E-Business
6.3m PELS Devices Shipped in EMEA in 2Q14

Research from International Data Corporation (IDC) has found that the personal and entry-level storage (PELS) market in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) was down by 1.4% year over year with almost 6.3 million units shipped in the second quarter of 2014 (2Q14), according to the latest IDC Worldwide Personal and Entry Level Storage Tracker.
Shipment values decreased slightly along with unit shipments by 1.9% from a year ago to $511 million.
The PELS market includes storage hardware products embedding from one to twelve disk bays, manufactured and marketed for consumers, small offices/home offices (SOHO), and small businesses.
Major vendors tracked in this IDC report include Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, Buffalo Technology, D-Link, Netgear, and Lenovo/EMC (Iomega) among others.
Western Europe
The personal and entry level storage market in Western Europe grew 3.5% YoY in 2Q14, with 4.7 million units shipped during this period. Shipment value also increased 2.5% YoY 2Q14.
“The increase in both the entry-level and higher end of the personal storage market can be credited to improved customer consciousness of data storage and increased vendor offerings, but also to a positive lift from PC spending in SMB environments — up 3.5% in 2Q14 in Western Europe,” said Jimena Sisa, senior research analyst with the IDC EMEA storage group. “We are seeing the increase coming mainly from personal level storage, which increased 3.5% YoY in unit shipments in 2Q14 in Western Europe. The increase came mainly from single-bay devices, as disk capacity continued to grow.”
“Average selling prices that more closely align with personal storage than enterprise storage and features such as WiFi connectivity for mobile device access are keeping this product category relevant, despite the hype around cloud storage lockers,” said Giorgio Nebuloni, research manager with IDC EMEA. “Hard disk vendors such as WD or Seagate continue to push in this space, but initial signs of renewed focus from enterprise players such as Lenovo point to interesting quarters ahead.”
CEMA
The personal and entry level storage market in Central Eastern Europe and Middle East and Africa (CEMA) accounted for the 13% YoY decline in units shipped and revenue.
The PELS market as well as the overall economic situation in the Central Eastern European region continues to be affected by the Ukrainian crisis and sanctions towards Russia.
Some of the minor contributing factors could be the slow adoption of personal storage devices due to the low number of people working remotely and the bandwidth capability of some countries in the region.
The Middle East and Africa alone recorded a 17% YoY drop during this second quarter, as the region was also destabilized by the difficult political situation and civil unrest in most countries.
The PELS market includes storage products and solutions with a single bay through twelve bay configurations that are manufactured and marketed for individuals, small offices/home offices, and small businesses.
IDC defines personal storage as having 1–2 bays and entry-level storage as having 3–12 bays. HDD vendors are suppliers that manufacture their own hard disk drives, in addition to branded external storage.
IDC defines a Mainstream non-HDD vendor as a major PELS vendor that does not manufacture its own hard disk drives.
Data for the PELS market is reported for calendar quarters. It includes vendor type, bays, capacity range, interface, and form factor.
EMEA PELS research covers 16 Western European countries, the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Rest of Central Eastern Europe, South Africa, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the Rest of Middle East and Africa.
E-Business
Tech Expert Unveils BAT-BOT AI App to Curb Fake News ahead of 2027 Elections

An artificial intelligence (AI) application has been developed to help combat the spread of fake news, misinformation and political propaganda as political activities gradually build toward the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.

The app, known as BAT-BOT AI, was unveiled in Abuja by Mr. Gunu Usman, its founder, who said the platform is designed to assist the federal government in addressing the growing challenge of false information within nation’s digital space.
Mr Usman explained that the new platform was created to ensure that factual information circulates faster than falsehood.
He noted that the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and manipulated narratives targeting the administration of Bola Tinubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress, and national institutions poses risks to democratic stability and public trust.
According to Mr. Usman, BAT-BOT AI was developed to support public access to verified information while countering misleading narratives online.
The Technology expert described the system as a sovereign AI-powered civic information and fact-verification platform designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital information ecosystem ahead of the 2027 general election.
He added that the initiative aligns with the government’s policy direction under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, which seeks to promote transparency and encourage informed civic participation.
The founder further explained that the platform is currently accessible to Nigerians through multiple digital channels, enabling users to verify claims, seek clarification on government policies and obtain information on national development initiatives.
Mr. Usman expressed optimism that the tool would help curb the spread of false information and contribute to a more credible digital environment as the country prepares for the next electoral cycle.
E-Business
Why JustMarkets Is a Strong Choice for Gold Trading

Over the past four years, gold has risen by more than 400%. The precious metal has long been one of the most traded assets in global financial markets. From its role as a traditional store of value to its sensitivity to inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty, gold continues to attract traders seeking efficient and predictable trading opportunities during a period of global uncertainty and high volatility.

JustMarkets
For traders looking to effectively access gold markets, choosing the right trading environment is as important as timing their entry. One of the most popular and effective gold trading platforms is JustMarkets, offering the tools, conditions, and infrastructure to enable traders to achieve their most ambitious gold trading goals.
Tight Spreads on XAU/USD
Cost efficiency is a critical factor in gold trading, especially for active day traders. JustMarkets offers extremely competitive XAU/USD spreads, allowing traders to open and close positions with reduced transaction costs. Lower spreads can significantly impact short-term strategies, where precision and timing are key to effectively entering a trade. By minimizing trading costs, JustMarkets helps traders focus more on market analysis and finding the ideal entry point, and less on overhead.
Fast and Reliable Execution
Gold is recognized for its volatility, especially during the day, especially with economic announcements or geopolitical events. Speed is of the essence in volatile markets. JustMarkets provides high-speed execution of orders, which helps minimize the risks of delays, especially during periods of high volatility. This ensures that traders are able to respond better to market conditions, thereby having better control over trade management.
Flexible Trading Conditions
Each trader has their own approach to gold, ranging from intraday trading to position trading. JustMarkets offers flexible leverage and account types, enabling traders to adjust their exposure based on their risk tolerance and trading style. This flexibility is suitable for both conservative and aggressive traders while still allowing them to access the same global gold market.
Advanced Platforms and Tools
Successful gold trading is based on thorough technical and fundamental analysis. JustMarkets provides access to industry-standard trading platforms equipped with advanced charting tools, multiple timeframes, and a wide range of indicators for recognizing divergences and clear entry points. These features help traders analyze price trends, identify key levels, and plan their trades with greater confidence.
Accessibility via mobile devices and computers via the JustMarkets Mobile Trading app also ensures traders can monitor positions and market movements from anywhere and at any time.
Education and Market Support
Gold is also affected by factors such as inflation rates, central bank policies, and currency fluctuations. Understanding these factors is important for developing a structured trading strategy.
JustMarkets offers resources for traders, which provide information on how global events can impact the price of gold like case studies, daily, bank and weekly analysis. This is a knowledge-based system, which enables the trader to make more informed decisions rather than relying on the price movements of gold.
Trading Activities That Keep Gold Traders Engaged
In addition to the competitive trading environment, JustMarkets also runs various special activities and campaigns that aim to make the trading experience more interesting. At certain intervals, the special activities may include trading contests on specific trading instruments, such as gold, which are highly sought after by traders. This will give the traders an added impetus to keep trading.
The special activities are designed to encourage trading, consistency, and skill-building among the traders, along with the additional motivation for the trading strategies. This is also in line with the overall philosophy of JustMarkets to create a dynamic trading environment where trading, learning, and motivation are linked together.
A Trading Environment Built for Gold Traders
Gold is still one of the most dynamic markets with the greatest number of opportunities in the world. With tight spreads on XAU/USD, fast execution, flexible trading terms, and access to advanced analytical tools, JustMarkets creates an optimal trading environment for those who want to trade gold efficiently.
In addition to the comprehensive educational assistance, JustMarkets continues to position itself as a strong competitor for traders who are looking for professional trading conditions combined with growth opportunities.
E-Business
Microsoft Expands Africa AI Push while DeepSeek Gains Users

Microsoft is stepping up its push to expand artificial-intelligence adoption across Africa as competition intensifies with Chinas DeepSeek for influence in one of the worlds youngest and fastest-growing digital markets.

The company plans to train 3 million Africans on its AI technologies this year through partnerships with schools, universities and other institutions, with a focus on South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco.
The effort reflects Microsofts broader attempt to accelerate adoption of its AI ecosystem across emerging markets where developers and enterprises are increasingly experimenting with generative AI tools.
Alongside the training initiative, Microsoft is working with MTN Group (MTNOY), Africas largest telecommunications company, to distribute Microsoft 365 and its Copilot digital assistant to about 300 million subscribers.
The Elevate program is designed to expand AI literacy and reduce cost barriers that might otherwise limit adoption, according to regional leadership.
The push comes as Chinese technology firms expand their footprint across the continent, with DeepSeeks open-source models accounting for roughly 11% to 14% of chatbot use in several African markets and reaching about 20% in countries such as Ethiopia and Zimbabwe following investments tied to digital infrastructure and telecom networks.
Microsoft is also increasing its infrastructure investment in the region.
In South Africa, the company plans to invest 5.4 billion rand, or about $330 million, to expand its cloud and AI capacity by the end of next year, while it is also exploring plans for a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya.
Early corporate adoption is emerging across the continent, with South African grocer Spar Group using Copilot in ways that save more than 700 employee hours annually and Nigerias Access Holdings integrating AI into daily workflows.
Regional leadership has suggested broader AI adoption could potentially contribute up to $1.5 trillion to Africas gross domestic product by 2030 if governments and businesses continue investing in digital infrastructure and AI skills.
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