May 2011 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

airtell network down.
by ndunda eric 31 May '11

31 May '11

Hey guys, I think there must be some sort of failed upgrade from this airtell guys. As from yesterday, it has been hell for me.i couldnt make any calls whatsoever and there network was down. I have realized that yesterday,from where the network strength bars on my right hand side of the blackberry, it was all 3g and the bars were only 2 and just a few minutes gone its back to gsm and full bars 5 in number! Could this be an issue of failed upgrade or what?

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Register and vote for M-Farm under companies that have the most potential under the TOP 50 SME’s chosen by infoDev
by Dorcas Muthoni 31 May '11

31 May '11

*Deadline: today, 31st May 2011 at 6pm Vote on the companies that have the most potential* under the *TOP 50 SME’s chosen by infoDev on* http://www.ideasproject.com/ideas/4137 Please register and vote for M-Farm (www.m-farm.co.ke) a revolutionary mobile application pioneered by two Kenyan female techies who have build an application to guarantee farmers optimal value for their produce by enhancing market access via a mobile agricultural commodity exchange ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodities_exchange) platform. This application can make a big difference for rural farmers in Kenya trying to fetch the best prices and escape shortchange by middlemen. This application can be used by farmers all over the world. The application can facilitate our African farmers also fetch best value of their raw produce while exporting to international markets significantly enhancing the value African economies fetch on produce such as coffee, tea, pyre-thrum and many other tropic agricultural produce. -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Core Network jobs
by kevin mutumah 31 May '11

31 May '11

Hello Skunks, My client is looking for technical guys with core networking experience in the field of telecommunication. below are the details of the Job. *Professional Related Working Experience* 1. Telecommunication / Electronics or Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Degree from recognized University or equivalent thereof. 2. Minimum 3 years experience on O&M activities in the GSM technology related networks. 3. Minimum Requirement level of courses related to GSM and E/// MSC. 4. Good knowledge of mobile telephony Traffic scenario (GSM & UMTS) 5. Extensive Knowledge of Core Network SS7 Signalling protocol (BSSAP,MAP,ISUP,CAP,CS1+,GCP,RANAP,BICC,IPBCP) 6. Extensive knowledge of Core network Signalling routing (SCCP,MTP/MTP3b/M3UA) 7. Good troubleshooting experience on MSOFTX3000/MGW/SIWF/IGWB 8. Good knowledge of exchange definition like A & B number analysis, GT analysis, Routing case etc. 9. Working level of PC software packages. 10. Strong command of the English language, Arabic language knowledge will be considered as an advantage. 11. Strong communication and interpersonal skills (team work, commitments, self motivation). 12. High creativity and innovation. 13. Effective delegation by using all available resources. 14. Organizational Awareness. 15. Able to work under high pressure. 16. Customer focus. *[Position objectives]* All kind of Operation & Maintenance required of BSS of Ericsson, to maintain very good operation and stability of MTN South sudan * [Job Description and Responsibilities]* • Provide 2nd level O&M (Hardware & Software) for GSM core network. • MSC SERVER, MGW, SIWF, IGWB support. • Subscriber complains handling. • Integration support: Support testing between E/// MSC/VLR to HLR/AUC, BSC, SCP, VMS, SMS, GMLC, GPRS, etc. • Implementation of any cutover of new services, major network changes, and checking statistics after implementation. • Approving the work-orders prepared and checked by DT group before loading to re-evaluate the affect on the network. • Providing technical support for integrating any new services/projects. • Providing technical support for other departments in STC for any technical issues related to Huawei nodes as Engineering, Performance, Quality, Billing, and Customer Care, Provisioning & Mediation. • Providing technical support for inter-working problems with other vendors. • Providing second line and 24-hour support for all Huawei nodes (MSC SERVER/MGW/SIWF/IGWB) escalated from NMC surveillance & Field Engineers. • Create GCRMS ticket & follow up, troubleshooting the problem etc. • Following up the upgrades for all SS nodes, and performing network general tests after implementation in the pilot node. • Periodic auditing for the network performance through statistics. • Providing technical training for local staff. • Making operational standards and procedures, supervised daily operations and maintenance of different node/hardware types. • Preparation of contingency plans for special occasions, and emergency situations. • Working with performance group for enhancing the network performance as changing SS7 routing. • Definition of statistics files, measurement programs and demand reports on all SS nodes. • Serve as interface to product and technical managers regarding product issues, i.e. capacity requirements, product upgrades, etc. • Provide quick temporary solution to prevent service loss in emergency situations. • Health check and DT audit for the new node. Please note its an urgent ongoing project and c.v should be in *WORD FORMAT*to *hmulema(a)yahoo.com and kkmtumah(a)yahoo.com* as urgently as possible.

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eLearning Africa Conference Exhibition photos
by Dennis Kioko 31 May '11

31 May '11

Here is a collection of devices on display at the conference which attracted 1700 participants. most of the devices were thin client devices. http://www.cio.co.ke/Top-Stories/elearning-africa-2011-gallery.html -- with Regards: <https://twitter.com/#%21/denniskioko> <http://blog.denniskioko.com> www.denniskioko.com

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Mail server Attachment Size
by kimondo Duncan 31 May '11

31 May '11

Skunks and skunknettes, How do I configure a mail server to send send big attachments(Like 50 MB and more)? Is there a way i can integrate it with ftp or should consider online storage? Note: The server is on Linux box.The server is internally managed.

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Why are so many technology solutions companies so unclear about what they do?
by Webmaster 30 May '11

30 May '11

When I go to most Kenyan technology solutions websites, I usually find some philosophical mumbo jumbo on their frontpage that reads something like this: "Our company makes enterprise content management solutions for business that enable organizations to unify people, content and processes to minimize business risk, accelerate time-to-value and sustain lower total cost of ownership." For example: Dotsavvy http://www.dotsavvyafrica.com/ Seven Seas http://www.sevenseastech.com/ These type of introductions struggle so much to sound intelligent, but most users cannot tell head or tail of what you are offering, and the 'Back' button is quickly pressed. Give it to us straight, like industry leaders VMWare: http://www.vmware.com/ or Amazon Web Services: http://aws.amazon.com/ or Heroku: http://www.heroku.com/

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Online CV for techies
by Peter Karunyu 30 May '11

30 May '11

For those among thee that are predisposed to do things a tad bit differently, see here a template for an online CV: http://chris-creed.com/free/azuka/ It can be had from here: http://www.chris-creed.com/products/azuka/

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Re: [Skunkworks] The difference between a dreamer developer and one who will get rich
by sheeroh＠gmail.com 30 May '11

30 May '11

I'm sorry, but what are VC's?

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The difference between a dreamer developer and one who will get rich
by Joram Mwinamo 30 May '11

30 May '11

This is a follow up to a post about Developers and VCs in kenya Allow me to advance the following theory about developers who I believe will make breakthrough innovations and those who will keep waiting for VCs to knock on their doors or the govt to advance them funding. I believe the difference between the 2 is USERS. I had a conversation with a developer one day who is thinking about doing his own thing. In the absence of generous angel investors My advice was the following 1. Draw up the concept of whatever it is you want to do 2. Implement the solution starting off in a very small way. A basic app that performs the basic functions intended will do 3. Get the intended market using the software. Get some beta testers who are in the real world. Even if they are not paying for the application. 4. Use feedback from the beta testers to improve the product. 5. When you have refined it, you can now scale up and get people paying for a working solution that already has many evangelists. I dont believe technology adoption or even established competition is the barrier to succesful software development. People refuse to use technology for many reasons and most are psychological. But once you get people using the applications, then you can build up a user base based on referrals or you could even advertise at that point. With a growing user base that is loyal, you will get VCs not just knocking on your door but offering you money to scale up the product. Ideas are in plenty, working solutions are very very few. the above process will definitely take time and sweat, but its a surer way to go than to wait for people to cheer you on when you have nothing to show for it. -- Sent from my Voice Recognition Watch© -------------------------------------------------------------------- Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,but that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.As we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear,our presence automatically liberates others.

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In the KE tech world and Silicon Valley--An amatuer view
by aki 30 May '11

30 May '11

Just been catching up on a thread on the other list, and something caught my attention. The subject line is to do with Silicon Valley. The more I look at the overall picture of the approach towards what ICT needs and can be done, the more I'm convinced that generally ( *not all* ) many kenyans are far more interested in mastering to become *brokers* that actually doing something. It seems becoming a broker is a very easy thing. I've read various articles and excuses as to why VCs, angle investors and others--mostly external-- should provide financing for tech projects etc. Yet, so far I've not seen any info about tech projects that has been funded by such. What I even fail to understand is that the impression of someone funding you to write some program, yet our local banks quite easily provide unsecured loans to a certain level. And taking software developement, the investment costs are quite low compared to generally most business that have to retain stock/asset values. *Something strange is being groomed in our tech culture for the last few years, and it seems it maybe an easier way for brokers to earn incomes or perks with a twist.* Now please someone tell me if the chinese back street programmers/developers are preparing a well written document to be presented to some VC, angel or Silicon Valley type operation so that they can get funding to "survive" while doing some development? I'm sure I saw a picture of a QUAD SIM phone somewhere.......... Is it just me who sees it like this, or do I have the wrong impressions? Corrections welcome...

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