random

Zain finally launches Zap in Kenya.

Earlier this week Zain, Kenya’s second largest mobile network operator, finally launched its Zap mobile money transfer services after protracted delays in securing operating rights from the Central Bank of Kenya.

Zap, which has been launched as the second mobile money transfer service in Kenya after Safaricom’s wildly successful M-Pesa service is expected to enable Zain to grow its market share and customer loyalty in the face of increasing competition in the marketplace. Safaricom currently has over 5 million registered M-Pesa users and is signing up new users at an enormous rate.

Zap for the time being has an edge on M-Pesa in that it is more than a mobile money transfer service. Zap goes a step further by enabling users to access funds from their bank accounts and even pay their utility bills. This feature is being offered on Zap for customers with Standard Chartered Bank and Co-operative Bank of Kenya accounts at the moment with more banks expected to sign up.

Another interesting aspect of Zap is that charges are only Kes. 10.00 for ALL money transfers up to a limit of Kes. 35,000.00 whereas Safaricom transaction fees range from Kes. 30.00 to Kes. 400.00 depending on the amount of money being transferred. Finally, Zain expects to expand the use of Zap to the payment of goods and services that is currently used to only a very limited extent via Safaricom’s M-Pesa.

Going forward, it is expected that Orange Kenya and YU will also launch their own mobile money transfer services within the next few months. What remains to be seen in both cases is what sort of entry and pricing strategies they will adopt. It seems obvious that each mobile network will look to build strategic alliances with as many service providers as possible in the banking sector as well as other traditional money transfer services like Moneygram, Postapay and Western Union who dominate the multi-billion shilling international money remittances business.

Previous post

Kenya thrashes New Zealand at the United States Sevens.

Next post

Kenya Wine Agencies (KWAL) goes online.

11 Comments

  1. emily
    March 9, 2009 at 11:13 am — Reply

    thanks for the launch of zap.Is is possible to register online for the same? kindly let me know.

  2. NJENGA STANLEY NG'ANG'A
    March 26, 2009 at 8:05 am — Reply

    It is great to have zap in kenya.please can i know reguirements for one to be a dealer, zap agent.Thanks alot zain for ZAP.

    • January 31, 2010 at 7:55 am — Reply

      It is great to have zap in kenya.please can i know requirements for one to be a dealer, zap agent.Thanks a lot Zain for ZAP.

  3. Wakariti
    April 17, 2009 at 8:57 am — Reply

    This is great, how will zain be compatible to E-commerce now that the Fibre Optic Internet is on its way (hopefully soon)? Zap pricing is competitive and hope the product is too.

  4. musomba Richard
    April 29, 2009 at 1:42 am — Reply

    please let me know the sign up procedure for zap

  5. ouko
    May 28, 2009 at 10:36 am — Reply

    With lines hardly congested on Fridays in the Zain Network, I should assume money transfer will be easier unlike in the competition which is always having system failures and congestion.

  6. Joseph Macharia
    June 25, 2009 at 4:41 am — Reply

    I am in Taveta and sometimes back I applied for Zap distributorship but in vain. I had actually discussed the issue with zain representatives from Voi and they kept promising that it had been approved. So far zap in taveta town is not available. please enlighten us on what prevailed do not publish.

  7. ronald kipronoh
    January 8, 2011 at 5:08 am — Reply

    what are the entry reguirements for omne to become an
    agennt in zap money transfer?

  8. Samuel
    March 26, 2011 at 6:39 pm — Reply

    Zap doing nice in ukambani.thanks alot

  9. ubraa
    July 27, 2012 at 12:57 pm — Reply

    u guyz ua website is complicated and there is no much information unlike M-PESA.damn u guyz

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.