SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Africa poised for a great future

[Nandkishor Buty] As 2013 commences, afro-pessimism seems to cede to afro-optimism. There is a global consensus: Africa is poised for a great future. What will be the impact of Africa's growth on our industry? What will be the major trends of the year? In the business world, predicting the future is a crucial exercise. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] It's all Hype(r)

[Terry Levin] Colloquially, the word hyper is often used to convey over-the-top or excessive behaviour - as in "those blue Smarties made my child/dog/girlfriend really hyper". Additionally, over the last three or four decades, it has also come to mean linked. For the purposes of trend prediction, I will go out on a limb and predict that, from 2013, hyper will replace mega, uber and even inter as an urban prefix of choice. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] It is no longer business as usual

[Dave Nemeth] No matter how slow off the mark, we have all come to the realisation that, no matter what line of business we are in, drastic measures are needed in order for us to not only increase market share but also to survive. It is not, however, all doom and gloom and for those who are embracing innovation and prepared to experiment with new ideas, a lot of opportunity awaits to reconnect with consumers and rise above the negative economic factors. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Opportunities for growth within marketing and advertising arena

[Johanna McDowell] There are a few trends to be aware of in 2013 which will help create opportunities within the advertising and marketing arena in South Africa. A number of these come from local and international intelligence. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Insight into cinema in 2013

[Ryan Williams] I believe this year will be a positive one for cinema in South Africa, with a variety of influential trends taking hold of the industry. Digitalisation, 3D, blockbusters, increased attendance and on-the-mark cinema campaigns are all sure to contribute to a successful year. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] The year ahead for experiential marketing

[Mike Silver] It's that time of the year where agencies are asked to haul out the old crystal ball and provide pearls of thumb-sucking wisdom. Before we do so, it would be wise to see how history might repeat itself. Reflecting briefly, for experiential marketing, 2012 was quite a year locally and abroad. Oh, and mazeltov on surviving the Mayan apocalypse - it was touch-and-go for a second there. Read more >>

AFRICA

Customer experience top of the agenda at Broadband MEA

Broadband leaders from across the Middle East and Africa region will gather in Dubai from 19-20 March 2013 for Broadband MEA, the broadband event for the Middle East and Africa. The event this year will throw a spotlight on improving the customer experience, exploring the business models, strategies and innovative services required to maintain customer happiness and loyalty. Read more >>

AFRICA

Judges announced for the 2013 AABLA Southern African region

Preparation for All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) Southern Africa is underway and ABN Productions has finalised the panel of judges that will short list candidates for each of the categories within the region. Read more >>

AFRICA

Vertical Limit Productions gets a kick start to 2013

In keeping with their brand, Johannesburg based activation company, Vertical Limit Productions (VLP) is all set for 2013 with a line-up of events in the first quarter of the year. Read more >>

AFRICA

OnePoint Global, CE Agency to expand mobile research capabilities

OnePoint Global, the global market leader in mobile research technologies, has developed a partnership with South African based Customer Experience Agency (CE Agency). By utilising OnePoint Global's leading mobile survey platform, CE Agency will enable mobile research to be undertaken on any mobile handset, including tablet devices, in any language and in any country across Africa. Read more >>

NIGERIA

iROKOtv launches mobile app on Nokia Lumia

iROKOtv, the online distributor of Nigerian movies, announced the launch of a brand new mobile app for the platform, in an exclusive partnership with global phone manufacturer, Nokia. The app has been designed to give Nollywood fans and iROKOtv PLUS subscribers access to Nollywood movies on the go, and will be accessible on the Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8. Read more >>

AFRICA

Sub-Saharan mobile on the agenda at Mobile World Congress 2013

Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions globally for mobile penetration, usage and revenues. While the world has been rocked by economic crises, the region's mobile ecosystem has seen continued subscription growth and now accounts for over 730 million connections, according to global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney. Read more >>

KENYA

Business owner wins Ksh5m in EABL promotion

East African Breweries Limited (EABL) on Monday, 28 January 2013, held a draw in which a local pub won Ksh5m in the Timaam Local bar promotion. A proud Boniface Munywoki of Black Havana Pub in Huruma, Eastlands, Nairobi county could not hide his delight on receiving a call to declare him the winner. Read more >>

AFRICA

Zuku TV's original content strategy pays off

In 2012, the Pay TV market became a great deal more competitive but with DStv Multichoice having acquired most of the existing exciting content, the challenge has been for challengers to come up with different content. This week saw one of the challengers (Zuku TV) sell one of the series it has commissioned - Tales from the Bush Larder - to Fox International. Read more >>

AFRICA

VIMN Africa joins forces with NTA

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa (formerly MTV Networks Africa) has signed a landmark partnership and training agreement with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Nigeria's national terrestrial network. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Apple doubles memory of iPads

NEW YORK, USA: Apple on Tuesday (29 January) unveiled a new iPad with twice the storage capacity of the existing model in an effort to sell iPads to companies that share large amounts of data. Read more >>

CANADA

WhatsApp breached privacy laws

OTTAWA, CANADA: WhatsApp's mobile messaging service used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide breached privacy laws in at least two countries, a joint Canadian-Dutch probe concluded on Monday (28 January). Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Exxon replaces Apple as world's most valuable company

NEW YORK, USA: Last week Apple was dethroned as the world's most valuable company as its shares continued to fall, dropping from a high of about US$700 to US$439 a share and giving it a market capitalisation of US$413bn. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

State pressure prompts Amplats to halt job cuts

[Allan Seccombe] Mining company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has bowed to pressure from the African National Congress (ANC) by agreeing to postpone its plans to retrench up to 14‚000 employees for 60 days to allow for "detailed consultation". Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Stern approach from the taxman

The Tax Administration Act kicked in towards the end of 2012 and the new legislation could have some scary consequences for individual taxpayers. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Will SAA's plans really fly?

[Nicky Smith] There are no shortages of ideas on how to fix the dysfunctional state-owned South African Airways (SAA)‚ according to Department of Public Enterprises director-general Tshediso Matona. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

More women employed by government

The number of women in all three levels of government has increased over the past 18 years, the SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) said on Monday (28 January). Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Korean set to ruffle German feathers

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Hyundai's popular Santa Fe people carrier has moved up a number of notches on the large SUV status ladder and where it previously competed with the likes of Dodge Journey, Pajero Sport, Kia Sorento, Chevrolet Captiva and the likes, the newly-launched model now confidently also squares up to the two upper crust Germans, Audi and BMW. Read more >>