Comments on: New SMS Services in Uganda from Grameen, Google & MTN

By: What should Google be doing in Africa? | memeburn

What should Google be doing in Africa? | memeburn — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:17:21 +0000

[...] localized search into multiple local languages, made their services more mobile phone friendly and experimented with services for farmers, health workers and traders. Their Google Global Cache has sped up the [...]

By: What Should Google Do in Africa? — WhiteAfrican

What Should Google Do in Africa? — WhiteAfrican — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:20:20 +0000

[...] localized search into multiple local languages, made their services more mobile phone friendly and experimented with services for farmers, health workers and [...]

By: On Love and Hate for 160 characters

On Love and Hate for 160 characters — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:30:39 +0000

[...] http://whiteafrican.com/2009/06/29/new-sms-services-in-uganda-from-grameen-google/ [...]

By: Ozo-Eson Omosigho

Ozo-Eson Omosigho — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:57:51 +0000

Gerald Businge you have some very insightful contributions. I must say that I agree with you that in Africa we have a “Content Generation” problem. But you must admit that we have a problem not just with creating the necessary content needed by Africans, but also, we are lacking in the required technologies to be able to effect specialized services that will be of benefit to us.

This is a bold step that has been taken by Google, MTN and the companies working alongside these “IT Giants”. However, as you have rightly said we need “local content” to make these services effective, and ultimately be put to them to good use. I think for starters that the energies which has been channeled into the development of these IT services also have to be channeled into the development of content. These IT services have to be opened up in such a way that they allow local consumers to be content creators. In addition to this, there has to be at the very least a decent investment in marketing efforts in order to publicize these services, and educate the publics on their use and value propositions.

In Africa we are lagging behind not just in technology but also in the culture that drives the creation of content. If these services are to succeed as we hope they will, we need to invest resources not just in the technologies, but in all infrastructures necessary for the creation of the content that drives these services.

Ozo-Eson Omosigho
Zero&One Technologies (Nigeria)

By: Mobile Web East Africa – Stream — WhiteAfrican

Mobile Web East Africa – Stream — WhiteAfrican — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:36:54 +0000

[...] wrote about AppLab and their work with MTN and Google last year. Eric wants to talk about a critical look at a [...]

By: Alf

Alf — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:52:14 +0000

i thought this thing was specific to ughanda. I typed in “Bin it Ltd” and got bin it uk. Useless info as far as I am concerend.

By: Wessel van Rensburg

Wessel van Rensburg — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:16:29 +0000

anybody know if there’s plans to connect this service to others, thinking Twitter specifically.

As an aside, how much is Twitter used in places like Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria these days?

By: richard

richard — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:46:22 +0000

do guys view what we reallypost ??? ho efficent is these thing.

By: Ssekazinga

Ssekazinga — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:41:41 +0000

Hey Bukola, the service is free for some period of time after when it will cost you 220 UGX for a SMS.
Hotel in Uganda Kampala – Hellouganda

By: Bukola

Bukola — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:50:44 +0000

I am recieving some conflicting feeds here. @Ssekazinga says the SMS is expensive. @Bobby Garner said it’s free. Can some one please clarify?
Thanks.