Tech News Around SA

Mobile service squad a big hit for Nashua Mobile

Nashua Mobile’s Smart Squad cars are quickly becoming a familiar sight on our roads as every month more people are enjoying the convenience of having cellphone technicians making house calls due to the unique troubleshooting service offered by Nashua Mobile.

If you have a problem with your cellphone, and you are unable to go to a store for help, Nashua Mobile’s Smart Squad will come to you instead. .

Twelve Smart Squad vehicles are operating in Greater Gauteng, Durban, Bloemfontein and Cape Town with a dedicated call centre specialist to set up appointments. The service is free within the central areas covered by the vehicles, with a small call-out fee to cover the costs if the distances are longer.

“The Smart Squads will come to your office or your home and set up your recently purchased smartphone and integrate it with your entire technology eco-system to make sure you are set up and working as quickly as possible,” says Mark Taylor, CEO at Nashua Mobile.

“It’s mostly needed by our newer customers, but it adds value for our existing clients too. From a standing start we have now gone up to 300 call-outs a month and we can handle about 500 a month.”

Although all customers are given expert advice and help with setting up their phones when they initially buy them in store, sometimes people are too busy to stay for that service. Or perhaps they  get home and realise they need help with some other aspects of these increasingly complex devices. That’s exactly why the geeks on wheels are so useful, Taylor says.

“Your new phone will be set up at your office or at home or even while you are on holiday at the coast, so you can get on with the things that are important to you, while we do what is important to us: saving you time, saving you money and putting you first.”

More information on Nashua Mobile is available at www.nashuamobile.com

(Source - Nashua Mobile)

FNB offers unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 3 within days of first stock arrival

01 October 2013, Johannesburg – FNB announced another addition to their Smart Device offering - the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. 

The FNB Samsung Note 3’s are unlocked and can be used with any SIM card. The bank is currently holding stocks of the eagerly anticipated Note 3. It is available at R365/month over 24 months with no additional interest, fees or charges.

“We are thrilled to give our customers access to the latest and most innovative devices on the market in order to drive digital self-service banking. Customers have eagerly anticipated this new Samsung as it brings are range of new functions over earlier models. We will add Samsung Gear in coming weeks,” says Kartik Mistry, Head of Smart Devices.

Useful features include Action Memo for quick memo taking, the S Finder to help you search for a wide variety of content on your phone and Screen Write where you can annotate on captured images.

To order today, SMS “Galaxy” to 31138 (standard network rates apply) or apply online at www.fnb.co.za. 

Terms and Conditions Apply.

(Source - FNB) 

Invitation to a book launch in Cape Town, music news, magic, tech news and more

You are invited to a book launch in Cape Town

Invitation to the launch of the book 'Influence - How to Start and Grow a Speaking Business'  by Richard Mulvey

The details are as follows:

• Venue: Cape Town Hotel School Granger Bay - 
• Address: Beach Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town - 021 - 9596767
• Date: 10 June 2013
• Time: 18h30 for 19h00 to 21h00
• Cost: PSASA Members - free. All other guests - R200  -  Snacks provided
• RSVP: Please email Simone on simone@psasouthernafrica.co.za for bookings, alternatively book online by clicking here. Bookings are essential

During the evening he will be going through what it takes to start a speaking business using examples, both good and bad, from his own career over the last 20 years. It will be a fun event and the book and DVD will be available for purchase.

(Source - Richard Mulvey) 

Music in Durban 

John Ellis and Nux live at St. Clements in Musgrave Road this Friday 31 May. Tickets R60 cash at the door.

Tel 031 2022511. Music starts 19h30 doors open 18h30.

(Source - St Clements)

(Source - Hirsch's)

Join the Ryans for an easy run and a caffe in Newlands on 14 July

Some time back, friends Ryan Scott and ultra-marathon champ Ryan Sandes agreed to meet at vida e caffe in Constantia for a pre-run caffe. The guys were a little over-eager and we'd not yet opened our doors. Instead of settling for anything but vida caffe, Scott challenged Sandes to run to the Camps Bay store instead. And so 'Ryans² Run' was born - and has since evolved into an ongoing social run ending with a free caffe at one of our stores. The last one was in picturesque Hout Bay (above). You can join them on 14 July at Newlands for a leisurely (really) run in leafy surrounds. And of course, join us for a caffe on the house afterwards.

(Source - Vida e caffe) 

Mo Magic Appears on Top Billing

(Source - Mo Magic) 

Shannon Hope will be performing here:

15 June Korongo Valley Festival 2013, Ixopo
27 June Rumours Lounge - Bar - Restaurant, JHB
28 June The Library at The Brazen Head Sandton, JHB
3-7 July National Arts Festival Grahamstown (5 shows)

Full booking details and info on shannonhope.co.za 

(Source - Shannon Hope) 

Nashua Mobile’s CEO Mark Taylor below, suggests these ways of beating bill shock.

Advice from Nashua Mobile on how to prevent Bill Shock

Golf is an expensive hobby, but it cost one man almost R1-million recently even though he was nowhere near a green. That was his cell phone bill after an app to analyse his golf swing kept running when he travelled abroad, scoring an exorbitant case of bill shock.

Smartphones are catching out consumers with massive bills caused by automatically downloading data. That’s expensive even on home turf, but if you’re abroad, it can turn an enjoyable trip into a nightmare. Nashua Mobile’s CEO Mark Taylor suggests these ways of beating bill shock:

Stamp out subscriptions

When you download a ringtone, you probably ignore the fine print warning that it’s a subscription service with a regular bill. Many only cost R5 a month, but some cost a scary R20 a day, and that’s a mighty expensive piece of music. “Before you use your handset to purchase anything read the fine print,” Taylor says. Check your bill, and if you’ve signed up for something by accident, unsubscribe immediately.

Overseas and overpriced

International roaming soon inflicts horrendous bills. “Data can cost up to R200 per Megabyte and when smartphone apps continue downloading content abroad it can give you a nasty shock,” says Taylor. Before you travel, ask your service provider to set an affordable limit. Better still, switch off data roaming via the settings menu in your phone. You can always switch it back on in an emergency. Then look for free wi-fi networks in coffee shops and upload your data for nothing. Your phone normally defaults to using a  wi-fi network even if your GSM option is still switched on, but you will need to log on to the wi-fi network first. If you need to make local calls at your destination, buy a local Sim card when you arrive.

Don’t bungle the Bundle

Smartphone users must buy a suitable data bundle, otherwise automatic downloads made by devices including the Samsung S3 and iPhone5 can easily cost R2 000 month. “A smartphone without apps is pretty boring, but the apps you download update automatically. If you’re on a budget set it to not update automatically, and only do it when you can get onto a Wi-Fi network,” Taylor says.

It wasn’t me...

If a thief grabs your Sim card, he can run up massive voice and data bills within hours. Report and block a stolen phone immediately. But Sim cards can be stolen from cell phones or least cost routers without anyone realising – until the bill arrives. Make sure those devices are secure and have a call limit set on the Sim card to prevent fraudulent use.

Switch the apps off

Ensure that you close apps properly when you are not using them. These include apps such as Facebook, Twitter, weather updates apps, live sports apps, GPS/location-aware apps. If not logged out completely, the apps continue to run in the background and can use up a lot of your data. For certain GPS apps, download the country specific maps while in South Africa to assist with costs. Ask your Service Provider for a spend limit to be placed before travelling to ensure there are no nasty surprises when you return.

“Incidents of bill shock are increasing at a great rate but there are things you can do to alleviate it,” Taylor says.

More information on Nashua Mobile is available at www.nashuamobile.com.

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