As the M2M market grows, horizontal strategies would progressively rise in significance, owing to the need for economies of scale and improved efficiencies, boosting service revenues in vertical segments by amalgamating systems and platforms.

It's not usual for telcos to make M2M apps all on their own as developing custom solutions is costly, lacks scale and is mostly outside the purview of many mobile operators' primary competencies.

It's essential for mobile operators to selectively choose their M2M partners based on their unique and integrated solutions. Besides just their technology edge, what's relevant would be their qualities that rope-in enterprise customers for mobile operators.

US-based mobile & wireless research specialist firm, TeleResearch Labs' advice to operators would be to pick those M2M partners which are apt with enterprise customers in critical domains such as automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, energy & utility. These partners must possess exhaustive research functionalities and the ability to support an operator's M2M footprint on a global scale. Such partners can provide additional support and efficient integration between existing and new infrastructures. Another factor in M2M partner selection is the ability of the M2M provider to support several mobile operators as enterprises desire simplified provisioning and management of devices and a same platform for multiple mobile operators eases the enterprise's M2M implementation.

Such operator-technology vendor partnerships are a necessity with M2M as not even a single mobile operator in the world possesses the ability to offer an enterprise a complete set of M2M solutions.

Looking for a detailed strategical handbook on mobile verticals in the M2M arena? Visit:http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/view_document/73-vertical-a-horizontal-worlds-of-mobile http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: +1   202-506-8078

Commitment to products, people and performance drive Samsung’s integrated division for 2015

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 25 March, 2015
Samsung Electronics South Africa is committed to constant innovation, development and growth, exploring ways in which to build on existing platforms and successes to improve products and systems. To this end, the electronics giant has merged three of its divisions, namely: home appliances (HA), residential air-conditioning (RAC) and system air-conditioning (SAC) which will now be known as Digital Appliances. This new business unit will deliver targeted and dynamic innovations to the South African market.

“The consolidation of these three business divisions will ensure that we deliver an enhanced level of service and array of solutions for our customers,” says Michael McKechnie, Head of Digital Appliances, Samsung Electronics SA. “It will allow us to provide richer experiences for the home and office of the future and shift even closer to our existing and active target markets.”   HA, RAC and SAC will each have an individual product manager to identify new channels to market and make each product offering more accessible and efficient for South Africa.

These three divisions demonstrated strong performance in 2014 and this amalgamation will blend their strengths to continue to drive market share and further expansion.   “We are building on the success we experienced in 2014 with this new, streamlined business unit,” says McKechnie. “There are a number of targeted product developments and initiatives planned, making 2015 an exciting time for us at Samsung.  I’m looking forward to the new challenges that it will present, as well as the opportunity to improve processes and really ensure superb customer involvement.”

This year is set to bring something special to the table in the home appliances arena - with the Dual Cook Oven, Sparkling Fridge and Ecobubble product ranges. The focus for this area is on trend; the connected home. As this technology and connectivity shift more deeply into the South African space, Samsung is geared up to provide various technologies that can tap into the connected life and the Internet of Things.

Further, consumers will also be in for a treat with new Virtual Flame induction cooking technology, a robot vacuum cleaner and the impressive WaterWall technology built into Samsung’s state-of-the-art dishwasher range.   The RAC and SAC arena will see the arrival of a cost-effective entry level range of room air-conditioners and the continuation of the successful DVMS (Digital Variable Multi System) selection of commercial air-conditioners.

McKechnie, who has been with the organisation since June 2011 and successfully guided the Digital Air Solutions Division into 2015, is well placed to lead this alliance. His skills in sales, marketing telecommunications and power solutions provide him with a deep understanding of the sector and the demands of the South African consumer.   “I am incredibly excited about the potential for this newly structured Digital Appliances Division and the role I am to play in its development. It is a privilege to take on this opportunity and I look forward to some truly exciting and dynamic products in 2015,” concludes McKechnie.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems and semiconductors. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Digital Health and Smart Home initiatives. We employ 307,000 people across 84 countries.

To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com and our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com  

TeleResearch Labs examines the scope and affects of big data on mobile vertical markets in its latest report: Vertical & Horizontal Worlds of Mobile.

TeleResearch Labs, a Maryland-based telecoms research company, foresees the worldwide expenditure on big data analytics/ hardware/ software touching US$125 billion in 2015. Big data projects would revolve around video/ audio/ imaging analytics. Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solutions by IT vendors would gain traction.

Telcos have a huge opportunity in terms of big data analytics solutions in several vertical markets. Sectors such as retail, healthcare, utilities, media, financial services, security etc. are a few markets to which mobile operators could sell data under a DaaS business model.

In this, enterprise customers also present a prime business opportunity to telcos. The big data analytics market is projected to increase by almost 40% between 2014 and 2020.

Despite the applicability of big data analytics in almost all mobile vertical markets, telcos operating in such spheres often do not know how to use it and its various advantages. And so, many realise the need for big data's role in their operations but are not clear on what's actually required and in what manner to capitalise on big data opportunities. This necessitates that big data solution providers proactively think about what telcos actually require in their spheres of operations, and offer tailored solutions, enabling all-round mutual profitability for all associated telecoms players in the vertical market ecosystems.

For more matter and guidelines on how industry players can leverage effective partnerships in the realms of mobile vertical and horizontal markets for 2015 – 2018, visit: http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/view_document/73-vertical-a-horizontal-worlds-of-mobile http://www.teleresearchlabs.com/ Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: +1   202-506-8078

Legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker brings his unique sound to South Africa

With roots that go as deep as the history of funk itself and a long list of collaborations with the biggest names in the genre, funk wouldn’t be funk without alto-saxophonist Maceo Parker. For two nights only, Parker will be getting the “groove on” in Pretoria on 8 May and Johannesburg on 9 May.   In what he describes as an experience akin to university, Parker perfected his sound as sideman to James Brown. During the 1960s Parker and his drummer brother Melvin joined the James Brown band; it was the start of a partnership that would last for the next decade. 

Parker’s signature sound led, in part, to the band being recognised as early pioneers of modern day funk and hip-hop.   Constantly redefining his style, Parker continued to live the sprit of funk. He joined George Clinton's P-Funk Mothership, followed by stints with a number of other groups, becoming a golden thread that linked the style. In 1970 Parker, with some fellow James Brown band members, formed Maceo and All the Kings Men and released two albums that continue to remain popular. To date he has collaborated with Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, Prince, De La Soul, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.   In 1990 Parker embarked on a solo career and while funk still defined his style, his music became richly nuanced with the sounds of jazz and soul. He released two successful albums Roots Revisited (which spent 10 weeks at the top of Billboard's Jazz Charts in 1990) and Mo' Roots (1991). His third solo album Life on Planet Groove, recorded live in 1992, established him as a contemporary artist and boosted his exposure to a college-going audience. Albums like Funk Overload, Dial M-A-C-E-O and Made by Maceo cemented his catch phrase "2% Jazz, 98% Funky Stuff” with his audiences. 

Parker has toured extensively with his own band and since 1999 he has participated in some of Prince's tours when time allowed. In July of 2012 Parker was presented with Les Victoires du Jazz in Paris: a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music and during the same weekend he was presented with an Icon Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. The youth band Nu-Notes will be opening for Parker at both performances. The Nu-Notes, a group of young talented jazz musicians who are being mentored by trombonist, arranger and conductor Dan Selsick. They form part of the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra programme that aims to develop young South African musicians, through music education, skills development, and creating performance platforms for young musicians.   Parker will be performing on the 08 May at the Brooklyn Theatre, Pretoria and 09 May at the Wits Theatre, Johannesburg. The concert starts at 20h00 and tickets cost R180. 

Tickets can be booked from www.webtickets.co.za

For Interview requests and access to high resolution pictures contact JT Communication Solutions on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 011 788 7632
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Cape Town Jazz Orchestra

"We must make sure that at least there is some cushion for the poor so that they don't fall even lower than they are now. "That we must do. But we must also see it is important we do certain things that would reduce the dependence of the people on grants," he said. This included encouraging small business and co-operatives." All of these things, so that people don't think it is sufficient merely to hold out their hands and receive a handout, but to understand that all of us, as South Africans, have a shared responsibility to attend to the development of the country"

This is an excerpt of then President Thabo Mbeki’s speech to community development workers at an indaba in 2008. Mbeki certainly wasn’t revered for his theories, including the whole “HIV doesn’t cause AIDS” fiasco, but he may have had a point here…

What make South Africa so different?

The question is, why is it that South Africans have adopted a culture of expecting handouts? Contrary to common belief, handouts are not an inherent African ethos.

As one Nigerian put it in Polity.org.za "... They say once you put two Nigerians together, then you have a market. They're selling something to each other.”

That makes a lot of common sense. It means there’s always someone needing some services or products and willing to pay for them. So, isn’t it a matter of figuring out what people need and then making or buying and reselling these services or products?

As poor as Zimbabwe has become (only from an economic point of view!), “you don’t see beggars on street corners there the way you do in South Africa” says Jane Lyne-Kritzinger from Youth Dynamix. So, what does that mean?

Has the new government created a NEW problem?

Zuma was quoted in a City Press article in October 2014 entitled “South Africans must wakeup!” when he said “due to the extensive roll-out of services after 1994, South Africans had become dependent on the state.” He was making the point that nowhere else in Africa had so much been done to address the plight of the poor, yet you don’t see protests and strikes anywhere else. He went on to say, “Our people are waiting for government. Our people are not used to standing up and doing things.”  

What do South African youth think? 

Interestingly, even though the South African government has ploughed billions into infrastructure development and education, the youth continue to have a strong lack of belief in government. 85% of South African teens, according to YDx research, agree government is not living up to its promises. YDx research also shows that 73% of teens are worried about getting a job. 

This continues to be one of the biggest stress factors for youth in SA. And they often get lured into crime and expect handouts and social grants just to make ends meet. Linked to the high youth unemployment rate, YDx research also shows that 87% of SA teens are worried about South Africa’s economic performance; with 51% of teens saying they would like to leave SA (for a better job / opportunity / or education overseas).

The consequences of being a nation that expects handouts…

Children brought up in a handout environment may naturally grow up thinking this is the norm so they develop an attitude of expectancy. What will the country do for me, what will my employer do for me, what will the richer do for me? And the list goes on.

This level of expectation is also evident in terms of their aspirations and dreams. Research conducted by YDx shows that youth are exceptionally materialistic: Desperate to catapult themselves out of their current situation and directly into a world filled with expensive brands, possessions and fame.

Our research also shows that although it is good to dream, goals without practical steps are just empty dreams that never get realised.  So many young people have no idea HOW to practically realise their dreams and potential.

They have no steps in place to make it work or become successful. Not only do the youth expect handouts, other elements, such as the instantaneous nature of technology; and easy access to media ooze with aspiration value.

You see successful people and celebrities who never talk about the hard work, the effort and time that goes into accomplishing things.  Because the youth only see the seeds of success, they expect wealth and success to come by easily. 

Youth Dynamix is a specialist youth and family marketing and research agency.

Website: www.ydx.co.za

SEO & Online marketing solutions for small businesses On the 22nd of February, SERP SEO Solutions launched it's host of out-of-the-box marketing solutions via it's innovative online store.

Along with the launch they are running a competition giving away web design vouchers valued at R1000. SERP is a provider of Marketing Services for website developers. They offer a powerful range services aimed at providing website owners with access to tools & services used to help improve a websites local search visibility. To celebrate their launch they are giving away vouchers to be used at their site. Some of their many services include- Article writing, Web Design, Monthly SEO Packages and more.

Visit their web-page at www.serp.co.za/competition and read the competition guidelines to stand a chance to win a R1000 voucher which can be used for any of their services. Competition closes on the 18th of March 2015.

Contact Information:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.serp.co.za/contact-us

Tonya Khoury, the MD of media monitoring company, ROi Africa, is happy to update you on  the progress actor, Ivan Zimmermann, has made on the 12 000 km Tour d’Afrique.

“Yesterday it was one month since Ivan departed from Cairo on the Tour d’Afrique to raise 12 000 tins of food for Can-a-Kilo,” she says.   “Ivan is set to arrive in Cape Town on 9 May as part of the Leaders Never Quit campaign, which is supported by ROi Africa, the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and Sage Pastel,” she adds.  

Ivan said yesterday, “I arrived two days ago in Gonder, Ethiopia, as a broken man. The first shower I had in eight days could not wash away any weary emotions. It could only wash away the dirt from my sticky skin. I have now covered more than 3 000km of the 12 000km journey and so far I happen to be in third place overall.”    

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a dream that has become a reality. A dream that will test me to my limits, but also a dream that will show the world that leaders never quit,” adds Ivan.  

Ivan will be available for interviews on the following days:

12 Feb: Bahir Dar (Ethiopia)
18-19 Feb: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
25 Feb: Yabelo (Ethiopia)
2 Mar: Marsabit (Kenya)
8 Mar: Nairobi (Kenya)
11-13 Mar: Arusha (Tanzania)
21 Mar: Mbeya
24 Mar: Chitimba Beach
To book an interview, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 012-643 0436.  

For more information on Ivan’s quest, go to www.ivanzimmermann.com.

Tins can also be donated to Can-a-Kilo tab on Ivan's website.

NAME: Tonya Khoury 

E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CELL: 073 874 5377
WEBSITE: www.roiafrica.com
TWITTER: @tonyaroi / @roiafrica
FACEBOOK: /roiafrica    

Tonya Khoury, the MD of ROi Africa, the media monitoring and intelligence company supporting actor Ivan Zimmermann’s conquest to collect 12 000 cans of food for each of the 12 000km he travels, says Ivan has entered Sudan today after successfully completing his trip through Egypt on a bicycle!

“It’s gone well so far, but I am fully aware that I have very difficult days ahead with the extreme heat, but I also know #Leadersneverquit!” he says.

Zimmermann departed on the Tour d’Afrique on 9 January in Cairo and is expected to arrive on 9 May in Cape Town. For more information on Ivan’s quest, visit www.ivanzimmermann.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

NAME: Tonya Khoury
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
CELL: 073 874 5377
WEBSITE: www.roiafrica.com
TWITTER: @tonyaroi / @roiafrica
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/roiafrica

Tonya Khoury, MD of South Africa’s foremost media intelligence provider, ROi Africa, the media monitoring sponsor of actor, Ivan Zimmermann and his participation in the 2015 Tour d’Afrique, says everything is on track for Zimmerman’s departure from Cairo to Cape Town today (9 January).  

Zimmermann is participating in the world’s longest and most challenging 12 000km mountain bike adventure, to raise 12 000 tins of  foods for Can-a-Kilo. 

Media coverage of his adventure, also sponsored by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and Sage Pastel, will be monitored closely by ROi Africa for the duration of the journey. They will also be providing media insights about the undertaking through their Smart Technology system  which measures, amongst others, more than 200 million social media platforms. 

Zimmermann, who is planning to reach Cape Town on 9 June, says, “I have always dreamt to travel through Africa for a good cause. This adventure through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa will provide me with a platform to make my dream and many children’s dreams come true,” he adds. 

The 12 000 cans of food will be distributed by the Hanna Charity and Empowerment Foundation in South Africa and collection points for the cans can be found on  www.ivanzimmermann.com. 

Ivan’s progress can also be monitored on: 

TWITTER: @IvanZimmermann1, @CANaKILO (#leadersneverquit, #12000km, #tourdafrique, #12000cans)
INSTAGRAM:    eyevanzimmer
FACEBOOK:     /Ivan.Zimmermann 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

NAME:             Tonya Khoury
E-MAIL:          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    
CELL:              073 874 5377
WEBSITE:       www.roiafrica.com
TWITTER:       @tonyaroi / @roiafrica
FACEBOOK:     Facebook.com/roiafrica

South African consumers, business people and politicians are standing in disbelief as two major South African business brands count the costs of underestimating the plight of the consumer. Contrary to popular personalities like Julius Malema and Steve Hofmeyr who have both had their fair share of negative publicity, but whose popularity seems largely unaffected, one can attempt only predict what the effect of the Cell-C billboard, Chester Missing on Steve Hofmeyr and the Woolworths boycotts will be.

The Woolworths boycott case has been reported on extensively in print, online, radio, television and social media. Social media for the Woolworths boycott accounts for 85% of the media attention.

If one removes social media from the equation, online news accounted for 42% of the press and broadcast a massive 40% for the Boycott Woolworths Campaign over the past month.  The biggest peak was on 19 November and can be attributed to the shareholders supporting the boycott and the endorsement by Cosatu.

“This sounds very impressive,” says Tonya Khoury, MD of Media Monitoring and Intelligence Company, ROi Africa. “But the pressing issue at hand is how do we measure the real effect the publicity had on the brand image? This is an issue that has been widely contested in global PR circles, but no definite conclusion has ever been reached. One thing that authoritative bodies like PRISA (Public Relations Institute) agree on is that the traditional measurement using advertising value equivalent (AVE) might not be the most effective way in measuring media publicity,” she says.

Due to a lack of a definite alternative, the majority of public relations practitioners use the Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE) measurement method regardless of its lack of support by the authorities. This measure compares the cost of a paid advertisement with the same amount of space or airtime of an unpaid publicity item. Says Khoury: “Ironically, the ‘value’ of AVE is widely recognised as unreliable and invalid but many people still use it. It’s because they need to attribute a rand value to media coverage.” 

With diminishing advertising prices and hard earned content, AVE has often resulted in exaggerations due with the use of multiplier factors based on prominence, image impact, prestige of the media channel and other criteria.

This aside though, markets have become increasingly unsure about how to add a rand value to the successful minimisation of negative publicity or bad news. “One cannot say that the fact that a clever PR strategy kept a brand out of the negative media spotlight is worthless in rand terms,” Khoury says.

“My stance on AVE: it is rubbish!  It also does not take into consideration the monitoring of social media, which is an issue in itself. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. are overflowing with new users that interact with and follow brand profiles. Just think what the Oscar Pistorius Trial would have been without Twitter! There are so many more reasons why AVE is absolutely pointless, let’s take some examples from the case studies we’ve been doing:

The Sunday Times published an article about Woolworths titled “Humble Pie for ‘arrogant’ Woolies” The article appeared on page 9 of the main body of the publication in black and white, resulting in an AVE of just under R80k – is it true to say that R80k is the level of damage the article made to Woolworths?  Is it true to say that if Woolworths had managed to keep this article out of the press it was worth an extra R80k in advertising toward Woolworths? What exactly does R80k for the article mean? Nothing!

Social Media has been the primary vehicle for #boycottwoolworths, as there is no accurate measurement in terms of Rands for Twitter. Are we as a market saying that the hashtag campaign was worth no money at all? I believe Woolworths would beg to differ as would BDS SA.”

ROi Africa believes that each medium needs its own best measure and a host of other metrics that can ascertain the success or failure of your PR  

Khoury adds, “Changing the Public Relations industry’s perception is more than a tough task and for that reason ROi Africa still offers AVE, and actually we offer rands and cents measurement on all media including social. We do, however, hope that the market will move to global measurement over time. We are using Source Rank, Moz Rank, Target Sections, Circulations, traffic and so much more than AVE to measure thus giving the brand a more accurate view of what the actual publicity value truly was.”  

Oscar Wilde said “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about” and in some instances that is true.  There is also positive bottom line value in some negative press. “Julius Malema is one controversial figure in the media space and he draws on negative qualities like fierce temperaments, controversial statements and much more and it works.  Media loves Juju, that’s a fact.  At ROi Africa we have often seen our charts and analytics painted EFF Red because of clever and largely negative PR.”  

But how would you measure your PR? And that of your brand? This is a question we need to find an answer to, especially if the consumers turn against you or your brand. Not everybody is a Juju or a Steve Hofmeyr.

Website: www.roiafrica.com