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📱X announces the shutdown of its business operations in Brazil

📱X announces the shutdown of its business operations in Brazil

Plus: Silverbacks Holdings invests in sports tech firm NERGii

Innovation Village
August 19, 2024

Today’s Menu ☕️

📱X announces the shutdown of its business operations in Brazil
🛜 C-CONNECT, a new virtual mobile network operator, has recently launched across South Africa
📱Instagram tests new profile grid featuring rectangular images, moving away from traditional squares
👟 Silverbacks Holdings invests in South African sports tech firm NERGii

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📱SOCIAL MEDIA

X announces the shutdown of its business operations in Brazil

X, the online social networking service previously recognized as Twitter, has officially declared that it will cease its business activities within Brazil. Despite this cessation, individuals residing in Brazil will continue to have access to the platform’s services.

This development unfolds amidst an ongoing legal confrontation involving Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice, Alexandre de Moraes. Justice Moraes has been actively working to suspend specific user accounts on X, citing their involvement in the dissemination of false information pertaining to elections and the operation of “digital militias.”

The situation escalated when X communicated through its official channel dedicated to global government affairs. The company disclosed that Justice Moraes has issued a direct threat of incarceration against X’s legal representative in Brazil. This ultimatum was given in response to the company’s non-compliance with the justice’s demands to enact censorship on the platform……continue reading

🛜 TELECOMS

C-CONNECT, a new virtual mobile network operator, has recently launched across South Africa

C-CONNECT, a new virtual mobile network operator, has recently launched across South Africa, aiming to revolutionize the mobile service experience for the country’s discerning prepaid user base with an innovative rewards-based approach. As an emerging contender in the telecommunications arena, C-CONNECT stands out not only for its cost-effective solutions but also for the opportunities it presents to entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) eager to adopt cutting-edge solutions.

Leveraging the solid network infrastructure of Cell C, C-CONNECT introduces a distinctive offering to the market: a rewards program that compensates users for their mobile expenditures. Customers earn a 10% return in the form of Cha-Chings, the company’s proprietary in-app currency, whenever they recharge their Airtime or Data. These Cha-Chings can then be exchanged for a variety of lifestyle rewards, such as prepaid utilities, event tickets, and gaming vouchers.....…....continue reading

💰SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram tests new profile grid featuring rectangular images, moving away from traditional squares

Instagram is currently experimenting with a revamped layout for user profile grids, transitioning from the traditional square images to a new format that incorporates rectangular photographs. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, shared via an Instagram story that the platform is exploring a vertical grid layout for profiles. He pointed out that the original square grid format was conceived when Instagram only supported square-shaped photo uploads.

However, that era has passed, and now the majority of content uploaded to Instagram is in vertical formats, predominantly 4:5 images and 9:16 videos. Mosseri described the process of resizing these uploads to fit a square frame as “pretty brutal,” indicating a significant loss of visual content.....…....continue reading

👟 SPORTS TECHNOLOGY

Silverbacks Holdings invests in South African sports tech firm NERGii

Silverbacks Holdings, an investment firm based in Mauritius, has recently expanded its portfolio by purchasing a substantial minority share in NERGii, a South African company at the forefront of sports technology. The acquisition was recently publicly announced in Cape Town, signaling Silverbacks’ continued interest in the dynamic sports and technology markets within Africa.

NERGii has developed a cutting-edge shoe insole that functions as a biological battery, aimed at enhancing athletic performance by naturally stimulating the mitochondria. This technology is said to boost the body’s energy levels, benefiting athletes across the spectrum from casual enthusiasts to professionals.

Ibrahim Sagna, the Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, highlighted the strategic nature of the investment, emphasizing NERGii’s potential to address consumer needs in health and wellness and to make a significant impact in its rapidly expanding market.........continue reading