Web4Africa Ltd., the leading web hosting company in West Africa, has acquired the web hosting and domain names services of Alireta Nigeria Limited with effect from 1st May 2011.

Founded in March 2003 under the name DomainStandard.net, Alireta broke new grounds by offering an online order system and domain registration and web hosting services to residents of Nigeria at prices much lower than what was obtainable within Nigeria at that time. The operation has constantly remained among the top ten Nigerian web hosts since inception and was rebranded to Alireta in May 2008.

Web4Africa has acquired 559 active clients who owned 458 domain names, 295 shared hosting accounts and 19 reseller hosting accounts. With few overlaps considered, it is expected that the acquisition would boost Web4Africa’s domain portfolio to over 13,600 active clients, over 8,100 domain names, over 1,500 shared hosting accounts and 169 reseller hosting accounts.

The acquisition exposes Alireta customers to over 70 international domain extensions, at lower prices, more flexible web hosting plan choices like Windows/ASP.NET hosting as well as 7 online payment methods including a method that accepts Nigerian debit cards like Interswitch Verve and GTB Naira Mastercard.

Yomi Adegboye, founder and CEO of Alireta said concerning the sale of his company’s webhosting and domain services:

“Alireta and Web4Africa are two of the longest standing webhosts in West Africa. We also have a long history of partnership, and we are confident that both Alireta clients’ accounts and my own personal and business accounts are in the best hands possible on the continent. This transfer of Alireta’s web hosting and domain services to Web4Africa will see our clients enjoy even better world-class support and lower prices. In the meantime, Alireta Nigeria Limited will continue to provide the excellent web design services that we are known for at a new domain, www.anl.com.ng”

“But my primary focus from now will be in pursuing more exciting opportunities in the mobile and telecoms sector as a consultant, speaker, and as editor of Mobility Nigeria.”

Oluniyi Ajao, founder and Managing Director of Web4Africa Ltd said:

“We have solid plans for 2011 that when executed, would move us further up the ladder in the international domains and web hosting marketplace. This acquisition brings us closer to our plans.”

Web4Africa was founded in 2002 and this acquisition further consolidates its position as the web hosting giant in the West African sub-region. Web4Africa targets the global marketplace via www.web4africa.net and targets the Nigerian market via www.web4africa.com.ng.

Since 2001 when GSM mobile services took off in Nigeria, I have owned and used more phones than I have been able to keep track of. I say that because there was a period that I was not keeping strict count and so do not have records of some more obscure devices. Even at that, my official records presently stand at 48. My current device is the Nokia N900. But I also have in active service a Nokia 3600 Slide, and a Sony Ericsson W302.

48 devices, from basic to mid-tier all the way to the princes of the smartphone world. What I was doing with all those devices? In one word, Playing.

To break it further, I am passionate about mobile technology. I consider it a leverager in many ways (I once ran my entire webhosting business on a Nokia 9500, and my smartphones still play a key role in my work), so I set out to try out every possible manifestation of GSM mobile technology.

I have used Siemens devices (if any of you remember those), Alcatel, Ericsson (no; not Sony Ericsson), NECs, Sagems, and long-gone brands such as TelMe. Of course, I have used piles of devices by the major brands too.

From my archives dated 5th February 2008. Clockwise from the clamshell - Nokia 9500, Nokia E61i, Sony Ericsson P990, and Nokia E61

Okay, here is the point, I do not believe in throwing theories around. I also determined to make money from the mobile industry in some way. As such in order to become something of an authority, I decided I needed to handle as many as possible.

Understand that the mobile web and mobile data in general have been my primary area of interest. At the stage when all we had was CSD (GSM dial-up), there were myriads of possible configurations for different brands, so I set to try out as many. Then came GPRS and WAP 2.0. I set out to explore those too. On and on, as newer technologies and services showed up, the fragmentation among mobile devices meant that I needed to explore across brands and platforms.

In addition, when we started MobilityNigeria in 2008, we needed fresh content on a regular basis. Again, I made the commitment to use one stone to kill two birds. My high rate of turnover on phones would be good for an online mobile resource like MobilityNigeria.

Now, you don’t want to live like that. It is expensive and not always as convenient as people may think. For example, I had to keep transferring/syncing contacts and files again and again. It didn’t always work out right across platforms.

I burnt thousands of Naira playing with CSD back in the day. I still burn thousands on 3G/HSDPA till date, but at least now it is generating me good cash. Perhaps, I also ought to sit down and calculate the total value of all the mobile devices I have owned. Who knows?

The good thing is that my investments in mobile technology have paid off handsomely.

Talk to me
Let me do a bit of marketing here: if you run a small or medium-scale business and you are interested in how you can deploy mobile technology to give you an edge, you should be talking to me. Others – if there are any others – may throw theories at you, but I have walked the talk. I have consistently applied mobile technology to my business and have come off smiling.

Anyway, you don’t want to live out experimenting like I have done. What you want to do is piggy-back on what I have learnt and use that information to make wise decisions in purchasing the kind of mobile phones best suited to your work (and life in general), so you can get on with life. Or enhance productivity at work. Or lower your operating costs.

It will be less expensive for you, less traumatic, and you’ll get it right the first time. Give me a call.

The way forward for me
Back in March, I wrote The dilemma of a mobile enthusiast and a few associates responded that they doubted if I could use any phone for a year. Watch me. I am done with the life of high phone turnovers.

I picked the Nokia N900 that I use now because it meets my needs, and I intend to keep it. Minus a device failure or an accident, that will remain my primary device till April 2011 when I will go mobile shopping again just to stay current.

But I am done buying phones for review/test purposes. MobilityNigeria already has an agreement with one retailer for loan phones. I hope we can seal more of those kind of deals.

Another Plea for Review Phones
Here is another plea to GSM networks, phone retailers and manufacturers to make available loan phones for review. Send us a phone to use for two (2) weeks and then return to you. We can even sell it for you after the loan period and put the money in your account, if you so wish.

In return, we offer you visibility on MobilityNigeria, the largest, most vibrant and most authoritative online resource on GSM mobile phones and services in Nigeria.

Wanna play? Contact us.

PS: Did I mention that in addition to all the other practical reasons that I gave for spending so much on phones, I also do it also because I absolutely love to? I didn’t? Sheeesh.

Long-term followers of MobilityNigeria.com know that I am a function-over-form person. I purchase my devices strictly for their practical functionality and for the thrill I get out of using them. However, that may change…

Before you scream, “Traitor!“, hear me out; okay?

The Public Relations man at Alireta swears by the gods of the corporate world that I need to start thinking more like a corporate person and less like a geek. In plain english, he says that as M.D. of a company like Alireta, a core consideration of mine should be having and carrying around a phone that makes a statement.

Aaargh! I can see how that will cramp my style a bit.

If you know the corporate world a bit (at least here in Nigeria), you can attest that the favourites in that environment are Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices. Yes; you’ll find some E90s here and there, but by and large the Nigerian corporate environment is powered by Blackberry and Windows Mobile.

I remember that both my wife and my PR officer kicked against my replacing the E90 with the G1 on the grounds that the E90 would be more impressive and make a better statement when I went for meetings. Note that I have known these two individuals intimately for several years and they are NOT vain people.

According to my PR man, the rest of the corporate gang think that there is something wrong with you if you don’t carry one of those things they carry around. Worse, they think you are a “small boy” and may generally not pay you much attention.

At first, I went “No way!”, but I am giving it some thought.

Personally now, I am asking, Can I use a Blackberry? Not sure. As for Windows Mobile, yes; there are WinMo devices I am more than certain that I would love to use.

I am sure that I do not like this corporate game of trying to impress people, but that’s how it is played. Whether I like it or not, I’m smack in the middle of it. For sure, it is neither immoral nor illegal, so perhaps I can play a bit too.

Alternatively, I could resign as CEO of Alireta and keep using whatever catches my fancy regardless of what anyone thinks! So there. Just in case you catch me with a Blackberry… it wasn’t me!!

Traditionally, the Mobility Nigeria team has focused on reviews of higher end mobile devices. In truth, that is where most of the action have been for years. The higher end of the mobile market is always the cutting edge, and that is what we have focused on.

However, with the current economic climate we understand that many phone users will be looking more at the mid-tier range for a balance between cost and features – and that makes a lot of sense.

We also see that manufacturers are now in a drive to push out some high-specs mid-tier devices. Think of the Nokia 5800 and the E63. Under normal circumstances, devices with those capabilities didn’t come at those prices.

But even the 5800 is still in the higher bracket of the mid-tier. On the lower rungs of the mid-tier are some interesting devices that we will be bringing your way.

Help Us Bring You These Great Reviews

You can help us bring you more great reviews by patronising Alireta for all your mobile phone purchases. Here are some of the benefits of buying from Alireta:

1. – our team of consultants will help you narrow your choices down to the best 3 devices suited to your needs and budget
2. – have your phone delivered to your home or office
3. – have your phone configured for internet and/or email via GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA on your network (optional, and also network-dependent)
4. – enjoy the option of a 30-day instalment plan i.e. put down a deposit of 75% of phone cost, and a cheque for the balance to be presented within 30 days, and take immediate possession of phone
5. – upgrade phones purchased from us within 365 days of purchase by trading them in for new ones
6. – enjoy telephone and email support on phone usage, features, troubleshooting, and data configuration (9am – 4pm, Mondays through Friday)

Call 0808 439 1076 or 0806 216 7275 to place your order.