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.

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