Samsung Electronics Co is developing a wearable digital device similar to a wristwatch, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, joining rival Apple Inc in creating new products as growth of smartphone sales slows. The Samsung device will perform many of the tasks of a smartphone, the source said on Tuesday, without giving further details. The source declined to be identified because Samsung did not want to reveal to the public any information about its new product line at this time. Samsung would not discuss its detailed product pipeline. "We are constantly exploring new technologies and developing various form factors," said company spokeswoman Chenny Kim. Last month, the New York Times reported that Apple was experimenting with the design of a device similar to a wristwatch that would operate on the same platform as the iPhone and would be made with curved glass. More»

HP has introduced the ElitePad 900, a tablet that balances a beautiful design with enterprise-grade features, functionality and support at an exclusive launch today in Dubai. Designed for business, government, healthcare and retail, it features HP ElitePad Smart Jackets, which add connectivity options and longer battery life along with specific add-ons that customize the tablet for specialized uses. Emirates airline is the first global customer of the HP Elitepad900 tablet using it as the primary interface for the airline’s Knowledge-driven Inflight Service (KIS). An innovative in-flight communication and customer relationship management (CRM) system, KIS on the HP ElitePad 900 enables Emirates’ pursers to work more efficiently with cabin crew to deliver the personalized service and attention to detail that the airline is known for. “We are extremely proud to launch the HP ElitePad 900 in the Middle East today. This is a product that combines style, features and user experience that business users demand with the connectivity that IT demands, delivering a complete solution for Enterprise customers.” said Salim Ziade, General Manager, Printing and Personal Systems Group, HP Middle East. More»

Eng. Atef Helmy , Egypt’s Information and Communication Technology ICT Minister, said the Information and Communication Technology Ministry MCIT is seeking to launch two technological zones in Upper Egypt such as Assiut and Aswan. Moreover, the Minister added that in regard of outsourcing services expansion in Lower Egypt , the MCIT eyes to build a region for providing call center services in Mansoura, pointing out that outsourcing services is one of the most sectors which has seen an increase in the volume of employment and future growth opportunities. Furthermore, Helmy has emphasized that MCIT is seeking to develop Egypt’s position in order to provide global outsourcing services in remote areas which have infrastructure for developing both of the types submitted jobs and global development of Egypt's status. Dr. Mustafa Massad Minister of Higher Education has launched the sixth phase of the development of Egyptian universities students initiative skills ‘EDUEgypt’ which its targeting is to train 8500 students in 16 Egyptian universities and 55 faculties over two years on the personal skills, language ability and also the technological skills which associated with outsourcing field so as to prepare students for attaching the Job market in ICT various fields immediately after they have graduated. More»

Ahmed Khalaf, MENA Cables Executive Manager, announced that government authorities approved a final license granted to Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding (“OTMT”) (OTMT.CA) of an international internet cable inside Egypt. Khalaf further told Anadolu Agency that a ministerial decision is released from Ministry of Transport declares the approval of OTMT project for a fees of EGP 10.8 million (US$1.6 million). It is worthy to note that, the company has finalized all cable parts starting with Italy, Gulf ( from Saudi Arabia through Amman) to connect India and Greece. He added that OTMT by granting all needed approvals the company will be done with all Cable parts, knowing that its length is 900 Km starting from Alexandria till Zafarna  El-Sokna to be on usage after ending the Egyptian part. Karim Bishara, CEO of OTMT had previously asserted to Amwal Al Ghad that the firm will not sell its long submarine communications cable system Middle East and North Africa for Sea Cables (MENA). He indicated that OTMT plans to continue its investments in MENA cable despite the current obstacles in Egypt. More»

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is poised to boost its dividend by more than a half, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, providing investors hit by a share slump with one of the highest yields in the U.S. technology industry. Apple will probably lift its quarterly dividend 56 percent to $4.14 a share, for an annual payout of $15.7 billion, according to the average estimate from six analysts. The resulting yield of 3.7 percent would be higher than 86 percent of the companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index paying dividends. Apple could fund a payout with existing cash flow without using profit from overseas, which can be subject to extra taxes, said Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray Cos. More»

STMicroelectronics and Ericsson said they will close down their mobile chip joint venture ST-Ericsson by dividing up certain product lines and employees and shutting others. Sweden's Ericsson, which manufactures telecom network gear, will keep some 1,800 employees from the venture mostly in Sweden, Germany, India and China and a product line of thin 4G mobile chips. Franco-Italian chip maker STMicro will keep other existing ST-Ericsson products, it said on Monday, without providing details, as well as certain assembly and test facilities. It will take on some 950 employees mostly in France and Italy. The rest of the business, which had 4,450 employees globally before these moves, will be shut down. More»

Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding (OTMT.CA) announced in a statement on Sunday that no final agreement has been reached yet with Telecom Egypt (TE) (ETEL.CA) as regards its long submarine communications cable system Middle East and North Africa for Sea Cables (“MENA”). OTMT further added that it continues talks with TE to acquire the cable in line with its strategy. Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Atef Helmy confirmed that an agreement has been reached with OTMT as regards its submarine cable MENA. He added that the remaining part of the cable inside the Egyptian territory will be linked to Telecom Egypt. Karim Bishara, CEO of OTMT had previously asserted to Amwal Al Ghad that the firm will not sell its long submarine communications cable system Middle East and North Africa for Sea Cables (MENA). He indicated that OTMT plans to continue its investments in MENA cable despite the current obstacles in Egypt. More»

Samsung's newest, feature-packed Galaxy S4 may put pressure on Apple Inc to accelerate its pace of smartphone design and venture into cheaper devices - both departures from usual practice. The latest Galaxy, unwrapped with much fanfare in New York on Thursday, out-does the iPhone in most technical aspects. But the challenges it encapsulates run deeper than just a simple specifications comparison. "It would be overstatement to say Apple is far behind," Charles Golvin, analyst with Forrester, said, but it does need to note the quickening pace of competitive devices being released. More»

The BBC's Michelle Fleury takes a look at the Galaxy S4, and asks whether it has more than just initial "wow factor" Samsung has launched a smartphone which allows users to control its 5in (12.5cm) screen using only their eyes. The Galaxy S4 follows on from last year's S3, a product that sold over 40 million units worldwide. At a lavish, Broadway-themed event in New York, the company also demonstrated the phone's ability to take two different pictures at once. More»

About 50% of all junk mail on the net emerges from just 20 internet service providers (ISPs), a study has found. The survey of more than 42,000 ISPs tried to map the net's "bad neighbourhoods" to help pinpoint sources of malicious mail. The survey by a researcher in Holland found that, in many cases, ISPs specialise in particular threats such as spam and phishing. Methods to thwart attacks and predict targets also emerged from the study. More»