The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Microsoft

  • ATMs, SMEs threatened as Microsoft closes Windows XP

    UNITED States technology giant Microsoft Incorporated has said it will withdraw security cover for its ‘legacy’ operating systems, Windows XP and Office 2003 to pave way for Windows 8 and Office 365.

    The firm said April 8, 2014 will mark “end of support” for Windows XP and Office 2003 globally.

    So many individuals, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and big businesses, including banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) run on Windows XP and Office 2003. This implies that with the withdrawal of its cover, users of the device, will become vunerable to attacks from malware, virus, pishing and other dangers that may arise from the Internet.

    Specialist Sales Manager, Ade Famoti, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, who spoke in Lagos over the weekend, warned that time was fast running out for individuals, big corporations and SMEs to start taking steps to migrate from what it called, the firm’s “legacy technology” to modern technology.

    Famoti dismissed insinuations that the firm’s engineers will unleash a massive virus attack on people whose sytems were still running on Windows XP and Office 2003 at the expiration of the deadline, saying the firm is “ethical company listed on the US Stock Exchange and would not engage in anything unethical.”

    He described this year as a year of transformation for Microsoft as it embarks on a ”paradigm shift from being a core software and services company, to devices and solutions company.

    “Without sounding hysterical, the ATMs deployed by the banks in the country still run on Windows XP. Office 365 is the innovation that is at the vanguard of the “transfromation,” which will reduce capital cost and increase productivity, he said.

    According to him, customers will have an experience that will be completely different from what they are used to, saying that everything will now be in the cloud.

    Datacenter Solution Specialist, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, Oluyomi Alarape, said 12 years ago when Windows XP was introduced into the market, it was a great product, adding that change in technology has necessitated the development of new products.

     

     

     

     

  • MainOne, Microsoft partner

    Undersea cable firm, MainOne Cable Company is partnering with Microsoft Imagine Cup competition, a premier student technology challenge, where student innovators compete to produce various application ideas and implement them from concept to marketplace with Microsoft’s resources.

    Imagine Cup is part of Microsoft’s YouthSpark initiative, a way for young entrepreneurs, innovators and developers to have the opportunity to develop an idea, create a product, set a clear business plan and take their product to market. All Imagine Cup Worldwide finalist teams are eligible to apply for Imagine Cup grants, a three-year $3million investment by Microsoft to help students turn their ideas into reality. Microsoft BizSpark, another YouthSpark initiative, enables Imagine Cup participants to launch star-tup businesses in their communities and across the web.

    Head of Marketing, Main One Cable, Mrs. Jumoke Akande, said: “New technologies are rapidly changing businesses, socio-political landscapes and the lives of consumers in Nigeria, Africa as a whole, and other parts of the world, and the speed of adoption is inspiring.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Microsoft, others move to boost access to ICT

    Country Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, Emmanuel Onyeje, has spoken of deepening devices penetration to allow youths have access to them.

    Onyeje, who spoke in an interview with The Nation in Lagos, said to achieve this, the technology firm is partnering with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Huawei, Nokia, HTC, Samsung, Dell and HP.

    “We want to provide tens of millions of devices to the hands of African youth so that they can be connected, access information, they can learn; there is tele-medicine, there is tele-education.

    “There is so much they can do when they have access to smart devices. It could be a phone; it could be a personal computer. We want to increase the quantities by tens of millions across the continent. We are doing that with our partners: Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, HTC Dell, HP to help deepen device penetration into Africa,” he said.

    According to him, the technology firm has software, citing Windows phone 8 and 665 as examples. “It is not about our software, it is about local software. So what we are trying to do is to explore how Africans can create solutions for Africans. It is really important because that is what creates the jobs. If you give people a business opportunity and they are paid, life goes on and the ecosystem starts to grow,” he said.

    He said the world is waiting on the sideline for the potentials of the continent to be realised, adding that a lot has to be done to make this happen. He said while a lot of firms are doing corporate social responsibility work, there is need to bridge the digital divide.

    “We need to help those who might be slightly handicapped in any fashion and finance and or access is important. We do that but Africa cannot reah its aspirations by donations alone. We need more than corporate social responsibility to make Africa competitive on the world stage. We need to allow the immense amount of African talent, architecture so that we can compete globally,” Emmanuel said.

  • Microsoft lifts SMEs in Africa

    Microsoft lifts SMEs in Africa

    UNITED States technology giants, Microsoft, is launching a new programme focused on providing support, benefits and tools for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment in the Middle East and Africa region.

    The online programme, entitled: ‘Keep your business moving’, is designed to assist the region’s budding entrepreneurs and provide advice to SMEs owners already in operation.Theprogramme’s website will provide information in English, French, Arabic and Turkish.

    According to a statement, the programme will not only help entrepreneurs start a business, support them to take actions to grow their business, increase their profitability, it will also assist them to expand their reach into new markets.Through this initiative, Microsoft will help businesses by providing an online hub for business advice, and up-to-date information on products and solutions specifically available for SMEs.

    General Manager, West, East, Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, Hennie Loubser, said: “Studies indicate that SMEs in the Middle East and Africa are boosting regional GDP – in sub-Saharan Africa. They contribute to over 50 per cent of employment and add 20 per cent to the continent’s gross domestic product.

    With industry experts also forecasting rapid growth in IT spending in MEA in the next few years, we want to provide this innovative community with the tools and support they need to grow.

     

     

    There’s no doubt that SMBs are increasingly competing in a global market, but they also come from diverse geographies and have very different needs, resources and goals. Cloud computing, mobility, big data and social technologies are key growth drivers in MEA, and Microsoft’s advice and solutions will help SMBs take advantage of these trends and become the industry leaders in their region.”

    According to Loubser, the regional SMB segment has always been a key focus area for Microsoft. “With this exclusive program, we reinforce our commitment to equip small and medium businesses with the best of intellectual capital, ICT solutions, tools, resources and best practices to maximise their return on ICT investments,” he adds. “We’ll use the program to share white papers, case studies, free tools and products, stay in touch with the SMB community and guide them to keep their business moving.”

    Ken Spann, former Microsoft Development Platform Evangelist for Nigeria and West Africa and now the MD/CEO of WaveTek Nigeria Ltd. says: “The SMB segment is better positioned to take advantage of technology normally thought to be affordable for larger organizations. The arrival of Microsoft Office 365 gives the SMB segment Enterprise Level IT Solutions without the need for an IT Department.” HE goes on to say “WaveTek is providing free Pilots for Office 365 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. WaveTek provides low priced, real-time business solutions in addition to high speed connectivity so that business owners have the IT Tools regardless of where they travel or type of device they are using. WaveTek is committed to its motto of “Technology Solutions beyond Space and Time” and makes it easy for customers to take advantage of the many Microsoft solutions that can help manage and grow their business”