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Kenya: Press Releases: Airtel Relaunches Zap as Airtel Money |
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Friday, 12 August 2011 |
Nairobi, 10 August 2011 --- Competition in the local money transfer business will heighten after Airtel Kenya unveiled its revamped mobile commerce service. Trading under the brand name Airtel Money, the new mobile commerce platform has undergone a complete transformation ranging from the access menu to distribution network.
“We are not just launching a brand name today. The Airtel Money mobile commerce platform has undergone a complete transformation starting with your first interaction with it, which is a simple, easy to use customer friendly access menu that makes it faster and convenient for customers and dealers to carry out transactions. The platform provides consumers with a robust offering of products that cuts across mobile banking, service payments, airtime top up and money transfer services.” said Mr. Rene Meza, MD of Airtel Kenya, adding that Airtel Money is further supported by a state of the art platform ensuring system stability and a great customer experience.
The service has a new easy to use menu, making it faster and convenient for customers and dealers to carry out transactions. To increase uptake of the service, more than 6,000 agents have been recruited countrywide and the number is expected to grow to 8,000 by the end of the year. The vast dealer network will now be propped by corporate agents to enhance availability and reliability of the services countrywide. These include banks, bank agents, supermarket chains and Posta outlets: “We have signed up close to 100 business partners, whom we have engaged for various services including bulk payments, collection accounts and super dealership,” he added.
Mr. Meza said besides the lucrative money transfer business, the new features on Airtel money will enable the company to fully tap into the mobile commerce business in Kenya.
Airtel ventured into the local mobile commerce business two years ago under the Zap brand. The service provides e-commerce solutions including online payments, online banking, utility bill payments for electricity, DSTV, and water. Airtel Money’s extensive network has been complimented by corporate agents to enhance availability and reliability of the service across the country. Airtel Money has signed up close to 100 business partners who provide various services including bulk payments, collection accounts and super dealerships. Through Airtel Money, customers can send a minimum of KES50 at a cost of KES5 to a maximum of KES70,000 per transaction for the cost of KES25. Customers can also send money to other networks at only KES25.
Mr. Rene Meza announced a launch offer that enables its customers to send money to any network in Kenya free of charge. He also announced a 10% bonus airtime value on every deposit amount to a maximum of KES35,000 for customers using the service for the very first time. Mr. Meza commented on the offer : “This is our unique way of saying welcome with the hope that it will put a lasting smile on the faces of our deserving customers during these hard times.” The offer ends on 10 September 2011.
The launch event attended by the Minister for information and Communications Mr. Samuel Poghisio, the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Director General Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), Mr. Charles Njoroge.
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