Adele Botha (CSIR)
Adele Botha is a researcher the CSIR’s African Advanced Institute for Information and Communications Technology. Her research interests are in MHCI and MobileUX research and application. She has been published in various National and International Conferences, Journals and publications. She is currently completing her PhD at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University School of IT and actively involved in various large scale mobile initiatives for development.
Sean Pashley (Starfish Mobile)
Having joined Starfish Mobile 5 1/2 years ago as Sales & Marketing Manager for the SA office and since has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer for the group. Starfish Mobile has become one of the leading playing players in the MVAS arena with a footprint of 20 territories in Africa. Services include content provisioning, content aggregation & promotional strategies for Telco’s as well as mobile marketing services for 3rd party brands.
Uwe Schwarch (Sibesonke)
Uwe Schwarz is co-founder and CEO of www.sibesonke.com a start-up company with the vision to empower under-served consumers globally with an innovative mobile service. Before Uwe worked 10years in the telecom industry with focus on technology and new business opportunities in the base of pyramid (BOP). His education background is in science (physics) with a PhD in engineering. Uwe holds about 40 patents (Nokia Top Inventor of 2002).
Steve Vosloo (Shuttleworth Foundation)
Steve Vosloo is the fellow for 21st Century Learning at the Shuttleworth Foundation. He is passionate about the effective use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) — especially mobile phones — to support teaching and learning in developing countries. Steve has a Masters degree in Information Systems from the University of Cape Town and was previously a research fellow at Stanford University, where he researched youth and digital media.
Note the Event Time: 16.30 – 19.45 (program starts 17.00 sharp)
In South Africa almost 40 Million people live on less than R 140 per day, which equals more than 85% of the population. Of this group, almost half live on less than R 20 per day. These are the base tiers of the income pyramid where the latest smart phones are seldom used. The base of pyramid markets have several needs that can be addressed via mobile and therefore provide an opportunity for mobile service providers. MoMoSA has invited few industry specialist to share their insight and discuss with the participants about the challenges and opportunities related to these markets.
16.30 – 17.00 Arrival and Networking
17.00 – 17.30 Opening presentations
17.30 – 19.00 Interactive panel discussion
19.00 – 19.45 Nokia announces Calling All Innovators Africa winners
Our panelists include Uwe Schwarz, a co-founder and CEO of www.sibesonke.com, a start-up company with the vision to empower under-served consumers globally with an innovative mobile service, Steve Vosloo, the fellow for 21st Century Learning at the Shuttleworth Foundation who is passionate about the effective use of mobile phones to support teaching and learning in developing countries, and Sean Pashley from Starfish Mobile which focuses on driving data ARPU via content and interactive applications While building permissive and profiled databases for Telco’s in 18 African markets. The session will be moderated by Adele Botha, who is specialising in Mobile Human Computer Interactions (MHCI) in development and currently working as a researcher at African Advanced Institute for Information and Communications Technology.
MoMoSA continues the collaboration with Nokia, and as a special program number Nokia will announce the winners of the Calling All Innovators Africa contest. Five top applications are given prize money totalling more than R1-Million and all the top 10 applications are being showcased during the evening. Join us to give a big hand to the winners!
In short:
Topic: Mobile services for the base of pyramid markets
Special: Nokia will announce Calling All Innovators Africa winners
Date: 7th Dec 2009
Time: 17.00 – 19.45
Location: Primi Forum, Melrose Arch
RVSP toni@ungana-afrika.org (note that seats are limited)
The final MoMoSA event in 2009 will be organised just before the summer break on the 7th December at Primi Forum. The theme for the evening is ‘Mobile services for the base of pyramid markets’ and you will have a chance to interact with panelists bringing several years of relevant expertise.
As an exciting addition, Nokia will announce the winners of the Calling All Innovators Africa contest by handing over the prize money of more than R1-Million and show casing the top 10 applications. Come and see if any of the pitched ideas from the last MoMo event made it to the top!
Detailed program and and event details will be shared within the next two weeks, but note that the space is limited to 100 participants and the seats are booked first-come, first-serve basis. To ensure your seat, rsvp to toni@ungana-afrika.org .
Hoping to see you in December!
Pitch your idea to make your content mobile!
The inaugural MoMo Johannesburg on Oct 19th brings the Forum Nokia Challenge to mobile and web developers – if you have a great app or idea for Web Runtime (WRT) widgets, applications or mobilized websites on Nokia devices, share it with the event jury by sending it to toni@ungana-afrika.org for an on-the-spot competition. The best entries will win latest Nokia devices.
If the winner selected represents a company and has a product to market, he/she will have the opportunity to join Forum Nokia Launchpad program, designed to accelerate mobile application development and elevate developer’s business visibility in the mobile world.
Entries received during MoMo South Africa can also be submitted to Nokia’s Calling All Innovators Africa contest, which is seeking FlashLite applications, mobile-optimized websites and WRT widgets that transform web and mobile services into real applications for Nokia devices. Contest prizes include both cash and immediate business opportunities with Nokia, for more detail please check the following link: http://www.callingallinnovators.com/southafrica/
So what are you waiting for? Mobilize your content and win!
For more ideas about mobilizing your website content, please visit Forum Nokia.
Mobile Monday South Africa is proud to host the fifth Mobile Monday event
together with Forum Nokia!
In short:
Topic: Forum Nokia
Date: 19.10.2009
Time: 16.30 – 19.00
Location: Primi Forum, Melrose Arch
RVSP toni@ungana-afrika.org (note that seats are limited)
Forum Nokia: The business opportunities for South African developers
The Nokia headquarters have sent a task Forum Nokia team from Finland including Rahim Zaknoun and Riku Salminen, both with extensive knowledge of mobile industry and Forum Nokia so there is a great chance to get your questions and ideas directly through to Nokia. Join us for this special evening to learn more about the business opportunities Forum Nokia provides, as well as how you can be part of the global Forum Nokia Network. More info at www.forum.nokia.com
The event will be highly interactive and it is filled with interesting information and the topics covered will include the following themes:
- OVI Store
- MAPS API
- Mobilizing content
- Latest devices
MoMo also brings you an event specific Forum Nokia Challenge to mobile and web developers – if you have a great app or idea for Web Runtime (WRT) widgets, applications or mobilized websites on Nokia devices let us know before the event for an on-the-spot competition. The best entries will win latest Nokia devices. Find out the specifics from the next blog-post on our site.
Also note that Forum Nokia is planning to organize a workshop during the same week in Johannesburg – find out about the full details and registration at the event.
Check also Nokia’s Calling All Innovators South Africa 2009 competition at:
www.callingallinnovators.com/southafrica/
Who should attend: Mobile industry stakeholders from entrepreneurs and mobile developers to product/service managers and investors.
Although the event starts at 16.30, come at 16.00 to miss traffic and have an early word with Forum Nokia.
Exciting news! This months MobileMonday on the 19th October is dedicated to Forum Nokia, who has sent a team from their HQ in Finland to explain how they can support South African innovators. More details later this week! Note that the initial Mobile Media theme will be postponed.
I knew it was going to be an interesting session when one of the audience told me she was looking forward to the banks slugging it out. Unfortunately the banks did not end up fighting each other but rather shared a common understanding of what needs to be done to allow all South Africans the ability to use their mobile phones as cash.
FNB was noticeable by their absence which left Absa and Standard Bank to share their insights with us. Adrian Vermooten (Head: Mobile @ Absa Digital Channels) reminded us that South Africa is a pioneer in the mobile banking space. Absa launched their mobile banking offering in 2000 and now have a total customer base of over 5 million. Adrian also elaborated on the Absa strategy of developing multiple channels for all types of customers – from simple WIG and USSD to fully functional WAP Banking. This is constantly evolving and soon we will see on device applications and possibly an iPhone version too. This is an important lesson to remember, especially in South Africa with our dual-market. It is imperative that we develop mobile applications for all segments of the market not just those with fancy new phones. This will truly democratize the access to services for al our people.
Dave Parrat (GM Yello Bank) raised the important issue of Mobile Operators over charging for transaction processing which leads to inability to sell products using their systems. More than 50% of the end user cost is taken by the Mobile Operator which leads to insufficient margins for the retailer and content owners. This is not a sustainable business model and needs to be challenged. The banks are well positioned to do this. Dave shard his vision of the day when we will able to use a PIN on our mobiles to facilitate online payments.
Finally Johan Campbell introduced us to MiMoney which is Standard Banks new payment platform. Using vouchers that can be paid for fro any bank account, MiMoney allows you to pay from your MiMoney account to a number of merchants including Ster Kinekor and Kalahari. John explained that the merchants were very keen on accepting MiMoney payments and preferred it to cash in many cases. MiMoney also gives business a cost effective way to accept mobile payments and has allowed Mxit to increases their margins over Mobile Operator billed transactions.
As expected the panel discussion was very lively, with the audience asking some very tough questions. As always the most important part of the event was the networking with many people making new contacts amidst shooters!
Once again a big thank you to all those who attended the event, you make Mobile Monday a success.
Our next event is a not to be missed evening. Check back regularly for updates, you should receive you invitation soon.
The Mobile Monday SA team.
MoMoSA has joined hands with Mobile Web Africa to make the upcoming event in Johannesburg as successful as possible. For many of the MoMo community members this is definitely an event not to be missed!
Mobile Web Africa: Harnessing the potential of the internet and applications on mobile devices
October 13 & 14 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa
This event is designed to significantly contribute to the next stage of development of the African mobile ecosystem. Topics include:
- Mobile web and applications for development
- Creating the next generation of entrepreneurs
- Monetising mobile web and apps
- Mobile content development
- Mobile marketing and promotion
- O.E.M. and Operator perspectives
A highly interactive roundtable seating format promises to produce fantastic networking and outputs for attendees. Contact All Amber (info@allamber.co.uk) for information. Live agenda and news regarding this superb conference can be found at www.mobilewebafrica.com.
Subsidised tickets available for Start-Ups and Developers (contact info@allamber.co.uk for details). Discounted delegate places are available until 11th September. Space is limited and registrations are currently being taken from all echelons of the mobile sector so early bookings are advised.
