Recharge made easy with the new MTN VTU Alias Platform

You can now top up your airtime and data with ease of mind using the new MTN VTU Alias platform. This new platform gives you the freedom to recharge airtime and data plans without giving out your real phone numbers through MTN Alias number.


All you need is to have an Alias number in place of your phone number for VTU top anytime.

How it works

• Customer dial *323# to generate Alias Number.
• Alias number is generated once. No need to generate number upon every VTU top-up request.
• Alias number is an 11 digit code and not to be used for calls or SMS
• Can be used on all VTU platforms (ATMs, Quickteller, Paga etc)
• It is a permanent number for each customer’s phone number

Steps to create your MTN Alias Number

1.  Dial *323#
2.  Select 1 to create an Alias
3. You would receive a confirmation SMS with your Alias number created

Forgot your Alias number? Here’s how to retrieve:

Dial *323#, Select “View” from options displayed to retrieve Alias Number.

This is another first from MTN.

What makes a smartphone smart?

Is it the speed of the phone, the Operating System it runs, the size of the screen (5.5 inches), its camera and screen resolution, size of the in-built memory or an out of this world battery life? Or it’s simply the number of apps you can run simultaneously without it freezing or turning into a hand-held heater?

If these makes a smartphone smart, then what would you call a phone that can transform into a projector or boom box, gives a battery life of up to 50hours and comes with a N20,000 Spar gift voucher on purchase?

#HelloMoto #HelloNigeria

The Moto-Z smartphone allows you do more with a variety of mods and a N20,000 spar voucher on purchase in all Spar Stores across Nigeria, so you can do more on your device and do a whole lot more personally with your shopping needs.

#HelloMoto #HelloNigeria

Etisalat kicks as firm demands N2.2b for alleged copyright

A mobile finance technology firm, V-Exchange Limited, has accused mobile network service provider Etisalat of alleged copyright infringement.

The company is, therefore, demanding N2 billion from the telco as compensation for the alleged infringement on its intellectual property.

But Etisalat Nigeria has denied any infringement on the intellectual property of V-Exchange Limited.

V-Exchange, which specialises in providing instant finance solutions to individuals and corporate entities via intelligent data-driven platform, claimed that they developed ‘Kwik Cash’ loan service which Etisalat recently offered to its customers, alleging that the mobile service provider imitated the solution.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, co-founder of V-Exchange Samuel Ajiboyede claimed that last November 23, he, with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mrs. Kemi Ayinde met with representatives of Etisalat over the company’s product for partnership for mutual benefit.

Ajiboyede said at the meeting, the loan service product was showcased to Etisalat officials who asked to be furnished with more details, which V-Exchange supplied.

Since they already obtained the patent for the product, he claimed that Etisalat officials advised them to obtain the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Short Code being the only thing remaining for a deal to be sealed between the two entities.

Ajiboyede stated that Etisalat, however, declined its request for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable his company acquire a Value Added Service (VAS) licence to get the Short Code approval from NCC, and lending licence.

He said the deal was already being closed with a financial institution that would take charge of the lending part of the product when it heard that Etisalat had launched the instant loan service without its knowledge and approval.

In a letter written through its lawyer, Mr Monday Ubani of the law firm of Ubani and Co, to the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, dated January 10, 2017,  V-Exchange is demanding N2 billion as compensation for the alleged copyright infringement and N2 million as account profit.

‘’ Our client has tested your product on several customers of your company and confirmed that the said product was the exact product for which it has exclusive right

‘’That this abysmal unlawful conduct of your company as highlighted above has infringed our client’s products for which copyright subsisted despite the caveat by known owners being ‘our client’ that no part of this shall be reproduced or copied in any material form with its prior authorisation.

‘’Moreover, it is arguable that the product reproduced in writing by your company was exact replica of our client’s products which were earlier in time protected by the copyright law.

“In conclusion, let it be stated that aside the civil action for infringement of our client’s copyright, we shall be constrained to simultaneously instigate and initiate a criminal action with its attendant legal consequences against your company for exploiting our client’s copyright as provided by the act.

“Therefore your company is hereby warned very sternly to refrain forthwith from further infringement of our client’s by itself or through its agents or privies and monetary restitution in the sums demanded above of its unlawful exploitation of our client’s products which copyright subsisted to mitigate the loss thus far.”

Etisalat, however, denied any infringement on V-Exchange’s purported patent and insisted it cannot pay compensation for an infringement that does not exist.

A letter signed by Etisalat Head, Legal Operations and Litigation, Vincent Eromosele and Manager, Legal Services, Chimeka Garricks, dated February 21, this year, acknowledged having had discussion with V-Exchange over its product but denied infringement of any patent belonging to the firm.

Etisalat claimed that ‘KwikCash’ is owned and operated by a licensed financial institution and that it followed due process in acquiring the right to use the product on its network. “The institution had secured all relevant approvals from the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and had even commenced pilot launch of the ‘KwickCash’ service on Etisalat Nigeria’s platform long before Etisalat Nigeria received V-Exchange’s letter (dated October 27, 2016) and subsequently met with V-Exchange (on November 23, 2016),” the telco added.

The mobile network provider further claimed that KwickCash’ service was already in existence and operational prior to its meeting with V-Exchange and that it was already working with a CBN licensed financial company which was at a pilot stage to offer micro cash loans to its interested subscribers.

“Etisalat Nigeria denies the allegation that it infringed V-Exchange purported patent over the products and is of the view that the claims made by V-Exchange are unfounded and baseless. Etisalat Nigeria is therefore unable to accede to V-Exchange’s demand for compensation of N2billion and an account for profit of N2million or any sum at all for the alleged infringement of your client’s purported patent,” it added.

Smartphone: Gionee to launch A1 at Mobile World Congress 2017

Gionee Communication Equipment Co. Ltd, will launch a brand new smartphone A1, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC).

Mobile World Congress is the world’s largest gathering for the mobile industry, organised annually by the Groupe Speciale Mobile Associatio (GSMA) in Barcelona, Spain.

Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) is an association of mobile operators and related companies devoted to support the standardization, deployment and promotion of the GSM mobile telephone system.
It represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.
Speaking ahead of the February 27, world forum, the Marketing Director, Gionee Nigeria, Mr Somoye Habeeb, said the phone which has a long-life battery and equipped with sensational selfie camera, and dual cameras for enhanced photo quality will be in the class of high end devices tat will be officially launched in Spain.
According to Gionee’s research into consumer needs in India and Africa, Habeeb said: “Handsets with a better selfie performance and seamless user experience are becoming increasingly popular with local consumers.

Users expect to be able to take bright, beautiful and natural-looking selfies at any time of the day or night. The younger generation regard selfies as an expression of themselves and they tend to share their photos through various social channels whenever and wherever they are.”

A Strike Against Snapchat? WhatsApp Introduces New Time Limited Feature, 'Status'

This is trending on Nigerian Twitter at the moment. WhatsApp has a new feature called Status, which is available to all users, iOS and Android. It allows people to update their statuses with photos, videos and more. These updates will disappear after 24 hours. 

The icon for Status is located between ‘Chats’ and ‘Calls’ on the navigation bar of your WhatsApp home-screen (as seen above). Once your Status is created, you can control who sees it by specifying so in your privacy settings. You can also discover which of your contacts has viewed your Status on a ‘view counter’ at the bottom of the screen.

WhatsApp currently has over 1 billion monthly users and hosts a daily thoroughfare of about 60 billion messages. "By milking its potential for multimedia usage, WhatsApp can augment itself from a functional messaging tool to a platform that users go to for entertainment."

It opens up fresh avenues for monetisation, which can help offset the opportunity cost of the scrapping of its earlier $1 nominal fee.

Looks like Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, is still bent on beating Snapchat at their game.

Solar Eclipse To Occur On Sunday – NASRDA

The National Space Research and Development Agency has said that there would be a partial Solar eclipse across the country on Feb. 26.

The Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr Felix Ale, in a statement on Thursday said, “A partial solar eclipse will be visible all over the country with different degree of totality to occur on Sunday, February 26.”

According to Ale, the highest degree of obscurity of 33 percent will be observed in the country during the natural occurrence in the southern part of Nigeria, particularly Port Harcourt, Uyo and Calabar.

He said that the lowest degree of obscurity would be about nine percent in the northern part of Nigeria, particularly in Kebbi.

Ale noted that in the South - West, the level of obscurity would be 23 per cent at about 5:42pm and 6:30p:m.

He, however, said it would be recording 28 to 30 per cent between 4:45pm and 6:33pm in the South - East.

“Meanwhile, the level of obscurity in Abuja, the Federal Capital City (FCT) will be 20 per cent between 4:54pm and 6:30pm, ”he said.

He stressed that the solar eclipse would be observed across the nation, thereby making each part of the country a great site for viewing the eclipse at different degree of obscurity.

According to him, the solar disc will be covered by the moon as seen from the earth and the eclipse will be visible as much as there is clear sky without rain or cloud.

He, however, said there was no cause for alarm or reason to panic as the solar eclipse was a natural occurrence and should be seen as part of the beauties of nature. (NAN).

Trouble Looms! Nigeria Telcos Set To Block Whatsapp And Skype To Generate More Revenues

Telecommunication companies in Nigeria may block calls made on instant messaging applications like WhatsApp and Skype, in a bid to increase their revenue.

According to The Punch, the telcos are seeking to address their loss on international calls and are looking to raise a revenue of N20trillion.

This may lead to subscribers being unable to carry out voice and video calls on WhatsApp, Facebook and some other Over-The-Top (OTT) services.

“It is an aggressive approach to stop further revenue loss to OTT players on international calls, having already lost about N100tn between 2012 and 2017,” a manager at one of the major telecoms companies in the country said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he added: “If we fail to be pro-active by taking cogent steps now, then there are indications that we may lose between N20tn and N30tn, or so, by the end of 2018.”

The source also revealed that the proliferation of apps like WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook, BlackBerry Messenger and Viber, was taking a big chunk of the voice revenue of telcos in the country.

In reaction to the news, the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said: “We don’t have any evidence of that. We do not regulate the Internet.”

“I am not aware of this development but globally, operators and network equipment makers don’t really embrace Skype,” the Managing Director, TechTrends Nigeria, Mr. Kenneth Omeruo, said.

“They liken Skype to an individual who takes undue advantage of other people’s generosity without giving anything in return.

“Globally, there is this apprehension among telecoms operators that Skype only steals their customers, while they invest billions of dollars to build, expand and upgrade networks”.

8 Tips To Protect You From ATM Scams

Having highlighted five common ATM scams above, here are eight tips on how you can avoid being a victim. Knowledge, they say, is power:

1. Get in the habit of using the same ATM machine for your transactions. Become familiar with it and be able to recognise changes to the machine.

2. Use ATM machines inside banks rather than on the street where they ’re easier for thieves to access.

3. If you’ re visiting an unfamiliar ATM machine that is not inside a bank, examine it carefully for devices. Card or cash trapping devices need to be glued or taped to the card reader or cash dispenser. Look for ‘extra’ cameras beyond the basic and generally obvious ATM security camera.

4. Never rely on the help of strangers to retrieve a confiscated card.

5. Never use an ATM machine when other people are lingering.

6. Report confiscated cards immediately. If you can, don't leave the machine. Instead, call the bank from the ATM where your card was taken using a cell phone.

7. Don’t use ATM machines with extra signage or warnings posted on the machine.

8. Never follow a link in a supposed bank email notice. If you are wondering if your bank has really contacted you via email, then close the email and directly type your bank’s website address into your browser. Visit your account and look for update notices directly on your account or bank’s website. The email is almost always a phishing scam.
While ATM theft isn’t going to go away, the Global ATM Security Alliance reports that just .0016 per cent of all ATM transactions worldwide are affected by crime or fraud . Additionally, with a little bit of care and attention, you can avoid these scams and keep your money.

For more information on how to keep your bank account safe from predators , contact your bank.