International SMS Opens Up World for African Networks (3)
International SMS functionality offers particular promise for social networks operating in Africa. Africans are already using international SMS messaging to not only stay in touch with friends and family around the world but to conduct their banking and operate their businesses. Mobile social networks with international SMS capability were the next logical step and have proven very popular across the continent.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Africa’s cellphone industry is growing at nearly double the global rate. This is primarily because of limited access to landline telephones and PC-based Internet and email facilities. SMS messaging is popular because of the low cost compared to expensive voice calls and international SMS facilitates affordable communication across borders, opening up the world to African citizens and businesses.
There are currently more than 1.5 billion people who are members of social networks according to Wikipedia. In Africa, adoption of social networking has grown steadily particularly with the introduction of mobile social network options. International SMS capability has opened doors for social networks operating in Africa to extend their reach across country borders and increase their membership base.
South Africa alone has 1.1 million Facebook members, Egypt 800 000 members, Morocco 369 000 and Nigeria has 220 000 members of this popular social network. Facebook is just one of many social networks found on the continent that are turning to mobile, using international SMS, and allowing their members to communicate regardless of location.
Status.ug is a mobile gateway that allows Ugandans to interact on Facebook through their cellphones. International SMS capability means that members can update their status from wherever they are in the world and transmit their status via international SMS to other members.
Sembuse is the first mobile social network targeted at East Africans, allowing its members to communicate across a range of countries at a fraction of the cost of voice call and normal SMS rates. The service is funded by subscription services such as customized news alerts, stock market alerts, a gossip channel, sports updates as well as advertising. Using international SMS allows businesses to specifically target members of the social network regardless of which East African country they are in.
Other social networks operating on the African continent include Hi5, Bebo, Flickr, Flixster, Netlog and Twitter. Facebook is still the most popular and has even released a Swahili version of its offering targeting more than 110 million people. International SMS capability removes all geographical limitations allowing Swahili speakers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Mozambique amongst other countries to access the Facebook social network.
Remember that international SMS messaging refers to the fact that SMS messages can be transmitted across borders through a network of mobile operators and SMS gateway providers allowing mobile social networks to expand their reach and membership base easily as well as being able to offer their users the ultimate added value – connection to their fellow users regardless of their location.
In Africa, international SMS in the context of social networks opens up space for meaningful dialogue between citizens of the continent on a wide range of topics from environmental issues to common political and social problems. International SMS functionality in these networks allows Africans to share their knowledge easily and affordably, to generate ideas, follow projects regardless of where they are being undertaken and communicate effortlessly with other members across the continent and the world.
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