Connect with us

Technology

Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania Unite to Power Cross-Border M-Pesa Payments Across China and Uganda

Published

on

Collaboration revolutionises trade & financial convenience for Tanzanian merchants and consumers

SINGAPORE, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, has joined forces with Vodacom Tanzania, the country’s leading telco company, to transform cross-border trade and digital financial inclusion with Vodacom’s new M-Pesa Global Payment solution. Thanks to the collaboration, Vodacom customers in Tanzania can now seamlessly pay merchants in Uganda and China directly from their mobile phones.

This milestone solution responds to growing demand from Tanzanian traders who engage in commerce with Ugandan and Chinese markets but often face challenges with costly, slow, and insecure payment methods. With this innovation, leveraging the Thunes Direct Global Network, Vodacom aims to bridge those gaps, offering secure, real-time digital payments across borders and reinforcing its leadership in mobile money innovation in Africa.

The solution supports trade with two key markets for Tanzania. For eight consecutive years, China has been Tanzania’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting $8.8 billion in 2024. In the same year, bilateral trade between Tanzania and Uganda reached approximately $2.23 billion, an increase of 64% on the previous year.

Epimack Mbeteni, M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania said: “This is more than just a payment feature, it is a catalyst for economic empowerment and a gateway for small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs in Tanzania to compete and thrive in regional and global markets. Through Thunes’ expansive and trusted Network we are enabling seamless, secure, and affordable cross-border payments that empower people, fuel trade and place M-Pesa at the center of Africa’s digital commerce future.”

Through Thunes’ Direct Global Network, customers can now send payments to merchants in Uganda using MTN MoMo and to Chinese merchants through the Alipay network, all through the M-Pesa USSD menu or the M-Pesa Super App. The process is secure, user-friendly, and eliminates the burden of traditional banking barriers for everyday traders and businesses.

Dawei Wang, SVP Network at Thunes, added: “Vodacom Tanzania joining the Thunes Direct Global Network to digitise cross-border payments is a game changer for local businesses. By combining Vodacom’s technology with Thunes’ trusted and proprietary Network, Tanzanian customers can pay partners in China and Uganda in real time. This innovation accelerates interoperability along with international trade and business growth and supports our vision of connecting the next billion end users to the global economy.”

This initiative stands as a strategic enabler for consumers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who need reliable and quick financial tools such as mobile money. A 2025 GeoPoll survey on Tanzania Financial Services and Usage found that 94% of the survey’s respondents use mobile money.

The Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania alliance is set to transform the lives of millions of consumers by dismantling cross-border barriers. By hyper-connecting Tanzania to global powerhouses like China and streamlining intra-African trade, the collaboration is helping to build an inclusive economy and grow Tanzania’s role as a force in the global market.

About Vodacom Tanzania

For more information, visit: https://www.vodacom.co.tz/

About Thunes

For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2831061/Thunes_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thunes-and-vodacom-tanzania-unite-to-power-cross-border-m-pesa-payments-across-china-and-uganda-302760085.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Kontron Launches Two New KBox F-Series Industrial Computers To Bring Greater Flexibility and Scalability to Industrial Edge Computing

Published

on

By

TAIPEI, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT/Embedded Computing Technology (ECT), expands its KBox F-Series with the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, two compact industrial computers designed to address diverse requirements in intelligent Industry 4.0, edge computing and industrial IoT applications.

Both systems are powered by 12th, 13th or 14th Gen Intel® Core™ i9/i7/i5/i3 S-Series socket-type processors with a TDP of up to 65 W and support up to 96 GB DDR5 memory, providing a scalable computing foundation for demanding industrial applications requiring flexible performance configuration and long-term deployment.

The KBox F-203-RPS offers two LAN configurations with either two or four GbE ports, allowing customers to select the connectivity level that best fits their applications. The dual-LAN configuration provides an efficient solution for general industrial computing, equipment control and edge applications, while the four-LAN configuration offers additional network connectivity for applications involving multiple devices or network segments, such as machine vision, industrial automation and IoT gateways.

For applications requiring greater system expandability, the KBox F-204-RPS provides one PCIe x16 or two PCIe x8 expansion slots, offering the flexibility to integrate graphics, networking, AI acceleration or other add-on cards according to specific application requirements. With support for up to four 2.5-inch SATA HDDs/SSDs, it also provides extensive storage scalability for data-intensive workloads. These capabilities make the KBox F-204-RPS particularly suitable for industrial edge computing, machine vision, video processing and applications requiring additional functionality or large local data storage.

Together, the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS enable customers to select the configuration that best matches their requirements, from a slimmer, network-focused industrial computer to a highly expandable edge computing platform.

To learn more about KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, refer to https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-203-rps/p301099 and https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-204-rps/p311867.

About Kontron

At Kontron, we champion IoT and Industry 4.0, by creating secure, state-of-the-art solutions that span hardware, software and services. Our approach speeds market entry, reduces the cost of ownership, and offers longevity, ensuring our role as your trusted partner in the integration of smart technologies. For more information, please visit www.kontron.com, dial +886-2-2799-2789 or email SalesAsia@kontron.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/kontron-launches-two-new-kbox-f-series-industrial-computers-to-bring-greater-flexibility-and-scalability-to-industrial-edge-computing-302909761.html

SOURCE Kontron

Continue Reading

Technology

Mouser Electronics Brings Smart Sensing Solutions to PSECE 2026

Published

on

By

MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, announces its participation in the 21st Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition (PSECE 2026) from October 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippines. This event underscores Mouser’s commitment to supporting the region’s growing electronics design community with immediate access to cutting-edge technologies.

Visitors are invited to meet the Mouser team at Booth #110-111 to explore new products and practical design resources. The booth features a live demonstration of Würth Elektronik’s smart sensing and visual indication solutions, integrating environmental and motion sensing with programmable visual feedback and wireless connectivity. This interactive display illustrates how modern devices can detect physical conditions and translate them into clear, immediate visual data, addressing the critical need for reliable intelligence in connected systems.

“As we advance into an era of interconnected intelligence, Mouser remains committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge components and real-world application,” said Daphne Tien, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Mouser APAC. “Our presence at PSECE 2026 underscores our dedication to empowering engineers with the tools they need to innovate. We look forward to fostering a vibrant ecosystem where technology translates into tangible progress for the Philippines and beyond.”

Mouser’s participation highlights its strategic objective to strengthen ties with local partners and accelerate the adoption of advanced semiconductor technologies. By providing a platform for knowledge exchange, the company aims to help design communities turn promising prototypes into practical applications.

Attendees will have the opportunity to gather invaluable insights, learn industry best practices, and connect with professionals from across the region. The booth also features interactive activities where visitors can win premium gadgets and engineering tools, making innovative technology more approachable for everyone.

To learn more about Mouser’s presence at PSECE 2026, visit https://www.mouser.ph/psece-seipi/. 

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mouser-electronics-brings-smart-sensing-solutions-to-psece-2026-302914806.html

SOURCE Mouser Electronics

Continue Reading

Technology

Workato Launches Self-Serve Platform in Singapore, Opening Enterprise AI to a Broader Community of Builders

Published

on

By

New offering gives developers, students, and customers access to the full power of Workato’s enterprise-grade engine to build AI agents and MCP servers

SINGAPORE, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Workato®, the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI, today announced the launch of a new self-service offering that gives customers, developers, and students across Asia access to the Workato platform to govern and scale their AI initiatives, including building and productionizing AI agents and MCP servers.

Making AI accessible has been at the heart of Workato’s mission the past several years. Through the AI Institute Alliance, unveiled in September 2025, Workato partnered with leading institutes of higher learning across Singapore, including Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and the National University of Singapore. The initiative equipped students and educators with automation and AI skills.

The AI Lab, which opened a year later, extended that commitment further into the public sector through its partnership with EDB, and into inclusive hiring through SG Enable.

The newly launched self-serve platform will provide users access to:

A free account to start building immediately, with the option to upgrade to a paid plan, no contract required, as projects growThe ability to build recipes, Agents/Genies, and MCP servers directly on the platformThe same governed, enterprise-grade engine that powers Workato’s largest deploymentsA path built for independent developers, students, and small teams, as well as large enterprises

Since launching in 2026 in North America, Workato has seen rapid growth in the builder community. The platform is enterprise grade, but free to get started. As builders solve problems for their business, they can grow by upgrading to a paid plan. With this launch in Singapore, Workato is making an investment in the local builder community.

“The next era of AI won’t be defined by who has access to intelligence, but by who can turn it into action. We’re putting the same enterprise-grade power trusted by the world’s largest companies into the hands of every builder. We want everyone to be able to transform how their business operates,” said Rishi Mallik, Chief Growth Officer, Workato. 

Workato showcased its self-serve platform and broader community initiatives at World of Workato (WOW) 2026 in Singapore.

Builders can sign up now at https://app.trial.workato.com/users/sign_up_trial?utm_content=sg_wow2026.

About Workato

Workato is the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI — the neutral platform enterprises trust to put AI to work across their business. Workato unifies data, applications, and processes into a single platform so AI can reliably orchestrate business processes in production at enterprise scale. Built on more than a decade of running mission-critical processes for over half the Fortune 500 — including Nasdaq, Cisco, Vodafone, Atlassian, and Lucid Motors — Workato turns over 17,000 enterprise systems AI needs to act on into one governed execution layer. For more information, visit workato.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/workato-launches-self-serve-platform-in-singapore-opening-enterprise-ai-to-a-broader-community-of-builders-302914795.html

SOURCE Workato

Continue Reading

Trending