Celtel Uganda has unveiled what it says is the country`s first SIM card-based mobile payphone service, All4One, to help individuals make money from their phones.
The system is an extension of a typical community payphone, which has successfully been deployed in Uganda and Rwanda. It allows entrepreneurs to operate and own a payphone business with a small start-up package, says Dan Kaboyo, Celtel`s marketing manager for the payphone system.
"It is a complete payphone on a mobile handset, allowing individuals to make both personal calls on the phone, as well using the phone to create business from other people`s calls."
The new service is expected to create business opportunities for the country`s entrepreneurs who can become payphone operators with little financial investment.
The payphone application is pre-programmed on the SIM card by Celtel, says Kaboyo. He adds that the operator tariffs are fully controlled by a Celtel billing platform. This is important, he notes, as it removes doubt and mistrust between the vendor and the end-user, as the phone displays amount and duration used.
Kaboyo says it will also give entrepreneurs the ability to own many payphones and be able to monitor the activities of the various vendors.
He emphasises that mobile payphones will create dynamic mobile business, giving vendors a ubiquitous reach, which will ultimately bring in higher revenues.
The handset can also be used to sell m-vouchers and send messages, with the user being able to track and check reports on how much revenue is coming through the handset.
The new service is a result of collaboration between Celtel and Danish-based card producer Xponcard and will cost the vendor $490 (90 000 UGS, or R3 376) per SIM card.
Share
