Dear Colleagues, Just saw this story on CNNMoney and started wondering whose product M-Pesa is.I always thought M-Pesa was a local invention of the creative minds at Safaricom but looks like Vodafone is claiming ownership of the brand. It would probably be good to start documenting the origins of M-Pesa as I see this brand across Africa. Regards Harry http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-24343341.htm Vodafone's jv to launch mobile money transfer service in Tanzania April 08, 2008: 08:40 AM EST Apr. 8, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- - Vodafone (NYSE:VOD) Group Plc. said its joint-venture, Vodacom Group plans to launch its M-Pesa mobile money transfer service to its 4.1 mln customers in Tanzania at the end of the month. Vodacom, which has operations in South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a joint venture between Vodafone and Telkom South Africa. The launch of Vodafone M-PESA in Tanzania will see Vodafone's award-winning mobile money transfer service available in a second African market. African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org <http://www.africanedevelopment.org/> My Blogg <http://egov-notes.blogspot.com/> *********************************************************** April/May 2008 Training Opportunities GIS 16-18 April Records Management 28-30 April Web Applications Security 28-30 April Certified Fiber Optic Technician 6-9 May e-Marketing 27-30 May Book Now, Limited spaces available P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail