On 1 and 2 June, Cape Town will host one of the region’s leading technology networking events as the Social Media World Forum Africa joins with Apps World Africa to bring leading international brands together some of the leading mobile, apps, and social media practitioners in the region.
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Some of the world’s leading digital brands, like Nokia, Google Android, BlackBerry and Facebook, will be hosting free-to-attend developer workshops, providing advice and insight on how African developers can get the most out of their platforms.

Both events, part of a global series that spans five continents, provide an ideal forum for global brands and companies to connect with talented African marketers and developers who can leverage their local insight to address the unique challenges present across the region. Local knowledge is highly prized by leading multinationals looking to break into the African market.

Telecommunication has exploded across the African continent; with South Africa alone now boasting more active mobile SIMs than it does citizens. This trend presents a multitude of opportunities for ordinary people, for industry professionals and for local and multinational organisations.

Mobile social media provides completely new marketing channels, and savvy home-grown networks like MIXit have been the first to capitalise on the explosion of connectivity throughout the region. MIXit is currently far outstripping its international heavyweight rivals Facebook and Twitter in terms of local user numbers, with its specific mobile usability making it an ideal platform for African users.

Event founder and director of Six Degrees, the company behind both shows, said: “Mobile is obviously central to social media usage in the region, and a number of brands who are undertaking social media marketing plans, will also be exploring how to integrate apps into a comprehensive mobile and digital marketing strategy.

“We hope that by bringing these two audiences together at Apps World and SMWF we can provide a platform for making connections in the region, promoting further growth in the local digital sectors and building the partnerships necessary for new app and social media campaigns within the region.”

Follow Twitter updates on: www.twitter.com/SocialMediaWF and www.twitter.com/apps_world.