Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Thursday January 22, 2015

Thursday is here and with it comes new developments in the ever expanding world of the technology. Well, here is our daily wrap-up of the day’s main stories, which include Orange Kenya rolling out its 3G network to 14 more counties in the country, Airtel Kenya dropping roaming rates in Uganda and so much more. For details, below are the main news items for the day:

Uber launches in Nairobi with a mission to provide reliable rides at a touch of a button

After much speculation Uber, the international smartphone app that seamlessly connects riders to drivers, has launched in Nairobi, Kenya.

To kick of their launch, Uber Nairobi has also teamed up with local restaurant discovery platform, EatOut, to offer complimentary rides during Nairobi Restaurant Week, which kicks off on 22 January 2015. Any new users who sign up for Uber with the promo NRW2015 will get KES 2000 off their first two Uber rides.

For riders, Uber connects users with safe transportation on-demand, wherever and whenever they choose, at the touch of a button. The seamless experience means never having to worry about finding a ride or having cash.

Media owners protest move to withdraw digital license

Three independent and top Kenya’s television broadcasters were last night fighting back State action to withdraw their license for digital broadcasting which could pull them off air and bring to ruin their estimated Sh40 billion investment in technical infrastructure alone.

The Standard Group (KTN), Nation Media Group (NTV) and the Royal Media Services (Citizen), daily companions of Kenyans in their living rooms, offices and social places, vowed to move to court to challenge the punitive action by the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) that include ban to import own set boxes.

Through their umbrella body Media Owners Association (MOA), the three companies vowed to even move to an international tribunal to challenge infringement of their content by foreign Pay TV providers – Pan African Group (PANG) Startimes and Multichoice’s GoTv that have been broadcasting their content without their permission.

World Bank calls on Kenyan Bloggers to give views on poverty mitigation

World Bank has called upon Kenyan bloggers to submit their blog posts on Kenya’s efforts to reduce poverty levels.

Through a statement posted on the World Bank website,the blog contest dubbed as #EndPovertyinKenya will require bloggers to highlight what, in their opinion, Kenya has done to reduce poverty. What issues they would like the World Bank to highlight, and which areas do they think would have the biggest impact on reducing poverty.

In addition bloggers will also have to discuss on their blog posts what they think could make poverty reduction efforts more effective in the future.

Orange rolls out 3G network to 14 more areas in the country

Orange has added 14 more urban centres to its 3G network.

Namely: Isiolo, Othaya, Kerugoya, Kenol, Mwingi, Loitokitok, Namanga, Mai Mahiu, Gilgil, Bomet, Eldama Ravine, Siaya, Webuye and Kilgoris are now covered by the Orange high-speed 3G service. This comes at a time when the company is moving to consolidate its data services business in the new financial year, with mobile Internet being viewed as the next growth area in the country’s telecommunication industry.