Actually the challenge in the scenario would be how to convert the average "mulika Mwizi" phone into a m-commerce gadget..that can be used to search and select goods evaluate pricing and even allow multi media interaction..some few guys could play around with its architecture to allow that..impossible?...

@wanyee - Feature phones will be replaced by smartphones especially because of apps like whatsapp but you'll still be left with a problem like alma said,business.

Then the problem would why didnt they have enough business ..i think penetration and kenyans are obsessed with their tu phones and sms remember that sms lottery thing 5555 or something?

The lottery things are more about making easy money. I think they didn't focus on understanding how Kenyans relate with the web and what they are comfortable to do with it.I don't know about the deals side of the business but seriously,if your are doing something that works on location shouldn't you also focus on a GPS app and promote it well.

Surprisingly 'gamification' is being taken up by business. I think what would work in Kenya is a site that doesn't tell attract sellers but buyers.Basically you come to tell people what you want then you let the sellers fight over your business. The sellers with the best prices and quality will eventually flourish and the buyer gets a good price.Just an idea.Though,you would also have to think of how to filter out the crooks.

Its sounds like an online web Mall where you let the seller put up stores...in the lines of My-space ...Yes crooks ....they will be there..

it can as simple as scrolling ticker of prices with the option of selecting and bidding hope am not over thinking here

Wah,thats a shocker.But now you've got me and a lot of other techies interested.It means if you can lower your costs to a few people you can harvest where the big boys can't.

Agreed with you Kenyanlyrics. Their execs are recycled overpaid "marketing" fellows. I once asked one of them why they were using a billboard and he told me "for visibility". Therein lies the problem.

Visibility to whom?

Poor people walking to work and seeing a billboard can see you, but are they your customers?

That's also the problem with this mobile thingi. So what if 1million mobile users can access my products or services. If they can't afford it, I'm talking to the wrong people.

I'm not a believer in mobile apps, nor websites nor lack of websites.

I'm a believer that these are just tools to complement business.

If my customers will buy my shoe through a mobile app, then I will create it. But I will not create a mobile app simply because there are a lot of shoeless Kenyans who will find it easy to buy the shoe. What if they can't afford the shoe?

Technology is not the solution to problems. It is a means to reduce work load of a solution.

If I have a shop, I must first make a profit from that shop. So I know that if I buy x and sell at y I make a profit.

Only then will I scale up. Scale up may mean I open another shop, open a branch in Uganda, create a website so more people can see my product and even create an app.

But the business must come first. That is why many tech firms fail. They have no business from day 1 but grand solutions to problems that don't exist. Someone say m-farm, m-kesho, m-xxxx, m-nobusiness idea.

Now add the iHub NGO mentality and you have a recipe for disaster. I'm hundred percent sure that the first online venture to take off in Kenya will be done by a mama mboga.

A supply chain management specialist can come with an elaborate advice may be

Spot on.