KENCELL NOW ZAIN COULD HAVE PIONEERED MOBILE MONEY TRANSFER IN KENYA
Hi, everybody. I personally think that Zain back then known as Kencell, could have revolutionised Mobile Money Tranfer in Kenya had they just been a little bit aggresive. It was 2005, when I had an opportunity to work with one of their products known as EVD which was specifically used by scrachcard vendors commonly known as simu ya jamii. Vendors would first get registered by any dealer and then frequently load airtime on the simcard given to them. They would then sambaza you airtime electronically upon your request, that is if you've paid. The EVD system was usually used through a mobile phone and was very simple to use just like the m-pesa. I think m-pesa also inherited from it, the drawback of sending money to the wrong person. Cause at times one would send airtime to the wrong person using the EVD. Having launched such a product in the market, these guyz (KENCELL) shuld have pioneered mobile money transfer cause both the EVD and m-pesa shared the same concept of functionality.
I concur, something jst went totally wrong with their strategy. Their advertising back then was also agressive. On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 3:06 PM, Emmanuel Ochieng < emmanuelochieng797@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi, everybody.
I personally think that Zain back then known as Kencell, could have revolutionised Mobile Money Tranfer in Kenya had they just been a little bit aggresive. It was 2005, when I had an opportunity to work with one of their products known as EVD which was specifically used by scrachcard vendors commonly known as simu ya jamii. Vendors would first get registered by any dealer and then frequently load airtime on the simcard given to them. They would then sambaza you airtime electronically upon your request, that is if you've paid.
The EVD system was usually used through a mobile phone and was very simple to use just like the m-pesa. I think m-pesa also inherited from it, the drawback of sending money to the wrong person. Cause at times one would send airtime to the wrong person using the EVD.
Having launched such a product in the market, these guyz (KENCELL) shuld have pioneered mobile money transfer cause both the EVD and m-pesa shared the same concept of functionality.
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Just goes to show ideas are not enough. Execution is key On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 3:08 PM, Daniel Mugambi <danielmugambi@gmail.com>wrote:
I concur, something jst went totally wrong with their strategy. Their advertising back then was also agressive.
On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 3:06 PM, Emmanuel Ochieng < emmanuelochieng797@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi, everybody.
I personally think that Zain back then known as Kencell, could have revolutionised Mobile Money Tranfer in Kenya had they just been a little bit aggresive. It was 2005, when I had an opportunity to work with one of their products known as EVD which was specifically used by scrachcard vendors commonly known as simu ya jamii. Vendors would first get registered by any dealer and then frequently load airtime on the simcard given to them. They would then sambaza you airtime electronically upon your request, that is if you've paid.
The EVD system was usually used through a mobile phone and was very simple to use just like the m-pesa. I think m-pesa also inherited from it, the drawback of sending money to the wrong person. Cause at times one would send airtime to the wrong person using the EVD.
Having launched such a product in the market, these guyz (KENCELL) shuld have pioneered mobile money transfer cause both the EVD and m-pesa shared the same concept of functionality.
_______________________________________________ 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
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the fact that celtel was the pioneer network in some rural areas but ended up loosing customers to saf when they set base speaks volumes. they have had no clear strategy from post kencell period , more of a knee jerk reaction, retreat to former stand then another knee jerk reaction. It doesnt make sense to maintain status quo if you making losses and the competition is eating you out. On 08/09/2009, Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:
Just goes to show ideas are not enough. Execution is key
On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 3:08 PM, Daniel Mugambi <danielmugambi@gmail.com>wrote:
I concur, something jst went totally wrong with their strategy. Their advertising back then was also agressive.
On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 3:06 PM, Emmanuel Ochieng < emmanuelochieng797@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi, everybody.
I personally think that Zain back then known as Kencell, could have revolutionised Mobile Money Tranfer in Kenya had they just been a little bit aggresive. It was 2005, when I had an opportunity to work with one of their products known as EVD which was specifically used by scrachcard vendors commonly known as simu ya jamii. Vendors would first get registered by any dealer and then frequently load airtime on the simcard given to them. They would then sambaza you airtime electronically upon your request, that is if you've paid.
The EVD system was usually used through a mobile phone and was very simple to use just like the m-pesa. I think m-pesa also inherited from it, the drawback of sending money to the wrong person. Cause at times one would send airtime to the wrong person using the EVD.
Having launched such a product in the market, these guyz (KENCELL) shuld have pioneered mobile money transfer cause both the EVD and m-pesa shared the same concept of functionality.
_______________________________________________ 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
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-- with Regards: Kazi kwa vijana and other idiots, all at my blog: http://gramware.blogspot.com
I remember, with sadness, how Kencell tried to stick to the per minute billing policy way back then. They claimed an average call lasts a minute, or multiples of minutes. They lost most of their customers then, and most simply never went back. Also back then, they valued what they called 'corporate' customers, and the other so called 'lower-cadre consumers' were completely ignore. And as they say, 'the rest is history.'
With fibre and all it is easy to forget that Kenya IS a 3rd world country ... no? Kipkemoi -- A Cruce Salus On Sep 8, 2009 5:47 PM, "Philip Musyoki" <pmusyoki@gmail.com> wrote: I remember, with sadness, how Kencell tried to stick to the per minute billing policy way back then. They claimed an average call lasts a minute, or multiples of minutes. They lost most of their customers then, and most simply never went back. Also back then, they valued what they called 'corporate' customers, and the other so called 'lower-cadre consumers' were completely ignore. And as they say, 'the rest is history.' _______________________________________________ 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
participants (6)
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Daniel Mugambi -
Dennis Kioko -
Emmanuel Ochieng -
Kipkemoi -
Philip Musyoki -
Rad!