Ivy Barley, co-founder of African women in tech non-profit organization Developers in Vogue, joins Microsoft. She joins Microsoft in Redmond as Program Manager in the Office 365 Experiences and Devices Team.
“Stoked to announce the next stage of my career growth”, Ivy takes to her Twitter social media page to make the announcement. She is optimistic about the opportunity to make a bigger impact at Microsoft and take her company to another level.
I’m glad to part of @Microsoft, a company that’s leading technological advancement globally. I’m even more proud to be associated with a company that loves and supports the work we do at @devinvogue . This is literally ‘Come as you are, do what you love‘.
I'm glad to part of @Microsoft, a company that's leading technological advancement globally. I'm even more proud to be associated with a company that loves and supports the work we do at @devinvogue . This is literally 'Come as you are, do what you love'.
[jetpack_subscription_form show_subscribers_total=”true” button_on_newline=”true” submit_button_text=”Hi, kindly subscribe to get the latest news, events, offers, opportunities, etc. from the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East region. ” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”has-text-color has-background-color has-background has-primary-background-color” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true”]
A home for global talent and ambitious innovators, Microsoft Reactor.
Microsoft brings its startup and developer community hubs program, Microsoft Reactor, to the United Arab Emirates. The new Microsoft Reactor will be hosted by Hub71 and located in Abu Dhabi.
Microsoft shares that like all of its reactors, it will be a center for technical learning and knowledge-sharing for developers and startup professionals. The hub will be home to the Microsoft for Startups program in the region. Supporting startups build and scale their companies. This will bring the number of reactors globally to eleven. With Tel Aviv, Israel hosting the other reactor in the Middle East and Africa Region.
“As a partner of Hub71 Abu Dhabi, we are firmly committed to the Middle East region as it continues its journey to digitally transform and innovate“. Shares Scott Guthrie, Executive VP of Microsoft’s Cloud + AI Division. “We’re helping to create a home for global talent and ambitious innovators looking to this region for opportunity“.
The initiative is in collaboration with Hub71, Mubadala Investment Company, SoftBank Vision Fund and Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Hub71 and Startups
Microsoft will provide a curriculum to startup residents of Hub71. Strengthening expertise around emerging topics such as cloud services and Artificial Intelligence.
Seventeen new startups, emerging as recent winners of the Hub71 Incentive Program will benefit from the program. Hub71 will now have a total of 35 startups in its ecosystem.
We are thrilled to open a Microsoft Reactor within Hub71 says Jeana Jorgensen, General Manager, Cloud and AI Division at Microsoft. “Built to support the Gulf’s unprecedented rate of digital transformation, Microsoft recently invested in two datacenters in the UAE. The concentration of globally minded startups, investors and industry, represents an enormous opportunity. We believe bringing these elements together with Mubadala and Hub71 will be a catalyst for the region“.
[jetpack_subscription_form show_only_email_and_button=”true” custom_background_button_color=”undefined” custom_text_button_color=”undefined” submit_button_text=”To get the latest from the Microsoft ecosystem in the Middle East and Africa region, kindly subscribe.” submit_button_classes=”undefined” show_subscribers_total=”true” ]
Are you using genuine software on your PC? Probably not. Microsoft made a shocking revelation at the launch event of the Windows PC Affordability in Africa Initiative. An initiative aimed at providing affordable Windows products to reduce software piracy in emerging markets such as Africa.
The revelation came out when Deniz Ozen, Regional General Manager, Consumer and Device Sales, Microsoft Middle East & Africa, was talking about increase in malware attacks in the region. He notes that “as per our estimates, only a third of PCs being shipped into Africa include genuine software”. Because of this, data breaches and malware attacks have increased significantly, resulting in loss of important data and decreased productivity,”
According to Microsoft, more than half of the devices shipped into the Middle East and Africa run pirated Windows software. With Africa, experiencing a higher percentage. To put it in context, two thirds of devices shipped and sold in Africa don’t run on genuine software.
Even when it comes to those who try to buy genuine products, Microsoft says the pirated software is often installed without the end users knowledge. Leaving these users to suffer the consequences, which include data loss and unusable PCs.
A pirated version of Windows puts both PCs and people’s data at risk
Microsoft discloses, its goal is to “empower people to do great things on a Windows PC”. The company however says “a pirated version of Windows puts both PCs and people’s data at risk“.
A report by The Software Alliance reveals the overall rate of pirated software across the Middle East and Africa is 56 percent. Libya and Zimbabwe rate as countries with the highest users of unlicensed software in the region.
[jetpack_subscription_form show_only_email_and_button=”true” custom_background_button_color=”undefined” custom_text_button_color=”undefined” submit_button_text=”Subscribe to get the latest in Microsoft related updates, news, events, opportunities, community events, etc. across Africa and the Middle East. ” submit_button_classes=”undefined” show_subscribers_total=”true” ]
Microsoft is announcing the Windows PC Affordability in Africa Initiative, together with its OEM partners. A bold move to reduce pirating of Microsoft software in emerging markets.
Microsoft announced the initiative at a press briefing held in its Bryanston office in Johannesburg. The initiative, Microsoft says aims to “reduce the prevalence of Microsoft software piracy in Africa“.
we aim to educate consumers on the risks of using pirated software
Through the Initiative, “we aim to educate consumers on the risks of using pirated software” shares Bradley Hopkinson, Vice President, Consumer & Device Sales, Microsoft. He continues that Microsoft will “work with our PC ecosystem partners includingAcer, Asus, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, Mustek and SMD to make Genuine Windows 10 PCs more affordable across Africa“.
Affordable devices under the Windows PC Affordability in Africa Initiative
Acer, Asus, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, SMD Technologies, Mustek are OEM partners working with Microsoft to build the affordable devices. This list can increase over the coming years. Windows 10 PCs under the initiative will range from about 150$ to 500$. Covering low to high end specifications. Acer Swift 3, Dell Latitude 3390, Connex Slim Book 2, HP 14 S are some of the early devices announced.
Microsoft’s Windows PC Affordability in Africa Initiative is currently focusing on genuine Windows 10 rollout at the moment. The company might include other products like Microsoft Office in the future.
[jetpack_subscription_form show_only_email_and_button=”true” custom_background_button_color=”undefined” custom_text_button_color=”undefined” submit_button_text=”Subscribe to get the latest in Microsoft related updates, news, events, opportunities, community events, etc. across Africa and the Middle East. ” submit_button_classes=”undefined” show_subscribers_total=”true” ]
Microsoft invites Nigerian students with a final graduation date in 2021 or 2022 to apply for a Software Engineering Internship.
Microsoft says you must be enrolled as a full-time student majoring in engineering, computer science or related field to be considered.
Software Engineering Internship in Nigeria
Responsibilities
Collaborate with a committed team to design, develop and test the next generation of technology solutions for millions of people
Work with teammates to solve problems and build innovative software solutions.
Provide technical guidance to Program Managers as they consider user needs and product requirements.
Demonstrate an ability to learn and adopt relevant new technologies, tools, methods and processes to leverage in your solutions.
Dedicate to building software to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more.
Qualifications
Currently pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, computer science or related field with at least one semester/quarter/term remaining after internship.
A year or two of experience programming in C++, Java or other computer programming languages preferred.
Ability to demonstrate understanding of algorithms, data structures and other systems architecture factors that affect code quality, performance and customer experience
Some experience building software outside of the classroom environment like an internship, hackathon, research project or related experience preferred
Demonstrated skill in time management and completing software projects in a cooperative team environment
