[kictanet] Got talent? Matiang'i is looking for you

Sat Mar 22 15:02:34 EAT 2014

John

What you are talking about (govt supporting mobile apps) only works in labs
and incubator

Real world ... Please re-look at Ngigi and Phares arguments

Thanks

On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 2:47 PM, Bernard Kioko <bkioko at bernsoft.com> wrote:

> Ngigi I agree with you.
> On 22 Mar 2014 14:21, "Ngigi Waithaka" <ngigi at at.co.ke> wrote:
>
>> There are few global pure-play mobile firms that are profitable and/or
>> cash flow positive. Its really really hard to get the Internet to pay for
>> something and without resorting to the old-age game of advertising and in
>> which case you will need numbers north of 100M Users to be taken seriously.
>>
>> In order to get to those level of users, you would need to invest in a
>> few billion shillings to get things moving in terms of advertising as well
>> as the hosting these applications.
>>
>> So, while we hear of Twitter, WhatsApp and other successful mobile firms,
>> it would be wise to know that without a solid funding background to these
>> non-profit making companies, they wouldn't be there.
>>
>> Now, where does that money to invest in these firms come from? It comes
>> from those American firms such as IBM, HP, Intel, CISCO, Google, Symantec,
>> Amazon; solid companies that are making products that users actually get
>> their hard earned cash to pay for.
>>
>> So, if you would ask me, we would need first to create our own industry
>> first, with applications that the market is actually paying for (e.g The
>> Ksh 15B GoK Enterprise Service Market) before we get to investing in
>> applications that are built first then someone figures out how to make cash
>> later.
>>
>> The problem as I have seen in the local market is the tendency to just
>> build applications for the sake of it and that ultimately no one will pay
>> anything for.
>>
>> And finally, enterprise applications (what you maybe be call server side)
>> are those applications that actually help someone in their work. Their
>> delivery modes are vast (desktops, tablets, phones etc) They are basically
>> applications that a user would pay for.
>>
>> So while MPesa rans on mobile phones its actually an enterprise
>> application if you just think what goes on behind the scenes and as you
>> look for the revenue model.
>>
>> So before we get to start yet another competition to review the best
>> dating app, let look at the fact that there are companies in this country
>> that are already paying billions for certain applications, and if there are
>> good local options, they wouldn't mind buying local.
>>
>> My point is, lets invest first-and-foremost in applications that have a
>> ready market, that the market is already paying for, before we start
>> applications that even the market hasn't figured out yet how to make them
>> commercially viable.
>>
>> Regards
>> Waithaka Ngigi
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 1:30 PM, Phares Kariuki <pkariuki at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> John,
>>>
>>> You forget that mobile focuses on delivery. No real computing happens on
>>> mobile. Facebook runs massive data centers to compliment it's mobile
>>> offering. So does Google, to complement android. M-Pesa had to get capacity
>>> in rack space. Mobile is but a delivery tool. The argument that we should
>>> focus on mobile is akin to saying that we should scrap universities
>>> (knowledge 'producers') and focus on printing presses, because people read
>>> books.
>>>
>>> Most mobile applications are hollow at best without infrastructure.
>>>
>>> Think about it all the leaders in mobile Instagram, Amazon, Apple,
>>> Facebook, Safaricom have massive compute capacity (Instagram leases from
>>> amazon). We on the other hand only want to focus on delivery.
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my mobile device, excuse brevity
>>>
>>> On 22 Mar 2014, at 13:22, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Kieti,
>>> How comes none of these thousands of software developers are supplying
>>> even a single solution to government. How comes government services are
>>> barely available to the millions of Kenyans via mobile?
>>>
>>> See our drift, government should be removing barriers and improving
>>> service delivery for all.
>>>
>>> Also, what was the role of governments in the likes of Angry Birds, King
>>> (Candy Crush Saga) and Facebook, beyond providing an enabling environment -
>>> which we don't do here.
>>>
>>> On Saturday, 22 March 2014, John Kieti <jkieti at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Phares, Ngigi, Conrad
>>>>
>>>> Your focus and preference for server side and enterprise desktop mode
>>>> solutions is very much appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> However the thousands of local software developers getting into the
>>>> system will not fit into just that pie of the value chain you are in for
>>>> now. More so, 30m+ mobile subscribers is no small market place for software
>>>> entrepreneurs. And nowadays the computer does not have to be on your desk
>>>> or lap, in fact most computers among Kenyans are mobile phones. It is not
>>>> bad for policy to at least direct the youth towards the opportunity in
>>>> mobile.
>>>>
>>>> You'll recall that its a global market place and some of the kids we
>>>> deride for writing the so called "mVitus" are earning thee figure dollar
>>>> checks monthly from downloads and ads in india, brazil etc. They just wont
>>>> shout that aloud. More importantly though M-Pesa is seven years old. Many
>>>> mobile solutions targeting local/regional problems will not mature as soon
>>>> as we impatiently expect. We're only 3-4 years into the "mobile craze" and
>>>> most serious attempts are not over 3 years old. There's no short cuts to
>>>> developing competitive advantages - even in mobile, give it time. If you
>>>> are not convinced yet, try the ringtone market and premium SMS services.
>>>> Its a whole big economy out there, with big money changing hands, and its
>>>> all mobile!
>>>>
>>>> That said, what would you rather the CS did about local enterprise
>>>> desktop based solutions and server side services?
>>>>
>>>> Have a nice weekend.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 12:47 PM, Rad! <conradakunga at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I'm mystified as well at this obsession with mobile apps.
>>>>>
>>>>> Not that we should not to them, but there is so much opportunity in
>>>>> other sectors - infrastructure, cloud computing, enterprise applications,
>>>>> content management that Kenya can not only benefit from, but we can be
>>>>> competitive globally.
>>>>>
>>>>> Looks like mobile apps will be this regime's Pashas & BPOs
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 12:14 PM, Phares Kariuki <pkariuki at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> A fairly narrow view of the technology sector. It's not all mobile.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my mobile device, excuse brevity
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 22 Mar 2014, at 04:56, Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga at hotmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/m/story.php?articleID=2000107530&story_title=Got-talent-Matiangi-is-looking-for-you
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
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>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> My Blog - www.gmeltdown.com
>>>> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
>>>> The ordinary just won't do
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> with Regards:
>>>
>>> blog.denniskioko.com <http://www.denniskioko.com/>
>>>
>>>
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>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Regards,*
>>
>> *Wait**haka Ngigi*
>> Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod
>> Building
>> T + 254 (0) 20 2333 471 |Office Mobile: +254 786 28 28 28 | M + 254 737
>> 811 000
>> www.at.co.ke
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
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