Electronic Payment Systems:- M-Pesa logical flaw...
On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 1:05 PM, Phares Kariuki<pkariuki@gmail.com> wrote:
Talk starts at 6 pm. There will be some Journalists from CBC Canada, who will be keen to meet participants.
Would anybody know when, or if, the CBC journalists published their M-Pesa story? They interviewed me on "the dark side of M-Pesa" apparently because they could not get critics of the safaricom service. Explained to them that it was ridiculous for the service not to allow users to pick the "send-to" number from the phone book as opposed to have to wwrite down the number on a piece of papers then re-type it. Alternatively to pre-confirm to the user whom they intend to send the cash to before hitting the "send" button. Why bother telling me to whom I sent when it's already too late? Otherwise, I am ever afraid to send large sums of money. Lately I am curious as to why so many still prefer to use "manual" payment methods for example, electricity bills when Zap M-Pesa exist? I suspect M-Pesa used in urgent situations, where one has no choice or the alternative would be too expensive. If a cheaper alternative existed , then it would be bye bye M-Pesas and Zaps...
you could also add there's no way you can prove you sent money on mpesa. . and the lack of an API for third parties to embed in applications is a huge failing. as for payments esp kplc there are several cases of people who paid but were amazed to be disconnected anyway. something along the chain, at least for kenya power is not 100% reliable On 9/1/09, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 1:05 PM, Phares Kariuki<pkariuki@gmail.com> wrote:
Talk starts at 6 pm. There will be some Journalists from CBC Canada, who will be keen to meet participants.
Would anybody know when, or if, the CBC journalists published their M-Pesa story?
They interviewed me on "the dark side of M-Pesa" apparently because they could not get critics of the safaricom service.
Explained to them that it was ridiculous for the service not to allow users to pick the "send-to" number from the phone book as opposed to have to wwrite down the number on a piece of papers then re-type it. Alternatively to pre-confirm to the user whom they intend to send the cash to before hitting the "send" button. Why bother telling me to whom I sent when it's already too late?
Otherwise, I am ever afraid to send large sums of money.
Lately I am curious as to why so many still prefer to use "manual" payment methods for example, electricity bills when Zap M-Pesa exist? I suspect M-Pesa used in urgent situations, where one has no choice or the alternative would be too expensive. If a cheaper alternative existed , then it would be bye bye M-Pesas and Zaps... _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
Tell him I want mPesa for the iPhone. It would be really cool. Also mPesa for the rest of the smartphones. Then you could have an online history of all your transactions. I had a friend who stored all her mPesa transactions saved on a folder in her Nokia phone. When they changed phones, they used Nokia PC Suite to backup and restore the data, but alas, it does not back up the SMSs stored in folders. Imagine her shock. And there was no way of getting this data again.
On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 6:48 AM, Gakuru Alex<alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com> wrote:
Lately I am curious as to why so many still prefer to use "manual" payment methods for example, electricity bills when Zap M-Pesa exist? I suspect M-Pesa used in urgent situations, where one has no choice or the alternative would be too expensive. If a cheaper alternative existed , then it would be bye bye M-Pesas and Zaps... _
I think the problem is related to billing systems -- rather than m-pesa (and similar). KPLC for instance, wants you to display a payment receipt to the guy who comes to disconnect your power. when you pay through m-pesa, you get a system receipt which only some of these guys want to look at.
I hear YU are about to launch their "MPESA" service. This is after essar bought a stake in Obopay together with Nokia: The system will sort all your issues except accessing the phonebook. - you can access it on any network using sms, stk and wap. - has transaction histry - help - can be integrated into websites - alerts you before u send the money - Nokia might integrate it with phones - Money can be transfered to your account periodically - You can map your account Bla bla bla Anyone who can substantiate this?????
I hear YU are about to launch their "MPESA" service. This is after essar bought a stake in Obopay together with Nokia:
Perhaps a better strategy would be for Safaricom/Zain etc to come up with a payment platform, a VISA/Paypal (forgive inaccuracies of choice illustration), for mobile. That way, the mobile companies can all have stake in it (something like what banks have with Pesa point or Kenswitch). The company developing this will have the sole purpose of developing the service,and hence you can have industry standard practice. i.e. KPLC only plugs in once. The ATM systems plug in once. And it's independent of network. My two pence... -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki@gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares |
I doubt the Telcoms will do that. You see the Telcoms business if a dominate/be dominated business and each will want ensure that they be the ones to dominate. A standard and open platform will be good for the industry. They could even form a partnership and setup the platform, then licence other Telcos across the world to use it. Independent of carrier. Visa and Mastercard have worked well with all the banks that are willing to participate. But knowing Kenyan telcos, they will never do that. They want to protect their turf. I can predict that someone else will come up with a product to add on to mPesa and ZAP and that all the world will be talking about. It is just a matter of time.
participants (6)
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ashok+skunkworks＠parliaments.info -
Gakuru Alex -
kennedy kariuki -
Phares Kariuki -
Philip Musyoki -
Rad!