Hajarbakis Blog

In a clever attempt to make financial transactions easier for customers, a number of banks have decided to use the popular WhatsApp platform to provide self services for sending funds and bills payments. First Bank and GTbank are expected to make their banking services available on WhatsApp before the end of this month, while UBA has earlier introduced its chat-bot called (on Facebook and WhatsApp) in a similar bid to take banking transactions to another level of convenience. Access Bank WhatsApp Banking Now, Access Bank is the latest to launch it’s own WhatsApp digital banking service. Using this platform, you can now open accounts, check balance and also request for BVN. How to Use To start using Access Bank on WhatsApp simply add +2349090901901 as a contact on your phone and save it with “Access WhatsApp Banking”. Now send “Hi” to this contact via WhatsApp message to activate the service. Be sure to use the number that you registered the account with to send the message. O...

It seems that one needs to fly overseas to have peace of mind when using social media. Internet monitoring in Africa has gained momentum again as Egypt too has joined the list of countries that regulate social media use of its citizens. Before now, the Ugandan government mandated a tax of 200 shillings daily to use social networks, while Zambia recently imposed a $0.03 daily tariff charged on internet calls in the country. Now, the Egyptian president has passed a billed where it is allowed to monitor social media users as part of the internet tightening controls. This action by the president would give the Supreme Council for Media Regulation the power to supervise people who have more than 5000 followers on social media or personal blog. They would also have the power to suspend or block accounts that post fake news that incite violence, hate and violation of the law. In opposition to this, right groups have branded this law as an attempt by the government to limiting freedom...

Just few weeks ago, we talked about Zoto going AWOL and not responding to the call and cries of its customers. Well, he popular recharge and billing payment app–Zoto has finally and officially shut down operations in Nigeria. Zoto was founded in mid-2015, but is now gone in less than 3 years of operation. All staff have been released of their duties, but no solid reason has yet been given for the closure of the company. Meanwhile, the Co-founder of the popular app wrote on Twitter: “Not all startups survive unfortunately.” Zoto, however, intends to make a comeback later in the future. We definitely would miss the freebies that the company provided us while it lasted. And to those whose money is trapped in their Zoto wallet, just count your loses and move on. Also, we will surely miss the emails from “Zubby from Zoto.” In our previous post, we shared some alternatives to Zoto . So check them out and comment down below the best alternative you can recommend.

Although valued at $1 trillion, Apple just lost its position as the second placed company with the most sold smartphones in the second quarter of this year. Apple lost this position to Chinese firm Huawei. According to statistics, Huawei sold over 71.5 Units of smartphones from April to June. Meanwhile, Samsung still remains number one, although we noticed that there's a decline in the number of shipments. This jump by Huawei is interesting because the company is yet to even release its best phone to the US – the Hauwei P20 Pro . In terms of market share, Huawei jumped from 11% to 15.8%. The companies that make up the top five are: Samsung: With 20.9% market share. Huawei. Apple: 12.1% market share. Xiaomi: 9.3% market share but with a 48.8% gain from last year. Oppo: 1.8% market share. Huawei is planning to be the number one smartphone manufacturer in the world by 2021 and it looks all the more possible with this statistics.

The Zambian government looks to be following in the steps of the Ugandan's by imposing a daily tax charge on the use on internet call services such as Whatsapp call and Skype so that telecommunication companies will not lose revenue. They fear that a lot of people do not use the traditional calls anymore and as such the telecommunication industry is threatened. The order to charge N10(0.03$) daily tariff on call has been approved by the cabinet of Zambia. The country also fears that instead of creating jobs in the country, internet call is creating wealth for Americans while the people in the country suffer. “The cabinet has approved an executive order that would see the introduction of N10 ($0.03) daily tariff charged on internet calls.”-Zambian government. Remember we reported that MTN, Glo, Airtel and some other network providers in Nigeria are putting pressure on NCC to block over-the-top (OTT) services like WhatsApp, IMO, Skype, etc., because they're losing revenu...

Google Pixel phones unarguably has some of the best cameras you can find in an Android device. The company's HDR+ software and hardware functionalities makes the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL blow our minds away with their cameras. It is a shame though that some users have issues with their cameras. Since the launch of the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL in 2017, some users have not been able to open the camera app on their phones. When tried, the phone shows a “fatal camera error” and then closes the app. This is not the first time the Pixel 2 and 2 XL has been hit with bugs; late last year, there were issues with the speakers making rattling sounds even during phone call conversation, which left a lot of users frustrated till the extent one wrote that Google did rubbish . Meanwhile, as temporary fix, Google suggested that users clear the camera app’s cache, restart the phone and try opening the camera again. If that doesn’t work, users should put their phones in airplane mod...

Few weeks ago, we reported that the Ugandan government imposed a compulsory tax of 200 shillings per day in order to use social media. This directive became effective since the beginning of this month where Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, and all other social media users are by law required to pay tax. You can continue using this social media services as long as you pay your tax, and the officials over there have made it convenient as payment can now be paid right through mobile phones. Apart from the popular social networks, even fairly-known OTT services like Tinder, Tumblr, etc., has been blocked. Many people have been flocking over to VPNs so as not to be affected by this new OTT tax decree. The government, however, noticed this and has ordered local Internet Service Providers (ISP) to block the use of VPNs. MTN, Airtel and other internet providers in Uganda—including Africell—have answered this call by the government. They have blocked internet access for those who do not pay...

Every single day, fraudulent people device new means of ripping unsuspecting victims off their hard-earned money. ATM scam and theft is not new, expecially last year when it grew out-of-hand in Lagos and some other states. But this new method is actually “one blow, two death” as you'll lose both your money and freedom in most cases. Imagine trying to help someone out at the ATM and getting jailed for it. Well, there is a new animo of scamming and fraud that can make unsuspecting victims land in serious trouble. What is this new scam and how does it work? Narrated in 4 paragraphs: When you are on the ATM queue about to withdraw, someone (the Fraudster) shows you money they've withdrawn already claiming that they have exceeded their withdrawal limit but still need more cash. They then beg to send money into your account so you can withdraw it for them. This looks quite normal and harmless, but what you don't know is that the transfer into your own account is made from ...

We hear the name Sony more when it comes to televisions and other alike-gadgets than in smartphones. No doubt the Japanese company is finding it difficult in the mobile industry, and it appears they've finally decided to pack their loads and bow out of making handsets in some regions and countries. Popular smartphone leakster, Evan Blass shared a post on his Twitter page saying Sony Mobile will stop the production of handsets in in Turkey, Middle east and Africa. He said via his @evleaks handle: “Bad news for Sony Mobile fans i Middle East, Turkey, and Africa: I hearing that the company will "sh its operations and offices" in the by October.” Sony went on to confirm the news, saying it's researching possible meanspossibilit of downsizing its operations in the aforementioned country and continents. As a Nigerian, i haven't seen anyone with a Sony-branded phone, and that might be the case in other countries in Africa, Middle east and Turkey. Like I earlier ...

Few weeks ago, we learnt that the Ugandan government imposed a compulsory, new tax of 200 shillings daily to have access to social media , and it seems Nigeria is heading in the same direction. In addition to the pending Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015 which if approved, will outrageously increase the price of our data bundle , another bill has yet-again been passed to the senate. The chairman of the Senate committee on ICT and Cybercrime, Abdulfatai Buhari said that the National Assembly will enact law to control what Nigerian carry out on social media. He continued, saying that as the general election draws nearer, social media should be strictly monitored as a result of many citizens using the platforms wrongly, and if left unchecked may lead the country into chaos. "We have got experts to advise us and we have presented a bill to the Senate. The bill has passed the first reading and it has been listed for second reading."-Abdulfatai Buhari Buhari furt...

Late last year, the Nigeriam Communications Commission (NCC) mandated all Telecom companies, including MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9Mobile to enforce data rollover policy starting June 26th. The industry regulators further sent out a reminder early this month, and it seems the directive is gradually taking effect. NCC took to its Twitter page to announce the enforcement of the new data rollover policy, where all service providers including Airtel, 9mobile, Glo and MTN will enable you to use your expired or remaining data bundle in the subsequent month. According to NCC Twitter handle: Issuance of Direction to Service provider on Data rollover which now enable consumers to roll over unused data for 1-7days depending on your data plan.This takes effect from 26th June,2018.- NCC.gov.ng @NgComCommission Jun 21,2018. With regard to NCC's order, a new law is now in place to allow you carry-over your remaining data after it expires or when you purchase a new bundle of the same category ...

While Google and Apple are working tirelessly to ensure that Play and App Store is harmless, protected and unarguably the number one sources for downloading apps, few dangerous softwares, many times, still find their way inside the platform. McAfee security company discloses that a familiar cybercriminal gang called AsiaHitGroup have struck again, using a modified piece of dangerous software that has been recycled years back on the Google Play Store. This software is known as Sonvpay.C , and it penetrates the Play Store through variant of unsuspected apps, like ringtone creators, QR code scanners, flashlights and the likes. And it's a tricky one to prevent, even if you are a very intelligent users. Once any of these infested app is installed on your device, it will bring out an "update" notification . However, that's not an update, but a repackaged subscription button that when clicked, will immediately sign the user up for an unfamiliar paid service . This ve...