Econet still uninterested in interoperability (updated)
Posted inMobile Money

Econet still uninterested in interoperability (updated)

It seems Econet, banking on its market share and business interests, is still unwilling to enable interoperability in some aspects of their services, particularly hand to hand wallet to wallet interfacing. This is unlike the competitors OneWallet, Telecash and Nettcash.
8
Posted inBroadband

POTRAZ prepares to deploy quality of service system

At the Broadband Forum, we learnt that POTRAZ will in the near future deploy Quality of Service monitoring equipment to ensure operators adhere to service agreements that ensure acceptable service standards. At the present moment, consumers are at the mercy of operators in the absence of regulations and in the wake of weak consumer protection.
1
Posted inMobile Money

Mozido acquires Nettcash, adds utility services

Mozido, a global payments provider recently acquired local mobile payments provider Nettcash. They have announced through their website that they merged the two wallets and immediately made available a new feature that allows users to buy prepaid electricity from their credit stored in the mobile wallet.
1
Posted inMobile Money

Mambo Press goes online with virtual shop but…

Mambo has adapted to the power of the internet to move volumes on their publication by launching a virtual shop online via pazimba.com. This is a noble move, but they definitely need to do more if they are to upset and guard against piracy.
Posted inStartups

Online funeral coordination platform Funeral.ly launched

funeral.ly is a Zimbabwean online event management platform that allows one to manage a funeral it was recently launched online. It capitalises on the internet to provide a centralized method for disseminating information and coordinating funerals among family members, friends and colleagues
3
Posted inBroadband

Are you an entrepreneur? Here’s why you should attend the Broadband Forum

Now that the internet is available, there is need for startups to understand how the opportunities that come with it can be exploited successfully into profitable businesses. The Broadband Forum will provide a platform for aspiring startups to learn from testimonials of successes like Mark Essien's Hotels.ng in tourism and Emma Kay bringing bozzi.mobi online.
Posted inConnectivity Media

Econet now has its own USSD News service

It could be mere coincidence that as Econet introduces a content account disrupting the Zimpapers mobile news service, a new USSD based news platform is launched. However, some would speculate that Econet in fact benefited from the confusion by bringing in their own, or a new player in the SMS News VAS.
2
Posted inConnectivity

Here are 3 ways you will benefit from Infrastructure Sharing

With all this talk on infrastructure sharing, we also need to consider the government's viewpoint and possibly understand why it feels so strongly towards it. The government is obliged to ensure that consumers receive fair pricing for goods and services while it also protects the businesses in telecoms. These are the motivations behind this move on shared infrastructure.
17
Posted inConnectivity

Infrastructure Sharing: purely an emotional debate

Operators would rather "go it alone" than share infrastructure despite the fact that there is an opportunity for cost savings of up to 40%. To the consumer it makes absolutely no sense that they should have to pay higher tariffs for a service when there is a clearly a better way for all stakeholders to benefit.
12
Posted inConnectivity

Here’s why Telecel employees should fight for share ownership, not salaries

Whether true or false that Telecel has tabled offers to its staff for payment of 20% of salaries in kind, this is an opportunity for the shareholders to shed some equity over to staff through a share ownership trust, a move that not only resolves partially or in toto the share structure dilemma but goes a more critical route to lobby for employee motivation and as an incentive for staff buy-in to the overall vision of the company going forward.
1
Posted inMobile Money

Telecash remains defiant in the face of competition

Telecash may have faced a seasonal drawback in the Telecel versus government tiff early this year but they look set to grow stronger with the right formula. Recording 1 million subscribers from launch last year in January, they can easily reach the same user ratios as Ecocash.
2
Posted inConnectivity

Econet reintroduces Buddie Zone, packages it with mobile games

Econet has reintroduced its Buddie Zone promotion, which offers discounts of up to 90% for on-net voice calls. At first glance, this looks like Econet's way of adding value to voice calls for subscribers. However, the fact that it is coming after another operator, Telecel introduced free calls after midnight, gives the impression that this is a response aimed at maintaining subscriber loyalty.
2
Posted inConnectivity

Telecel offers two more voice promos with unlimited calls

Telecel has again launched a reward based Night Chat and 073-4-Free Weekend promotions hot on the heels of the Super Voice Bundles. The Night Chat promo offers its subscribers unlimited calls during the night and the 073-4-Free Weekend rewards customers for $4 airtime purchases during the week by unlimited calls Saturday night to Sunday midnight.
1