By the way Olga is a woman not a man.
Hehehe. was just about to point that out. @David - Did we read the same article? I dont think the author was trying to rubbish the efforts by safaricom or kenyans. All she did was try to point out that there were other players involved who played an even bigger role during MPESA's nascent years. I believe Olga is just giving credit to the small group of developers in Cambridge whose efforts have never really been given the credit due (at least in the public eye). First you state that "If this product was implemented anywhere else in the world, it would have worked just as well" then you move on to say "The same product has been launched in Tanzania...and almost a year later, its still to get off the ground" - contradiction in terms wouldn't you say. Also I do believe that projects based on new ideas (more often than not) are wont to evolve especially when you are entering into a market that is not inherently yours (as the Cambridge group did). This evolution is based on good research. It's often that we start projects believing that thats what the users need only to end up with a whole new "baby" (or monster) a year or so down the line. Probably if it was some other team they would have just stuck to their initial plan of MFI loans and MPESA wouldn't have been the success it is today. Quick question - say you came up with an innovative app which ends up being the end-all and be-all of applications in Kenya do we give Kenyans the credit or do we give you the credit for your hard work?? -Billy