Airtel Uganda has released an Android-based App for its mobile money platform. The company says its the first of its kind in the Industry and its probably right.
Android smartphone users can download the App free of charge from the Playstore. The App is meant to give users a better user experience compared to USSD Technology that was designed more for feature phones.
Commenting on the new development, Tom Gutjahr, the Managing Director Airtel Uganda said; “As the fastest growing network in the country, the needs of our customers are many and varied. This is one of the reasons Airtel Uganda is constantly working to create innovations that meet our customers need. The Airtel Money App gives our customers a wide range of possibilities; from giving their feedback to finding out more about the service. It is basically a one-stop platform for our customers.”
Airtel Money Android App screenshot
The company says an iOS version for iPhones will be coming soon. Ephraim Batambuze has already taken the App for a spin. He says he can install the App even without an Airtel Simcard and transact without an Airtel number;
“I have Installed the Airtel Money Android App and am not complaining.
1. I installed it on a phone with an MTN simcard
2. I only need the Airtel number to be on when registering my account.
3. I can transact using the app even when my Airtel number is off!”
This means that Airtel must have left legacy USSD technology according to Ephraim to a TCP/IP-based platform. Allan Rwakatungu, the Founder and CEO of intelworld, a company that develops mobile commerce solutions, argued that the industry should be looking beyond USSD as a platform for mobile banking to native Apps that have better user experience.
“I think it is TCP/IP, since am running the app on an Android phone with a different sim inside! If it was USSD, it would have required the Airtel line to be in the same phone.”
Download Airtel Money App
You can get the App here
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“The company says its the first of its kind in the Industry and its probably right” .. Not so fast!!!!…Your 16/02/2015 post told me that MicroPay is the latest mobile money payment platform in Uganda that runs on an Android App currently Free for download in the Playstore of an Adroid Smart Phone.
Among the Mobile Networks, that is MTN, Africell, Airtel, SMart and Vodafone, I believe Airtel is the first among them. But why does it matter?
It matters because that information is inaccurate.
Is this app secure? Does the customer have to logon or enter their pin when they are sending/withdrawing money or paying bills?
Is the app storing data on the smartphone, if so, is it encrypted well? Are they using HTTP or HTTPS with SSL. How secure is the server side of this application?
Those are questions they should be asking themselves, inorder to have better application security otherwise they could be looking at serious losses incase of a security breach
Installed the app on my phone, seems to work seamlessly … Now I have a reason to use Airtel money, let me take this for a spin and see how it works
This is great. I started using my MicroPay app last year on both my MTN Airtel lines. MicrPay was the first Mobile Money company to introduce this innovation in Uganda. App is on Android, ios windows.
Try the app in google play store
It asked for my phone number.. I put my mtn and it told me customer not
found! I thought it would work without me being part of airtel, or there
is something i need to do prior to installing the App?
@kagimu:disqus you need an airtel simcard the first time when registering your account. After that, you can use any other simcard.
Thnx David will get the card, do you think airtel money Uganda will implenting visa soon like the other 8 African countries. ..our subscription Base is still low
Yes, it’s very likely but nothing is definite at this point.