Nice one. I’ve always argued that Nigerian start-ups should leverage on the mobile subscriber base, if they are to create a meaningful and valuable impact.
See link: http://www.startupsnigeria.com/2009/05/can-any-nigerian-social-network-stop-the-facebook-surge/
]]>I’m curious as to why the service is only available via SMS…
Text2Fly is SMS-based because that’s how we can offer a genuine upgrade in user convenience.
Consider the travelling businessperson’s lifestyle in Nigeria.
The Internet is slow in Nigeria. I would even argue that it’s not that reliable. SMS, on the other hand, is generally fast and reliable.
Meetings often start later than planned, run late and are changed unexpectedly. It is also not uncommon to spend an indefinite amount of time waiting to see a senior public sector official. Culturally that’s just the way things are. So the best time for your return flight is often a moving target.
That’s why having access to travel information on your mobile phone is more convenient than having it on the computer.
Another issue is that from a growth standpoint Text2Fly would like to move beyond servicing the core business traveller to helping leisure travellers too. This market has limited access to the Internet.
Finally, I’d argue that mobile is where the African tech entrepreneur needs to concentrate. It’s a much larger market than desktop. If there are any additional revenue streams to be tapped as a result of Text2Fly I’m convinced that the mobile is where they will be.
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