Microsoft said Monday it would take a $6.2 billion writedown to reflect the slump in value of its online services division.

The software giant, Microsoft yesterday brought to the Nigerian market Microsoft Office 365 the company’s next-generation cloud productivity service for businesses of all sizes in Nigeria.

As CBN’s cashless society initiative continues to generate fears over poor authentication status and porous security system, the CBN, through its Head of Shared Services, Mr Chidi Umeano, in this interview, said that majority of such fears were taken care of when Nigeria made the giant stride in migrating all its card schemes from magstripe card technology to Chip and Pin based technology.

The scope and magnitude of these challenges, opportunities and risks calls for ‘The e-Knowledge Initiative’ (e-KI) are deeply challenging. The ultimate goal is to establish a “Knowledge Commission” (KC) immediately ensuring a proactive drive for ‘IT for all’ by 2015.

As part of efforts to stem HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, MTN Foundation last week commissioned a Youth Friendly Centre at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

TO ensure that Nigerian companies and Nigerians participate more meaningfully in one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, Information Communication Technology, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson has said that the import duty regime should favour locally manufactured ICT products to encourage local manufacturing which would stimulate employment opportunities and bring about input of local raw materials.

So Harris has put its broadcast communications operation up for sale. Look for lots of speculation about who will take that business on, as well as questions about what the sale says about the industry.

In this interview with the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Engr. Eugene Juwah with some journalists, he spoke on the factors responsible for the delay of the SIM card registration, the amount so far spent, challenges, and plans to facilitate the speedy conclusion of the project. He also spoke on other salient issues such as the recent sanction of service providers for poor quality of service, broadband project plan, number portability among others. Excerpts:

…Raids Lagos firm, carts away programmes in use
While software piracy remains unabated despite legislation and awareness creation by regulatory authority and relevant agencies, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, (NCC) has warned that henceforth, it is going to be zero tolerance on software pirates, even as it raided the offices of a top, Lagos-based firm of estate managers and valuers (names withheld) on grounds of software piracy infringement.

Nigeria would soon experience a solar powered telecommunications network tagged WorldGSM through a company under the Shyam Group, VNL. Shyan Group is a West African and Middle East based Operator.