Mobile social address book service enables millions of African subscribers to exchange contact information with one click on their phones
BOSTON, Mass., Nov. 24, 2009 — MTN, the leading mobile network operator in Africa and Middle East, has enabled subscribers in Africa to enhance the value of their mobile phonebooks with one-click after phone calls thanks to CallerXchange, OnePIN’s social address book service. This peer-to-peer service, deployed to all MTN Congo mobile subscribers via new Gemalto SIM cards, allows users to easily connect and stay connected with friends, family and business associates – enhancing the value of mobile phonebooks.
With CallerXchange, MTN subscribers in Congo can choose to exchange contact information immediately after a phone call or text message with a single click. Once a subscriber completes a basic profile of contact information, he or she is automatically prompted and can choose to send this information to new friends or colleagues the next time they call or SMS a new friend – a highly relevant time to share social information. Recipients of a CallerXchange message can easily click to add their friend’s contact information directly into their phonebook. CallerXchange automatically ensures that contact information in subscribers’ phonebooks is kept up to date, allowing subscribers to keep in touch with friends and colleagues even if their information changes over time.
Working in conjunction with Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, MTN is able to quickly reach a large percentage of its subscriber base in a natural manner, using the SIM card as a universal deployment method. The service has already generated impressive results with over 25% of the install base of subscribers having already begun using the service during the first month of launch. CallerXchange is available to all subscribers as a pre-loaded, value-added service on all MTN SIM cards. The SIM-based service is interoperable across handsets and between operators throughout Africa and around the world. “Mobile phones are an essential part of people’s lives here in Congo, and all over Africa, generally speaking” said Arthur LEKA, Head of Product & Services at MTN in Brazzaville.
“This is a true innovation” added Gande Dagba, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN Congo. “CallerXchange enriches the value of MTN’s service for our subscribers as a core part of their social lives. This is an essential pillar of our strategy and, after 24 months of tremendous growth, enabled us to finally take the leadership in the country and be the preferred mobile operator, by far“
“The launch of CallerXchange will enable millions of African subscribers to transform phone calls to friends into deeper social relationships.” said OnePIN CEO and founder Feyzi Çelik. “With an enriched MTN phonebook, subscribers will be able to use their mobile phone as a hub for social networking, whether via voice call, SMS, email or instant messaging.”
About MTN.
The MTN Group Limited (MTN Group) is a leading provider of communication services, offering cellular network access and business solutions. The MTN Group is listed in South Africa on the JSE under the Industrial – Telecommunications sector. Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. As at the end of September 2009, MTN recorded more than 109 million subscribers across its operations. The MTN Group operates in: Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.
About OnePIN, Inc.
OnePIN’s technology transforms mobile phonebooks into social address books, improving customer retention while increasing voice and data revenue for mobile operators. OnePIN’s CallerXchange is a person-to-person contact exchange service that connects people and enhances social networks. With one click, using any mobile phone, CallerXchange enables subscribers to leverage their mobile social address books as the hub for their social networking. Headquartered in Boston with offices and customer references around the globe, OnePIN is the world leader in social address book solutions for mobile operators. For more information, visitwww.onepin.com
For more information please visit www.onepin.com or email us.