Some idea for Safcom or celtel…

MTN Ghana have introduced a very innovative product which i think Safaricom (or celtel) can adopt. Its called MTN Zone. The service gives Prepaid customers subscribers an opportunity to enjoy discount of up to 100% on calls to other MTN users day and night.

This is how it works

Depending on the number of users in a certain zone(s) at any particular time of making a call, you will receive a discount of certain percentage.  If there are very few people making calls at that particular time then be guaranteed of something between 70 – 100%! You are able to see (through cell broadcast) how much discount you are receiving before you make a call. The discount is applicable  all duration of that particular call.

So mathematically, if you are on tariff which charges 10 bob/minute and you get 90% discount, and your call last 5 minutes then you will only pay 5 bob for the call. And it’s on per second billing.

More information can be obtained here

Now this is something Safcom (or celtel) can adopt and can do away with these Offpeak/free calls manenos (if they haven’t thought about it already).

I however foresee some issues but nothing a good market survey cant help sort out.

1. In CBD, they will be many calls at any particular time hence these subscribers will not get to enjoy this facility when they need it most
2. Knowing Kenyans, the moment one initiates a call and sees 100%, guess what? Only a battery dying can make them disconnect! They will talk even to the neighbours mboch just to get the latest muchene from the neighbourhood!
3. People in rural area may technically enjoy free calls throughout – hence no revenue through purchase of scrath cards (But how often do some of them buy it anyway? They make sure they have utilised their 5 flashbacks – please call me – daily!!!)
4. And what if all the people receiving calls are in the same zone…? Ok highly unlikely… but still…

But on the brighter side, they will be no congestions at any time and this option will give people more freedom to call.

Haya Kazi kwenu Michael Joseph and……yeah..? (who’s the head honcho huko Celtel?). Lets see who does it first.

A thank you note and maybe a lucrative offer to work in your firm will be appreciated

PS:

Calls from here are generally cheap compared to Kenya (calling within Africa). With $1 you can call for almost 5 minutes. That is like Ksh 12 per minute (approx) compared to Kenya Ksh 50. Its even cheaper to call US, UK and China!

AOB

I have one issue with MTN – which i have put in their suggestion box.

I went to have GPRS on my phone activated and they charged me $5 for it. Then i had to buy credit of not less that $4.5 before i could start browsing on my phone.

My question to them is why the subscription fee? Shouldn’t the service be free so at encourage more people register hence more revenue in terms of charges for browsing? And then why the requirement to buy airtime/credit?

Am not sure how much it cost to browse (i was given the figure in pesewas – a unit of cedi) but i think its something like $0.25 per MB

Oh well, wont need it much – what with all these FREE Wi-fi around?

AOB 2

I have hooked myself with a 8GB iPhone – unlocked.

Its second hand but you wont see me minding…. and i practically got it for free. All i needed was to look for a buyer for my Nokia (which will be thouroughly missed) to match the offer and voila!

So far so good. I’m still getting used to these touch screen maneno

Haya, have a ‘free call’ day!