May 2010 - KICTANet

Passport to Africa invites you to Passport to Africa features: DEDO (Accra, Ghana) (May 26, 2010)
by Passport to Africa 26 May '10

26 May '10

------------------------------ Event Summary: ------------------------------ Event: Passport to Africa features: DEDO (Accra, Ghana) Date: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (ET) Location: Pasha Lounge Marrakesh Palace 2147 P Street NW Washington, DC 20037 ------------------------------ Event Details: ------------------------------ A Toast to African Fashion: African Fashion with Moroccan Wine! Complimentary Moroccan wine and appetizers by Marrakesh Palace. You don't want to miss Bluffa Jo's beauty bar. ------------------------------ Register Online: ------------------------------ More information and online registration are available here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/710413867/?ref=eivte&invite=MzU5MzE0L2t… ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Collect event fees online with Eventbrite http://www.eventbrite.com

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Re: [kictanet] Some ICT Information
by Brian Omwenga 25 May '10

25 May '10

Hi all, I'm looking for some Internet data information for the country. Where can I get a quantitative report with data about top websites hits, from various types of connected devices (mobile/PC)and probably some high-level behavioral attributes per site visit also. Your help is very much appreciated. Regards, Brian G. Omwenga NRC Africa

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Mobile application lab grant funding/Africa/deadline May 31]
by alice 25 May '10

25 May '10

And the direct link:http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.829.html FYI: Infodev <http://www.startupafrica.com/tag/infodev>, a donor-funded ICT for development agency hosted by the World Bank, has formed a public/private partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Finland and Nokia to undertake a joint program on Creating Sustainable Businesses for the Knowledge Economy, worth some €12 million, that will run from 2010 – 2012. This request for expressions of interest (EOI) concerns Track 1A of the program, on the establishment of a regional mobile applications lab for Africa. As the implementing agency for the program, infoDev is looking to identify either one, or two, host institutions in Africa where the activities of the lab can be situated. This grant award for between US$200’000 and US$300’000 (depending on the number of labs selected) covers the establishment of each lab, by the end of 2010, and the start-up phase in early 2011. Additional grant funding may be available later following successful completion of the start-up phase. The services to be offered by the lab include: 1. Training and accreditation for mobile applications developers. 2. Certification of applications and facilities for developers to test applications under operational conditions. 3. Fostering competition for ideas among applications developers. 4. Business mentoring to assist applications developers with bringingtheir ideas to market. In this sense, the Labs could serve as specialized business incubators. 5. Replication of successful applications, between countries,languages and operating systems. 6. Developing a repository of knowledge in ICT4D. 7. Conducting consumer behaviour research. 8. Facilitating access to finance and access to markets. On the basis of responses to this EOI, a shortlist of candidate host organizations will be drawn up who will receive a more detailed request for proposals. To respond to this EOI, please send a capability profile and a covering letter by email to tkelly-at-worldbank.org, with a copy to info-at-infodev.org, no later than 11.59 pm EST on May 31 2010. Katrin Verclas MobileActive.org katrin @ mobileactive.org skype/twitter: katrinskaya (347) 281-7191 A global network of people using mobile technology for social impact http://mobileactive.org _______________________________________________

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a decade of mobile revolution ---
by muriuki mureithi 24 May '10

24 May '10

On 24/8/2000 Kencell now Zain launched the first privately run cellular service and 21/10/2000 Safaricom under new management followed suit and ushered a revolution in communications A decade of this revolution is just round - what is the big plan to celebrate the big revolution --- Cheers MM

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Kenya ICT Spenidng figures
by waudo siganga 24 May '10

24 May '10

Dear Colleagues, International consulting firm Global Insight has compiled the latest world statistics on trade in ICT. The statistics, availed at the on-going World Congress in Information Technology in Amsterdam (www.wcit2010.org) indicate that Kenya is ranked 6th out of 9 African countries surveyed with cumulative ICT spending in 2008 of US$2,175.6m. The total IT spend in Africa during the period was US$64,628.6m and the global spend was US$3,626,121.9m. Comparative Africa figures are: Algeria:3,848.3m, Cameroon:1,152.6m, Kenya: 2,175.6, Morocco: 9,785.6m, Nigeria:14,449.4m, Senegal: 1,634.5m, South Africa: 28,501.2m, Tunisia: 2,303.6m, Zimbabwe: 777.9m. Statistics are further broken down in sub-categories including Total computer hardware spending, Total Computer Software spending, Total Computer Services Spending, and Total Communications Spending, with cross-referencing against other parameters such as GDP, population and educational services. The executive summary report can be downloaded at [1]http://www.witsa.org/v2/media_center/pdf/DigitalPlanet2008_Exe cutiveSummary.pdf The Amsterdam meeting of leaders of the world ICT industry has however been overshadowed by a titanic, too close to call, battle for WITSA Chairmanship between the incumbent Dato’ Dan Khoo of Malaysia and challenger Dr. Jorge A. Cassino of Argentina. By the end of today, Monday when the 72 delegates - including Kenya - meet it will be known who will lead the giant ICT Business organization for the next 2 years. Kind Regards, Waudo References 1. http://www.witsa.org/v2/media_center/pdf/DigitalPlanet2008_ExecutiveSummary…

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Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button
by alice 23 May '10

23 May '10

We are getting there. Congratulations Hon. Rege ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A conference hall fitted with a huge screen is all constituents will need to communicate with their MP. That is a reality for the people of Karachuonyo in Nyanza, who have embraced teleconferencing in a big way. To talk to their MP, Mr James Rege, all they need do is walk to the local office and book an appointment. Once an appointment has been secured, at the touch of a button, they will be talking to the MP. The technology comes at a time when the government seeks to reduce the costs incurred by Members of Parliament during their day-to-day duties. *Other duties* If the technology is embraced by all the constituencies, the MPs will efficiently be able to monitor their constituencies’ development without having to travel there. This will free the leaders for other duties such as attending parliamentary sessions. Mr Rege, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Communication, said the technology will enable constituents to have a face-to-face conversation with their MP without having to travel to Nairobi, where the legislators spend most of their time in order to attend Parliament and other business. “When the facility is fully installed by the government in all constituencies, the Treasury will be able to cut the costs incurred by MPs by half. Many MPs travel to their constituencies four times a week, which costs the taxpayers a huge sum of money” he said. *Two trips* Mr Rege said that to instal the teleconference equipment, a constituency needs only Sh120,000. This, he added, is what an MP spends for two trips to his constituency on average. “Sometimes, an MP uses the amount on travelling to his constituency to attend an hour’s meeting. The amount saved can be used to assist in the construction of schools and upgrading roads, among other projects.” Mr Rege said that with the technology, he was able to attend to his constituents and follow up development without having to miss parliamentary proceedings. The TelePresence virtual meeting also allows the MP to communicate with the district and provincial administrators and hold live interactive meetings using the connectivity of the Internet. Mr Rege said the technology will ensure that information is not distorted, as well as providing a channel for instant feedback. The teleconference kit was installed on April 30 at the Rachuonyo Constituency Development offices by Smoothtel and Tandberg High Definition.

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Re: [kictanet] Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button
by w.kithinji＠smoothtel.com 22 May '10

22 May '10

We all need to understand the Advantages of Video conferencing and how video conferencing have been used to transform the Public Sector(Government offices) Open the link below to see how Video Conferencing has been used in the Public sector. http://www.tandberg.com/video-conferencing-case-studies/public-sector-video… Regards, Winnie Kithinji ----- Original Message ----- From: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com To: w.kithinji(a)smoothtel.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Sent: 5/21/10 10:48 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button > And yet there are some...mostly Professionals if the news is true...who were criticizing this excellent innovation who say it is a way for the MP to keep away from his constituents. Lets be real...we do not teleconference to make sure we do not meet....we try to ensure we are productive yet efficient even in our absence. > > Mhesh, do not let these detractors derail the great work you are doing in ICT4D. > > Thanks, Nyaki > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Edith Adera > To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Sent: Wed, May 19, 2010 2:56:13 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button > > Congrats Hon. (...but do I say!!). Certainly, the way to go. Would be nice to do some research around it e.g. how does it change the governnace dynamics? Who participates and who does not? Why? How does accountability and transparency play out? etc etc > > I've had a feel of CISCO's telepresence at their office - great experience! Congrats once again. > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of alice > Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 12:35 PM > To: Edith Adera > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: [kictanet] Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button > > We are getting there. > > Congratulations Hon. Rege > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > A conference hall fitted with a huge screen is all constituents will need to communicate with their MP. > > That is a reality for the people of Karachuonyo in Nyanza, who have embraced teleconferencing in a big way. > > To talk to their MP, Mr James Rege, all they need do is walk to the local office and book an appointment. Once an appointment has been secured, at the touch of a button, they will be talking to the MP. > > The technology comes at a time when the government seeks to reduce the costs incurred by Members of Parliament during their day-to-day duties. > > *Other duties* > > If the technology is embraced by all the constituencies, the MPs will efficiently be able to monitor their constituencies' development without having to travel there. This will free the leaders for other duties such as attending parliamentary sessions. > > Mr Rege, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Communication, said the technology will enable constituents to have a face-to-face conversation with their MP without having to travel to Nairobi, where the legislators spend most of their time in order to attend Parliament and other business. > > "When the facility is fully installed by the government in all constituencies, the Treasury will be able to cut the costs incurred by MPs by half. Many MPs travel to their constituencies four times a week, which costs the taxpayers a huge sum of money" he said. > > *Two trips* > > Mr Rege said that to instal the teleconference equipment, a constituency needs only Sh120,000. This, he added, is what an MP spends for two trips to his constituency on average. > > "Sometimes, an MP uses the amount on travelling to his constituency to attend an hour's meeting. The amount saved can be used to assist in the construction of schools and upgrading roads, among other projects." > > Mr Rege said that with the technology, he was able to attend to his constituents and follow up development without having to miss parliamentary proceedings. > > The TelePresence virtual meeting also allows the MP to communicate with the district and provincial administrators and hold live interactive meetings using the connectivity of the Internet. > > Mr Rege said the technology will ensure that information is not distorted, as well as providing a channel for instant feedback. > > The teleconference kit was installed on April 30 at the Rachuonyo Constituency Development offices by Smoothtel and Tandberg High Definition. > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.ke > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: w.kithinji(a)smoothtel.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/w.kithinji%40smoothtel… > >

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Nurturing talent
by Zachary Ochieng 22 May '10

22 May '10

FYI http://www.cio.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=897:kenya… --- Be the change you want to see in the world.

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Interesting read- Pakistan to block face book....
by Judy Okite 21 May '10

21 May '10

Very radical move, I would say, but is it the right one? but why,block it until the 31st of May???? can the internet be made to FORGET????? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100519/ap_on_hi_te/as_pakistan_facebook_12 Kind Regards, -- “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” Kofi Annan

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Coud computing
by Zachary Ochieng 21 May '10

21 May '10

FYI http://www.cio.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=919:westc… --- Be the change you want to see in the world.

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