Electronic Currency: Malawi

Monday, October 31, 2005

In mid-September, cell phone users on Malawi’s Telecom Networks (TNM) received a text message saying “With TNM you can now recharge your friends mobile using TNM direct top up service. Just use the following command: *112*phone number*recharge pin*. Its that easy”

What does this mean? Well, TNM users, for the most part, are on a pay-as-you-go system–when you need more minutes, you buy scratch-off cards with a code to punch in for additional credit. TNM has also long-offered a service that allows cell phone owners to refill their calling card credits by sending a simple text message. But now, following in the path of SMART and WIZZIT e-currency paths–and as Kenya and Rwanda have already done– TNM also allows people to use text messages to send credits to other users.

Story originally posted by Emeka Okafor at http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.com/

Source: Emeka Okafor (link opens in a new window)