Home Blog Page 129

DumaCard Launched to offer Africa’s first business to business (B2B) payment services by DPO

Businesses are in for a treat after DPO unveiled a business to business payment card dubbed DumaCard that will be available both as a physical plastic card as well as in a virtual form. The card which targets over 10,000 business in Kenya and Tanzania will later be unveiled in additional regions starting with those it currently has operations in. DumaCard is said to be the first of its kind to offer this type of payment processing technology to businesses in East Africa.

While speaking on the development, DPO Group CEO Eran Feinstein said the move was essential for businesses in Africa considering their impact on economic growth. He also added that DPO was particularly interested in supporting growth of businesses across Africa by allowing them to pay and be paid securely and effortlessly throughout the continent and internationally. DumaCard will therefore ensure that businesses in in Africa are financially included and have the same opportunity to transact online as elsewhere in the world, he concluded.

How DumaCard can be used by businesses;

There are two major modes that businesses can utilize DumaCard services; either as single or multiple use card which can be loaded using various methods including mobile money. Businesses will not require a bank account to enjoy its services and can be used as a multi-currency card in which case, transactions can be made in multiple currencies at a breeze in Africa as well as internationally.

DumaCard comes just after DPO partnered with Mastercard in collaboration with banks to allow issuance of physical plastic cards. Mastercard enabled DPO Group to act as a Pan-African switch via Mastercard Payments Gateway Services, (MPGS) meaning it can independently authorize transactions with no need for bank integration.

The Virtual card provides businesses with a 16-digit number with an expiry date and security code linked to their systems. The virtual card then allows businesses to make payments in a flexible and secure way. The process is highly sophisticated with end-to-end fraud prevention and risk management systems that holds PCI DSS Level 1 Certification in all 16 markets DPO operates.

According to the firm, DumaCard is particularly expected to be popular amongst its travel partners (tour operators & airlines) who will use the card to pay international airlines and global distribution systems. The card will be showcased at East Africa’s largest tourism fair, the Karibu Kilifair held in Arusha, Tanzania. The firm is also expected to diversify DumaCard services to include receiving and paying for everything from household bills to entertainment subscriptions in the days ahead.  The card will enable consumers shop online and make payments on services like Amazon and Netflix, bringing consumers in Africa access to e-commerce opportunities previously unavailable to them.

Kenyans Across the world can now transfer money to Co-operative bank accounts through WordRemit

One of the main reasons why people choose to live abroad isn’t actually because they prefer to but to earn a living from opportunities present away from their home countries and are scarce within their home country. And while looking for opportunities elsewhere can be rewarding, there’s just isn’t enough modes that technology presents us on transferring income back to Kenya either to personal accounts or relatives, and this is where WordRemit comes in. There are of course known ways to transfer cash to other countries and some third parties such as western union presents us with credible modes but unfortunately they don’t take care of everyone with these needs; it’s simple to transfer cash for pick-up from a western union agent in receiving country but transferring to personal accounts could sometimes be a very tedious endeavor.

After joining the bandwagon of best mediums available to send your money back home from a foreign land, WordRemit will now offer Kenyans living in diaspora an efficient way to send their cash directly to Co-operative bank accounts. The service will be available in more than fifty countries and users can either have their cash picked up from over 150 Co-operative bank pick-up locations or deposited directly to their bank accounts. WordRemit cash deposit is currently supported by more than a dozen local banks here in Kenya and it’s interesting to see Co-operative bank finally joining the wagon.

While speaking on the development, Co-operative Bank of Kenya Director Retail Banking Mr. Arthur Muchangi, noted the magnitude this will have on customers living abroad saying the bank was fully committed in partnerships that will give Kenyans abroad the most affordable and secure means of transferring their funds home for domestic support, savings and investment.

On the other hand, WorldRemit’s East and Central Africa Head Sharon Kinyanjui said that Kenyans around the world make WorldRemit their top choice when it comes to sending money home. She also added they were happy to engage with Kenya’s Co-operative Bank a trusted household name with strong ties to the diaspora and a shared commitment to financial inclusion, to further expand their network in the country and make convenient service accessible to all.

How to Deposit cash from abroad into your Kenyan bank account using WorldRemit

By using the WorldRemit app or website, Kenyans in diaspora, can now send money directly to their loved ones’ personal Co-op Bank accounts in over 150 branches. The transfers can be made directly from the senders’ mobile phones, and the receiver can withdraw the funds from a nearby Co-op Bank Agent, ATM or Branch.

Deposit cash to your Kenyan Bank account using WorldRemit (web version)

  • Head over to the WorldRemit website
  • On where it says send to, select Kenya
  • Choose Bank Deposit on the drop down
  • Select the payout network (which should be the bank name)
  • Select “send” followed by currency such as USD and the amount then press on “Send”
  • Total fees will be calculated and shown on the web and the current exchange rate displayed as well.
  • You can then proceed to login or create an account

How to get free 5GB data bundle for YouTube Streaming on Safaricom network

Free data bundles hardly come our way for those who are stuck on Safaricom’s mobile network even though the competition has really gone out of its way to appeal to hungry data customers. This has been the case considering most of us find Safaricom’s relatively reliable and fast 4th generation network coupled by the most used mobile money service – Mpesa hard to abandon. While this has been the case, Kenya’s largest technology giant unveiled a reward scheme that will see customers purchasing the All in One Monthly Bundles enjoy additional 5 Gigabytes of YouTube for free, valid for 30 days. Whether it’s just meant to encourage consumers to opt for monthly data plans rather than daily or weekly plans, coming from the mobile subscriber is definitely a big deal.  

Safaricom Subscribers can utilize the free 5 GB data to stream their favorite videos on YouTube right on their mobile phones at any time of the day and their data usage will not be deducted from their monthly bundle. The offer is expected to run up until 5th July 2019.

Speaking on the offer, Safaricom’s Chief Customer Officer Sylvia Mulinge noted that Kenyans were increasingly turning to video consumption on the internet, with music, comedy, news and sports emerging as the most popular online video content in the country. She concluded that to meet this demand, Safaricom was providing its subscribers with additional 5 GB free data to be used on streaming videos from YouTube at any time of the day within a month. She also added that the company was seeking to expand its network countrywide to ensure Kenyans have access to strong, reliable and superfast 4G+ coverage wherever they may be.

While data consumption in the country continue to surge forward, Safaricom has been expanding its network to meet this growing need. On 3rd May 2019 for example, Safaricom announced that it would double its 4G and 4G+ coverage by rolling out extra 2,000 base stations across the country, covering more than 600 towns. According to the company’s statistics, this will bring 4G and 4G+ base stations to about 5,000.

How to get free 5GB data bundle for YouTube Streaming on Safaricom network

Safaricom’s Monthly Bundles which were unveiled on February 2019 allows subscribers to choose a package that bundles all their communication needs (data, voice, SMS) at one, predictable price point. The bundles enable customers to call and text cross all networks at discounted prices.

  • To get free data bundle for YouTube streaming, Safaricom subscribers must purchase any of the following monthly bundles costing; KES 1,000, KES 2,000, KES 3,000, KES 5,000 and KES 10,000

Safaricom’s All in one bundles;

  • 4 GB and 200 minutes for Ksh 1,000 per month
  • 12 GB and 600 minutes for Ksh 2,000 per month
  • 20 GB and 900 minutes for Ksh 3,000 per month
  • 35 GB and 1,500 minutes for Ksh 5,000 per month
  • 50 GB and 3,500 minutes for Ksh 10,000. per month

How to book a bus ticket through BuuPass and pay from your mobile phone using Safaricom’s Mpesa mobile money service

BuuPass has slowly transitioned from just a bus ticket agent to offering convenience and simple ticket booking platform that is now covering more than just one operator. Let’s be honest, the only time I sought services from BuuPass was during the December holidays when demand for travelling tickets from various operators were scarce and was in dire need of their assistance, which came in pretty handy I must say. Well, the service has now partnered with Safaricom to allow payments via Mpesa through their online portal or an SSD Code. Technology has been the answer to so many inconveniences and we must comment BuuPass for it’s dedication to see that some of us especially those who come from distant upcountry places in Kenya are not disadvantaged.

While at the time of this writing the service was available with five bus operators including Easy Coach, Modern Coast, Greenline, Palmers and East African Shuttles, the service is expected to add more than 20 additional operators by the end of the year. Customers can access the service by dialing *877# and at buupass.com with payments accepted through M-PESA.

Speaking on the development, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer Rita Okuthe said the partnership between Safaricom and BuuPass sought to extend the convenience of M-PESA by empowering their customers to book a bus ticket wherever they may be and at their luxury. She also added that both Safaricom and BuuPass see a prospect in linking bus companies to opportunities by providing them with a solution to manage customer ticketing and cashless payments.

From the BuuPass app, customers can select a bus operator, preferred travel date and time, and reserve specific seat numbers.  Customers can also reserve seats for multiple travelers, with tickets printed at the bus station after presentation of the confirmation SMS. The mode of operation is very different from that used by taxi hailing apps such as Uber.

“We are glad to partner with Safaricom to provide travelers with an easy and flexible solution to book and manage their journey. Our platform similarly provides bus companies with a bus and parcel management system where they can manage their fleet, have control over their operational costs, and effectively reach more travelers and in turn sell more seats through our marketplace,” said Sonia Kabra, Co-founder and Director – BuuPass.  

The service seeks a slice of the local inter-city transport industry estimated to be worth more than KES 100 billion annually but which is also characterized by low uptake of technology and digital solutions. The two firms have been working on the bus ticketing solution for more than a year and have already sold more than 80,000 tickets across more than 100 routes.

Some of the most popular destinations among travelers include Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Migori and Bondo. Safaricom and BuuPass have similarly partnered on the online booking platform for the Standard Gauge Railway.

How to book a bus ticket thorugh BuuPass SSD Code *877# and Pay via Mpesa

  • You can book for a bus ticket through BuuPass by simply pressing *877#  on your phone
  • You’ll be presented with a list of current enrolled buses to choose from i.e Easy Coach, Modern Coast and so forth
  • After you’ve chosen the preferred bus, you’ll then need to choose where you are departing from such as Nairobi followed by your destination. Please note only places that are operated by the selected bus will be shown.
  • Enter the day of travel from the menu, you can choose today, tomorrow or enter appropriate date
  • Choose time of travel from available options
  • Select Bus followed by seat number
  • You’ll be asked to enter full names, followed by identification details such as ID/passport number
  • After making the necessary payment, you’ll be issued by a confirmation message that can be presented at the office location to print the physical ticket.

How to apply and get approved for a Stawi Loan for small and medium enterprises

By now most Kenyans must be wondering which loan apps are truly genuine and intended to expand their financial needs from those that are business oriented. Well the above statement will remain lingering around for some time, but at least we can gauge some of them from how they are managed and their primary source. For a start, we can never be so hopeful after the Kenyan Central bank entered the fray with a mobile loan facility dubbed ‘Stawi’ focusing on the small and medium scale enterprises. The Stawi Loan facility has been made possible courtesy of five commercial banks; that is the Commercial Bank of Africa, Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank and MC Group Limited.

The Stawi Loan facility is targeting small and medium scale enterprises by enhancing their access to a credit facility which might have not been available to them through normal formal schemes. Though the scheme is only in its pilot phase, it presents us with some of innovative technology inventions in the informal financial sector by encouraging small and medium sized enterprises to access credit despite the informal nature of their businesses. Kenya’s economy is driven by the Juakali sector which also is the largest employer in the country even though it lacks access to important loan facilities from banks that demand financial records, security and collateral for loan consideration.

How Stawi loan app is managed

While launching the loan facility, Central Bank of Kenya Governor Dr. Patrick Njoroge said the facility would initially by accessible from five banks including Diamond Trust Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, MC Group Limited, Commercial Bank of Africa and Cooperative Bank of Kenya. Customers can access the loan facility through a mobile phone application currently available on the google play store. After a successful loan application through the Stawi Loan App, the loan amount will then be credited in the customer’s wallet. Customers can access Stawi loans from Ksh30,000 up to Ksh250,000 with a repayment plan of 1 to 12 months at an interest rate of 9 percent per annum. Customers will then be scored and advised of their credit limit and will be eligible for a top up loan if they’ve repaid at least 80% of their current loan.  

During the launch event at Gikomba market, CBK Governor Dr. Patrick Njoroge said the facility became necessary to cater for the unique financing needs of small and medium sized enterprises. He noted that the sector is key to Kenya’s economy and the product couldn’t have been unveiled at a more opportune time. He also added that until now, offering credit to these businesses had been hindered by lack of reliable information to ascertain their creditworthiness. Stawi’s innovation will therefore utilize on the customer to fill up the gap, he continued.

How to register for the Stawi Loan Facility

Unlike most android based loan apps, Stawi loan app registration has been simplified and does not involve the ambiguity seen in former apps. All you have to do is follow below simple steps;

  • Download Stawi app from the google play store here on your android device
  • Click on “OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT” to register
  • Provide your mobile phone number
  • Then either of the following; Kenyan Identification number (ID), valid Kenyan passport number, alien ID
  • Enter your valid business permit/license followed by,
  • A valid email address
  • You’ll receive a text notification confirming your registration

How to reset Stawi loan app PIN

Just incase you forget your Stawi account PIN, while in the app menu items,

  • Select “FORGOT PIN
  • Enter the details you provided during registration and preferred new PIN then click on “NEXT
  • A onetime four-digit password will be sent to your number
  • Click on “VERIFY” and new login pin will be reset successfully.

How to request/apply for a Stawi Loan

  • Login into the Stawi app with your credentials
  • From the menu items, select “MY LOAN
  • Then click on “REQUEST LOAN” then proceed
  • Accept the loan offer to facilitate disbursement otherwise disbursement will not be done.

How to Repay Stawi loan

  • Login into the Stawi app with your credentials
  • From the menu items, select “MANAGE
  • Then click on “MY STAWI ACCOUNT” then Click on “PAY LOAN” then proceed
  • Enter the repayment amount and then complete the payment.

Canon has unveiled the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM Camera Lens offering its highest resolution here in Kenya

Canon, a company that’s been in camera lens business for several decades has just unveiled its highest resolution lens here in Kenya – the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM. Speaking at the launch, the company touted how its commitment to photographers led to the creation of its latest generation 85mm f/1.2L lens, the RF 85mm F1.2L USM. Its offering the highest resolution of a Canon lens launched to date and features a super-fast aperture as well as outstanding AF speeds.  This comes after the company announced back in February its intention to release six RF mount lenses this being the first one. And having been endorsed by the company’s Europe Ambassador Félicia Sisco, this definitely looks like it’s going to be a busy year targeting photographers for the technology giant.

Just how impressive is the resolution of the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM Camera Lens

In technical language, the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM Camera Lens are specially designed for the EOS R system, which is basically a proprietary term used by Canon to refer to pioneering lens mount which offers greater creative possibilities and even more dynamic ways of capturing every moment. The lens will provide photographers with sophisticated tools that enhance their skills by capturing those moments without limitations. The development of this lens is said to have emanated from not only technological advancements but as well as user feedback. The lens therefore enhances image quality and communication between the lens and the full-frame mirrorless camera body.

The 85mm short telephoto lens provides the ideal focal length for portraits and a flattering perspective for faces. Besides EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens, the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM is the only camera lens from the manufacturer that utilizes its unique BR optic technology, which effectively corrects axial chromatic aberration that is not completely correctable with a combination of traditional glass lenses. This in turn improves the overall image resolution and sharpness. And to achieve amazing optical performance, the aspherical and UD lens elements are utilized to reduce lens aberrations.

Captures Images at amazing speeds and quality

Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM Camera Lens features some of the fastest aperture autofocus capabilities from the manufacturer amongst its mirrorless lineup of cameras. It combines a short telephoto length and Dual Pixel CMOS AF, to create the fast f/1.2 aperture that produces stunning shallow depth of field, bokeh and background separation. This lens work by making the image subject leap from the image, whilst the nine-aperture blade system enhances the subject against the smoothly blurred background, which is ideal for portraiture photography. On the other hand, the ultra-wide aperture transmits 50 per cent more light than an f/1.4 lens ensuring it achieves decent images even in most challenging lighting conditions. Thanks to the lens, focus can be achieved swiftly and accurately even when objects are moving around. Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM lens comes with a new microprocessor, which uses a new high-performance CPU and firmware to increase data transfer, resulting in faster operation and AF, allowing the photographer to capture split-second moments.

Exceptional handling and durability

Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM comes with a control ring – where settings are programmable to TV, AV, ISO and exposure setting. This adds new capabilities in customizations that are essential in wedding photography where settings are expected to be perfect for candid moments and beautifully modelled shots. The lens also comes with a full-time manual focus ring, which is used to manually focus on subjects by turning the focusing ring, without the need to switch to MF mode. The L-series weatherproofing seals the lens to protect against adverse weather conditions when shooting outdoors or on location.

speaking on the development, award-winning wedding photographer and Canon Ambassador, Félicia Sisco added that as a wedding – and portrait – photographer, she needed to be able to trust her tools so that she may focus on the subject and tell their story. She also noted that having used Canon’s iconic 85mm 1.2 lens for over 20 years it has the speed and wide-aperture which guarantees beautiful images, even in low light.

RF 85mm F1.2L USM Key Features:

  • Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM is an extreme high-performance lens
  • Utilizes its 85mm focal length capability to provide flattering perspective ideal for portraits
  • Very Large f/1.2 aperture with 9-aperture blade for superior low light performance and smooth background blur
  • The BR optics (Blue Spectrum Refractive optics) are used to reduce chromatic aberration ensuring the highest image quality
  • Aspherical and UD elements ensure the highest resolution across of the image
  • USM motor for smooth, near-silent operation
  • Control Ring – giving direct control over Tv/Av/ISO settings
  • ASC (Air Sphere Coating) prevents flare and ghosting from deteriorating image quality

HP Spectre X360 13inch 2019 with gem-cut all-aluminum CNC-machined design Review and Price in Kenya

If you are shopping for a new ultraportable premium laptop in 2019, the new HP Spectre X360 13inch 2019 is probably a must have on your shortlist. It’ll check most of the spec sheet you’d have on close competitors, or at least those within the same price bracket. But just so we don’t get ahead of our heads, there are worthy competitors from the likes of dell, Lenovo and Asus promising to deliver just as good performance as this model. Therefore, as you read further, we’ve divulged some of the key points in performance, aesthetics, battery life as well as ergonomics you ought to consider before settling on this model as your perfect replacement or premium laptop of choice.  

Our full disclosure on how we came to review the HP Spectre X360 13inch 2019

First, let’s get some things straight before we proceed. I personally don’t own this model – the Hewlett Packard Spectre X360 13inch 2019, but I ordered one for a good client of mine and had a taste of it beforehand. When it comes to technology, more than often the latest tech trounces and we don’t intent to put this laptop up against old or overtaken tech in the spirit of fairness. So much has changed from previous years in comparison such as the Toshiba Satellite we reviewed back then.  

Specifications of our review HP Spectre x360 13-ap0010na model;

  • Intel Core i7 8565U “Whiskey Lake” processor running at 1.99GHz
  • HP’s gem-cut all-aluminum CNC-machined design
  • 13.3-inch 4K (3,840-by-2,160) 360-degree touch display reinforced by a corning gorilla glass
  • 16GB of DDR4-2400 SDRAM
  • 1 TB PCIe® NVMe™ SSD storage

4K MICRO-EDGE DISPLAY

There’s a reason why I always start with the display panel in my reviews; it’s the first point of interaction and let’s face it, this is one feature that could make a whole lot of difference. We like the fact that HP included models with 4K resolution, most of us probably won’t need it but we can’t ignore the fact that it makes those images and text pop in comparison. Rather than having a grainy traditional panel, the HP Spectre X360 13inch early 2019 has a decent screen resolution that it’ll be impossible to differentiate individual pixels at normal reading distance. The display panel has minimal bezels running from edge to edge which keeps the small ultraportable profile intact.

Design

I like the old days when laptops used to be sturdy and by far durable than current offering; however, one area manufacturers understandably failed to fully address was the bulky sizes. This was because of several factors including not so efficient processors at the time. While the 2019 HP Spectre X360 generally feels lighter than it actually is thanks to good weight distribution, it still puts on enough weight – 2.9 pounds to deny it bragging rights in the ultra-portables. We loved HP’s approach to design, it features chamfered (angled) “gem-cut” edges, which were utilized to house the power button as well as the other USB type C port. Unlike what you’d refer to as average design, HP paid a lot of attention to design detail. For example, there’s an attractive Bang and Olufsen speaker grill above the keyboard surrounded by a rock-solid but nicely-textured aluminum chassis.

Performance:

For the duration we had this model, there’s one area it’ll prominently feature in comparison – performance. HP Spectre X360 is one of the fastest laptops out there sporting the latest Intel 8th gen Core i7 8565U processor, this model out-performs most laptops from well-known vendors with the same processor. It’s palpable for me — blazing through pretty much everything I throw at it.

Battery life:

Battery life is something laptops have struggled to cope up with demand, consumers are looking for portable laptops that could take them through a few days on battery power rather than a few hours. MacBooks for once have had an upper hand in this arena thanks to optimizations in software by the manufacturer; HP has managed to achieve a full day of battery life despite  a 4K display, a fast quad-core processor, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, and a 512 GB SSD, the Spectre can easily go all day for most of normal tasks.

Speakers: The speaker system rivals the kick-ass speakers in MacBooks. Features Good bass and mid-range.

Biometric ID: the spectre Comes with both Windows Hello Face ID and fingerprint sensor. Which are instantaneous.

Keyboard / trackpad: there’s a good tactile feedback and decent travel on the keyboard

Ports: Headphone, two Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, microSD reader.

Price and availability in Kenya: Our review model will cost you around Ksh. 150,000

Canon Unveils ME20F-SHN the latest full HD network camera during the East Africa Com event

After it officially confirmed to participate in this year’s East Africa Com event, we’ve got a taste of what’s in store from Canon– one of many technology corporations that took part in the event. Security companies were presented with one of the company’s latest Full HD multipurpose network camera – the Canon ME20F-SHN that’s been on the market for a while and is notably dated but probably still unknown by many stakeholders. We also got to see a range of Canon’s innovations that span from digital print solutions that enables customers to print and manage their documents in the most efficient, secure and economical manner as well as some of its latest professional broadcasting and security solutions in the imaging industry.

This year’s East Africa Com event is slated to run up until 14th May 2019 in Nairobi. Canon took the opportunity to showcase it’s recent innovations in images, video, security and printing technology segments. During the event, Canon Central and North Africa B2B sales and marketing director Somesh Adukia indicated he was pleased with the company’s participation quoting that the event was strategic for companies in the telecoms, media, broadcasting and technology sectors. He also added that the event posed a great opportunity for them to be in direct contact with customers, allowing discussions on Canon’s products.

Let’s have a look at Canon ME20F-SHN full HD network camera Review

While you’d easily associate Canon with point-to-shoot camera’s, security is a new territory that the company is yet to create a distinguishable reputation, which basically means it has to work extra hard just like any other brand. There are a few highlights that may impress security companies out there or individuals who are rather into do-it-yourself category.

Canon ME20F-SHN Main Features;

  • 2.26megapixels 35mm sensor capable of 1080p recording
  • Canon EF mount with Cinema Lock
  • Built-in ND filters 2 stage: 3 stops, 6 stops, Manual Focus and One-Shot AF
  • Digital Tele Converter: 2x, 3x, and 4x, DIGIC DV 4 Processor, Canon Log and WideDR
  • Sharp, low noise color video in extreme low light
  • Network capable remote configuration and monitoring
  • Supports a wide range of surveillance applications

Canon ME20F-SHN’s full frame 35mm sensor and DIGIC DV 4 processor, are poised to deliver sharp, low noise, Full HD color video in extreme low light conditions. And while a maximum ISO that goes beyond 4 million guarantees that the ME20F-SHN can capture subjects illuminated with less than 0.0005 lux. You’d be amazed how this network camera can deliver detailed footage even in low-light situations by removing the IR cut filter when shooting in infrared mode.

And from what we were able to capture from the event, Canon ME20F-SHN was specially crafted for low light shooting and Full HD color video in almost total darkness plus networking and remote-control capability for critical surveillance applications.