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Ericsson Releases 10 Hot Consumer Trends 2014

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With 2013 winding up, Ericsson ConsumerLab has identified the hottest consumer trends for 2014 and beyond. For more than 15 years, ConsumerLab has conducted research to explore people’s values, behaviors and ways of using ICT products and services.

Its global research program is based on annual interviews with over 100,000 individuals in more than 40 countries and 15 megacities.

Michael Björn, head of research at ConsumerLab, said: “The most important trend we see is the mass demand for apps and services across all industries and societal sectors – which has the potential to fundamentally change everyday life.”

1.       Apps change society. The fast global uptake of smartphones has completely changed the way we communicate and use the internet. Now we enter a new phase of rapidly-diversifying smartphone use – and people are looking for apps across all sectors of society. This includes everything from shopping and daycare to communication with authorities, and transportation. Apps are becoming more important than what phone you use.

2.       Your body is the new password. Sites are demanding longer passwords with a mixture of numbers, letters and symbols – almost impossible to remember. This is leading to growing interest in biometric alternatives. For example, our research found that 52 percent of smartphone users want to use their fingerprints instead of passwords and 48 percent are interested in using eye-recognition to unlock their screen. A total of 74 percent believe that biometric smartphones will become mainstream during 2014.

3.       The quantified self. Blood pressure, pulse and steps are just some examples of how we want to measure ourselves with mobile devices, using personally-generated data. You only need to start an app to track your activities and get to know yourself better. A total of 40 percent of smartphone users want their phone to log all of their physical activities and 56 percent would like to monitor their blood pressure and pulse using a ring.

4.       Internet expected everywhere. Internet experience has been falling behind voice; smartphone users are realizing that the signal bars on their phone no longer provide reliable guidance, since a signal that is adequate for a voice call may not be good enough for internet services. Our research found that the lowest satisfaction is with the internet quality experienced on the subway.

5.       Smartphones reduce the digital divide. Internet access on a global scale is still inadequately and unequally distributed, giving rise to what is referred to as the digital divide. The advent of cheaper smartphones means that consumers no longer need costly computing devices to access internet services. A total of 51 percent of consumers globally feel that their mobile phone is the most important piece of technology – and for many it is becoming the primary device for internet use.

6.       Online benefits outweigh concerns – As the internet becomes an integrated part of our daily lives, the risks associated with being connected are becoming more apparent. 56 percent of daily internet users are concerned about privacy issues. However, only 4 percent say that they would actually use the internet less. Instead, consumers apply strategies to minimize risk such as being more cautious about the type of personal information they provide.

7.       Video on command. Despite having greater media choice, we seem less prone to choose what we watch ourselves. In fact, our friends are particularly influential when it comes to viewing video material. We found that 38 percent of respondents say they watch video clips recommended by their friends at least several times weekly. Our friends have almost as much impact on our blog-reading and music-listening habits too.

8.       Making my data visible. A total of 48 percent of consumers use apps to better understand their data consumption. While 41 percent just want to know how much data they use, 33 percent want to make sure they are billed correctly and 31 percent don’t want to exceed their operator’s data cap. Research also revealed that 37 percent of smartphone owners regularly use apps to test their connection speed.

9.       Sensors in everyday places. As interactive internet services are now commonplace, consumers are increasingly expecting our physical surroundings to be equally responsive. By the end of 2016, around 60 percent of smartphone owners believe that sensors will be used in everything from healthcare and public transport, to cars, homes and our places of work.

10.    Play, pause, resume elsewhere. As 19 percent of total streamed time is spent on phones or tablets, consumers are increasingly shifting the locations where they watch TV to suit their daily lives. For example they might start viewing content at home, pause it, and resume watching during their commute to work. When changing places, it can also make sense to switch device.

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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LG Electronics Showcases Advanced HVAC Solutions at Mega Clima Nigeria 2026

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LG Electronics reaffirmed its position as a leading innovator in climate control and energy-efficient air conditioning solutions with its participation at Mega Clima Nigeria 2026, the 9th International Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Exhibition recognized as the largest HVAC+R sector show in West Africa.

Held at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, the three-day exhibition brought together global manufacturers, distributors, contractors, engineers, and industry stakeholders to explore the future of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration technologies across the region.

As one of the featured exhibitors at the event, LG leveraged the platform to showcase a range of advanced HVAC solutions designed to address the growing demand for smarter, more energy-efficient, and scalable cooling systems across residential, commercial, and industrial environments.

With West Africa’s HVAC sector continuing to evolve alongside rapid urbanisation, infrastructure growth, and increasing attention to sustainability, Mega Clima has become a strategic meeting point for conversations around innovation, efficiency, and climate-responsive technologies. The 2026 edition featured over 100 global brands, thousands of professional visitors, technical workshops, and networking opportunities, further positioning the exhibition as a key industry platform within the region.

Showcasing Smart Climate Solutions for Residential and Industrial Needs

At the LG exhibition booth, visitors and stakeholders engaged directly with a range of the company’s advanced HVAC technologies, including the LG Multi V.5 and Multi VS systems, both designed to deliver high-performance cooling while optimising energy consumption.

Speaking during the exhibition, Business Development Manager, LG Electronics Nigeria, Ifeoluwa Babarinsa, highlighted the adaptability and efficiency of the showcased systems, particularly their ability to support multiple indoor units while maintaining low energy consumption.

According to him, the LG Multi V.5 system is designed primarily for industrial and large-scale commercial applications, while the Multi VS system is tailored toward residential use cases, providing flexible solutions for varying environmental and operational demands.

A major highlight of the systems is their scalability, with both solutions capable of connecting to as many as 64 indoor units, offering increased operational flexibility across different building types and installation requirements.

The exhibition also featured several indoor HVAC solutions compatible with the VRF systems, including the Round Cassette, Ceiling Concealed Type Units, and Four-Way Cassette Units.

Particular attention was drawn to the Round Cassette unit, which was presented as an innovative cooling solution suitable for spaces without conventional ceiling structures. The unit also demonstrated enhanced airflow performance through its round-flow air distribution system and faster cooling capabilities.

Through live demonstrations and product engagement sessions, LG provided visitors with practical insight into how modern HVAC technologies can improve comfort, operational efficiency, and energy management across residential and commercial spaces.

Reinforcing LG’s Commitment to Energy Efficiency and Innovation

LG’s participation at Mega Clima Nigeria 2026 reflects the company’s broader commitment to delivering technologies that align with evolving consumer and industry needs, particularly in markets where energy efficiency and sustainable infrastructure are becoming increasingly important.

As conversations around environmental sustainability and smart infrastructure continue to shape the future of the HVAC industry, the exhibition provided an opportunity for LG to reinforce the role of intelligent climate solutions in supporting long-term energy optimisation and building performance.

The company’s showcased systems emphasised not only cooling performance, but also operational efficiency, adaptability, and user-focused design, qualities that continue to define LG’s approach to innovation across both consumer and commercial categories.

“This year, we showcased our inverter product range alongside advanced HVAC solutions that reflect LG’s continued commitment to innovation, energy efficiency, and smarter climate control technologies. One of the key highlights was our AI-powered VRF solution, the Multi V i, which represents the next phase of intelligent cooling systems we are introducing into the Nigerian market. As the headquarters of LG Electronics West Africa, Nigeria remains a strategic hub for us, and we remain committed to expanding access to innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers and businesses across the region.”

LG’s presence at the exhibition also reflected its continued investment in engaging industry professionals, technical experts, and business stakeholders through platforms that encourage collaboration, knowledge exchange, and technological advancement within the HVAC sector.

Positioning Technology as a Driver of Smarter Living and Infrastructure

Beyond product displays, Mega Clima Nigeria 2026 created a broader conversation around the future of climate control technologies within rapidly developing urban environments. From commercial buildings and hospitality spaces to residential infrastructure, the demand for efficient and intelligent cooling systems continues to grow across the region.

By participating in one of West Africa’s most influential HVAC exhibitions, LG demonstrated its readiness to support this growth through solutions that combine advanced engineering, smart functionality, and energy-conscious performance.

The exhibition further reinforced LG’s philosophy of creating technologies that improve everyday experiences while supporting the broader goals of efficiency, sustainability, and modern living.

As the HVAC industry continues to evolve across Africa, LG remains committed to delivering solutions that not only respond to present demands, but also anticipate the future needs of businesses, homes, and infrastructure across the continent.


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Kaspersky Warns that Scammers are Exploiting World Cup 2026 Travellers

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Kaspersky experts explain which online offers travellers should be cautious of when planning their trip, to avoid spoiling their experience ahead of the upcoming games.

Thousands of fans are expected to attend the World Cup 2026, and many are already handling their travel logistics, purchasing their flights and other transport tickets, booking accommodation, and arranging everything they need to reach the host cities. As interest grows, so does the number of fraudulent schemes that exploit the fact that fans are actively preparing for their upcoming journey.

In late April 2026, Kaspersky experts detected a campaign exploiting the branding of a well-known transport app, targeting users in Mexico. The interface of a fake Spanish-language website, impersonating one of the services, prompts users to enter their phone number and password in order to “claim prizes.” In reality, the attackers are mimicking a trusted brand and attempting to steal users’ credentials from those lured by the promise of a reward.

Some cybercriminals go “a level lower” and post their offers on the dark web. Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence experts discovered a thread advertising such services, published on a shadow forum in March 2026.

The listings included offers for discounted airline tickets, hotel bookings, and match tickets, allegedly at 20% off the original price. These offers are designed to lure users and can be highly dangerous, ultimately resulting in victims losing both their money and any services they expected to receive.

Entrepreneurs and property owners also in the crosshairs

Cybercriminals are also targeting businesses and entrepreneurs at the intersection of the travel industry, which is also involved in the event. Given the high demand for short-term rentals during the tournament, property owners have become an attractive target for scams.

For example, a fake website was discovered requesting account credentials for a well-known platform. In this way, scammers attempt to gain access to property owner accounts, potentially resulting in unauthorised withdrawals and financial losses.

Another common scheme involves fraudsters attempting to extract money from organisations by posing as representatives of well-known airlines and offering fictitious business partnerships. In these emails, they claim to be launching new projects or business expansion initiatives and state that they are actively seeking suppliers or contractors.

If a company representative responds to such an offer, the scammers typically escalate the deception in a subsequent stage. To enhance credibility, they send forged documents for completion and signature, including supplier registration forms and non-disclosure agreements.

The ultimate objective of the fraudsters in this scheme is to induce the organisation to pay a so-called “deposit,” ostensibly required to secure a priority position in a partner selection list.

According to the claims made in the fraudulent communications, this payment would later be fully refunded once the partnership is formally established. In reality, this promise is entirely deceptive. The perpetrators simply appropriate the funds, and no reimbursement is ever made to the victim organisation.

“The travel sector, particularly when it intersects with major events, is a persistent target for a wide range of scams and fraudulent schemes. For end users, it is often difficult to distinguish at first sight between a legitimate website and a spoofed one, or between genuine marketing communications from a reputable service and scam emails.

“We therefore advise treating overly attractive offers with a high degree of caution in order to protect your personal data and financial resources,” says Anna Lazaricheva, senior spam analyst at Kaspersky.


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Meta Platforms Contributed $820m to Nigeria’s Economy in 2025 – Report

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Meta’s family of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, contributed an estimated 820 million dollars in annual economic value to Nigeria in 2025, according to a new report released on Wednesday.

Meta platforms contributed $820m to Nigeria’s economy in 2025 - Report

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The report titled “Nigeria’s Digital Economy” was conducted by independent research firm, Public First, and commissioned by Meta.

It stated that 14 million Nigerian small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) used Meta platforms in 2025 to start, run and grow their businesses.

According to the report, the platforms contributed about two billion dollars to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while generating an estimated 640 million dollars in productivity gains through instant messaging services.

The report noted that 81 per cent of Nigerian businesses surveyed said Meta platforms had helped them expand their customer base beyond their local areas.

It added that the digital tools had reduced customer acquisition costs and enabled businesses in different parts of the country to access wider markets.

The report also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Nigeria’s economy, projecting that AI could contribute 22 billion dollars to the country’s GDP by 2035 under favourable conditions.

It stated that 87 per cent of online Nigerians surveyed believed AI products developed within Africa would play an important role in the continent’s economic growth.

Speaking on the findings, Meta’s Director of Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Balkissa Ide Siddo, described Nigeria as one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and digitally engaged markets.

According to her, Meta platforms are helping to remove traditional barriers to business growth and enabling entrepreneurs to access broader economic opportunities.

“From a tailor in Lagos reaching customers across the country through Instagram, to a small business owner in Kano taking orders on WhatsApp, to a creator in Abuja building a global audience on Facebook, Meta’s platforms are unlocking real economic opportunity,” she said.

Siddo noted that WhatsApp had become a major gateway for AI adoption in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa.

She added that 93 per cent of Meta AI prompts in the region were made through WhatsApp, indicating that many users were engaging with AI technologies through platforms they already use daily.

The report further stated that 93 per cent of online Nigerian adults surveyed said they felt more connected to wider communities through Meta’s applications.

Also speaking, Alison Neyle, Director at Public First, said the findings reflected the increasing role of digital platforms in supporting entrepreneurship and participation in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

“Nigeria’s digital transformation is creating new opportunities for businesses, creators and consumers alike.

“With the right combination of infrastructure, platform access and open-source AI, the upside for Nigeria is significant,” Neyle said.

The report projected that Meta’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy could rise to two billion dollars annually as digital adoption deepens and internet access improves across the country.


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