Twitter to become ‘Ads Bed’ for low-paying users. 2 other stories and a trivia

This line-up of stories will help you discover the latest happenings around the tech world, today.

1. Twitter to become ‘Ads Bed’ for low-paying users

Tech entrepreneur and billionaire, Elon Musk, has revealed plans to make X, formerly known as Twitter, to become a “Ads-Bed” for low-paying users.

Musk disclosed this in a tweet, noting that the team will soon launch two new tiers of premium subscriptions.

“One is lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads, and the other is more expensive, but has no ads,” Musk stated.

The billionaire owner of the microblogging site did not provide further detail on the proposed subscription plans.

The new development comes after introducing a $1 service charge for new users, with test ongoing in New Zealand and the Philippines.

New users who opted out of subscribing will only be able to take “read-only” actions, such as: read posts, watch videos and follow accounts, the company said in its website.

Its “Not A Bot” subscription method aims to reduce spam, manipulation of the platform and bot activity.

Since taking over the platform in October 2022, Musk’s changes include mass layoffs and disbanding content moderation teams.

Meanwhile, Musk has acknowledged that the platform has taken a hit on revenue and has blamed activists for pressuring advertisers.

Tech Trivia:What information is kept in an Access Control List (ACL)?

A. A list of websites that are blocked for a user group.

B. The full web browsing history for a specific user.

C. A list of user permissions for a file, folder, or other data object.

D. A history of users that have accessed a particular file.

Find answer below

2. Verod Capital, AfricInvest acquires iSON Xperiences

Verod Capital and AfricInvest have announced the consolidation of a majority stake in iSON Xperiences, an ICT solutions provider in Africa.

Danladi Verheijen, Cofounder and Managing Partner at Verod Capital, disclosed this in a press release seen by Ripples Nigeria on Tuesday.

iSON Xperiences is a customer service and outsourcing company, specializing in delivering BPO, business process management, and digital customer experience solutions across Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and India.

The firm serves over 500 million end-users in diverse sectors, and employs more than 18,000 individuals across 19 countries.

The new capital infusion is expected to enable diversification of services and expansion into new markets.

Speaking on the development, Danladi Verheijen, noted that the new acquisition highlights Africa’s potential for BPO services and the transformative impact of AI on addressing financial challenges.

3. Africa-focused energy startup, Circadian, raises $1.3m

BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures has taken a lead in a funding round, estimated at 1.25 million Euros ($1.3M), to support the Berlin-based and Africa-focused energy startup, Circadian.

This is contained in a press release from Greg Zavorotniy, Managing Director at BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures.

According to the equity firm, the investment is aimed at expediting the global transition towards sustainable energy solutions, especially in underserved markets.

Other equity partners that participated in the round include Rockstart Energy, Persistent Energy Capital, Great Stuff Ventures, Tofino Capital, and Ralicap Climate.

Speaking on the development, Greg Zavorotniy, said: “Circadian’s innovative technology enables the creation of solar microgrids in emerging markets, contributing significantly to decarbonization efforts.

“This marks our first investment on the African continent, and we eagerly anticipate further opportunities from companies dedicated to advancing the energy transition in the region.”

Trivia Answer: Trivia Answer: ACL Stands for “Access Control List.”

An ACL is a list of user permissions for a file, folder, or other data object. The entries in an ACL specify which users and groups can access something and what actions they may perform.

ACLs are used by operating systems, networking devices, and database management software to help administer access to resources.

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