Microsoft Security Essentials…

The Real Cost Of SMS…

DISCLAIMER:

Reposted with permission from Mwangy. The original article can be found here…

SMS is a wonderful product/service which is available on all GSM networks. It is a very useful tool that has gained tremendous uptake & has found a myriad of uses both commercial, entertainment wise & as an informational tool.

At the current lowest rate of  3.50/=, it would seem to be a bargain seeing as a few years ago to send an SMS one would have had to spend upwards of  5/=.

What the providers don’t tell us (not that I would if I were in their shoes) is that there is practically zero cost involved on their part when it comes to sending & receiving an SMS on their network.

This is because the SMS does not use the commercial channel/bandwidth that is used by subscribers to make/receive calls and use for GPRS/EDGE.

Simply put the available bandwidth to the subscriber for calls/data is a fraction of the actual bandwidth allocated by the governing body ie CCK.

The rest of the bandwidth is reserved for behind-the-scenes communication between the users mobile phone & the nearest cell tower.

This is the bandwidth that SMS uses.

It thus uses network bandwidth that is already dedicated to communication between the phone & the cell tower that the subscriber is currently in & thus incurs no more costs to the service provider other than a storage center for undelivered SMS’s…

This then shows how profitable SMS is & thus the push by nearly all providers to increase the no. of  SMSs that are sent. At 3.50/= per SMS, the profits are 100%…

I heard that CCK were going to commission a study of the real cost of calls & SMS to the providers.

Lets see how that goes…

How to choose the right software for your company…

When I speak with CEOs & CFOs about buying new computer software, they often respond by saying “Our software works fine. We’ve had it for 20 years & never had any problems with it.” In other words, “If it’s not broken, why fix it?” or “We’ve managed just fine with our current manual systems.” Their system may be broken in ways they don’t realize. Using outdated computer software creates a domino affect that results in increased manual efforts & frequent bottlenecks. Very often when customers call, Customer Service Personnel have to go to the drawer to find printed information or search through multiple computer screens looking for the necessary information while the customer waits on the phone. Not having the information readily available, they tell customers, “I will have to call you back as soon as I find the correct information.” Besides creating an unhappy customer, other customers or prospects who call & get phone recordings asking them to wait for the next available agent often hang up & call other vendors. These types of lost sales opportunities can’t be measured. Business issues such as these cause losses & problems in other areas throughout the company, starting with excess inventory in the warehouse and ending in overdue accounts’ receivable. If your company faces such issues, maybe it’s time you began to search for new software to run your business. Before you do, however, think carefully about the process you’ll follow to make sure you select the right software for your needs.

Who should conduct the search?

Before the software search begins, form a search committee. The committee should consist of the computer department & various department heads. This kind of approach has worked very well for many companies. By pairing the computer department that specializes in technology with the heads of departments who know the business needs, the company develops a very strong software search team. Our most successful installations have been with companies that had this kind of committee, in which the computer department becomes the liaison between the users & the software implementation team translating technology to their business requirements. Prior to starting the software search, compile a business requirement list. Once you’ve selected the appropriate software houses & scheduled demos, the business issues list should serve as a guide at the demo. Very sophisticated software is not necessarily the right software solution for your company. Very often, companies buy software because they were impressed with the features and functions they saw at the demo without realizing that it might be too sophisticated for their users.

Fit your business needs…

One case was when a company hired a new CEO to run the company. He came from a larger company that used very sophisticated software. Shortly after assuming his new position, the CEO decided to purchase the software he used at his previous job. The department heads who viewed the software at the demo didn’t feel it was the right choice for their company, fearing the end-users who had used a home-grown system for last 15 years might have difficulties learning it. Despite their advice, the CEO decided to purchase the software. The consulting firm that sold the software guaranteed the cost wouldn’t exceed K.Sh. 4 million. Two years & K.Sh. 4.5 million later, the software was finally implemented & the company went “live.” The main reason for the cost overrun was because the software had to be modified to meet the company’s business needs, together with the very high learning curve users encountered when trying to learn the system. This resulted in the CEO being fired, the company having very sophisticated software with most of its functions going unused & a large computer department to support the software operation.

Don’t scrimp on training…

Training users is one of the main challenges a company faces after selecting software. In addition to completing their daily work, users must be trained on the new software & take the time to practice it.
Because of their workloads, users very often don’t practice as much as they should. In order to assure that training and practice are done on schedule, it’s wise to conduct a monthly meeting to monitor progress. One month before going live, evaluate the users’ comfort level with the system. The best way to determine if the users are ready to go live is by having them make mistakes that commonly occur during the business day, but in a test environment. If the users can correct errors without difficulties, they are ready to go live, otherwise it’s best to postpone the final implementation until their comfort level is achieved. Going live prematurely can result in severe business disruption & overtime.

Software vendor evaluation…

Before making your final selection, require software vendors to give you the names of customers you can ask the following questions:

1) Was the software house willing to modify the software when needed, or did they expect you to change the way you conduct business in order to fit their software? Since no two companies conduct business the same way, not being able to modify software can result in drastic changes to the business
environment and might cause a higher learning curve than necessary as well as business disruption.

2) Did the software house provide the source code & documentation? Not receiving the source code can result in a company being totally dependent on the software house without having the option of using someone else if they are unhappy with their software vendor’s services.

3) Did the software house charge for the source code & documentation? Source code & documentation should be included at no charge.

4) How many computer people are required to run the computer system? Certain systems require a large computer department. This will result in a costly operation & a high budget for the computer department.

5) Is the software user-friendly & how big was the learning curve before going live? If the software is not user-friendly, it will require a high learning curve that will delay going live & will increase the cost of the computer project. Competition today is stronger than ever before. Selecting a software system helps you compete, but only when it fits your business requirements.

Felista Wakina,

Softlink Options Ltd.

Operating Systems Poll…

Antivirus Poll…

Zain lowers Vuka Tariff calling rate…

Zain has lowered calling rates within its popular Vuka tariff in a move meant to consolidate its subscriber base.

The new package dubbed “Friends and Family” allows local subscribers to make calls within the network for only Sh3 per minute for 24 hours a day down from the Sh8 per minute for the same period.

This effectively makes it the mobile phone firm with the lowest intra-network charges in the country.

It has been argued that the mobile phone war will this year not be fought on price but the value and quality of service.

“We shall continue adding value to our product offerings through exciting packages and also enhance our customer service,” Mr Meza added.

Under the new package, prepaid and post paid customers will be required to select 10 numbers of friends and family members which they will call for only Sh3 per minute inclusive of all taxes.

“The Vuka tariff (launched last year) which enables subscribers to call any network for a flat rate of Sh8 per minute had been very successful since it was launched four months ago,” said Zain Kenya MD, Rene Meza.

“We have grown our subscriber base significantly since we launched Vuka last year. We are confident that besides increasing usage, the Friends and Family package will increase our market penetration.” It is widely anticipated that the offer will also increase customer loyalty by tying in loved ones.

To access the package, subscribers will be required to dial *124# and dial 1 from the menu free of charge.

He clarified that the service will however not be applicable when making calls to subscribers on One network or when a customer is roaming since the package is limited to local use only.

According to the firm, subscribers on the Vuka tariff will still be able to access Club 20 which offers unlimited SMS all day and Jiachilie which allows subscribers to make unlimited calls all day for only Sh65.

I.E. continues to lose market share as Firefox, Safari & Chrome gain…

Internet Explorer, including the latest IE8 betas and the existing stable IE7, are still losing market share to its “alternative” competitors…

Full story: http://www.techspot.com/news/33047-ie-continues-to-lose-market-share-as-firefox-safari-and-chrome-gain.html

Kenyans embrace moving money by SMS…

Service turns cellphone into ATM…

Full story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-kenya-phones_bddec07,0,7162270.story

M-Pesa: How It Works…

FAQs – M-PESA GENERAL INFORMATION

What is M-PESA?

M-PESA is an innovative mobile payment solution that enables customers to complete simple financial transactions including person to person money transfer. It is aimed at mobile customers who do not have a bank account, either by choice, because they do not have access to a bank or because they do not have sufficient income to justify a bank account.

Do I need to have a bank account?

No. M-PESA has been designed so that people without bank accounts can use it. Your money is held safely in a bank account run by M-PESA on your behalf. You do not have any contact with the bank and the bank does not have your details.

Do I need to have a minimum amount in my account like some banks ask for?

No. Your M-PESA account can have a much or as little money in it as you like between zero and Ksh50,000 at any time.

Do I need to pay any service charges for having an M-PESA account?

No. M-PESA charges you on a pay-as-you-go basis every time you do a transaction. You’re only charged for the transactions you have initiated.

I already have a bank account. Can I access it using M-PESA

No. M-PESA is completely separate to any other account you may have.

Can I use my Safaricom airtime to top up my M-PESA account

No. Your M-PESA account is completely separate from your Safaricom airtime. You cannot buy M-PESA value using airtime. However you can use your M-PESA value to buy airtime for your own or another Safaricom subscriber’s phone. Safaricom subscribers do not need to be registered for M-PESA to receive airtime from you.

Can I top up a Zain number?

No. At present, you can only buy airtime for Safaricom numbers.

What services are available?

• Deposit money
• Withdraw money
• Transfer(send) money to another M-PESA customer
• Send money to someone who isn’t an M-PESA customer and they do not necessarily need to be Safaricom customers
• Buy Safaricom prepaid airtime for yourself and other Safaricom subscribers
• Manage M-PESA account
• Pay bill (this function is not fully operational and is still in undergoing test)

How do customers register for M-PESA?

1. If you are already a Safaricom customer, you may need a SIM replacement to get a NEW SIM with the M-PESA function. SIM replacement will be done through the normal Safaricom procedure.
2. If you got your Safaricom SIM recently, it may already have the M-PESA menu. Check by going into your phone menu and selecting “Safaricom”. If your SIM already has M-PESA you will see the M-PESA option on the menu.
3. If you’re not a Safaricom subscriber, you will have to purchase a Safaricom line with the M-PESA menu to enable you to register as a new M-PESA customer.
4. Before you regsiter, ensure you have an M-PESA enabled SIM Card (Refer to Points 1,2 or 3 above where applicable).
5. Register for free in any M-PESA Agency in order to open an M-PESA account. Registration takes about 3 minutes; you will need to have your M-PESA enabled Safaricom SIM and your ID card. You will also be required to sign an agreement to the Terms & Conditions of service.

Are there any charges for SIM Swaps?

SIM swaps are FREE.

What are the benefits of M-PESA?

M-PESA allows you to make transactions simply and securely in a few seconds by using SMS technology. This has many benefits to customers in terms of convenience, security and ease of use. The pricing is competitive compared with other formal money transfer services.

How does M-PESA work?

• To load money into your M-PESA account you need to go to an M-PESA Agent and make a cash deposit which results in electronic money being transfered into your M-PESA account (This is confirmed by an SMS received by both the Agent and the Customer).You can then conveniently transfer money to other mobile phone users by sms transaction.
• To withdraw cash from your M-PESA account or (for unregistered customers to get cash), you need to go to an M-PESA agent and make an electronic transfer to the agent who will exchange this for cash.

Does M-PESA work across networks?

Only Safaricom customers can register for M-PESA. However the person you are sending money to does not need to have an M-PESA account or be a Safaricom subscriber.
The M-PESA service is cheaper if you send money to a registered M-PESA customer.

Can I use M-PESA if my line is expired?

• You cannot use M-PESA if your line is expired since M-PESA is dependent on the Safaricom SMS service.
• You will be able to use M-PESA to perform top-ups, even if your line is expired. Topping up will make your line active again!

How do I get my start up key, if I forget and have no funds?

• If a customer needs a new start key, he will need to deposit money into his M-PESA account. He can do this WITHOUT an M-PESA menu on his phone, as long as he is registered.

What is the difference between a registered M-PESA customer and an unregistered customer?

An M-PESA customer’s SIM-Card has the full M-PESA menu and is able to carry out all the services described above.

An unregistered customer is one that receives money from an M-PESA customer and does not have to be a Safaricom subscriber. An unregistered customer can only get the cash sent to him/her but cannot carry out other M-PESA transactions.

AGENT INFORMATION

Who are the M-PESA Agents?

• Safaricom dealers, operating one or more outlets around Kenya
• Other retailers with a substantial distribution network like petrol stations, distributors, supermarkets and Registered SMEs
• Selected Banks and Micro-Finance Institutions

How do I become an M-PESA agent?

Any interested party will need to contact the M-PESA department for vetting and signing of contract so as to become an M-PESA agent. For more information on ‘How to become an Agent’ email: M-PESA@Safaricom.co.ke

CUSTOMER INFORMATION

What do I do in case of a wrong transfer?

Wrong transfers are reversible on the M-PESA system, upon rigorous vetting of the sender and recipient and if the money has not yet been cashed or withdrawn. If you make an incorrect transaction, please call 234 for assistance.

Can I top up using M-PESA if my account is expired?

It is possible to top up even if the line is expired

Is it possible to top up unregistered users?

Yes, you can top-up any Safaricom pre-paid SIM using your M-PESA account.

Can I top up if I am a Safaricom Advantage customer?

Safaricom Advantage customers will be able to top up other Safaricom Pre-paid accounts but not their own account.

Can I register if I have a Celtel number?

M-PESA is available for Safaricom mobile users only. Celtel subscribers will have to churn to Safaricom. If you do not have a Safaricom SIM Card, we will be happy to provide you one at current market rates.

Can my present SIM-Card use M-PESA?

• Check by going into your phone menu and selecting “Safaricom”. If your SIM already has M-PESA you will see the M-PESA option on the menu, if not, you need to do a SIM Replacement.

What happens if I do not get an SMS from M-PESA confirming the transaction?

On occasion there is a delay in receiving your SMS from M-PESA for more than 20 minutes, call the customer service line 234 who will advise on the status of your transaction on the M-PESA system.

What happens if the Safaricom network is down?

As M-PESA relies on SMS messages, if the Safaricom SMS service is down, M-PESA will not function.

When will my start key expire?

Start keys do not expire.

What happens if I lose my SIM?

You should get a replacement SIM in the usual way. You can use your existing M-PESA PIN to activate the menu on your new SIM.

How many times can I change my secret word.

We currently have no limit to the number of times you can change your secret word.

I received my confirmation message with secret word, but the M-PESA menu has not come through

Use the new PIN you changed to on activation as the current start key then activate/wezesha once more. In the unlikely event that this doesn’t work call customer support to generate a new start key, for this activation. Unless some money is deposited generation of a start key will not be possible.

I have a Motorola C113 and can’t activate my account?

There are a number of Motorola phones that don’t receive the Safaricom menu. In that case you need to use another model of phone to receive the menu then return the SIM to your motorolla phone and it will function well.

Is a photocopy of my passport or ID sufficient to register, or do cash transactions at an Agent?

No – we need to see your original ID. Driving License is not sufficient. Aliens Certificate is a form of Kenyan ID & is o.k.

I have a 7 digit ID – what will I use to activate?

• Add a zero at the end of the seven digit number to make it eight digit.
• In case you have a passport you need to replace the alphabets with zeros e.g. A34558K will become 34558000

Will my transactions be limited to the Agency store where I registered?

No. You will be able to carry out transactions at any M-PESA agency store and not limited to where you registered.

What happens when I lose my M-PESA SIM?

Call line 234 to have your account suspended. Proceed and get a SIM swap to retain your number and activate your SIM as normal using your previous M-PESA PIN you will receive your menu once more to continue enjoying the service. Note that you will need to call customer services to release your account to enable you activate properly.

How safe is my money?

If registered your money is safe since every transaction requires identification in form of a secret PIN. This is enhanced by use of Secret word for any call to customer care.

I am not receiving SMS confirmation for the transactions I have done

This could be as a result of the following:

• Your inbox is full, so delete some messages
• You have diverted messages to screened messages, check the Screened Messages Inbox. If the messages are ther, remove M-PESA from the Screened numbers list.
• If none of the above works, contact Safaricom Customer Care on 234 for more assistance.

I am not receiving any SMSes

• If none of the above works, contact Safaricom Customer Care on 100 for more assistance

Can i buy airtime through M-PESA if i’m out of the country?

Yes. As long as there is M-PESA value in your account and you have roaming on your line.

Red Hat CEO: Money crisis will boost open source…

Sydney, Australia – The global economic crisis will provide a boost for open-source software, Red Hat chief executive Jim Whitehurst claimed during a visit to Sydney.

Full story: http://news.zdnet.com/2424-9595_22-241870.html