Emerging Markets

Nokia to invest in Maemo; will refurbish Symbian UI

On 12.11.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: World’s biggest handset maker, Nokia revealed its plan to renovate its Symbian user interface in order to improve its user experience, in 2010. Handset giant also divulged that the company will invest in
Maemo Linux-based operating system, delivering its first Maemo 6-powered device in the second half of 2010.

According to Nokia CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Symbian has reach and flexibility like no other platform. Besides, there are measures to push smartphones down to new price points globally, while growing margins. However, Bengt Nordstrom, co-founder and CEO of wireless consultancy Northstream feels that developer communities around the world have more traction for Android and the iPhone as compared to Symbian.

Nokia plans to increase the proportion of touch screen and QWERTY devices in its smartphone portfolio along with focusing on localized offerings for emerging markets. The target is to achieve 300 million active users for Nokia’s services by the end of 2011.

Nokia Money due to launch soon

On 11.12.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Nokia is attempting to create a multi-bank, multi-operator and multi-device collaboration on mobile banking.

Nokia’s mobile banking and payment service is expected to be commercially available in its first market in Q1 2010, though no location details have been revealed yet.

According to Teppo Paavola, vice president, GM mobile financial services, Nokia cannot reveal any details until a banking partner is confirmed. It is learnt that the service requires a banking license before it can be launched.

Nokia said its target is to have 300 million active users of its services by the end of 2011; the number is expected to be 80 million by the end of 2009.

Paavola said the service will enable un-banked people in emerging markets to transfer money, top up prepaid mobile services, pay bills, carry out online transactions, and pay merchants.

Global mobile payments market is expected to be worth €18 billion by 2014 – €12 billion from emerging markets and €6 billion from developed markets.

Approaches to mobile banking so far have lacked scale and have not worked across operators and across banks.

Nokia therefore plans to drive the collaboration on an open financial ecosystem, with Nokia Money at its core. Paavola added that it has taken a long time to get all the players together, from banks through to mobile operators.

The Nokia Money application will not only be pre-loaded but could be sideloaded, or downloaded later.

Nokia will also be able to provide the physical distribution channel that is critical for the service to work. For example, Nokia handset sellers can be turned into Nokia Money agents, providing the devices, the application, and the ability to handle cash.

Nokia is attempting to create a multi-bank, multi-operator and multi-device collaboration on mobile banking, a service dubbed Nokia Money.

Nokia’s mobile banking and payment service is expected to be commercially available in its first market in Q1 2010, though no location details have been revealed yet.

According to Teppo Paavola, vice president, GM mobile financial services, Nokia cannot reveal any details until a banking partner is confirmed. It is learnt that the service requires a banking license before it can be launched.

Nokia said its target is to have 300 million active users of its services by the end of 2011.

Paavola said the service will enable un-banked people in emerging markets to transfer money, top up prepaid mobile services, pay bills, carry out online transactions, and pay merchants.

Global mobile payments market is expected to be worth €18 billion by 2014 – €12 billion from emerging markets and €6 billion from developed markets.

Approaches to mobile banking so far have lacked scale and have not worked across operators and across banks. Nokia therefore plans to drive the collaboration on an open financial ecosystem, with Nokia Money at its core.

The Nokia Money application will not only be pre-loaded but could be sideloaded, or downloaded later.

Nokia will also be able to provide the physical distribution channel that is critical for the service to work. For example, Nokia handset sellers can be turned into Nokia Money agents, providing the devices, the application, and the ability to handle cash.

Tagged with: Bills • Ecosystem • Emerging Market • Emerging Markets • handset • M-Banking • mBanking • Mobile Banking • Mobile Financial Services • mobile operator • Mobile Operators • Mobile payment • Mobile Payments • Mobile Service • Nokia • Nokia Money • payment Service • Prepaid Mobile • Prepaid Mobile Service • TransACT • Transactions

Bharti Airtel considering bid for Millicom SL

On 10.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Bharti Airtel CEO, Manoj Kohli told reporters in India that Airtel may bid for Millicom’s Sri Lankan operation. Bharti already operates in SL.

Wireless Federation had earlier reported that Millicom/Tigo Laos has been sold to Russia’s Vimpelcom.

Bharti is actively considering acquisitions in Africa and the world over after the talks with MTN collapsed.

Bharti group CEO Sunil Mittal has said that the company won’t engage in dialogue with MTN for a third time, after inconclusive talks twice.

Nasdaq-listed Millicom provides prepaid cellular telephony services to over 30 million customers in 16 emerging markets in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Asked if Bharti Airtel was also interested in Kuwait’s Zain Telecom, Kohli said they will continue to explore international acquisitions. (Airtel-Zain, See Here)

Tagged with: Acquisitions • Africa • africa and the world • Airtel • ASIA • Bharti • Bharti Airtel • Bharti Group • CEO • CEO Sunil Mittal • Emerging Market • Emerging Markets • India • international acquisitions • Kohli • Kuwait • Lankan • Laos • Latin America • manoj • Millicom • MTN • nasdaq • Nasdaq-listed • Russia • Sri Lanka • Sri Lankan • Sunil Mittal • telecom • Tigo • VimpelCom • Wireless • Wireless Federation

Safaricom endorses directive on mobile subscribers registration (Kenya)

On 07.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Safaricom has endorsed recent presidential directive requiring all mobile phone subscribers to be registered, a way to curb criminal activities. The firm said it would support the efforts being undertaken to improve the security of citizens.

“An enabling law will certainly give us the much-needed legal muscle to extend this to our entire network. It would map out how these records are to be used and give us the legal right to ask our subscribers for their details,” said Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Joseph.

The process is expected to complete within six months with the Communication Commission of Kenya spearheading the efforts.

“We need to do this as a country. Safaricom already has over half of our subscriber base registered through our M-PESA and PostPay services and the popular Bonga loyalty scheme, for which registration is a standard requirement,” added Mr Joseph.

“Registration is no panacea to our crime problems and it can never be surrogate to professional police investigations. As is stands, criminals will always steal phones and even identities of innocent people, but it is a necessary first step in helping us combat the recent upsurge of mobile-phone related crime. At the end of the day, crime is a societal problem whose conquest requires the concerted efforts of all. At Safaricom, we have always played our part and that will continue,” said Mr Joseph.

Tagged with: ESPN • credit cards • Emerging Markets • Kenya • Modus Comicare-Comunicacoes e Imagem Lda • NVIDIA

M-Pesa still not profitable, despite high growth rate- Safaricom CEO (Kenya)

On 05.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Safaricom, the Kenyan mobile operator’s mobile money transfer service M-Pesa is still not proving to be profitable, despite the growth registered is high. Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph reportedly said that M-Pesa is handling around USD 10 million in transactions each day and adding around 11,000 new subscribers daily, but the service still does not turn a profit. M-Pesa at present has around 6.5 million subscribers and 9,000 distribution agents around Kenya. “It will become profitable on its own, but it’s not there yet,” Joseph said.

Tagged with: ESPN • Camera Text Messages • Convergent BSS • Customise • Emerging Markets • Free Airtime • Kenya • Mexican telecoms • mobile money • Redline • Rumours

CBK gives green signal to Zain’s ZAP service (Kenya)

On 02.11.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) have confirmed that Zain’s ZAP money transfer service will be given the green light, after long months of acrimony that could have seen the second largest mobile telephony operator seeking legal redress. Presently, Safaricom’s M-Pesa dominates the market of mobile money transfer service and it is anticipated that the new development will boost the competition.

Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Tagged with: ESPN • 2008 Mobile Marketing • AXIS Salaam Community • Digicel group • Emerging Markets • Kenya • Mexican telecoms • mobile money

Zain plans rural expansion, intends to launch mobile payment in 2009 (Kenya)

On 01.20.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Zain Kenya has sought to continue its investment strategies in 2009 as well to upgrade the coverage in rural areas of the country. According to the Kenyan incumbent, there are still untapped market in rural regions. The operator intends to launch a new mobile payment service to give a head on competition to M-Pesa offered by country’s leading mobile operator Safaricom.
‘On the back of excellent market response in 2008, we are looking forward to expand our network and introduce new value added services like the M-Banking solution this quarter,’ says Zain Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Tagged with: ESPN • 2008 Mobile Marketing • Convergent BSS • Electronista • Emerging Markets • Enforta • Equipment Installment Plan • Kenya

Vodafone launches mobile money transfer service between UK and Kenya

On 12.11.08, In Mobile, By Editor

Vodafone Group launches its mobile money transfer pilot scheme transacted between UK and Kenya, focusing onto increasing its vitality in the growing industry and among its potential customers. The UK based group, is in a deal with the Kenyan biggie Safaricom tagged with Western Union money transfer services.
The service is in based on the success story of M-PESA, Vodafone’s Kenyan mobile transfer service. Vodafone reportedly said that the service will enable the subscribers to send remittances from Western Union stores directly to Safaricom mobile subscribers in Kenya, often in minutes. Those users can then either withdraw the money from one of 4,000 M-PESA agents in Kenya, or forward it on to another mobile phone. The pilot scheme will be instigated in Reading, UK.
“The successful take-up of M-PESA in Kenya has clearly demonstrated the demand for easily accessible, secure cash payment services in emerging markets,” said Nick Hughes, Vodafone’s head of international mobile payments.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Tagged with: ESPN • BuzzCity • Convergent BSS • Emerging Markets • Invetment • Kenya • Mexican telecoms • mobile money • Nokia • Verizon Wireless

Vodafone, Safaricom and Western Union announce partnership to deliver International Mobile Money Transfers

On 12.09.08, In Mobile, By Editor

Vodafone, Safaricom and The Western Union Company announced that they will partner to pilot a cross-border Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) service between the U.K. and Kenya. This service will enable customers to send cross-border remittances from select locations directly to Safaricom mobile
subscribers in Kenya generally in minutes.

The initiative uses Western Union’s trusted global “hub” for processing cross-border remittances. It builds on the success of M-PESA, a mobile money transfer service in Kenya offered by Vodafone and sister company Safaricom, which has attracted over 4 million customers since its launch in March
2007.

The pilot will take place through a select number of Western Union(R) agents based in Reading, Berkshire. Consumers can send funds to any Safaricom mobile subscriber in Kenya in a matter of minutes. Receivers can use their funds in a variety of ways, including visiting one of 4,000 M-PESA agents in Kenya to withdraw their cash, or forwarding it on to another mobile phone in Kenya.
“The successful take-up of M-PESA in Kenya has clearly demonstrated the demand for easily accessible, secure cash payment services in emerging markets,” said Nick Hughes, Vodafone’s Head of International Mobile Payments. “Our partnership with Western Union allows M-PESA subscribers to receive international remittances and builds on the demand we have already seen domestically in Kenya.”
“This program aligns a global leader in money-transfer services, the world’s largest mobile operator group, and arguably one of the most impressive success stories in mobile money,” said Matt Dill, Senior Vice President, Western Union Digital Ventures. “In offering M-PESA users the opportunity to receive funds from abroad for the first time, these three companies are changing the way money moves around the globe.”
Michael Joseph, CEO of Safaricom, said, “This is another great step for M-PESA and will benefit many Kenyans all over the world. International remittances form a significant part of the total income for some Kenyans, and the partnership with Western Union will provide Kenyans with an opportunity to receive small values of cash from abroad in a fast, safe and affordable way.”
There are many benefits of using mobile phones for micro-transactions in a country like Kenya, where few people have bank accounts and over 10 million people have mobile phones. Furthermore, increased global migration has led to a significant increase in the flow of funds from expatriate migrant workers who send money home. Last year, for example, Kenya received approximately USD1.3bn in international remittances.
Western Union, together with brands Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, has a combined network of more than 365,000 Agent locations worldwide in 200 countries and territories. Vodafone is the world’s largest mobile operator by revenue and has recently expanded the M-PESA service to Tanzania and Afghanistan. Safaricom is Kenya’s leading mobile operator and has had unprecedented success with its M-PESA service.

About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world’s leading international mobile communications group with approximately 269 million proportionate customers as of 30 June 2008.
Vodafone currently has equity interests in 26 countries across five continents and over 40 partner networks worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com

About Western Union
Western Union is a leader in global money transfer services. Together with its affiliates, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. It operates through a combined network of more than 365,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851.

For more information, please visit www.westernunion.com.

About Safaricom
Safaricom is proud to be the market leader in offering innovative products like M-PESA to the Kenyan people to enhance their lifestyle and their way of efficiently doing business. During the last six months we have introduced our Hot Spot range of products, including 3G routers for our business customers and prepay modems, both utilising our exclusive 3G network, enabling all our customers to have high speed access to their email and the internet.

For more information, please visit www.safaricom.co.ke.