OATS rebrands Africa division
JOHANNESBURG: Oracle Airtime Sales (OATS) has announced the rebranding of its Africa division to DStv Ad Sales.

Microsoft denies $400 000 payment to Nigerian contractor
Microsoft has denied media reports that it paid a Nigerian government contractor US$400,000 to try and prevent Linux's movement into the government sector.

Kenya attracting global business with advanced IT systems
East Africa's economic powerhouse, Kenya, utilises advanced IT systems that enable the country to do business in many spheres of the economy with clients from around the world, a top government official has said.

AFRICA

AU urged to establish Protocol of Expression
In a resolution adopted at the end of the NGOs Forum Participation in the 44th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in Abuja, Nigeria on 9 November 2008, delegates noted the existence of repressive legislation such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Broadcasting Service Act (BSA) in Zimbabwe.

Miriam "Mama Afrika" Makeba dies
South Africa's Miriam Makeba died at the age of 76 of a heart attack in the Italian town of Caserta after an anti-Mafia concert on 10 November 2008 in the the early hours of the morning.

NIGERIA

Marketing bandwidth in the Nigerian telco
[Bayo Adekanmbi] “Shift happens” is the two-word phrase that fully captures the Nigerian GSM turf, especially with the astounding leap from the pre-2001 pent-up demand to becoming one of the fastest growing markets in the world. The teledensity ratio experienced an astronomical leap from 0.73% to 35% mid-2008. It is easier to get a SIM in Lagos than a sachet of water.

Ford campaign drives through Africa
The Ford Motor Company is trying to build strong awareness and drive new sales through its outdoor advertising awareness campaign throughout Africa. The campaign, originated by Ford in Detroit, has identified the Focus, Ranger and Explorer ranges to drive into these markets.

Soil battery to bring light
Bringing light to people without electricity is the driving force behind a new type of battery that gets its power from... the ground.

AFRICA

Remittances set to fall in 2009
For the first time in over a decade remittances to sub-Saharan Africa are set to fall in 2009, increasing people's vulnerability to poverty, officials at the World Bank say.

Malawi: Better roads lead to more money
LILONGWE: What lies under a Malawi farmer's feet that could boost food security? Try better roads.

Gambia: Can farmers axe rice imports through ‘Nerica'?
BANJUL: Heavy dependence on imported rice is crippling Gambian consumers, leading the government to call for New Rice for Africa, or Nerica, production to double.

Lower copper prices will hurt the poor
LUSAKA: The fall in international copper prices is causing unease in Zambia, one of the world's largest producers, whose impressive economic growth in recent years has been based on copper exports.

AFRICA

CG Consulting develops African leads database
Sales consulting company CG Consulting has developed a number of services for companies looking to tap into the African market. The company uses a combination of telemarketing and email marketing, data-mining and data cleansing as well as targeted campaigns to qualify and generate its data.