IT News Africa: Most Read Articles of the weekThis week was yet again filled with tech news stories that grabbed the headlines both across Africa and around the world.From new innovations and digital transformation, growing economies to emerging startups, here is a roundup of some of the popular stories for the week.Apple rewards 14-year-old who discovered the FaceTime bugAfter deploying a fix for itsnotorious FaceTime bug, Apple is compensating the boy who discovered it in the first place. A 14-year-old high school student named Grant Thompson from Tucson, Arizona was the first to pick up on the FaceTime bug. Thompson discovered that he could basically pick up a friend's phone by dialing one person in FaceTime, swiping up, and dialing someone else before the first person even answered the call. Read more.MTN selects Oracle Cloud Applications to drive digital transformationMobile telecommunications company, MTN has chosen Oracle Cloud Applications to drive digital transformations across all its core business operations. The implementation will help MTN drive efficiency, scale operations and integration across its local and regional operations. Read more.The future of e-commerce in AfricaAt present, e-business in Africa remains a challenge. It may be better than it ever has been, but the truth is that lower literacy and internet penetration levels continue to limit the growth on the continent. However, this will not remain the status quo for long, as smartphone proliferation increases, data costs decrease, and usability improves. E-Wallets, now commonplace, are an excellent example of this, bypassing the continent's challenges around depositing, withdrawing and transferring cash, as well as buying airtime and electricity. Read more.Visa launches fintech fast-track program in AfricaVisa has just announced it is expanding its fast-track program to support fintechs in the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) region as part of its efforts in developing the next generation of digital payment solutions. Already rolled out in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, the program provides innovative fintechs with a faster and easier integration process with VisaNet, Visa's global network, in addition to a suite of tailored digital solutions and growth capabilities. Read more.Ethiopia's telecom privatisation leads a new wave of deals for 2019Last week, during a press briefing, Ethiopia's state-owned telecommunications company announced it will be the first of four companies to be privatised. Telecom, media and tech investment and consolidation activity in Africa is predicted to reach a record high for 2019 as a number of significant deals including the opening up of Ethiopia's telecom sector are scheduled, reports TMT Finance. Read more.South African tech startup raises $12 mln in fundingSouth African tech startup RapidDeploy, whose cloud-based software enables public safety officials to reduce emergency response times and improve situational awareness, has raised $12 million (163m ZAR) in Series A financing. GreatPoint Ventures and Samsung NEXT provided the Round A funds, enabling RapidDeploy to accelerate the development and deployment of its Cloud Aided Dispatchplatform. Read more.Huawei gears up for Cloud Africa launch in March 2019In 2018, Huawei announced plans to launch its first public cloud datacentre in Africa, however, there was mention of location nor exact date of the launch. In a recent statement issued by Huawei, the company confirmed the launch to happen in March 2019 and described the planned launch as a significant step to accelerate its cloud business globally. Read more.Xineoh appoints new executivesSouth African AI start-up, Xineoh, has appointed former Chief Executive Officer of Grand Parade Investments, Alan Keet, and former Chief Technology Officer of News International in the United Kingdom, Xen Lategan, to its board. Xineoh Chief Executive Officer, Vian Chinner, says Keet and Lategan will add significant value to the business. Read more.UBA, Google rollout Wifi hotspots in NigeriaThe United Bank for Africa (UBA) has collaborated with Google and ISP partner to launch Google Station in 11 UBA branches in Lagos State as part of plans to roll out 200 stations in the country. Google Station, a platform for providing free, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots in public places, began in Lagos 2018 and extended to Abuja in December in partnership with Backbone Connectivity Network. Read more.Digital Afrique Telecom launches smart card system in Cte d'IvoireDigital Afrique Telecom (DAT) announced the launch of a Smart Card and Ticketing system to enable Ivorian public transport users to board over 700 buses every day through contactless cards. This smart ticketing service allows each passenger of SOTRA, the Abidjan local bus company, to buy and top up a smart card online using the platform powered by DAT. Read more.By Neo SesinyeFollow Neo Sesinye on TwitterFollow IT News Africa on Twitter
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