Etisalat and Google have urged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-up businesses in the country to embrace electronic or e-commerce model of business to boost their capacity and efficiency.

    Head, Enterprise Marketing at Etisalat, Bidemi Ladipo who spoke in Lagos said start-up businesses and SMEs would benefit immensely from having online presence because it is a cost effective and a faster way to increase reach.

    Ladipo who spoke on the Role of Mobile Penetration in Online Commerce at Webmall Connect Commerce Conference sponsored by the telco said out of the over 150 million active GSM lines in Nigeria, 89 million of the subscribers use the internet with 75 per cent of these having access to the internet via mobile devices.

    He said: “Having your businesses on the digital space offers you lots of advantage; it reduces your overhead and increases your visibility and reach. At Etisalat, we are committed to offering quality of service both in voice and data, and continuously provide solutions that help enterprises and startups grow and sustainable.”

    He also stated that as part of efforts aimed at encouraging SMEs to connect their businesses online, Etisalat offers affordable and fastest internet data service and voice service including the Close User Group (CUG) platform to bring down cost on calls and data usage.

    Also speaking on the occasion, Head, Business Development, Google Nigeria, Jola Aderemi-Makinde expressed delighted that more businesses in Nigeria are embracing digital applications. She assured that Google remained committed to helping SMEs grow, leveraging on the internet as platform.

    She said: “Our focus now is to help local businesses succeed online. There are different tools available to SMEs for them to achieve their business objectives. Startups and SMEs should take advantage of these tools to expand their businesses.”

    Managing Director, Webmall, Wole Faroun said the digital space offers SMEs and startup businesses numerous opportunities to grow and expand exponentially.

    “Three years back, awareness and knowledge about e-commerce were not as high as it is today; now more people know about e-commerce although the full potential of the e-business model has yet to be fully appreciated. e-commerce offers huge potentials than we are benefiting now,” he said during a panel discussion.

     

     

  • Google under U.S. scrutiny over Android

    Google Inc. is back under U.S. antitrust scrutiny as officials ask whether the tech giant stifled competitors’ access to its Android mobile-operating system, said two people familiar with the matter.

    The Federal Trade Commission reached an agreement with the Justice Department to spearhead an investigation of Google’s Android business, the people said. FTC officials have met with technology company representatives who say Google gives priority to its own services on the Android platform, while restricting others, added the people, who asked for anonymity because the matter is confidential.

    The Android mobile platform ties together several Google products, including search and maps, into one bundle, echoing the even more dominant Microsoft Windows platforms. square before the information The Android mobile platform ties together several Google products, including search and maps, into one bundle, echoing the even more dominant Microsoft Windows platforms.

    The inquiry is in its early stages, and it could end without a case against the company. Regardless, it shows the FTC is again turning its attention to one of America’s biggest companies, two years after it closed a separate investigation into Google’s Internet search business. The FTC’s handling of the earlier probe left some technology companies skeptical of the agency’s willingness to bring a case, according to the people.

    Spokesmen for the FTC and Google however declined to comment.

    The latest FTC scrutiny comes after Europe’s antitrust chief challenged Mountain View, California-based Google earlier this year over its dominance of Internet search. The European Union has also started its own investigation into Google’s Android platform following complaints, including from a group representing Microsoft Corp., Expedia Inc. and Nokia Oyj. It isn’t clear to what extent EU and U.S. antitrust investigators are cooperating.

    Google’s Android operating system accounted for 59 percent of the U.S. smartphone market in the second quarter, while Apple Inc.’s iPhone software had 38 percent, according to International Data Corp., a Framingham, Massachusetts-based market research firm. Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform was third with 2.35 percent.

    The Android mobile platform ties together several Google products, including search and maps, into one bundle, echoing the even more dominant Microsoft Windows platforms of nearly two decades ago. In 1998, the U.S. claimed Microsoft unlawfully protected its Windows monopoly by keeping computer makers from promoting Web browsers that competed with its Internet Explorer. Microsoft agreed, in a settlement four years later, to end the anticompetitive conduct.

    The practice of bundling products and services together may violate antitrust laws if a company dominates the market for a product that customers need, and then forces them to buy a complementary product or service, said Harry First, a lawprofessor at New York University. If consumers can go to other manufacturers to avoid the bundled product, there’s likely no antitrust violation, First said.

    “The question for Android is do they really have sufficient market power, particularly in a world where there are other mobile-phone operating systems?” he said

     

  • Google under fire for rigging search results

    Google under fire for rigging search results

    The Indian government has accused Google of manipulating its search results to favor its own products.

    According to the Economic Times of India, the government took actions after receiving a host of complaints from Google’s competitors, including Facebook, Microsoft, Flipkart, Nokia’s maps division, and MakeMyTrip.com. The charges made by India’s Competition Commission closely mirror the anti-trust charges filed earlier this year by the European Commission.

    The Times story said the agency had canvassed 30 businesses that provide a range of services that compete with Google. The case was filed last week, and Google has until Sept. 10 to file a response. If the ruling goes against Google, the company could be forced to pay up to 10 percent of its revenues in penalties.

    The charges are the latest regulatory headache for a company that has been trying to argue for years that it is not abusing its dominant position in search across the globe. While U.S. regulators opted not to pursue a case, EC officials filed their formal case after spending years trying to negotiate a settlement with Google.

    With Google essentially locked out of the massive Chinese Internet market, it would be a big blow to the company if it is also forced to curtail its activity in India. That country is one of the fastest-growing in terms of smartphone use and Internet adoption, making it a lucrative target for many U.S. tech companies looking for ways to continue growing.

     

  • Google’s new firm Alphabet stirs controversy

    Google’s new firm Alphabet stirs controversy

    Google’s new conglomerate trademark Alphabet has stirred a controversy. With a report saying the name has already been trademarked by BMW, the German auto maker, will Google go ahead to use the name as the parent company for its brands? Adedeji Ademigbuji writes.

    A trademark is any word, name, symbol or design, or any combination thereof, used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from others, and to indicate the source of the goods.

    It is a property that companies guard jealously and do not toy with if their right of ownership is infringed on. However, the latest announcement of a new conglomerate name, Alphabet, by Google, appears to have toyed with BMW’s trademark for one of its businesses, and it has generated a disagreement. The last has not been heard on the controversy.

    Last week, Google co-founder Larry Page announced that the conglomerate would adopt a new name – Alphabet – in an attempt to make the company more accountable and cleaner having dragged over one billion users across the world.

    “Our company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable. Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one. We did a lot of things that seemed crazy at the time. Many of those crazy things now have over a billion users, like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android. So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet,” said Page.

    While the viral community received the news when it was still fresh, a media report said Google’s chosen name has already been trademarked by BMW.

    The surprise formation of Alphabet, a holding company headed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin of which Google is now a part, may have impressed investors, but brand analysts believe BMW is evidently not pleased.

    It’s apparently an issue of nomenclature: the German auto maker owns the trademark Alphabet and domain name alphabet.com, and has no interest in selling either of them. The Nation gathered from BMW Alphabet website that the auto giant’s Alphabet company engages in businesses of funding solutions for operational lease, financial lease, sales and leaseback, motivational lease; fleet management services and advanced mobility solutions for auto users.

    BMW describes its Alphabet subsidiary, which provides vehicle leasing and management packages to corporations, as a “very active” part of its operations, and says it wasn’t informed of Google’s reorganisation plans ahead of last week’s announcement. Furthermore, it was gathered that the car maker hasn’t so far received any offers for the trademark or domain name, a spokesperson told The New York Times. But in the light of this, BMW said it’s in the process of determining whether infringement has taken place.

    Meanwhile Google’s spokesman in Nigeria said why he could not comment on the trademark controversy was because everything Google would say has been published on https://abc.xyz/.

    When  The Nation visited the site, it was apparent that Google’s Alphabet has different arrears of business concerns, hence, might not compete with BMW’s Alphabet, a situation believed would make Google escape any legal sanction for trademark infringement.

    Google’s Alphabet President Sergey said Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies, “the largest of which, of course, is Google.” He said with the new conglomerate name, “Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet instead”.

    Page also described Alphabet as businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence. “Alphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly-traded entity and all shares of Google will automatically convert into the same number of shares of Alphabet, with all of the same rights. Google will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity’s most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that because it means alpha bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related products—the whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands,” he said.

    But there are concerns that Google’s domain name, abc.xyz, is a different story could also get BMW some misdirected traffic opportunities and tough times. “Google appears to have worked around BMW’s ownership by securing abc.xyz. That hasn’t prevented Chinese authorities from blocking it, nor has it prevented BMW’s Alphabet webpage from receiving an overwhelming influx of misdirected traffic, but Alphabet deserves some slack Alphabet’s had a rough time on Twitter, too — the handles @alphabet, @AlphabetINC (account suspended), @abcxyz, and @abc were taken as of yesterday,” says an analyst.

    In the light of this, an article by IT ProPortal report that a BMW spokeswoman stated that neither Larry Page nor anyone else on behalf of Google has contacted them prior to the Alphabet announcement to acquire the trademark or the domain name. BMW is not intending to sell the trademark either.

    Legal experts, however, believe instituting a legal action might not yield any result as both companies are not into similar business.

  • Jumia, Google, Infinix, partner to unveil Android One

    Jumia, Google, Infinix, partner to unveil Android One

    Google’s Android One programme has unveiled in Africa with the launch of Infinix Hot2 device exclusively on the Jumia online store.

    The launch which was in partnership with key players in the Nigerian mobile ecosystem including Jumia, Google, MTN and Infinix, offers Nigerian consumers the Smartphone device valued at N100, 000 at N17, 500 exclusively on jumia.com.ng.

    In a statement, Jumia said: “As the 15 per cent market shareholder of Smartphone sales across Nigeria, Jumia Nigeria is indeed committed to being a world-class organization and maintaining its status as Nigeria’s number one online retail store. In every sense of the word, more than ever before, the company is set to drive the implementation of its e-commerce model in its first-ever partnership with Google, Infinix and MTN to encourage technological innovation in Nigeria via the introduction of Android One in the form of the Infinix Hot 2 mobile phone. This partnership brings Jumia closer to accomplishing its ultimate goal of placing one Smartphone in the hands of every Nigerian.”

    Recall that the Android One and the Infinix Hot2 was officially launched in Lagos recently.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Jeremy Doutte said Jumia entered into the partnership becasue: “Any forward-looking organization must have real time, cutting-edge wits at the fulcrum of its business operations and that, is what Jumia Nigeria consistently espouses in pushing the frontiers of its operations to everyone in the country.”

    He added that, “Jumia will continue to drive and make premium technological equipment available to Nigerians at an affordable price.”

    Google has just introduced an affordable Smartphone in six African countries to enable low-income earners to gain access to an interconnected device. Nigeria is the first to sell the device, which will be followed by Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco in the coming weeks. The price for the Hot 2 phones starts at N17, 500, which makes it a steep markdown from other Smartphones.

    Speaking on the partnership, Google Vice President, Caesar Sengupta said, “The combination of the Google software, Infinix hardware, MTN network support and Jumia helps to facilitate easy delivery of the device to consumers.

    According to him, “What better partnership can bring you the best functional device at an affordable price? Google is proud to be associated with Nigeria’s development, and is committed to working with Jumia to advance the access to technology for all citizens within the country.”

  • Google’s new firm Alphabet stirs controversy

    Google’s new firm Alphabet stirs controversy

    Google’s new conglomerate trademark Alphabet has stirred a controversy. With a report saying the name has already been trademarked by BMW, the German auto maker, will Google go ahead to use the name as the parent company for its brands? Adedeji Ademigbuji writes.

    A trademark is any word, name, symbol or design, or any combination thereof, used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from others, and to indicate the source of the goods. It is a property that companies guard jealously and do not toy with if their right of ownership is infringed on. However, the latest announcement of a new conglomerate name, Alphabet, by Google, appears to have toyed with BMW’s trademark for one of its businesses, and it has generated a disagreement. Currently, the last has not been heard on the controversy.

    Last week, Google co-founder Larry Page announced that the conglomerate would adopt a new name – Alphabet – in an attempt to make the company more accountable and cleaner having dragged over one billion users across the world.

    “Our company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable. Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one. We did a lot of things that seemed crazy at the time. Many of those crazy things now have over a billion users, like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android. So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet,” said Page.

    While the viral community received the news when it was still fresh, a media report said Google’s chosen name has already been trademarked by BMW.

    The surprise formation of Alphabet, a holding company headed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin of which Google is now a part, may have impressed investors, but brand analysts believe BMW is evidently not pleased.

    It’s apparently an issue of nomenclature: the German auto maker owns the trademark Alphabet and domain name alphabet.com, and has no interest in selling either of them. The Nation gathered from BMW Alphabet website that the auto giant’s Alphabet company engages in businesses of funding solutions for operational lease, financial lease, sales and leaseback, motivational lease; fleet management services and advanced mobility solutions for auto users.

    BMW describes its Alphabet subsidiary, which provides vehicle leasing and management packages to corporations, as a “very active” part of its operations, and says it wasn’t informed of Google’s reorganisation plans ahead of last week’s announcement. Furthermore, it was gathered that the car maker hasn’t so far received any offers for the trademark or domain name, a spokesperson told The New York Times. But in the light of this, BMW said it’s in the process of determining whether infringement has taken place.

    Meanwhile Google’s spokesman in Nigeria said why he could not comment on the trademark controversy was because everything Google would say has been published on https://abc.xyz/.

    When  The Nation visited the site, it was apparent that Google’s Alphabet has different arrears of business concerns, hence, might not compete with BMW’s Alphabet, a situation believed would make Google escape any legal sanction for trademark infringement.

    Google’s Alphabet President Sergey said Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies, “the largest of which, of course, is Google.” He said with the new conglomerate name, “Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet instead”.

    Page also described Alphabet as businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence. “Alphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly-traded entity and all shares of Google will automatically convert into the same number of shares of Alphabet, with all of the same rights. Google will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity’s most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that because it means alpha bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related products—the whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands,” he said.

    But there are concerns that Google’s domain name, abc.xyz, is a different story could also get BMW some misdirected traffic opportunities and tough times. “Google appears to have worked around BMW’s ownership by securing abc.xyz. That hasn’t prevented Chinese authorities from blocking it, nor has it prevented BMW’s Alphabet webpage from receiving an overwhelming influx of misdirected traffic, but Alphabet deserves some slack Alphabet’s had a rough time on Twitter, too — the handles @alphabet, @AlphabetINC (account suspended), @abcxyz, and @abc were taken as of yesterday,” says an analyst.

    In the light of this, an article by IT ProPortal report that a BMW spokeswoman stated that neither Larry Page nor anyone else on behalf of Google has contacted them prior to the Alphabet announcement to acquire the trademark or the domain name. BMW is not intending to sell the trademark either.

    Legal experts, however, believe instituting a legal action might not yield any result as both companies are not into similar business.

  • Google hands over wireless to varsity

    Google Africa has handed over a campus wide broadband wireless cloud Infrastructure with fibre optics backbone deployed to EKSU.

    The event held at a ceremony in the vice-chancellor’s office.

    The Vice Chancellor Prof. Oladipo Aina, who praised the technical experts from Google Africa for their professionalism and dedication to work for the past two years, said his vision is to make EKSU a first class institution.

    This, he said, has been achieved by the collaboration with Google Africa incorporated.

    Aina said his administration has transformed ICT Infrastructure in EKSU which enabled the university conduct the last computer-based Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) test for candidates seeking admission into the university within a week.

    He thanked the leader from Google, Mr Bayo Olotu, who supervised the two-year work for his inspiration and energy.