Zain's mobile money transfer service ZAP has been extended to cover other African markets following its successful launch in East Africa in February last year.

Zain said the expansion of its mobile commerce service Zap will cover Niger, Sierra Leone and a full commercial pilot project in Malawi.

This brings to six the number of African markets with a combined population of 150 million people covered by the service.

In a statement, Saad Al Barrak , the Group chief executive said, "We have recorded the impact Zap has made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and we are confident of a similar impact in Malawi, Niger and Sierra Leone, where formal banking services are largely restricted to urban hubs."

Fans go gaga over new Google mobile phone

Google on Jan. 5 unveiled its branded mobile phone that uses its Android software. To tech buffs, the phone's appeal is in its unique hardware. It's faster, thinner, and has a better screen and a superior camera than its main competition the Apple iPhone. The Apple device, however, has been described as more intuitive.

Google's Android software was first offered in 2008 on phones made by Taiwan's HTC Corp. The new device may feature more of Google's own software, acting as the standard for other makers to follow. The Nexus One phone will be sold directly by the company as well as through a wireless carrier. The phone has a 3.7-inch (9.4- centimeter) screen, a 5-megapixel camera and uses Qualcomm Inc's Snapdragon processor. Google's Nexus One has a touch screen like the iPhone, and users can search the Web on it by speaking query terms.

KQ introduces travel insurance

Kenya Airways has partnered with Chartis Kenya to introduce a travel insurance product. The partnership will allow Kenya Airways passengers to purchase travel insurance policy as they book their tickets. The Travel Guard policy offers coverage for medical expenses of up to US$0.5 million while for the loss of baggage the coverage will insure personal belongings and valuables up to US$10,000. Flight cancellation coverage would take care of pre -paid travel expenses and accommodation up to US$5,000. Kenya Airways said providing Travel Guard insurance to their customers is a strategic initiative, as it provides peace of mind to the traveler as well as providing convenience during the purchase of the travel insurance. The product comes after repeated complaints over Kenya Airways negligence of passenger's cargo. The airline has established a programme for selling the travel insurance on their website and through KQ's call centers and ticketing offices. The innovation is the first with a national airline in Africa, after Chartis was rebranded from AIG after surviving closure following the global financial meltdown that hit its parent company.

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