Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button

Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button

(PHOTO: Karachuonyo MP James Rege (left) and Smoothtel business development manager Sam Ongoro stand next to the satellite dish outside the CDF offices during the launch of the teleconferencing facility in the constituency.)

A conference hall fitted with a huge screen is all constituents will need to communicate with their MP.

That is a reality for the people of Karachuonyo in Nyanza, who have embraced Video Conferencing in a big way. To talk to their MP, Mr James Rege, all they need do is walk to the local office and book an appointment. Once an appointment has been secured, at the touch of a button, they will be talking to the MP.

The technology comes at a time when the government seeks to reduce the costs incurred by Members of Parliament during their day-to-day duties. 

The Video Conference kit was installed on April 30 at the Rachuonyo Constituency Development offices by Smoothtel (www.smoothtel.com) and Tandberg High Definition. Smoothtel business development manager Sam Ongoro said the company was using Karachuonyo constituency to test if the virtual meeting is applicable in other Kenyan constituencies. “The technology will open doors for business development and save time. Busy managers will no longer need to travel from one meeting to another or from their stations to attend meetings,” he said.

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www.smoothtel.com | info@smoothtel.com | +254 20 8000222

Telemedicine

With the shortage of doctors in Kenya, Smoothtel has embarked on rolling out the latest technology to advance telemedicine. Doctors from Canada and the US will examine, diagnose and prescribe treatments to patients in rural constituencies in Kenya via video. All our major health facilities need this technology now!

Through the optic fiber available and in partnership among:  SkyVision for VSaT satellite link in lieu of  fibre and Digital Networks software designed for hospitals, clinics and medical centres, Smoothtel is going to roll out this in conjunction with the Ministry of Medical Services.

Kenya, has done it again! Partners, investors, donors are all welcome to enable this 1st program in the region to have the gravitas of giving prompt health services to the people irrespective of their geographical location.

We are coming! Through technology, Smoothtel and her partners shall have a healthy people again.

Sam Ongoro
Business Development Manager, Smoothtel.

SMOOTHTEL Green Carbon Calculator

Use our Carbon Footprint Calculator to see what your environmental impacts are. What are your thoughts on using telepresence and video conferencing to go green?

Winnie Kithinji
Video Product Expert:Smoothtel & Data Solution LTD.

VC Green Solution

Smoothtel is concerned about the carbon footprint of the government people and/or operations. Any governments have detailed bureaucracy that is supported by endless consultations and communication.However, the day-to-day running of the government is largely through communication. That notwithstanding, there is enormous transport, the physical movement of government personnel so as to reach the other personnel in order to make important decisions.

Their decisions affect the way the government offers services to the people as well as how she relates to the rest of the world. It is imperative therefore, that the government is effective. For this to happen, there has to be a sustainable solution that enhance government's capacity to make decisions in a snap. This is called efficiency. Whilst this is done, the government must be seen to be taking cognizance of the fact that there are far reaching environmental issues that must be complied to as she attempts to serve her people. Our world is literally heating up. Individual and global tendencies that reduce emissions must be ipso facto encouraged. Government carbon footprint should be a real concern in this 21st century. the UN is unanimuous about it, yet the tendencies must be decisively aligned to mitigate this. This needs a bold leader, Smoothtel is; and yes, Kenya is.

It's for the above reason, that Smoothtel has positioned a solution that will drastically check the carbon footprint of the government operations. To do this, efficient and modern communication capability, comes in handy. To reduce gazillion back-and-forth traveling to have meetings, we have embraced green solutions of communication.

Video and Teleconferencing it is! Now the government of Kenya, through its core Executive wing, headed by the IT savvy Prime Minister, that is in charge of coordinating and supervising all government operations, is heading the enabling of government through the aforementioned medium. Parnering with Access Kenya, Intersat, Sky Vision and other ISP's we are making tremendous difference.

Currently, the Parliamentary Select Committee Chairman for Communication and Energy-National Assembly of Kenya- has initiated the e-Parliamnet initiative through Smoothtel. The response and requests are enormous! Through this, some of our MP's are now holding meetings with their constituents via video! Our offices are inundated by endless calls and visists for this solution, you will be amazed if you be part of the winning team.

Smoothtel is the ultimate green solution communication provider in Kenya! Let's go video and save resources and our environment! The beneficiary, the mwananchi who is to get efficient and prompt services. We have gone green! You may as well join us now.

Sam Ongoro
Business Development Manager

Plantronics Headsets Land Starring Role In New Season Of 24

Plantronics continue to prove everyone wrong with their ear gear taking centre stage in the latest explosive adventures of the world’s hardest grandad, Jack Bauer.

The action might have moved to New York for the eighth season, but 24’s five-minutes-in-the-future terror threat storylines remain, with the Big Apple branch of CTU dressed up to the nines in high-tech gadgetry.

We couldn’t help but spot the lingering shots of new recruit Dana Walsh’s ear filled with the sleek new Discovery 975, whilst annoying drone pilot Arlo Glass sports the retro-chic Voyager Pro.

With Kiefer himself an unashamed Apple fanboy, going as far as trying to crowbar an iPad into future episodes (to batter a suspect during interrogation, perhaps?), it’s no surprise to see some of the best premium headsets in the business playing their part in saving the world.

Check out the new season (8) of 24 …it’s pretty good! Check out the Plantronics Voyager Pro as part of our Bluetooth headset solutions, whilst we waxed lyrical about combining form and function in our Discovery 975.

By Valentine W, Plantronics BDM - Smoothtel & Data Solutions Ltd.

e-Schools Africa - Expanding Students' Access to e-Learning Solutions in Africa

Kenya has inched closer to the new dawn of e-learning thanks to the fast revolution in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. Smoothtel and Data Solutions Ltd, an ICT solutions provider has joined forces with stakeholders in the education sector to deliver e-learning content for schools in Kenya and the larger East African region.

This is in practical tandem with the e-Government policy that shall deliver the Vision 2030. Owing to the lack of enough resources to populate the Kenya’s education system with teachers and the need for every student to have access to a computer, the integrated e-Learning solution (christened e-School Africa) is intended to supplement traditional face-to-face classroom activities as well as to address the teacher-pupil ratio disparity that compromises quality and pedagogy.

With Smoothtel’s multi-user computing (NComputing) and Video Conference solutions, more students will have access to computers and attend virtual lessons from their remote schools. As a result, several students will be taught at the least cost possible. A virtual classroom encompasses a collaborative video conferencing solution that enables one to communicate synchronously using video and audio.

The NComputing solution allows up to 11 users to connect to 1 computer. This drastically reduces computing costs; allowing massive savings on electricity, hardware acquisition and maintenance costs. This high-end solution is set to improve education standards in Kenya.

The initial project will see over 500 schools interconnected using a wide area network (WAN), 330 of which will be inherited largely from Computer Literacy Initiative of Kenya’s universe and MP’s CDF’s installations. This shall undoubtedly enable students from all these schools to be in the same class at the same time by connecting to the classroom via video. The students can listen and learn via video, watch the teacher from the remote site (classroom) as well as having a question/answer session.

Currently, the Schools in Kenya have limited access to computers. With the NComputing solution, more students will not only have the access to computers but also download e-Learning content more easily. The KIE curriculum will be channeled through to all high end users and downloaded to one local computer which is in turn accessible to many concurrent users.

An institution adopting this system will save 70 per cent of the initial costs as the need for many facilities is eliminated.

The video conferencing solutions by Smoothtel will open room for Virtual education in Kenya. Many institutions will eventually be able to give instructions in a learning environment where teachers and students are separated by time and/or space. Teachers will provide course content through management applications and multimedia resources.

Smoothtel together with the technical partners, donors, sponsors and investors in conjunction with the Office of the PM, Republic of Kenya shall launch the first practical model on the 10th – 11th August 2010, KICC, Nairobi, Kenya. We at Smoothtel welcome you to be part of the real players that will truly enable the bridging of the digital divide.

Secretariat, e-Schools Africa

www.smoothtel.com | info@smoothtel.com

Smoothtel & Data Solution Ltd.