From : Divya Bhaskar
From : The Economic Times
From : Jai Hind
From : Prabhat
From : Rajasthan Patrika
From : The Times of India
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Vodafone M-Pesa launch in Gujarat covered by Local Press
From : Commodity World
From : Divya Bhaskar
From : The Economic Times
From : Jai Hind
From : Prabhat
From : Rajasthan Patrika
From : The Times of India
From : Divya Bhaskar
From : The Economic Times
From : Jai Hind
From : Prabhat
From : Rajasthan Patrika
From : The Times of India
Vodafone launches money transfer service 'm-pesa'
From : Western Times (Page 3)
Vodafone India along with ICICI Bank today launched its mobile money transfer and payment service ‘m-pesa’ in Gujarat, which is 12th state in the country to provide services.
The company plans to rollout the service in other parts of the country within couple of months, said Mr. BP Singh, Business Head - West, Vodafone India.
“We expect a small number of people to adapt this initially...if classical marketing theory is anything to go by usually about half to one per cent of people adopt a new product,” Brijesh Bajpayee, Business Head Gujarat of the company said.
He, however, added, the company expects the product to go “viral” in the days ahead going by the kind of response it got in countries like Kenya.
“We clearly feel the initial experience will come by our push...point of inflection, there is a point when it becomes viral and people start doing it with word of the mouth,” Suresh Sethi, Business Head (m-pesa), Vodafone India said.
The service allows customers to transfer money to any mobile phone, remit money to a bank account, make payments for utility bills and deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets.
The users need to deposit Rs 200 to register for the service and the company charges Rs 10 per transaction as convenience fee for payment of utilities. Apart from that, there are various slabs for transaction charges for transferring money.
The service will be available through 2000 authorised agents and across 312 Vodafone exclusive retail stores in state. Apart from Gujarat, the service, which was launched in 11 state of the country has already 5 lakh customers registered under m-pesa service.
Vodafone India along with ICICI Bank today launched its mobile money transfer and payment service ‘m-pesa’ in Gujarat, which is 12th state in the country to provide services.
The company plans to rollout the service in other parts of the country within couple of months, said Mr. BP Singh, Business Head - West, Vodafone India.
“We expect a small number of people to adapt this initially...if classical marketing theory is anything to go by usually about half to one per cent of people adopt a new product,” Brijesh Bajpayee, Business Head Gujarat of the company said.
He, however, added, the company expects the product to go “viral” in the days ahead going by the kind of response it got in countries like Kenya.
“We clearly feel the initial experience will come by our push...point of inflection, there is a point when it becomes viral and people start doing it with word of the mouth,” Suresh Sethi, Business Head (m-pesa), Vodafone India said.
The service allows customers to transfer money to any mobile phone, remit money to a bank account, make payments for utility bills and deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets.
The users need to deposit Rs 200 to register for the service and the company charges Rs 10 per transaction as convenience fee for payment of utilities. Apart from that, there are various slabs for transaction charges for transferring money.
The service will be available through 2000 authorised agents and across 312 Vodafone exclusive retail stores in state. Apart from Gujarat, the service, which was launched in 11 state of the country has already 5 lakh customers registered under m-pesa service.
Vodafone Introduces mPesa Service In Gujarat, Plans Pan-India By 2014
From : WAT Blog.com
Vodafone India has unveiled mPesa service in Gujarat by joining hands with ICICI bank. The company is also planning to further expand the service to pan India by next year. As per the reports, the company is targeting the USD 60 Billion money transfer market in the country along with the government benefits transfer market worth $55 Billion.
The telecom operator had first announced the service in November last year while it was officially launched in Mumbai this August. mPesa enables users to transact using the M-Pesa accounts and do transactions like withdrawing cash from specified outlets, paying utility bills, buying mobile recharge and transferring money to any mobile phone or bank account.
Vodafone’s Brajesh Bajpai, Business Head, Gujarat said that m-PESA service will be aiming at 17 million subscriber base in the state of Gujarat. For using the service, Vodafone would levy transaction charges between 1.2 and 1.5% of the value of transaction. The service is also available in Kolkata, West Bengal, UP East, UP West, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa.
By 2015, mobile money transfers in India could total $350 billion annually, some analysts estimate. Also, mobile transactions have soared in India as per a latest NPCI report.
Vodafone India has unveiled mPesa service in Gujarat by joining hands with ICICI bank. The company is also planning to further expand the service to pan India by next year. As per the reports, the company is targeting the USD 60 Billion money transfer market in the country along with the government benefits transfer market worth $55 Billion.
The telecom operator had first announced the service in November last year while it was officially launched in Mumbai this August. mPesa enables users to transact using the M-Pesa accounts and do transactions like withdrawing cash from specified outlets, paying utility bills, buying mobile recharge and transferring money to any mobile phone or bank account.
Vodafone’s Brajesh Bajpai, Business Head, Gujarat said that m-PESA service will be aiming at 17 million subscriber base in the state of Gujarat. For using the service, Vodafone would levy transaction charges between 1.2 and 1.5% of the value of transaction. The service is also available in Kolkata, West Bengal, UP East, UP West, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa.
By 2015, mobile money transfers in India could total $350 billion annually, some analysts estimate. Also, mobile transactions have soared in India as per a latest NPCI report.
Vodafone rings m-pesa in Gujarat
From : DNA
Ahmedabad: Vodafone, the largest telecom subscriber of Gujarat, has launched a facility to have digital money. Forms of cash and plastic money will soon be replaced by digital money or mobile commerce, called m-pesa, by Vodafone.
On Monday, Vodafone India and ICICI Bank announced the launch of m-pesa, a unique mobile money transfer and payment service in the state. M-Pesa is the trademark of Vodafone. It empowers the un-banked and under-banked sections of the population gain access to financial services via the mobile phone.
M-pesa effectively leverages the combined strengths of Vodafone's global expertise in the domain of mobile payment and significant distribution reach in India plus the security of financial transactions provided by ICICI. This service is available across 170 tehsils, 29 districts through 2,000 specially trained authorised agents and across 312 Vodafone exclusive retail/mini stores across the state.
First ecosystem has to be created, said Brajesh Bajpai, the business head of Gujarat, Vodafone India. "We have not launched a product or service. But it is a concept for consumers. For this, we will have to educate consumers, retailers and aggressively market this service," he said.
At present, transaction charges on m-pesa are less compared to credit card charges. Charges over m-pesa transactions are not fixed forever, said BP Singh, operations of director west, Vodafone India. "As and when the volume of m-pesa transactions increases, there are high chances of transaction charges coming down. At present, we have launched a service to help one transfer money whenever required," he said.
This service is launched catering to the need of the masses, said business head of m-pesa, Vodafone India, Suresh Sethi. "Today, more than 95% of the villages in India do not have any banking outlet. Financial inclusion is a national priority and we believe that with m-pesa, we now have the ideal offering to facilitate the same across the country in compliance with all applicable regulations," he said.
Ahmedabad: Vodafone, the largest telecom subscriber of Gujarat, has launched a facility to have digital money. Forms of cash and plastic money will soon be replaced by digital money or mobile commerce, called m-pesa, by Vodafone.
On Monday, Vodafone India and ICICI Bank announced the launch of m-pesa, a unique mobile money transfer and payment service in the state. M-Pesa is the trademark of Vodafone. It empowers the un-banked and under-banked sections of the population gain access to financial services via the mobile phone.
M-pesa effectively leverages the combined strengths of Vodafone's global expertise in the domain of mobile payment and significant distribution reach in India plus the security of financial transactions provided by ICICI. This service is available across 170 tehsils, 29 districts through 2,000 specially trained authorised agents and across 312 Vodafone exclusive retail/mini stores across the state.
First ecosystem has to be created, said Brajesh Bajpai, the business head of Gujarat, Vodafone India. "We have not launched a product or service. But it is a concept for consumers. For this, we will have to educate consumers, retailers and aggressively market this service," he said.
At present, transaction charges on m-pesa are less compared to credit card charges. Charges over m-pesa transactions are not fixed forever, said BP Singh, operations of director west, Vodafone India. "As and when the volume of m-pesa transactions increases, there are high chances of transaction charges coming down. At present, we have launched a service to help one transfer money whenever required," he said.
This service is launched catering to the need of the masses, said business head of m-pesa, Vodafone India, Suresh Sethi. "Today, more than 95% of the villages in India do not have any banking outlet. Financial inclusion is a national priority and we believe that with m-pesa, we now have the ideal offering to facilitate the same across the country in compliance with all applicable regulations," he said.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Suresh Sethi, B P SIngh & Brajesh Bajpai launch 'M-Pesa' service in Ahmedabad
From : Getty Images
M-Pesa Vodafone India's Business Head, Suresh Sethi (R), Vodafone India's Operations Director (West) BP Singh (L) and Vodafone India Gujarat's Business Head, Brajesh Bajpai (C) pose during the launch of the 'M-Pesa' service in Ahmedabad on December 23, 2013. Vodafone India in association with ICICI bank launched the money transfer and payment service 'M-Pesa', allowing customers to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to any mobile phone in the country, make payment to recharge mobile, clear utility bills and for DTH service subscription and shopping services.
AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)
From : The Echo of India
Bhuvanesh Pratap Singh Operations Director - West (Centre) Brajesh Bajapai Business Head (L) and Suresh Sethi Business Head - M-Pesa at the launch of Vodaphone M-Pesa in Gujarat in Ahmedabad on Monday.
M-Pesa Vodafone India's Business Head, Suresh Sethi (R), Vodafone India's Operations Director (West) BP Singh (L) and Vodafone India Gujarat's Business Head, Brajesh Bajpai (C) pose during the launch of the 'M-Pesa' service in Ahmedabad on December 23, 2013. Vodafone India in association with ICICI bank launched the money transfer and payment service 'M-Pesa', allowing customers to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to any mobile phone in the country, make payment to recharge mobile, clear utility bills and for DTH service subscription and shopping services.
AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)
From : The Echo of India
Bhuvanesh Pratap Singh Operations Director - West (Centre) Brajesh Bajapai Business Head (L) and Suresh Sethi Business Head - M-Pesa at the launch of Vodaphone M-Pesa in Gujarat in Ahmedabad on Monday.
Vodafone to take m-pesa pan-India next year
From : The Hindu Business Line
Vodafone India, which together with ICICI Bank rolled out its mobile money transfer and payment service m-pesa in Gujarat on Monday, plans to expand it across India in 2014, a senior official said here.
Vodafone , which currently provides m-pesa service in 11 States in the country, is targeting the $60 billion money transfer market in the country, 20% of which is dependent on the traditional channels like post offices, said Suresh Sethi Business Head, m-pesa.
The telecom service provider is also targeting the government benefits transfer market worth $55 billion.
At present, 30 per cent of money is transferred through formal channels and 70 per cent through informal ones, including ‘havala’, he said.
Vodafone, which launched m-pesa in Kenya in 2006, now has an 85 per cent market share in that African country with a population of 40 million. In Africa, more people have mobile banking accounts than traditional ones, he said.
About the rollout in India, Bhuvanesh Pratap Singh, Operations Director, West, Vodafone India, said only 35 per cent Indians have access to formal financial services with only one branch for every 12,000 people. Only 5 per cent villages have a bank and 73 per cent farmers’ households have no formal sources of credit. Besides, 300 million migrant populations across India had only a limited access to banking services. Normally, villagers have to travel up to 40 km to access a bank.
In India, the overall penetration of telecom services is 70% in urban areas and 40% in rural areas, with Vodafone being the number two provider in terms of revenues. In Gujarat, it covers 96% of population with a 17 million subscriber base, said Brajesh Bajpai, Business Head, Gujarat.
Vodafone would levy transaction charges between 1.2 and 1.5% of the value of transaction.
Vodafone India, which together with ICICI Bank rolled out its mobile money transfer and payment service m-pesa in Gujarat on Monday, plans to expand it across India in 2014, a senior official said here.
Vodafone , which currently provides m-pesa service in 11 States in the country, is targeting the $60 billion money transfer market in the country, 20% of which is dependent on the traditional channels like post offices, said Suresh Sethi Business Head, m-pesa.
The telecom service provider is also targeting the government benefits transfer market worth $55 billion.
At present, 30 per cent of money is transferred through formal channels and 70 per cent through informal ones, including ‘havala’, he said.
Vodafone, which launched m-pesa in Kenya in 2006, now has an 85 per cent market share in that African country with a population of 40 million. In Africa, more people have mobile banking accounts than traditional ones, he said.
About the rollout in India, Bhuvanesh Pratap Singh, Operations Director, West, Vodafone India, said only 35 per cent Indians have access to formal financial services with only one branch for every 12,000 people. Only 5 per cent villages have a bank and 73 per cent farmers’ households have no formal sources of credit. Besides, 300 million migrant populations across India had only a limited access to banking services. Normally, villagers have to travel up to 40 km to access a bank.
In India, the overall penetration of telecom services is 70% in urban areas and 40% in rural areas, with Vodafone being the number two provider in terms of revenues. In Gujarat, it covers 96% of population with a 17 million subscriber base, said Brajesh Bajpai, Business Head, Gujarat.
Vodafone would levy transaction charges between 1.2 and 1.5% of the value of transaction.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Rural distribution network project wins $140,000 innovation grant
From Times of India
AHMEDABAD: The RUDI Sandesha Vyavhar (RSV), a unique mobile-based management solution, developed collaboratively with Vodafone Foundation, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), has been given a GSMA mWomen Innovation Fund Grant. The $140,000 grant will be used to enhance the functionality of the RSV application and also integrate Vodafone's M-Pesa mobile money payment platform to expand the RUDI network for fostering livelihoods of more rural women.
The project enables RUDI women — the rural distribution network of SEWA — to order stock from the field and have their goods delivered, receive real time updates from RUDI on price changes or marketing schemes, and for RUDI to transfer the entire management of the RUDI business from a paper-based system to an electronic backend.
Since its launch at the Mobile for Good Summit, December 2012, London, UK, more than 1000 RUDI women have been using the RSV tool. RUDI women who earned INR 4,000-5,000 per month now generate monthly incomes of Rs 12,000-15,000. Women involved reported that they can now afford two meals a day for their family and children can be schooled. Further upscaling will benefit nearly 2,500 rural women, touching 2.5 million people by 2015 in Gujarat.
The technical enhancements of the RSV tool, based on feedback from the RUDI bens using RSV, will include elements such as SMS alerts on orders, a mobile app for customers to place direct orders with Rudibens and a feature that will enable the transfer of customer-specific transaction data from the phones of the RUDI women directly to the RSV backend. Incorporation of Vodafone's M-Pesa service into the RSV tool will enable RUDI women to make payments to RUDI for stock and receiving payments from their customers remotely. This will significantly reduce costs of travel and risks associated with cash-based transactions.
According to Vodafone, the project is innovative because there is no other rural supply chain that has developed its own bespoke MIS tool that runs on simple feature phones.
Reema Nanavaty, director, SEWA said, "The grant will help strengthen the RUDI supply chain, increasing operational efficiency which will help forge more business partnerships. The technology will be the tool for empowering our rural members — making them more informed better entrepreneurs and equip women to fight poverty and gain economic freedom."
AHMEDABAD: The RUDI Sandesha Vyavhar (RSV), a unique mobile-based management solution, developed collaboratively with Vodafone Foundation, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), has been given a GSMA mWomen Innovation Fund Grant. The $140,000 grant will be used to enhance the functionality of the RSV application and also integrate Vodafone's M-Pesa mobile money payment platform to expand the RUDI network for fostering livelihoods of more rural women.
The project enables RUDI women — the rural distribution network of SEWA — to order stock from the field and have their goods delivered, receive real time updates from RUDI on price changes or marketing schemes, and for RUDI to transfer the entire management of the RUDI business from a paper-based system to an electronic backend.
Since its launch at the Mobile for Good Summit, December 2012, London, UK, more than 1000 RUDI women have been using the RSV tool. RUDI women who earned INR 4,000-5,000 per month now generate monthly incomes of Rs 12,000-15,000. Women involved reported that they can now afford two meals a day for their family and children can be schooled. Further upscaling will benefit nearly 2,500 rural women, touching 2.5 million people by 2015 in Gujarat.
The technical enhancements of the RSV tool, based on feedback from the RUDI bens using RSV, will include elements such as SMS alerts on orders, a mobile app for customers to place direct orders with Rudibens and a feature that will enable the transfer of customer-specific transaction data from the phones of the RUDI women directly to the RSV backend. Incorporation of Vodafone's M-Pesa service into the RSV tool will enable RUDI women to make payments to RUDI for stock and receiving payments from their customers remotely. This will significantly reduce costs of travel and risks associated with cash-based transactions.
According to Vodafone, the project is innovative because there is no other rural supply chain that has developed its own bespoke MIS tool that runs on simple feature phones.
Reema Nanavaty, director, SEWA said, "The grant will help strengthen the RUDI supply chain, increasing operational efficiency which will help forge more business partnerships. The technology will be the tool for empowering our rural members — making them more informed better entrepreneurs and equip women to fight poverty and gain economic freedom."
Thursday, December 05, 2013
About 17% subscribers from Gujarat have applied for mobile number portability
From : The Times of India
Over 88 lakh telecom subscribers In Gujarat have applied to switch to other operators through mobile number portability (MNP) since it was introduced. According to the data available from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), at the end of September 2013, 17% of total mobile subscribers in Gujarat have applied for shifting to other service providers via MNP.
As per the Trai data, Gujarat has 52140709 mobile subscribers and out of which 8866915 applications for MNP have been registered.
With the mobile telecom industry in Gujarat circle witnessing significant growth over the past few years, MNP applications from subscribers has witnessed 8.98 % rise in second quarter ending September 2013. Gujarat circle saw a rise of 730654 applications for MNP to 8866915 at the end of September 2013 form 8136261 applications at the end of June 2013.
It is believed that last year a few smaller players had shut down their operations in Gujarat circle and established and stronger players benefited of this phenomenon. Moreover, affordable tariff plans coupled with stronger network offered by telecom majors had attracted a large number of subscribers through MNP.
"The rise in MNP application certainly has brought a key opportunity for the service providers who serve the customers best in terms of network, cost effectiveness, 24x7 customer assistance and innovative products," said Brajesh Bajpai, business head-Gujarat, Vodafone India.
For the quarter ended 30th September 2013, data service has been the key factor for subscribers changing service provider via MNP. Cost effective data plans, fast and uninterrupted internet services and strong network availability are some of the reason subscribers in Gujarat circle applied for MNP.
Over 88 lakh telecom subscribers In Gujarat have applied to switch to other operators through mobile number portability (MNP) since it was introduced. According to the data available from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), at the end of September 2013, 17% of total mobile subscribers in Gujarat have applied for shifting to other service providers via MNP.
As per the Trai data, Gujarat has 52140709 mobile subscribers and out of which 8866915 applications for MNP have been registered.
With the mobile telecom industry in Gujarat circle witnessing significant growth over the past few years, MNP applications from subscribers has witnessed 8.98 % rise in second quarter ending September 2013. Gujarat circle saw a rise of 730654 applications for MNP to 8866915 at the end of September 2013 form 8136261 applications at the end of June 2013.
It is believed that last year a few smaller players had shut down their operations in Gujarat circle and established and stronger players benefited of this phenomenon. Moreover, affordable tariff plans coupled with stronger network offered by telecom majors had attracted a large number of subscribers through MNP.
"The rise in MNP application certainly has brought a key opportunity for the service providers who serve the customers best in terms of network, cost effectiveness, 24x7 customer assistance and innovative products," said Brajesh Bajpai, business head-Gujarat, Vodafone India.
For the quarter ended 30th September 2013, data service has been the key factor for subscribers changing service provider via MNP. Cost effective data plans, fast and uninterrupted internet services and strong network availability are some of the reason subscribers in Gujarat circle applied for MNP.
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