South Africa-For those living in South Africa and working online, sending and receiving money over the Internet has been a real challenge. PayPal only allows locals to send funds but not withdraw any. This limited option effectively prevents South Africans from accepting credit cards and PayPal.Most people there are using e-gold or Pecunix and they cringe at even the mention of PayPal. However, unhappy as they may sound, I think they would all add PayPal given that option and now its on the way. PayFast will soon be a new online payment system for South Africa.

Popularity: unranked [?]

UK- Blyk, the mobile virtual network operator we launched in the UK two days ago. The company, which bills itself as a pan-European free mobile operator for young people, offers 16 to 24-year-olds 217 texts and 43 minutes every month, for free. As can be expected, the free part is made possible by advertisers keen to reach the age group up close and personal on their cell phones. Advertisers (“brands you like”) can send the youthful eyeballs up to 6 messages a day.

Popularity: 1% [?]

News AnalysisJamaica- America Movil, Latin America’s cell phone goliath with 137 million customers, a Fortune Global 500 status has agreed to buy Jamaica’s smallest cell company Oceanic Digital which operates under the MiPhone brand for a reported US$70million. The deal offered by the Carlos Slim-owned company is expected to be finalised in the fourth quarter. This was reported by Telegeopgraphy.com, a 30 year old Telecom research company with offices in USA and London.This news of MiPhone’s sale broke late August in Jamaica, but no local newspapers published figures.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Jamaica- We saw a doubling of traffic to our SiliconCaribe site because of a single story on Forex trading. We knew it was a hot topic in Jamaica and the Caribbean and now we have even a more direct experience as proof. On that day we spotted this ad that was directly targeting Jamaicans.

Forex Trading in JamaicaLiving in Jamaica and interested inForex? Come trade 4X at Capitalor!www.capitalor.com

We got curious, then requested an interview with CEO of Capitalor, Jonas Duxén. Read the complete interview.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Kingston, Jamaica- This year the three year old annual Consumer Electronic Show snagged Digicel, the Caribbean’s largest mobile provider as its title sponsor. So many expected to get more, but were sorely disappointed, even as I’m sure over the two day event this weekend, a pretty decent crowd passed through the gates.

In short though, I’d describe the experience as a large scaled “bend down” plaza (for non Jamaicans that’s similar to flea market) inside the National Arena location. One could have saved time by googling big screen TV, cellphone, home security and audio system and salivating over the choice, interactive demonstrations, and comparison price details presented.

Popularity: 1% [?]

USA- Yep, that’s the word from The WallStreet Journal(WSJ). Microsoft is in talks to but a 5% stake in Facebook for US$300-500 million. That would value the company at up to US$10 billion. The WSJ also reported that Google also seems interested in the social network and could set up a stand off between the two rival tech giants.

Popularity: unranked [?]