Mibli, a software application that enables any type of Java-enabled handset to run mobile applications traditionally only available on smartphones, is now locally available.
The new software is brought to SA by Mobile Services Company (a division of Blue Label Telecoms) in partnership with Microsoft. Powered by Microsoft One App, mibli enables a robust environment for building, deploying and publishing mobile applications and making them available to users, says the company.
According to JJ Botha, CEO of the Mobile Services Company, South Africans will now be able, through a single download, to install mibli on their cellphones for free. The application will initially have niche applications such as Twitter, Facebook, and Windows Live Messenger.
“It will also have applications like 'mibli-me', an application that is expected to become a social networking phenomenon all on its own.”
He says MobiWallet is one of the application highlights that mibli will offer to users. “The MobiWallet is a secure stored value environment for non-banking transactions.” Botha says it provides functionality such as multiple accounts per user, currencies, transfers, transactional history reporting and audit trails.
Initially, the product will focus on young adult consumers, according to Botha. “Research confirmed that young adults are comfortable in the digital domain and are progressive thinkers who live multi-faceted lives.”
According to Dr David Fraser, Group CTO of Blue Label Telecoms, mibli represents a great step in bringing the products and services of Blue Label, as well as those of its partners, directly to people's cellphones.
He adds: “The mibli environment will change the way we interact with our consumers and will have a profound effect on several industry sectors, not just our own."
Microsoft MD Mteto Nyati says mibli helps fill a technology gap in the feature phone market. “In SA we know that consumers demand the same popular apps and services typically found on more expensive smartphones.
“Feature phones have historically lacked a successful ecosystem where users could find, download and use applications,” he adds. “The OneApp platform unlocks the potential of these features phones, giving consumers a better, more fun and functional mobile experience.”
Botha promised mibli will continue to innovate by creating new applications with local developers and brand innovators to bring more to consumers. He adds that within the next year, mibli aims to deliver a “mibli apps mall”, filled with fun, novel and functional mobile applications.
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