Glo Mobile Ghana launches with mouthwatering offers

Glo Mobile Ghana has finally launched its commercial services to become the sixth mobile operator in Ghana. 

The long-awaited launch successfully took place on Sunday after a series of postponements and a recent fine of $200,000 by the National Communications Authority (NCA) for its failure to launch on the stipulated date of April 20, 2012. 

Glo Mobile Ghana, a subsidiary of Globacom International - a Nigerian-based telecom giant – currently has 1.5 million people, who have reserved their numbers on their 0233 number reservation series.

According to the Chief Operating Officer of Glo Mobile Ghana, George Andah, would-be subscribers can start making calls from Monday and to appease anxious customers, who have been waiting for long, the network will be accessible in all 10 regions of Ghana.

Glo covers about 85% of land mass in the country and its reception covers 1,000 cities and towns in Ghana.

Mr. Andah disclosed that Glo is offering free and unconditional GhC 0.20p daily for the next 100 days to every customer - whether one makes calls or otherwise. To add to that, subscribers will enjoy a 100% bonus on recharge plus another bonus on incoming calls.

There will also be GhC 0.2p per minute calls for two special people as well as other bonuses for receiving or making international calls.



By Kent Mensah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Glo Mobile Ghana Launches Today

Glo Mobile Ghana is expected to launch its commercial services later today after having been sanctioned to pay an amount of $200,000 for its failure to launch on the stipulated date of April 20, 2012. Glo Mobile Ghana, a subsidiary of Globacom International - a Nigerian-based telecom giant is the sixth mobile operator, licensed to operate in Ghana, but has continually postponed the launch of its operations. Official invitations to various media houses and special guests confirm that the mobile operator is rolling out at an official event this Sunday afternoon - April 29, 2012. Glo earlier this year launched its number reservation facility which enables the public to reserve their numbers on the 023-3 number series on the Glo Mobile Ghana Network.

Source: Citifmonline.com

Security hole in Facebook and Dropbox apps leave iOS users vulnerable

U.K.-based Android and iOS app developer Gareth Wright recently discovered a security hole in Facebook's native mobile apps that can be used to steal a user's personal information. Facebook's Android and iOS apps do not encrypt login credentials, instead storing them in plain text files and allowing the information to be easily accessed and transferred over a USB connection, or more likely, through a malicious app. Wright explained in a blog post that Facebook's plist file, or property list file containing personal data, is stored insecurely and not set to expire for 2,000 years. Once a plist file is copied to another device, one can simply open the normal Facebook app and will automatically be logged in the user's account. Wright's claims were confirmed by TheNextWeb, which also discovered that Dropbox's iOS app includes the same security hole. The vulnerabilities do not require a device to be jailbroken or rooted, and exploits can be performed with a simple file explorer.

Update: Dropbox reached out to BGR regarding the issue, the company's statement can be found after the break. 

"Dropbox's Android app is not impacted because it stores access tokens in a protected location," the company said. "We are currently updating our iOS app to do the same. We note that the attack in question requires a malicious actor to have physical access to a user's device. In a situation like that, a user is susceptible to all sorts of threats, so we strongly advise safeguarding devices."

NCA fines Glo Mobile $200,000 for failing to launch

Glo Mobile Ghana has been sanctioned to pay an amount of $200,000 for its failure to launch on the stipulated date of April 20, 2012. 

The sanction was confirmed by the Communications Minister Haruna Iddrisu, who said: "Glo has no justification not to launch onto the Ghanaian market." 

He added: "The Ghanaian subscribers and consumers anticipating their service can no longer wait."

The regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA), gave Glo Ghana up to the end of April to launch or face sanctions ranging from payment of a fine to the withdrawal of its license. 

Mr. Iddrisu said Glo Mobile had initially expressed some concerns which they said were hindering them from launching, but Mr. Haruna indicated that "they were required to roll out in at least six regions of Ghana and to be fair to them there were some initial hitches to which government in itself through its actions contributed, we resolved those issues and Glo has no justification for not launching."

Glo Mobile Ghana, a subsidiary of Globacom International – a Nigerian-based telecom giant is the sixth mobile operator, licensed to operate in Ghana but has continually postponed the launch of its operations for almost five years now. 

Glo earlier this year launched its number reservation facility which enables the public to reserve their numbers on the 023-3 number series on the Glo Mobile Ghana Network.

Speaking on Joy FM on Monday, the Communications Minister said: "Government accordingly licensed the sixth mobile operator as part of government's quest to deepen competition in the telecommunication industry. It thus appears that Glo Mobile is unable to meet some requirements which was part of the Glo Mobile cellular license framework.

"Spectrum space is an asset of the State so accordingly I can confirm to you that the NCA has issued a sanction that Glo Mobile will be required to pay US$ 200, 000 or its equivalent in cedis for failing to provide service at least to six regions within the first three years that they got their license."

He added: "They assured to roll out April 20. They must take Ghanaian subscribers serious and we need their service to expand access to telecom. Investors must respect the laws of our country. We have been hesitant to have gone this far, but we ultimately must ensure that we deepen competition as we pledged."

Source: Citifmonline

GLO Likely To Face NCA Sanctions

The National Communications Authority (NCA) is undecided on whether to sanction or withdraw the license of Globacom Ghana if it fails to meet a deadline to launch its commercial operations.

The Nigerian based telecom giant received the licence to operate in Ghana in 2008.

It has since been unable to launch commercial activity in the country after a number of announcements to do so.

The NCA issued a Mid-April ultimatum to GLO Ghana to launch or face sanctions ranging from penalty fines to complete withdrawal of licence.

The Deputy Director in charge of Communications and Consumer Services at the NCA, Mawuko Zomelo in an interview with XYZ BUSINESS stated that the Authority will not hesitate to apply the necessary sanctions if the company fails to launch by the deadline.

‘Big brother’ black boxes to soon be mandatory in all new cars

Beginning in 2015, all new cars in the United States will likely need to be fitted with data-recording "black boxes" very similar to the devices currently used in aircraft. The U.S. Senate has already passed a bill that will make the devices a requirement, and the House is expected to approve the bill as well. Section 31406 of Senate Bill 1813 states that mandatory event data recorders must in installed in all cars starting in 2015, and it outlines civil penalties that will be levied against violators, Infowars.com reports. While the primary function of the black box devices would be to record and transmit data that could be used to assist a driver and passengers in the event of an accident, the bill has legislation built in that would give the government access to the data with a court order, and it also gives authorities the ability to access the data as part of an investigation. According to the report, these caveats could potentially lead to Big Brother-like scenarios where citizens are monitored or even actively tracked without their knowledge or consent.

Teacher’s aide fired for refusing to hand over Facebook password

A teacher's aide at an elementary school was fired last year for refusing to give her Facebook login credentials to her supervisors, ZDNet reported on Sunday. In April 2011, Kimberly Hester signed on to Facebook while she was not at work and jokingly posted a picture of a co-worker's pants around her ankles, with the caption "Thinking of you."

 

A parent and Facebook friend saw Hester's photo and complained to the school. A few days later, the superintendent reportedly requested three times that she hand over her user name and password. Hester refused each time, and was put on paid administrative leave and eventually suspended as a result.

 

She is now at the center of a legal battle with the school district, with arbitration scheduled for May. The House of Representatives last week shot down a proposed amendment to FCC legislation that would have prevented current and potential employers from seeking access to employees' Facebook accounts