HiPipo Money

When the mobile payments revolution started in Kenya, little was known about the amount of money that telecoms could generate by offering financial services to the poor. A few years down the road, the figures started coming in showing that mobile financial services are extremely promising revenue streams.

In May 2012, financial statements from Safaricom indicated that M-PESA contributed 15.8% of Safaricom’s total revenue (compared to 12.5% the previous year), making it the company’s second largest revenue stream after voice. In addition, in Kenya M-PESA created direct employment for 50,000 people a number that banks may never match.  These opportunities in revenue growth and employment creation are seen in the rest of Africa e.g in Uganda, where companies such as MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda have introduced mobile financial services.  

The economics of Mobile Financial Services have evolved to include revenues from Person to Person transactions, to Person to Business. Payment for utilities such as Water, Electricity and TV and other payments such as for School Fees are now increasingly being effected with mobile financial services. As a result over a short period of time, mobile financial services are becoming key drivers of Africa economies.

Mobile Financial Services represents the potential for an enormous leap forward in economic development. It helps include people previously in the shadow of the informal economy and increases government earnings that can fund social and economic development. It delivers access to formal financial services and brings the security and convenience of electronic payments to millions of people in developing countries, breaking the cash economics that often locks them into poverty. It can enable entire industries, creating jobs and revenue streams that didn’t exist a decade ago. (FORBES)

Across Africa, from Uganda to Kenya to South Africa and Nigeria, Telecoms are in a race to offer the best Internet speeds possible. Even as some are masquerading as offering 3.75G and other starting to talk 4G, there are some operators truly offering these great 3G speeds not just using the jargon for market hype. Long Term Evolution (LTE) considered a 4G technology has started setting ground on the continent with companies such as Vodacom testing LTE in some areas of South Africa. This is good for Internet in Africa and these High Internet Speeds are Sexy, if I may borrow a generation Y terminology for great appeal but affordability is critical and will be great if data services will be more affordable.

Speed alone is not enough to bring the massive social and economic benefit of internet to the Africa continent on wide scale. In Uganda until recently, telecom operators such as Orange Uganda, MTN Uganda possibly the first with true 3G networks have had data packages that arguably are still on the high side for the average Ugandan to consume Internet services. This is starting to change with the playing field seeing more operators such as Airtel Uganda and Warid Uganda offering 3G services. 3G and 4G very high speed technologies are good but they are not the ultimate thing to bring more Internet to more Africans. With many Africans having phones and modems that cannot make the best use of 3G speeds or 4G technologies like LTE, it remains that the other factor that is of great importance to internet access is affordability. Africans using feature phones or the current generation of modems should have more affordable data packages for internet to sink on the continent.

Very high speeds such as for LTE are good for the current few that can afford sexy iPhones and Samsung Galaxy SIIIs  but if Africa really  needs a big mobile internet market, among the issues to address, rocket fast speeds as some telecoms market them arguably comes second to affordability in importance. Network Operators, should nature the masses to consume more data service by prioritizing their efforts on lowering data costs and then they can boost of rocket fast speeds with pleasure.

With more than 774,382 people retweets and at least 273,283 favorites, President Barack Obama’s “Four more years.” Tweet becomes the most viral post ever on Twitter.com.

This Mirco Blogging social network is a very important communication social media platform in America and around the world.

TWITTER records were broken as a message from Barack Obama became the most retweeted ever on the social networking site.

The tweet ‘ Four more years.’ was accompanied by a photo of Obama and wife Michelle embracing each other after a convincing second term victory.

The tweet came after Obama was announced winner yesterday morning over Republican contender Mitt Romney.

On Facebook, the same post “Four more years.” has at least 3,896,458 Likes, 538,449 Shares, and 188,799 comments.

His “Thank you.” Has 1,531,027 Likes, 58,942 Shares, and 55,289 Comments.

According to research, the previous record-holder was Justin Bieber, who received over 223,478 retweets and 100,657 favorites for his tribute to a young fan “Avalanna Routh” who died after a cancer battle. The tweet was “RIP Avalanna. i love you” post @justinbieber.

The post Avalanna’s profile “Our darling Avalanna went to Heaven this morning. Oh Avalanna, the brightest star – you took our hearts with you, our greatest Love” The tweet gathered 59,569: Retweets, 18,261: Favorites. Avalanna died on Wed, Sep 26, 2012. She was 6 years.

Wendy’s  @Wendys had the most retweeted of 2011 posts. One Tweet by Wendy’s raised $50,000 for foster children. It now has at least 225,528 Retweets and 621 FAVORITES. The posts was “RT for a good cause. Each retweet sends 50¢ to help kids in foster care. #TreatItFwd”

The other posts in the top list come with 35,000 and 25,000 retweets respectively, are Lady Gaga who wrote “never be afraid to dream” and Taylor Swift who said “I’m so 22 right now.”

Congratulations President Barack Obama and Family, Africa is Proud of YOU!!

LONDON (3^rd November, 2012) – MoneyGram (NYSE: MGI), a leading global money transfer company announced today that it is temporarily waiving send fees for its online transfers from the UK to several Caribbean countries.

This initiative was taken to support customers sending money from the UK to families and friends that were severely affected by Hurricane Sandy, starting from today, the 3^rd of November until the 16^th of November 2012.

During this period, customers sending money to any of the following countries – Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, or Puerto Rico – via MoneyGram’s online platform located at www.moneygram.co.uk, will not pay a send fee to send money to families and friends that are recuperating from the effect of the hurricane.

Customers can pick up remittances from MoneyGram’s agent partners as usual, including LASCO Remittance Services, Alliance Remittance Services, NCB Remittance Service, Jamaica National, Jamaica Post Office, Unibank, BUH, S A-Rapid Transfer, Fonkoze, Grace Trading, Banque de I’Union Haitienne, S.A, Bank of the Bahamas Ltd, Omni Money Transfer Head office, Raben Investment Ltd, BanReservas, Banco Popular Dominicano, Banco del Progreso, BHD and anywhere you see the MoneyGram signs.

During my time in Europe which was somehow the earlier days of the Facebook revolution, I used to receive many invites by my European friends to play Farmville. I never found it that much fun as computer gaming has never really been my hobby. But then I tumbled upon a research about educational games, exploring how games can be strategically used for educational purposes, and showing a lot of possibilities in this domain. Indeed if well designed and developed for education purpose, playing and learning could be great for any child.

I have observed young children and how they swiftly adopt using mobile phones for games. These same mobile phones can now be used for learning where these children can play educational games. The African gaming market has started seeing players such as Maliyo a gaming firm aimed at creating culturally relevant content that reflects the lives of average Nigerians, and Afroes  which produces applications and content for young people containing powerful educational and social messages.

With a young breed of African innovators joining the gaming industry, I believe Africa is setting good ground to make the use of education games to develop the African brains that will play further role in Africa Development.

Facebook Press Release from MTN Uganda

MTN Uganda has this morning announced the ninth edition of the Annual MTN Kampala Marathon, slated for Sunday November 25th, 2012, setting off from the Kololo Airstrip.

At a Press Conference at the Serena Kampala Hotel this morning, MTN Chief Executive Officer Mazen Mroué announced this year’s Marathon theme as ‘Run with your heart’ and challenged both Ugandans and people across the region to turn up in large numbers to participate in “Uganda’s biggest annual sporting event”.

In terms of numbers, about 220,000 entrants have run the MTN Kampala Marathon over the last nine years, and have raised close to Ushs. 900 million to help people in less privileged parts of the country.

Mroué said MTN has always used the Kampala Marathon as an opportunity to involve thousands of Ugandans in charitable causes, which to date have collected close to Ushs. 700 million. This money has been used in a number of projects in Northern and Eastern Uganda through the Uganda Red Cross over the years.

Last year the marathon raised Ushs. 230 million towards the provision of clean and safe water for the people of Amuria in partnership with WaterAid as an implementing partner. Amuria was selected as one of the most remote areas with a definite need for access to clean and safe water.

This year all proceeds from the MTN Marathon will go towards the provision of water for the people of Bududa. This will be achieved through a partnership with Red Cross that will be tasked with ensuring that these proceeds reach the most deserving.

New Vision will be one of the sponsors and the media partner of the MTN Marathon. Speaking at the press conference, the Group CEO Robert Kabushenga said “Vision Group is proud to sponsor one of the biggest events of the year, the MTN Marathon, through our flagship brand, the New Vision. The Marathon’s objective of raising money to provide clean water for the people of Bududa allows us to give back to the community, whilst promoting healthy living, which are both very noble objectives.”

This year Huawei has also come on board as a sponsor of the Marathon. Speaking at the event, the MD of Huawei Uganda affirmed the company’s desire to reach out and help the less privileged members of the society.

“I would like to applaud MTN Uganda, a fellow multinational with local presence as Huawei, for facilitating our partnership in the 9th edition of the Annual MTN Kampala Marathon together with the people of Uganda, geared towards improving the lives of communities around us. This initiative is a clear indication that public-private partnerships are necessary in catalyzing the growth of the Uganda economy.” said Eric Yang, MD Huawei Uganda.

The Uganda Red Cross Secretary General, Mr. Michael Richard Nataka expressed gratitude to MTN for having chosen to work with the Red Cross over the years and for once again to help save lives over the last 8 years. He also pledged the Uganda Red Cross would still be on hand in the Kampala Marathon 2012 to provide emergency services to all participants.

“Working with MTN over the last 8 years has seen us achieve many of our goals in saving lives and we are glad that MTN chose to partner with us once again for this noble cause. This year we will ensure that the victims from the Bududa landslides that have been resettled in various new locations around the country. We are partners with MTN in the Kampala Marathon and we will be on the routes providing emergency services for participants who require help,” said Mr. Nataka.

At the Press Conference, MTN Uganda’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ernst Fonternel also unveiled this year’s Marathon campaign, which will run for the next three weeks to mobilise participants to take part in the MTN Kampala Marathon.