Microsoft 4Afrika, Africa Digital Media Institute open game and mobile app development AppFactory in Nairobi, Kenya

Microsoft 4Afrika, Africa Digital Media Institute open game and mobile app development AppFactory in Nairobi, Kenya

Africa Digital Media Institute

Africa Digital Media Institute partners with Microsoft to open Kenya’s 3rd AppFactory.

Microsoft launched its 18th Africa skills development AppFactory academy in Nairobi today. The 3rd in Kenya after the Mawingu Network and the United States International University AppFactory.

This 3rd one is in partneship with Africa Digital Media Institue(ADMI), a digital media and technology training institute. The partnership will see ADMI establish a dynamic apprenticeship platform for mobile application and game development students.

Microsoft 4Afrika Regional Director Amrote Abdella, said this at the launch of the AppFactory. “Students will acquire skills in programming, cloud computing, and data analytics to address the mismatch of skills in the games and mobile application market.”

Africa Digital Media Institute founding director Wilfred Kiumi shared that “Globally, game development had estimated revenues of $137.9 billion in 2018 and in Kenya, it is predicted that the revenues will be over $31 million by 2022.” He talked about the excitement to launch a new era for skills development and youth empowerment.

The AppFactory academy will be hosted at the ADMI Africa campus in Nairobi. It will also be the first AppFactory to focus on equipping graduates with skills for the gaming sector.

Microsoft’s Africa datacenters go live in South Africa

Microsoft’s Africa datacenters go live in South Africa

Africa Datacenters

Microsoft Announces Africa Datacenters are available. Its Africa Cloud Regions are live.

Today, Microsoft announced its Africa datacenters are live. The two Datacenters located in South Africa will bring Microsoft’s total available and announced cloud regions to 54.
Microsoft says the datacenters will begin to generally offer Azure service followed by office 365 and Dynamics 365 services in the near future.

“Azure is the first of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud services to be delivered from the new datacenters in South Africa. Office 365, Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity solution, is anticipated to be available by the third quarter of calendar year 2019, while Dynamics 365, the next generation of intelligent business applications, is anticipated in the fourth quarter”.

The two regions, South Africa North and South Africa West are located in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively.

Azure is the first of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud services to be available from the new Microsoft cloud datacenters in Africa. And will be followed in the future by Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity solution, Office 365, and Dynamics 365, the next generation of intelligent business applications.”

Announced first in May 2017 with initial availability in 2018. The infrastructure had some setbacks that Microsoft said had to do with third-party supplier unable to deliver to specification. It was however expected in 2019.

Yousef Khalidi Corporate Vice President of Azure Networking at the event said; “with the availability of Microsoft’s cloud services delivered from Africa it will mean local companies can securely move their business to the cloud”.

Microsoft becomes the first cloud provider ahead of Amazon and Huawei go to live with its datacenters. The other cloud providers are scheduled to open or run Africa cloud regions.

New Microsoft South Africa Managing Director, Lillian Barnard spoke at the event and had this to share.
Technology is changing the way we live and work. She also says it will ultimately determine how businesses grow and innovate and Africa and Africa will not be left behind. At Microsoft we strongly believe that these substantial development in infrastructure, innovation and skills development will help South Africa navigate the fourth industrial revolution and set the country up for digital success. With today’s announcement we are aiming to accelerate these opportunities“.

Microsoft hosts Campus Connect Summit in Nairobi, Kenya

Microsoft hosts Campus Connect Summit in Nairobi, Kenya

The first Campus Connect Summit, A Microsoft Education Partner Summit takes place in Nairobi.

Campus Connect

Microsoft hosted a 2 day education partner summit in Nairobi at the Villa Rosa kempinski hotel. The event brought together over a hundred Microsoft education partners, educators and from across the country.

Campus Connect
Preparing graduates for 21st Century panel discussion led by (from Left) Michael Rasugu with panelist Audrey Cheng, Henry Hickman, Nancy Mokua and Sebuh Haileleul.

Conversations of the day higned on the theme; Digital Transformation in Higher Education – Future Trends and Best Practices. Through panel discussions and keynotes that explored Microsoft’s technologies enabling digital transformation in Education. Including Other Microsoft Education Partner solutions addressing challenges in Higher Education.

Campus Connect
Claudia Johnston, Microsoft Education Sector Enterprise Channel Manager, Sub Saharan Africa speaking at event.

Sharing on Microsoft’s Vision in Education was Simon Ouattara, Education Lead MEA Multi Cluster Countries. He said “At Microsoft we have made a commitment to impart digital skills to 10 million youth across MEA in the next three years”.

Campus Connect

The event saw Microsoft highlighting products like Microsoft Azure, LinkedIn and Microsoft 365.

Image Credit : Kursat Gunenc, Microsoft

Telecom Egypt and Microsoft announce Egypt’s first Cloud Network

Telecom Egypt and Microsoft announce Egypt’s first Cloud Network

Microsoft and Telecom Egypt announce Egypt’s first Cloud Network to enhance delivery of services to customers.

Telecom Egypt

Telecom Egypt and Microsoft have reached an agreement to collaborate in extending Microsoft’s cloud network to Egypt. This agreement was reached on the sideline of ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain.

The collaboration will see Telecom Egypt provide low-latency connectivity into and across Egypt. To help enhance performace and increase reliability for customers of Microsoft services. Microsoft will also increase its reach to the Egyptian market and improve connectivity across North Africa and the middle East.

The new point of presence in Egypt according to Microsoft will benefit from a direct connection to Microsoft’s global infrastructure. To enhance the delivery of numerous services for customers. Its network investment will increase capacity and use the latest in network optimization for the delivery of Microsoft services in Egypt.

Telecom Egypt Collaboration

We are pleased to partner with Microsoft. As it represents one of the first steps toward our strategic digital transformation plan. Telecom Egypt’s geographical position and its digital infrastructure will enable major cloud providers such as Microsoft to enhance their reach to consumers and enterprises in Egypt as well as reach other markets.” – Adel Hamed, Telecom Egypt Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat says its Ministry appreciates partnerships that empower local institutions. He also shared that “Egypt is moving towards achieving a promising digital transformation strategy to build a strong economy“. A move Dr. Amr Talaat says is in line with the 2030 Egypt Sustainable Development strategy.

Microsoft Egypt General Manager, Khaled Abdel Kader about the collaboration said: “Microsoft is committed to providing world-class cloud services to enable and accelerate the digital transformation of organizations, businesses and people in Egypt.
Our collaboration with Telecom Egypt and Microsoft’s investment in the country will further empower Egypt to achieve more through Microsoft services.
The new enhanced network presence in Egypt will connect via Microsoft’s global network to transatlantic and trans-Arabian paths, which will improve connectivity across North Africa and the Middle East, including enhancing connectivity to the new Microsoft cloud regions in development in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates
“.

Microsoft announce Build 2019 Developer event

Microsoft announce Build 2019 Developer event

Build 2019

Microsoft has announced dates for its premier event for developers. Build 2019 event will take place May 6th to 8th at the Washington State Convention center, Seattle Washington. Microsoft will open registration starting tomorrow 27th February 2019.

With an invitation that reads “Come experience the latest technologies and imagine new ways to create solutions“.
The developer focused event highlights new tools and technologies the software giants are developing. As well as changes and improvements coming in softwares. Developers also get to connect their various communities, get hands on and deep dive trainings.
Consumers will get an overview or the roadmap Microsoft has for most of its tools.

Microsoft Build 2019 Invitation

Join us in Seattle for Microsoft’s premier event for developers. Come and experience the latest developer tools and technologies. Imagine new ways to create software by getting industry insights into the future of software development. Connect with your community to understand new development trends and innovative ways to code.

I believe as usual the conference fee will be about $2500. Microsoft opens Build 2019 event up with a call for speakers submission, a move which is new.

I’m personally not sure what big announcements to expect but looking forward to this. The theme this year reads out “Imagine, Create, Code”.
We’ll keep you updated and have the live stream and updates here. Bookmark and check this out later in May.