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

Sat Mar 22 15:53:27 EAT 2014

Martin are these apps your quoting capable of actually sustaining a
livelihood? Eg a spinlet initiative in kenya...are consumers going to buy
music to a point ppl can make profits to pay rent..buy food...pay school
fees etc
On 22 Mar 2014 15:32, "Martin Gicheru" <martingicheru at gmail.com> wrote:

> What Phares and Ngigi say is true, but if you look at some applications
> that do not necessarily rely on govt for revenue like Spinlet in Nigeria
> and Ukall here locally, you will notice the fronting is mobile but they
> really are desktop and web apps who's delivery is mobile.
>
> For example, would you say Waabeh is a mobile app? It's a mass consumption
> app that spans both platforms and processing is on the cloud, if such an
> app were to succeed and it already looks like its headed that direction,
> couldn't that then count as one of the successes of mobile apps?
>
> What developing mobile apps seeks to do in this market is ensuring that
> the platform that most users feel at home on have content that is local
> that would then make Kenyan consumers start believing in local products.
>
> So if you are using a mobile app to stream local music which you paid for
> via local payments, manage your chama via a mobile app or on a tablet than
> it will make sense for the corporates to also think mobile first when
> delivering services. Think microinsurance data collection, govt is the
> biggest client but let's not forget we have a growing enterprise that seeks
> to be seen to be successful and cool.
>
> Regards,
> Martin Gicheru
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 3:02 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
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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.
>>>>>>>
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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.
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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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.
>>>>>
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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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>> 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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> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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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