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WhatsApp reportedly in talks to integrate with a mobile payment platform in India
Late last year, India ceased circulation of its two highest-denomination bank notes in a bid to tackle the flow of money associated with corruption and terrorist activities. The move fuelled the popularity of mobile wallet solutions, such as Paytm which has amassed over 200 million wallet users, providing a significant incentive for Samsung to integrate the service with Samsung Pay in time for its Indian launch.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- digital payments
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Kenyan diaspora is the biggest sender of mobile money
To mark the 10th anniversary of mobile money service M-PESA, WorldRemit has released new data showing that the Kenyan diaspora is the biggest sender of digital remittances to mobile accounts. Transfers to mobile money accounts make up 93% of WorldRemit transactions to Kenya now – showing that Kenyans continue to be early adopters of innovative technology, even when abroad.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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- digital payments
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Social Business Roundup: The Problem with Sachets, the Beauty of Rats and the Dark Side of Cross-Selling
Everyone seems to love the products in individually-sized sachets being sold at the BoP ... except for Mother Nature. Ethiopia's only too happy to roll out the welcome mat for some rats with amazing TB-sniffing skills. A questionable cross-selling strategy in South Africa harms a vulnerable population and raises uncomfortable questions about financial inclusion. It's all part of our weekly Social Business Roundup.
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- Environment, Health Care, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Samsung Pay beats Apple and Google to launch mobile payments service in India
Samsung has launched its mobile payments service in India.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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Kenya is launching the world’s first mobile-only government bond
Kenyan citizens will soon be able to buy government bonds on their cell phones. Kenya’s Treasury said today that the M-Akiba bond, the world’s first mobile-only government bond, would go on sale on Thursday after a delay of almost two years.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Uganda’s youth are addicted to gambling on English soccer, now the government wants to crack down
Paul Wasswa has been sat at the counter for seven hours, his eyes darting between a virtual roulette screen above and betting slips in front. The university student hopes his Saturday spent in one of Kampala’s many betting outlets brings big rewards.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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- digital payments
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The Girl Effect: Accelerator Connects Girls in Poverty with Silicon Valley Innovators
What if girls destined for poverty in developing countries were connected with some of the best minds in Silicon Valley? They can be, thanks to the Girl Effect Accelerator, an initiative of the Nike Foundation and the Unreasonable Group. The program helped Annetty Chama go from having no job – and no hope of getting one – to becoming her family's primary bread-winner in Zambia.
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- Education
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Indians will soon be able to make transfers between digital wallets, thanks to the government
Digital wallets such as Paytm and MobiKwik are set to become inter-operable as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) prepares to open up the Unified Payment Interface platform for them as part of the government’s digitisation campaign.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech