In the 2009 Certification & Training Survey the top 10 certifications most valuable to solution providers are
10. Citrix
9. SalesForce.com
8. Sun Microsystems
7. Dell
6. Vmware
5. HP
4. IBM
3.Oracle
2. Cisco
1. Microsoft
The review concludes that " By far, enterprises and midmarket companies give Microsoft certifications their highest rating."
Learn more about the certiftication survey here.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Facebook Flips The Switch On Real-Time Search, Goes After Twitter Where It Hurts
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Number Portability long overdue in Kenya
The announcement by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) of an approximately 1 year deadline to introduce number portability service. Service providers have 6 months to start implementing the service.
Number portability allows a subscriber to retain there number while migrating from one service provider to the other. The 3 underdogs (Zain,Orange and YU) were undoubtedly very elated. The dominant player (Safaricom) is not,and am sure they will put all obstacles possible towards achieving this as they definitely stand to lose the most.Their CEO was already on TV critising the service talking of how expensive it is to implement and ineffectiveness in getting subscribers to migrate.
CCK has asked the public to give its views. CCK says studies carried out by the commission indicate that Service Provider Number Portability (SPNP) offers effective intervention in markets that are dominated by single players.
From a consumer point of view this is long overdue. Furthermore it has already been implemented in African countries including South Africa,Nigeria and Egypt
However the one time fee of KSh. 1000 to users is extorbitant. Most Kenyans will be wondering what makes more sense between loading airtime worth Sh 1000 and making a switch.
The service should be either free as in most countries like Brazil,Israel, UK, Ireland and many others or for a reasonable fee such as the one Safaricom is suggesting of about Sh 20 (same as a SIM card).
The proposed 3 day period it will take for the switch to effect is too long considering it takes a mere 20 minutes some countries such as in the Republic of Ireland.
These are some of the challenges that need to be addressed before this service is implemented.
Number portability allows a subscriber to retain there number while migrating from one service provider to the other. The 3 underdogs (Zain,Orange and YU) were undoubtedly very elated. The dominant player (Safaricom) is not,and am sure they will put all obstacles possible towards achieving this as they definitely stand to lose the most.Their CEO was already on TV critising the service talking of how expensive it is to implement and ineffectiveness in getting subscribers to migrate.
CCK has asked the public to give its views. CCK says studies carried out by the commission indicate that Service Provider Number Portability (SPNP) offers effective intervention in markets that are dominated by single players.
From a consumer point of view this is long overdue. Furthermore it has already been implemented in African countries including South Africa,Nigeria and Egypt
However the one time fee of KSh. 1000 to users is extorbitant. Most Kenyans will be wondering what makes more sense between loading airtime worth Sh 1000 and making a switch.
The service should be either free as in most countries like Brazil,Israel, UK, Ireland and many others or for a reasonable fee such as the one Safaricom is suggesting of about Sh 20 (same as a SIM card).
The proposed 3 day period it will take for the switch to effect is too long considering it takes a mere 20 minutes some countries such as in the Republic of Ireland.
These are some of the challenges that need to be addressed before this service is implemented.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Mobile Money Transfer posing serious security challenge
Two days ago a friend of mine narrated to me the ordeal his relative underwent after being kidnapped in one of Nairobis estate.The kidnappers used his phone to contact his family demanding USD 5000.What struck me was the mode of payment they insisted on,which was M-PESA, Safaricom's mobile based money transfer. There has been a recent wave of kidnappings in the City. A while ago thugs (most of whom were in jail) would call someone they know and threaten you with murder if you failed to send a certain amount of money to their mobile based accounts.Most people sent them the money losing their hard earned cash easily.
Obviously Mobile based money transfer is the preffered mode/enabler for such crimes as the only two other options available are not viable,Cash delivery would expose them to being ambushed outright by cops, while bank accounts are well regulated and thus it's easy to follow the money.
The recent Govt. directive for Mobile SIM card users registeration can be seen as a positive step but is not sufficient.
I think more needs to be done now,Mobile based money transfer services such as ZAP and MPESA should now be put under CBK regulations and thus account opening/monitoring should follow same regulations as Bank accounts. There should be CCTV servuillance at all agents/dealers where subscribers can withdraw/deposit cash.This may mean fewer agents and this is not obviously music to the ears of Mobile operators.
But Security has a price !!!Otherwise uncontrolled and unregulated the trend of mobile based theft will worsen.
Obviously Mobile based money transfer is the preffered mode/enabler for such crimes as the only two other options available are not viable,Cash delivery would expose them to being ambushed outright by cops, while bank accounts are well regulated and thus it's easy to follow the money.
The recent Govt. directive for Mobile SIM card users registeration can be seen as a positive step but is not sufficient.
I think more needs to be done now,Mobile based money transfer services such as ZAP and MPESA should now be put under CBK regulations and thus account opening/monitoring should follow same regulations as Bank accounts. There should be CCTV servuillance at all agents/dealers where subscribers can withdraw/deposit cash.This may mean fewer agents and this is not obviously music to the ears of Mobile operators.
But Security has a price !!!Otherwise uncontrolled and unregulated the trend of mobile based theft will worsen.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Internet Speed
We have been browsing on Safaricom Live today morning and are very impressed with the new connection speed.I hope the costs come down drastically soon enough.
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