My newspaper vendor is a worried and confused man. I have faithfully been buying my paper from him for the last five years. Until one week ago.
Safaricom sent me a message to download an app that delivers the entire newspaper as it appears in print to my tablet every morning. Its much cheaper than the print version, plus the added advantage of having the archived copy for future reference. Now I am afraid my long running relationship with my vendor is coming to an end.

I haven't gotten a chance to slow down and explain to the guy about the e-paper. I don't know how many more customers he has lost. But what happens when you find yourself standing on the wrong side of technological innovation ? Can the printed newspaper survive another 25 years ?

Good one @washiku. But seriously, can any wazuan put the figures in perspective. How many jobs are likely to be lost in 20 years, how much richer safcom will have become.
My bet is that by the time jubilee free laptop class one pupils graduate from college, they won't have time to flip through the pages of a newspaper. That gives the newsprint guys at least 16 years to plan for an alternative source of livelihood.

On your tab/ipad, just visit www.safaricom.com/dailynation. The rest will be obvious.

I thought you subscribe to get that service?

Around 60$/4800ksh per year which is a bargain considering if you buy a newpaper daily it comes to around 22000ksh per year.My barber is seriously considering going for the tablet he spends 3500 monthly buying the nation and standard

He is thinking of getting two biggest concern is security its very easy for anyone to slip out with unnoticed

Those bought from 1st November 2013.

Bigger bottom line for newspaper shareholders.

Wider readership since diaspora now included at marginal extra cost - means more advertising revenue.

I believe the Financial Times stopped the print edition a while back.

But what will butchers now wrap nyake with?

As more and more people turn to gadgets as their reading devices, mags and newspaper sellers will def be hit hard. Advice him to diversify as one cant stop an idea's who's time has come. I understand some newspapers in the US are placed in malls for free so that they can keep the print advertisement revenue...i think with time the likes of Nation and Standard will have to reduce the cost of acquiring a paper just to keep the print business running.

Depends on the location.If the vendor has ample space a fruit stand might supplement his income.If he has access to electricity natural fresh juices can be blended on the spot.This is a market not fully explored though the awareness and demand for healthy products is up.

When it comes to newspapers and changes in media uptake Gerd Leonhard is an individual who might be of interest.Even the e-paper might eventually be challenged by the same platform they're utilizing.A new type of newspaper that is compiled on the go might arise i.e. you buy the articles from the journalists you want.