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Re: [kictanet] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs/Home Users
by Janet Feldman 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Hello Dear Lucy and All, We meet in another setting (where you're being given the same royal treatment you deserve everywhere), and am thrilled to hear abt this invaluable endeavor. Bravo!!!! I am wondering abt your presence in W Kenya now? Am thinking abt Mumias, Kisumu, and Mbita (KAIPPG, Reachout, Lake Fellowship, Deaf Impact Ministry, and others). Also, are you attending the e-learning conference in May, and/or the telecentre meeting in June? Both would be great places for a "plug" (advertising being connecting by other means), and I'd like to do some networking re linking you up with folks I know who will be there. Thanks again so much (esp for being the "non-retiring" kind!), and "Kudos to Kimani" (for uniting us "al", haha!), Janet (Feldman, kaippg(a)earthlink.net) -----Original Message----- >From: Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> >Sent: Apr 23, 2007 1:45 PM >To: Janet Feldman <kaippg(a)earthlink.net> >Subject: [kictanet] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs/Home Users > >Alex, Joan, Florence and Njorohio, and all our well wishers: > >On behalf of Alunite, let me thank you very much for the kudos. > >Njorohio, if you already have a standalone PC and just need connection >call us, and we will review your requirements, and come up with an offer >you can not resist. > >Alunite is extremely serious about being the ISP for the "People by the >People" > >There will be something for everybody in the Alunite DSL "Kiondo" > > >Lucy Kimani >on behalf of >Alunite Communications, Ltd. > >> Hi All >> This is great and will assist the SMES >> However I think the SMEs and even homeworkers can afford the PC but the >> hindrance has been the cost of the Bandwidth. >> Can the company consider as an alternative the charge for the link only. >> This may persuade those firms with standalone computers to subscribe to >> the service. >> Cheers >> >> Njorohio >> >> >> Florence Etta <feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Brilliant!! >> >> >> Florence Etta >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> >> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk >> Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet >> forSMEs and Home Users >> >> Thanks Alex for the info, >> >> This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or email >> address for Alunite? >> >> Joan Walumbe >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Alex Gakuru >> To: Kictanet >> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM >> Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap >> Internet forSMEs and Home Users >> >> >> >> >> Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 >> 08:51:01 +0300 >> From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> >> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and >> Home >> Users >> >> [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often >> argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity >> can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi >> currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose >> working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and >> "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time >> differences >> become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. >> >> Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 >> March >> 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise >> this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from >> the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and >> half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first >> graph >> at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under >> development)] >> ----------------------- >> [Business Daily] >> >> ISP targets home users with free PC's >> Written by Okkutah Mark >> Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] >> >> While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, >> one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing >> residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a >> free >> computer. >> >> The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to >> a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of >> affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept >> most >> out of the loop. >> >> Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering >> with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved >> in >> computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee >> that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. >> >> KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. >> >> "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link >> which >> will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We >> also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and >> that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." >> >> The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free >> computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to >> Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. >> >> The computeran Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PCretails for Sh10,300 in >> local shops. >> >> But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. >> >> "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity >> provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our >> company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service >> including site inspection." >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> ke-internetusers mailing list >> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >> Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/feanywhere%40yahoo.co.uk >> >> >> >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try >> it now._______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/gathuri_njorohio%40yahoo.com >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >> Check outnew cars at Yahoo! >> Autos._______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > >----------------------------------------- >This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " >http://www.accesskenya.com/ > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kaippg%40earthlink.net

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet forSMEs and Home Users
by Florence Etta 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Brilliant!! Florence Etta ----- Original Message ---- From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet forSMEs and Home Users Thanks Alex for the info, This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or email address for Alunite? Joan Walumbe ----- Original Message ----- From: Alex Gakuru To: Kictanet Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet forSMEs and Home Users Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:51:01 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time differences become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 March 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first graph at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under development)] ----------------------- [Business Daily] ISP targets home users with free PC's Written by Okkutah Mark Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a free computer. The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept most out of the loop. Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved in computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link which will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. The computer—an Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PC—retails for Sh10,300 in local shops. But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service including site inspection." _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/feanywhere%40yahoo.co.uk ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Free PC and cheap InternetforSMEs and Home Users
by Lucy Kimani 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Alex, Joan, Florence and Njorohio, and all our well wishers: On behalf of Alunite, let me thank you very much for the kudos. Njorohio, if you already have a standalone PC and just need connection call us, and we will review your requirements, and come up with an offer you can not resist. Alunite is extremely serious about being the ISP for the "People by the People" There will be something for everybody in the Alunite DSL "Kiondo" Lucy Kimani on behalf of Alunite Communications, Ltd. 020-273-7155 > Hi All > This is great and will assist the SMES > However I think the SMEs and even homeworkers can afford the PC but the > hindrance has been the cost of the Bandwidth. > Can the company consider as an alternative the charge for the link only. > This may persuade those firms with standalone computers to subscribe to > the service. > Cheers > > Njorohio > > > Florence Etta <feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Brilliant!! > > > Florence Etta > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> > To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk > Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet > forSMEs and Home Users > > Thanks Alex for the info, > > This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or email > address for Alunite? > > Joan Walumbe > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Alex Gakuru > To: Kictanet > Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM > Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap > Internet forSMEs and Home Users > > > > > Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 > 08:51:01 +0300 > From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> > To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and > Home > Users > > [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often > argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity > can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi > currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose > working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and > "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time > differences > become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. > > Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 > March > 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise > this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from > the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and > half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first > graph > at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under > development)] > ----------------------- > [Business Daily] > > ISP targets home users with free PC's > Written by Okkutah Mark > Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] > > While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, > one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing > residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a > free > computer. > > The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to > a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of > affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept > most > out of the loop. > > Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering > with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved > in > computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee > that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. > > KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. > > "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link > which > will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We > also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and > that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." > > The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free > computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to > Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. > > The computeran Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PCretails for Sh10,300 in > local shops. > > But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. > > "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity > provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our > company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service > including site inspection." > > > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > --------------------------------- > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/feanywhere%40yahoo.co.uk > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try > it now._______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/gathuri_njorohio%40yahoo.com > > > --------------------------------- > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > Check outnew cars at Yahoo! > Autos._______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke ----------------------------------------- This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. " " http://www.accesskenya.com/

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workshop and forum...... no charges
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

just a reminder that on thursday this week, we have a workshop for journalists on OFC, FOI and ICT bill updates, Dr. Ndemo and Eng. Waweru will give the opening address, its open to members interested in more information on the topics , its at Jacaranda from 8.30 to 1pm and the forum starts at 3 pm as usual, no charges...... that afternoon, KICTANet members will hold the monthly forum dedicated to e-learning, as you may be aware, the e-learning conference is taking place in nairobi next month, the forum will bring out some of the issues expected to come out of the conference next month, KICTANet is counting on your participation, you are the members, so you must come, regards becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users
by Florence Etta 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

This is the Egyptian model! ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 8:57:56 AM Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:51:01 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time differences become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 March 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first graph at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under development)] ----------------------- [Business Daily] ISP targets home users with free PC's Written by Okkutah Mark Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a free computer. The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept most out of the loop. Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved in computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link which will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. The computer—an Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PC—retails for Sh10,300 in local shops. But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service including site inspection." _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/feanywhere%40yahoo.co.uk ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your free account today http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.ht…

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reflecting on the internet
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Founding father of the Internet surveys his domainBy CLINT SWETT Wednesday, April 18, 2007 When the man known as a "founding father of the Internet" looks back on its 30-plus years of existence, Vinton Cerf sees a reflection of our best and worst instincts. What has most surprised and pleased the renowned Internet pioneer has been the continuing avalanche of free information that's become available since the advent of the worldwide Web in the mid-1990s. "I see an enormous desire for people to put information online with no compensation," said Cerf, speaking Monday night to a gathering of TechCoire, a group of technology entrepreneurs, in Davis, Calif. That information, he said, ranges from technical papers related to the human genome project to user-written entries on the Wikipedia online encyclopedia. "It's created the most democratic access to information we have ever seen," said Cerf, who in the 1970s helped develop software that became the basis for transmitting everything from e-mail to movies over the Internet. These days, in addition to staying busy with various Internet projects, Cerf serves as Google Inc.'s "chief Internet evangelist." In his talk, he also noted the number of less benign impulses that also flourish online. "We get spam, viruses, worms ... fraud and worthless content," Cerf said. "But we've already dealt with these problems in another context," noting that fraud has occurred for decades via the telephone and the Postal Service. Clad in his trademark three-piece suit set off with a crimson handkerchief, Cerf predicted that much of the Internet's future growth will be tied to mobile devices such as BlackBerry-style gadgets. He recalled being on a boat in southern India several months ago. "I was in the middle of this big lake and thinking I couldn't possibly get any service," said Cerf. "I turned on my BlackBerry and got 300 e-mails." That reinforced the notion that the Net's reach can far exceed the expensive telephone lines and cables that are now standard for getting online. That could be especially powerful in places like Africa where only about 35 million of that continent's estimated 1 billion inhabitants have Internet access, he said. He also predicted that scores of Internet-connected devices will someday be linked in a seamless way. For example, Cerf said, different foods sitting in a Net-connected refrigerator might contain radio frequency tags identifying them by type and date purchased. The fridge could inventory the food, compile recipes and even alert you to shortages while you're shopping. "You'll get a message from your refrigerator saying, 'Don't forget the marinara sauce,'" he said. In addition to his position with Google, Cerf is chairman of ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers that oversees Internet naming issues, and is working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on ways to efficiently transmit data in outer space. Cerf's job with Google, a part-time position he's held since 2005, includes talking with college students about the Internet's technical challenges. "Even though the Internet has been around for 35 years, there's lots of problems that need to be solved," he said, including beefing up security and finding more efficient ways to transmit data. And the 63-year-old Cerf apparently has no plans to ease into retirement. "I consider it a successful day," he said, "when I wear out two 26-year-olds." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users
by Alex Gakuru 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:51:01 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time differences become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 March 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first graph at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under development)] ----------------------- [Business Daily] ISP targets home users with free PC's Written by Okkutah Mark Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a free computer. The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept most out of the loop. Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved in computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link which will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. The computeran Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PCretails for Sh10,300 in local shops. But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service including site inspection." _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

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* YOUNG COMPUTER EXPERT MAKES AFRICAN VIDEO GAME IN KENYA
by alice 22 Apr '07

22 Apr '07

From Balancing Act * YOUNG COMPUTER EXPERT MAKES AFRICAN VIDEO GAME IN KENYA A young Kenyan computer programmer has produced an adventure video game he says is first of its kind in Africa. Wesley Kirinya, aged 23, developed the 3-dimensional action game in his Gwimgrafx Studios in Nairobi. It is called 'The Adventures of Nyangi.' The game is about a character named Nyangi who has to find some rare African artifacts. Each artifact has an interesting and mysterious story behind it, Kirinya says. "I want to bring the entertainment from reading a book or watching a film on African stories into video games." He said the task took him about three years to accomplish. "Since there are no video game development schools in Africa, I taught myself the skill," he said. "I developed this game on a tiny budget. I'm impressed with the outcome, considering that it costs millions of dollars to develop games using the latest technology." The game can be purchased electronically as a digital download from the website: www.gwimgrafxstudios.com (SOURCE: Catholic Information Service for Africa )

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BARBARIANS at the GATES of KENYA: ATC’s moves to consolidate Wins from Africa Online Deal by Investing KSh 2 billion in Wananchi Online and sends signal that Private Equity Industry has its eyes firmly set on Kenya”
by alice 21 Apr '07

21 Apr '07

*BARBARIANS at the GATES of KENYA* *“ATC’s moves to consolidate Wins from Africa Online Deal by Investing KSh 2 billion in Wananchi Online and sends signal that Private Equity Industry has its eyes firmly set on Kenya”* Like the famous KKR acquisition of RJR Nabisco that put the Private Equity industry center stage in America in the 80’s, industry sources are seeing the Africa Telecom Company Ltd’s (ATC) KSh 2 billion investment plans for Wananchi Online as a signal that the Private Equity Industry in Kenya is set to explode. ATC shot to prominence last year when they purchased 30% of Africa Lakes/Africa Online at Stg 10 per share and then got into a bitter and hostile takeover battle with Telekom South Africa. They successfully extracted a heavy price from Telkom South Africa by eventually selling their shares for Stg 25 per share plus another US$ 1.5m of costs. Telkom South Africa’s share price fell significantly at the news and their CEO has subsequently been forced to resign. The deal was a classic private equity play. Africa Online’s revenues have been shrinking for 5 years at a time when the Internet industry in Africa as a whole was growing at record speeds. The cause was typical of many public companies in the UK: bloated head office costs, overpaid and inept senior executive management and a board that could not deliver change. Richard Bell a seasoned ICT entrepreneur turned Private Equity Manager saw the latent value in the business and realized that the only way to release the value was through change – with or without the permission of the board. Leveraging of this experience Bell/East Africa Capital Partners teamed up with Mark Schneider a US Media Entrepreneur and brought in local support through James Gachui (Chairman of Transcentury) & Jimnah Mbaru (Chairman of Dyer & Blair) both well known local financial investors, to use ATC to invest in Wananchi Online and create Wananchi Telecom. It therefore came as no surprise to the Industry when Wananchi Online announced to its shareholders this week that there would be an EGM on Friday 20^th April at which shareholders would be asked to approve a capital investment and infrastructure rollout costing KSh 7 billion over 5 years with the first two years accounting for nearly KSh 2 billion of capital. Commenting on the investment Richard Bell said that the funds would be used to rollout a country-wide broadband Wi-Max network delivering Internet and Fixed Line Voice services “…Wananchi Online’s roots were in making the Internet affordable to Kenyas now *Wananchi Telecom* will do the same by delivering the most inexpensive and affordable consumer broadband service in Africa – and that will be GUARANTEED. It’s a very exciting time in this industry and we believe that Kenyans are crying out for a true broadband service in their homes and our Wi-Max product will deliver this……”. The network will be ready in greater Nairobi by the middle of the year and in all major towns by the end of the year. Joseph Mucheru another local ICT guru and Deputy CEO of the new group went on to commend the Government for their efforts in developing the ICT sector and committed that Wananchi Telecom would support all of these initiatives including the governments plans for Schools, Universities and ICT Villages “…by the time TEAMS, SEACOM and EASSY maritime cables get to Mombassa our network will be ready and all Kenyans will have broadband available. We Kenyans (and some operators) tend to spend a lot of time complaining about the government without recognizing the government’s achievements. The Hon Mutahi Kagwe and PS Ndemo have in my view set the seeds of a great future for Kenyans in ICT……..” The sheer scale and audacity of their plans (3 times larger than Access Kenya’s IPO, with 5 times more base stations) for Wananchi Telecom have taken even industry insiders by surprise, but that’s typical of Private Equity. Whether you like them or hate them the one certainty is that the power, speed and agility *these Private Equity Barbarians *is going to be a big force in Kenya over the next 5 years.

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Ubuntu 'Feisty Fawn' released, hit by traffic
by Alex Gakuru 21 Apr '07

21 Apr '07

Ubuntu 'Feisty Fawn' released, hit by traffic By Stephen Shankland, CNET News.com Published on ZDNet News: April 19, 2007, 11:41 AM PT Canonical on Thursday released version 7.04 of Ubuntu Linux, nicknamed Feisty Fawn, but the company's Web site was unable to keep up with the demand for the software. The up-and-coming Ubuntu has yet to attain the commercially blessed status of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise, which have been in the marketplace years longer and are certified to work with many software and hardware products. But Canonical's software has built a significant fan base with its twice-yearly updates, user-friendly values and cutesy naming scheme. Feisty Fawn held up better than the protagonist in the animation Bambi Meets Godzilla: Canonical put up a bare-bones home page with just a single logo and a list of "mirror" sites from which the software can be downloaded. Still, the site was unavailable for more than half of the day, according to site availability monitoring company Pingdom. "We have been absolutely swamped with hits to the Web site and the mirrors," Canonical Chief Executive Mark Shuttleworth said in a conference call. "Fortunately there are 160 mirrors out there, all rapidly updating to include Feisty Fawn. We hope the logjam won't last much longer." Feisty Fawn features virtualization support and a new crash-reporting tool to aid debugging, but not the glitzy 3D interface Shuttleworth initially wanted. Ubuntu got an unsolicited endorsement from Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell, a computer maker that's been wrestling with how to meet demand for desktop Linux. On Wednesday, the company announced on its Direct2Dell blog that Michael Dell got a new notebook with Feisty Fawn installed. Shuttleworth said he didn't talk to Dell's CEO about the move and wouldn't comment on whether he was in discussions with the computer maker for some sort of partnership. But Dell's move "does suggest that the company is forward-looking and perhaps considering Ubuntu," Shuttleworth said. Ubuntu is chiefly popular on PCs today, but Canonical is following the well-worn path to the server as it builds its Linux business. On servers, the open-source operating system is a stronger rival to Microsoft Windows and functionally very similar to versions of Unix that many administrators are familiar with. Red Hat and Novell's Linux business comes chiefly from selling support subscriptions to server customers. Also on Thursday, Canonical announced a partnership with Sun Microsystems to bolster its server push. The company has integrated Sun's Java software with Feisty Fawn, making it available through the "multiverse" collection of preconfigured, downloadable software packages. Sun has begun making its core Java Standard Edition software open source and will finish during the first half of 2007, said Jeet Kaul, Sun's vice president of developer products and programs. Other components already are open-source software, including the Glassfish project for Java Enterprise Edition, a collection of extensions for running Java on servers, and NetBeans, a Java programming environment. Java SE, Glassfish and NetBeans all are available for Feisty Fawn, Shuttleworth said. "This is the first time the Java platform technology has been fully integrated into a Linux distribution to this extent," said Ian Murdock, Sun's newly appointed chief operating systems officer and founder of the Debian version of Linux on which Ubuntu is based. Though NetBeans is his own "preferred Java development environment," Shuttleworth said that its main rival, Eclipse, already is integrated into Ubuntu. The next version of Ubuntu, Gutsy Gibbon, is due in October. Neither it nor Feisty Fawn features the long-term support of version 6.06, called Dapper Drake. A version with long-term support, which lasts five years, likely won't arrive until the release of Gutsy Gibbon's successor, Shuttleworth said. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

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