M-Pesa Shows Strong Demand for M-Banking

Submitted by Rob Katz on July 9, 2007 - 08:41.

We've known about Vodafone's M-Pesa project for some time now.  The money-transfer via mobile phone service has been active in Kenya for a few months now, first as a pilot and growing steadily throughout the country.

The New York Times and the Economist both have articles on M-Pesa today.  Vodafone's partner, Kenyan telco Safaricom, has signed up over 175,000 customers in just three months, and more than 2,500 are signing up every day.

Al Hammond just spent a few days with Vodafone in London, including some time with Nick Hughes, the executive in charge of M-Pesa.  He's secured a promise from Nick to post a guest blog on the program here at NextBillion.net - hopefully later today.

In the mean time, brush up on your background reading - either via the Newsroom or direct link.
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Submitted by Globalisierungsblog on July 10, 2007 - 13:33.
I think this is really a good way to provide money transfer to less developed countries, where there is no bank around every corner.
Submitted by Jason Brigg on July 26, 2007 - 11:37.
A company called MiPay, i think based in England, are launching something called Global Top Up in the USA and Europe that will enable people to send money to any mobile on select networks in Latin America and Africa. I hear the service will charge $3 to send up to $750, and the recipient pays a $1 fee to get the cash, through the operator network agents, and transfers are supposed to take 10 minutes. These guys gave a presentation in London that I attended, Digital Money Forum. The service also allows operators to run the same service on a domestic basis, person to person.
Submitted by Paul Langat on July 3, 2008 - 09:49.
i would like to apply for an m-pesa agent. i want to inquire about joining requirements. The area of operation will be a long Kericho-Kisumu road at Kipsitet Market. please advise
Submitted by konzolo Ben on November 2, 2008 - 10:39.
i wish to start an m-pesa business with a base in Eldoret town and a branch in Kakamega and Bungoma. please advice Phone No 0723935723

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