A recent conversation with a client revealed that brands are yet to figure the importance of engaging their target audience where they hang out. There is this mindset that the audience must be funneled to a mobile app, mobisite or website for them to fully engage with a brand. This usually leads to disenchantment when the said properties do not reach projected levels of engagement, as users opt to stay put, whether on Facebook, Twitter or some other social fireplace.

There is a way to drive engagement and get mindshare that brands locally are yet to embrace. Mobile content consumption has taken off with the increase in number of smart “enough” phones with data activated. The content ranges from music, videos, games to personalized content that many would not give a second thought to such as horoscopes. While paid content downloads and subscription models are still king locally, brands can adopt the ad supported model to make these and other content items available to a wide base of interested consumers and thereby lower the barrier to engagement by riding on content their target audience is already receptive to. continue reading »

A client is scouting for talent. Needed is a resource trained in Oracle DBs as well as solid notions of networking:
DBA: 2-3 years of experience with Oracle 11g , backup & recovery , rman, primary/standby database.
Networking: 2-3 years of experience with cisco routers, firewalls, VPN, DHCP/DNS, windows networking

Plus points

• SQL Server and MySQL
• SIP Telephony knowledge

Starting package at Ksh 80,000. Contact for details on where to send resume if interested

Markets like Africa present a unique challenge and opportunity when it comes to the development and rollout of mobile centric services, as they present the full spectrum of user scenarios. From user needs to device types the roadmap is not always clear.

While in other markets it is common to see focus on “vanity” applications and services; which bring in huge amounts of revenue, I believe that for Africa and other emerging markets the real numbers and revenues lie in utility based applications that will improve the lot of their users. We are yet to crack the code on a wider scale but we have seen the potential in outlier services like Mpesa.

Is there a production model that will allow us to create with a high level of accuracy applications and services that will hit the spot? One size may not fit all, but there are four points that should be part of any development process. continue reading »

The second annual Mobile Marketing Summit, endorsed by the Mobile Marketing Association, will take place in Nairobi, 14 March 2012. The MMA will bring together a number of the world’s top mobile marketers to communicate latest best mobile marketing practices applicable to the East Africa region.
 
Global insights on consumer and business mobile adoption and readiness – as they will impact Kenya
Brett St. Clair, Head of Mobile, Google SA

Mobile messaging: latest SMS & USSD techniques in action
Rick Joubert, founding chairman, MMA SA & executive chairman, Yonder Media

How should brands embrace social networks?
An overview of the Kenyan market, trends, successful brands and best practice for delivering a greater consumer experience through social networks.
Mark Kaigwa, partner, Affrinovator  

Mega promotions – case studies
Presenter: Oxygen8 South Africa

Creating a two-way dialogue with your customers via the mobile device
The focus is on mobile activity which “moved the dial” for major international brands from McDonalds to Coca Cola. Sponge has been responsible for over 500m mobile interactions with brands and the presentation will cover a range of different approaches which all deliver results and engagement. Topics will include benefits/challenges of apps, mobile sites and other tools for two way engagement via the mobile device.
Alex Meisl, chairman, Sponge

Mobile advertising – still watching the trend?
Ike Oliobi, business development manager, InMobi

What makes an App stand out and become a consumer favourite?
Karanja Macharia, CEO, Mobile Planet

MMA East Africa Council – benefits of membership and plans for 2012
Frank Maina, CEO, Sponge East Africa & co-chair, MMA East Africa

Register here

Most technology start-ups die within the first five years. Sadly, many entrepreneurs fail to re-invent their ideas and end up being overtaken by time.

Mobile Planet Ltd, a local technology company has survived for 10 years. The entrepreneurs behind it, Karanja Macharia, Nyanjiru Macharia and Kigen Kandie say it has not been a smooth ride; they had to come up with new ideas every other day.

Mobile Planet is a licensed premium-rate services provider, delivering the now popular short-code SMS service in competitions, news, entertainment, chats and ring tones. For the last decade, they have been creating customized mobile solutions that mobile networks and corporate clients use to connect with the growing number of mobile users in Africa.

One thing that ails technology start-ups is the inability to transform great innovation ideas to profitable businesses. Before 2001, Karanja who is a Computer Science graduate had tried several other software ideas, all had died as soon as they were born. continue reading »

syndicated from Wolfgang Fengler

When you are overtaken by yet-another reckless Matatu driver you may have sympathy for Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s long-time autocrat, who is credited with Singapore’s transformation from third world to first world. He once famously claimed: “Developing countries need discipline more than democracy.”

As Kenya has entered another election year, debates on the achievements of its democracy are likely to increase. A functioning democracy needs more than elections, but even the management of elections has proven difficult for Kenya in the past, which partly explains why the economic performance has often been weak in election years and beyond. If Kenya was to repeat past experiences, the country would risk returning to a low-growth cycle for the next 24 months. The dream of reaching Middle Income this decade—by the more modest World Bank definition of US$ 1000 per person—would then become all but elusive. continue reading »

Information technology can give any business an edge when its implementation is well thought out and aligned to the core objectives. This appreciation has lead many organizations both large and small to seek out solutions that would provide the much needed business leverage. There is no shortage of solutions and service providers to choose from.

There are major challenges however when it comes to the day to day provision of services that I believe impact in a big way the perception of technology solutions that are provided locally. Customer satisfaction is a perpetual yo-yo, as service providers grapple with these challenges. continue reading »

This position involves team based development of web applications for Nation Digital Assets. The role involves day to day development, interactions with the product development team, participation in innovation sessions.

 Designation: Web Developer

- Highly skilled in web programming technologies including but not limited to Java, JSP, PHP, CCS, XHTML,  Database development and programming using MySQL, MSSQL and PostgreSQL.

- Skilled in web server administration using Apache, Apache tomcat and IIS.

- Advanced web master skills including code optimization, Database administration and management, Server administration in Linux, Solaris and Windows.

- Experience in creating web and mobile functionality

- Hands on coding experience and used to working with a team of developers and product management teams converting Photoshop designs/ briefs into XHTML compliant Web Pages

- 6 +years of experience

send resume to – akhante@ke.nationmedia.com