NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The mobile industry has always preached interoperability because helping one another delivers mutual benefits.

The past evidence quoted in favour of interoperability includes both SMS and voice services whereby ubiquity delivered wider take-up, hence revenue and profit for the industry.

I am aware, of course, that I am articulating an old-school theory. Critics will hold up the success of various OTT services to disprove the wonders of interoperability.

So it is surprising to report another success that predates a WhatsApp or indeed a Skype. Indeed, a big hit from within operators’ own ranks; I give you M-Pesa, the mobile money service offered in Kenya by Safaricom.