FOSS -- Free Open Source Software, in sub-Saharan Africa! I found this via our good friends at Timbuktu chronicles.

As you may/may not know, Bridges/CIPESA has got tons of materials on FOSS here, we've also dwelt extensively on it here -- the pros and cons, merits and demerits, potential pitfalls, etc.

They say experience is never at the mercy of arguments. And by golly, we have a live, homegrown specimen; Wazobia Linux! 

Per Jenni's blog entry,  a boost in Internet connectivity would directly translate to a boost in a country's international trade! So by this reasoning, the more 'Networked' a country is, the more international trade exposure they have, and the greater their economic growth trajectory.

You can view the 2005-2006  Global information technology NRI ranking here, and the executive summary here.

While the debate over ownership and financing of the East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) continues, land-locked countries in Africa have the most to lose if a closed consortium model is adopted. What are the implications for these countries, and can their interests be protected?

The assault on ICT language barriers rages on!

Microsoft translates their famous Windows XP software into different user-friendly African languages. The Zulu version will be launched in eThekwini today, with the Setswana version due in May and Afrikaans in June. Full story here.

An African multi-lingual keyboard goes on sale on the US market!

The keyboard inventor said that the device had been equipped with characters and tonal marks to type various languages ranging from English, Spanish, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. Read all about it.

Nokia has introduced into the Nigerian market their 'indigenized' mobile telephones -- which supports the 3 major local language settings, Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa.

Apparently, Nokia anticipates greater local market penetration with these 'indigenized' phones -- ridiculously simple but incredibly smart strategy!

It's pretty difficult to guage impacts or returns in dollars and cents due to this Nokia marketing strategy, but I personally take away 2 big lessons here;