Just read this article<http://www.firstbiz.com/biztech/facebook-wants-to-enter-the-money-transfer-business-should-paypal-m-pesa-be-worried-82320.html>talking about Facebook's push into getting a piece of the action in mobile payments. Which got me thinking, why don't they just buy Mpesa from Vodacom and Safaricom? and if they do, what would happen? I'm curious on what the effect would be on Mpesa if they did buy it out, or if they couldn't, the obstacles that would prevent them from acquiring it, legal or ortherwise. They did just spend a ton on whatsapp, money really isn't a problem for them! Thoughts?
I don't think they could because this is Kenya :) On 10 May 2014 14:18, John K. <kamau.john@gmail.com> wrote:
Just read this article talking about Facebook's push into getting a piece of the action in mobile payments. Which got me thinking, why don't they just buy Mpesa from Vodacom and Safaricom? and if they do, what would happen?
I'm curious on what the effect would be on Mpesa if they did buy it out, or if they couldn't, the obstacles that would prevent them from acquiring it, legal or ortherwise. They did just spend a ton on whatsapp, money really isn't a problem for them!
Thoughts?
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Not because its Kenya but because 20Million subscribers ain't nearly as many as a billion. -George
From: jangita.nyagudi@gmail.com Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 14:51:55 +0300 To: skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Should Facebook buy Mpesa?
I don't think they could because this is Kenya :)
On 10 May 2014 14:18, John K. <kamau.john@gmail.com> wrote:
Just read this article talking about Facebook's push into getting a piece of the action in mobile payments. Which got me thinking, why don't they just buy Mpesa from Vodacom and Safaricom? and if they do, what would happen?
I'm curious on what the effect would be on Mpesa if they did buy it out, or if they couldn't, the obstacles that would prevent them from acquiring it, legal or ortherwise. They did just spend a ton on whatsapp, money really isn't a problem for them!
Thoughts?
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By the way, before they come to Kenya the top 20 numbers as of GSMA (2011) were China Mobile 650m SingTel (Singapore) 416m Voda (UK) - 381m Americal Mobvile (Mexico) 236m Telefonica (Spain) 230m Airtel (India) 227m Orange (France) 217m Telenor (Norway) 203m VimpelCom (Russia) 193m China Union 170m Telia (Sweden) 160m Axiata (Malaysia) 159m Reliance (India) 144m Saudi Telcom 139m MTN South Africa 137m Etisalat (UAE) 135m TMobile (Germany) 128m Verizon 106m MTS (Russia) 103m AT &T USA 100m And I'm sure their mobile wallets hold more subscribers than ours, maybe not as hyped... On 10 May 2014 17:09, George Irungu <g.irungu@logicalcrest.co.ke> wrote:
Not because its Kenya but because 20Million subscribers ain't nearly as many as a billion.
-George
From: jangita.nyagudi@gmail.com Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 14:51:55 +0300 To: skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Should Facebook buy Mpesa?
I don't think they could because this is Kenya :)
On 10 May 2014 14:18, John K. <kamau.john@gmail.com> wrote:
Just read this article talking about Facebook's push into getting a piece of the action in mobile payments. Which got me thinking, why don't they just buy Mpesa from Vodacom and Safaricom? and if they do, what would happen?
I'm curious on what the effect would be on Mpesa if they did buy it out, or if they couldn't, the obstacles that would prevent them from acquiring it, legal or ortherwise. They did just spend a ton on whatsapp, money really isn't a problem for them!
Thoughts?
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Indeed, m-pesa is way over-hyphed, but it's still the most advanced. I would think that it would be easier for a company (fb or not), to just port over all of the existing tech that works here already (lipa-na-mpesa, pay bill etc) over to another country instead of developing a new one. On 10 May 2014 17:36, Jangita Nyagudi <jangita.nyagudi@gmail.com> wrote:
By the way, before they come to Kenya the top 20 numbers as of GSMA (2011) were
China Mobile 650m SingTel (Singapore) 416m Voda (UK) - 381m Americal Mobvile (Mexico) 236m Telefonica (Spain) 230m Airtel (India) 227m Orange (France) 217m Telenor (Norway) 203m VimpelCom (Russia) 193m China Union 170m Telia (Sweden) 160m Axiata (Malaysia) 159m Reliance (India) 144m Saudi Telcom 139m MTN South Africa 137m Etisalat (UAE) 135m TMobile (Germany) 128m Verizon 106m MTS (Russia) 103m AT &T USA 100m
And I'm sure their mobile wallets hold more subscribers than ours, maybe not as hyped...
On 10 May 2014 17:09, George Irungu <g.irungu@logicalcrest.co.ke> wrote:
Not because its Kenya but because 20Million subscribers ain't nearly as many as a billion.
-George
From: jangita.nyagudi@gmail.com Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 14:51:55 +0300 To: skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Should Facebook buy Mpesa?
I don't think they could because this is Kenya :)
On 10 May 2014 14:18, John K. <kamau.john@gmail.com> wrote:
Just read this article talking about Facebook's push into getting a piece of the action in mobile payments. Which got me thinking, why don't they just buy Mpesa from Vodacom and Safaricom? and if they do, what would
happen?
I'm curious on what the effect would be on Mpesa if they did buy it
out,
or if they couldn't, the obstacles that would prevent them from acquiring it, legal or ortherwise. They did just spend a ton on whatsapp, money really isn't a problem for them!
Thoughts?
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Most advanced? not really. In Burundi Zimbabwe and Lesotho with ECOKash you can 1. Log in with your number and ecokash pin online and view transactions 2. Transact online (send money) without using your phone 3. Register an email address that statements are emailed to (excel, pdf, csv) either daily, monthly or end day when any transaction happens 4. Set up standing orders and scheduled money transfers (so to speak) every x days send y money to z 5. They have a clean API for integration since day 1 6. Their agent numbers are the phone numbers of the agent (matter of preference but makes it easier to contact the agent :) ) 7. Can send internationally eg send money to +277 xxxxxx (selected destinations) 8. Their super agents are all the banks then the banks manage the kiosks and agents - solves the float problem 9. You can actually register and use another operators number on the mobile money but to send and pay, although via USSD (instead of other networks can receive but not send... 10. Tied directly to a visa card (directly means you dont have to load a card to use it, your balance on mobile = balance on card) 11. In zim you can transact multi currency in two currencies (same wallet) and lots more... Honest opinion I don't think MPesa is the most advanced but obviously the largest outreach in Kenya, if you travel much you realise that there are some great things out there. And this little devil on the link below is growing faster than mpesa did in the first 3 years http://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/the-incredible-growth-of-ecocash-zi... my two cents... On 11 May 2014 09:33, John K. <kamau.john@gmail.com> wrote:
Indeed, m-pesa is way over-hyphed, but it's still the most advanced. I would think that it would be easier for a company (fb or not), to just port over all of the existing tech that works here already (lipa-na-mpesa, pay bill etc) over to another country instead of developing a new one.
On 10 May 2014 17:36, Jangita Nyagudi <jangita.nyagudi@gmail.com> wrote:
By the way, before they come to Kenya the top 20 numbers as of GSMA (2011) were
China Mobile 650m SingTel (Singapore) 416m Voda (UK) - 381m Americal Mobvile (Mexico) 236m Telefonica (Spain) 230m Airtel (India) 227m Orange (France) 217m Telenor (Norway) 203m VimpelCom (Russia) 193m China Union 170m Telia (Sweden) 160m Axiata (Malaysia) 159m Reliance (India) 144m Saudi Telcom 139m MTN South Africa 137m Etisalat (UAE) 135m TMobile (Germany) 128m Verizon 106m MTS (Russia) 103m AT &T USA 100m
And I'm sure their mobile wallets hold more subscribers than ours, maybe not as hyped...
On 10 May 2014 17:09, George Irungu <g.irungu@logicalcrest.co.ke> wrote:
Not because its Kenya but because 20Million subscribers ain't nearly as many as a billion.
-George
From: jangita.nyagudi@gmail.com Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 14:51:55 +0300 To: skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Should Facebook buy Mpesa?
I don't think they could because this is Kenya :)
On 10 May 2014 14:18, John K. <kamau.john@gmail.com> wrote:
Just read this article talking about Facebook's push into getting a piece of the action in mobile payments. Which got me thinking, why don't they just buy Mpesa from Vodacom and Safaricom? and if they do, what would happen?
I'm curious on what the effect would be on Mpesa if they did buy it out, or if they couldn't, the obstacles that would prevent them from acquiring it, legal or ortherwise. They did just spend a ton on whatsapp, money really isn't a problem for them!
Thoughts?
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Thanks Jangita! I couldn't have put it better, especially due to my open bias against SafCom [?] When it was suggested that M-PESA is the most advanced, I couldn't help but wonder : "Compared to what?" Tony.
I don't think we can measure the value of M-PESA in terms on technology alone. I am sure there are more advanced systems than M-PESA, but Safaricom was there first, and they build a large dealer network, and that coupled with a huge subscriber base, makes M-PESA unbeatable, at least in the short term. And they can easily upgrade their technology to match any newcomers technology and maintain their lead. Just like Apple, they are reaping the benefit of building a ecosystem. Late comers will always come up with better technology, but when late to the game, you never really catch up. On Tue, May 13, 2014 at 11:53 AM, Tony Likhanga <tlikhanga@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks Jangita! I couldn't have put it better, especially due to my open bias against SafCom [?] When it was suggested that M-PESA is the most advanced, I couldn't help but wonder : "Compared to what?"
Tony.
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@Collins I also think that Mpesa's major advantage is their dealer & agent network. Even Tangaza I hear have better technology than mpesa, but recreating that agent network is probably the biggest hurdle of all. Reminds me of Coca cola, there are probably better soft drinks out there, but no matter where you go, even some back water town in north eastern, you'll be sure to see a "Coke Baridi" sign somewhere. Equity are however silently setting up their own massive agent network, things will get interesting soon once they offer their own competing service. On 13 May 2014 12:38, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote:
I don't think we can measure the value of M-PESA in terms on technology alone. I am sure there are more advanced systems than M-PESA, but Safaricom was there first, and they build a large dealer network, and that coupled with a huge subscriber base, makes M-PESA unbeatable, at least in the short term. And they can easily upgrade their technology to match any newcomers technology and maintain their lead. Just like Apple, they are reaping the benefit of building a ecosystem. Late comers will always come up with better technology, but when late to the game, you never really catch up.
On Tue, May 13, 2014 at 11:53 AM, Tony Likhanga <tlikhanga@gmail.com>wrote:
Thanks Jangita! I couldn't have put it better, especially due to my open bias against SafCom [?] When it was suggested that M-PESA is the most advanced, I couldn't help but wonder : "Compared to what?"
Tony.
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Good stuff Phillip, they should update their tech to match. In today's world giants fall in a short time and you should compete on an international scale. Look at the giant Yahoo when Google came, it's good to be first and the largest but it's more of an achievement to keep it that way.
Regulatory Issues will come up. Therefore not feasible in foreseeable future. That is a blocker to my thinking. Just read this article<http://www.firstbiz.com/biztech/facebook-wants-to-enter-the-money-transfer-business-should-paypal-m-pesa-be-worried-82320.html>talking about Facebook's push into getting a piece of the action in mobile payments. Which got me thinking, why don't they just buy Mpesa from Vodacom and Safaricom? and if they do, what would happen? I'm curious on what the effect would be on Mpesa if they did buy it out, or if they couldn't, the obstacles that would prevent them from acquiring it, legal or ortherwise. They did just spend a ton on whatsapp, money really isn't a problem for them! Thoughts? _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
participants (6)
-
George Irungu -
Isaac Kiplagat -
Jangita Nyagudi -
John K. -
Philip Musyoki -
Tony Likhanga