Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 43 | Page 14

NEWS Microsoft launches two new Surface devices in South Africa The recommended retail price for the Surface laptop 3 is US$1,380 The vendor said devices will be available for consumers in retail from retailer Incredible Connection stores and Vodacom from July 29 2020. The Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 continue the brand’s tradition of best-in-class productivity, security, mobility and speed, and introduce new processors and modern connectivity options in a world of remote work and learning. Vithesh Reddy, Consumer and Channel Marketing Director at Microsoft South Africa, said: “Rapid and continuous change define modern living and working – and the shift to remote working and education requires the right tools to stay productive and connected securely. Microsoft’s Surface family is designed for just that kind of versatility, portability and productivity, so people can work and play faster, better and stay connected wherever they are.” Microsoft has announced the expansion of its award-winning Surface device range into South Africa, with the introduction of the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 for both commercial and consumer customers. Reddy said as with previous Surface devices, Microsoft has delivered best-in-class upgrades for its new additions to the family, to ensure that individuals and organisations have access to the optimal performance they need to achieve more in the office, classroom or out in the field. Egypt’s government readies to launch an applied technology communication school The El-Shaheed Amr Moustafa Industrial Secondary School for girls in Egypt’s Nasr City, will be developed and renamed the WE Joint School of Applied Technology for Communication and Information Technology. The school’s development was put into effect recently by a joint co-operation protocol signed by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, and Telecom Egypt. Egypt’s Minister of Education Tarek Shawky, said that the system of applied technology schools was launched in September 2018 by his ministry with the aim of creating an integrated educational system capable of developing Egypt’s technical education to match the best technical education systems in the world. HE Shawky said the protocol signed will see the launch of the first applied technology school in the academic year 2020-2021. In addition, the agreement will also establish an extended partnership between the Ministry of Education and Telecom Egypt. Minister of Communication and Information Technology Amr Talaat, said that the protocol comes under the ministry’s strategy of Digital Transformation aimed at building a digital enabled Egypt. The co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Telecom Egypt will provide qualified and trained technical professionals in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) in the North African state. 14 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com