Warid turns phones into smartphones

MOBILE

Congo’ s newest telecoms service provider, Warid Congo, aims to transform its customers’ basic handsets into virtual smartphones.

It has launched a mobile email and online chat service using ForgetMeNot Africa’ s software, which allows any SMS-enabled phone access to instant messaging.

Warid Congo says its Warid Messenger service now enables its entire 450 000 subscriber base to send and receive email and online chat messages on their mobile phones, bypassing the need for internet access, subscriptions, smartphones, Java downloads or data connections.

It expects the technology to help transform the country's access to vital information such as healthcare, travel and educational resources.  

Internet connectivity is low in Congo, in comparison to the rest of Africa, currently at less than 7% of the population. However, mobile phone subscriptions in the country are booming.

ITU figures show 2.17 million Congolese people had a mobile phone subscription in 2009, compared to just 383 700 in 2004. The country now has 89 mobile phone subscriptions to every single fixed telephone line.

Warid messenger, provided by ForgetMeNot Africa, a specialist in unified messaging systems for telecommunications operators, is particularly attractive to young “ early adopters” because it gives them a considerably cheaper and more convenient way of accessing email and chat compared to a standard internet connection. The service also incorporates popular chat services such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Windows Live and Gtalk so that users can send and receive messages and continue to chat online without being connected to the internet.

Jeremy George, Chief Operating Officer for ForgetMeNot Africa, said: Warid Congo is building a bridge over the digital divide for people in Republic of the Congo. Our development work means that ForgetMeNot Africa technology can now serve the 115 million Francophones on the continent. The launch of Warid messenger also expands our footprint across Africa, with our first venture into central Africa following previous launches in east, west and southern Africa. Our cloud computing approach is turning even more basic handsets into virtual messaging smartphones.

Michel Elame, CEO of Warid Congo, said: “ Deploying ForgetMeNot Africa software is a clear sign that Warid Congo intends to be the most innovative mobile phone network in Congo. Warid messenger opens up a world of internet messaging to the highly literate Congolese people. They can now send and receive emails and have chat conversations with friends and family from all over the world anytime they like. This is a unique innovative offering for Congolese consumers.”