Thus Spaketh Idd Salim

Should Google pounce now, or wait a little longer?

by on Aug.03, 2010, under Google and Africa

The fibre is here. Actually it was here, the NO-fibre camp cut it, it was restored by the YES-fibre team etc… etc… And the beat goes on. I was adviced not to blog today and I am pissed off by some idiotic fellas I had an unfortunate fate of entering into a business deal with (details withheld as Google will index them). No Wonder I am slowly contemplating employment (*seriously*). BUT, the mind-boggling nature of the potential for Google  in today’s East Africa (Read: Kenya) is colossal and I hate going to bed with something colossal in my pan… errr…. my chest. So I have to get it out.

The greed to do everything, anything and everyone hard and deep has Seen Safaricom tap into only 1/10th of its population with the Internet service. Self-consoling marketers will argue that most of the Devices in Kenya are NOT Internet-ready, but you just need to  see the crazy figures on the net about device-ids of FB Pokers from Kenya and EA to see that this can’t be further from the sad truth.

Sovaya is a Local Internet company that had/has the ability to deliver this solution. Why they are not doing it City-wide is as complex as writing the Dijkstra’s Algorithm PoC code in VB, but that is where we are.

This opens up space for a serious, big, bold and service-before-profit, no-nonsense company like Google to come and show the local players (read: jokers) how it is done.

From : http://www.thehoustonwifi.com/images/WiFI-Beneficios.gif

Serious and Afforfable Wifi for Business and Home use

This model would have the following (direct and indirect) benefits to google:

  • Massive Direct sales for the Nexus One .
  • New radio-station trivia and social experiments based on GeoCaching.
  • Development of MANY and SENSIBLE Android apps for the local market – Believe me, Kenyans CAN code like crazy!
  • Unprecedented Experiences like LBA, LBS, Localization based on Wifi Tower ID and GPS Location powered by GoogleMaps.
  • GoogleCheckOut would oust/complement Mpesa as it would be agnostic. If Google were to get to bed with Saf, then EVERYONE would be on Mpesa. Else, Everyone, would be on GcO standalone.
  • Helping local artists, farmers and small-scale vendors by leveraging platforms like KeleleMobile, MaduQa, SMSoko etc to help then sell digital content to the Masses without seeing the MNOs eat over 60% of their per-sale profits.

Google has a chance to be the darling of 120m people and has that market Space open for the Nexus and other GoogleApps.

Back to Code.

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  • gmeltdown

    I used to think the same way a few years back – then I heard that Google had hired one Mr. Mucheru which got me confused. They surely must have had trouble locating real talent then. Am sure they have thought seriously through their entry strategy – but am afraid they are yet to identify a winning team optimally execute a good entry strategy

  • d0od!

    they(Google) wananeed kutuinua not take over East Africa(Kenya) things are moving alot faster than they can keep up. they can wait we reach a plateau or help move things along. people are making crazy inventions this side. growth opportunities are there.

  • Mista Majani

    1. Google have discontinued development on the Nexus One. It's a lame duck http://bit.ly/9oIw7V
    2. GPS phones are yet to hit the mass market, geocaching in Kenya would be a gimmick. Gimmicks must be cheap. Geocaching is not.
    3. “Cool” apps in Kenya are also gimmicky. Not worth going hard on… yet.
    4. Localisation is also an expensive gimmick.
    5. Google Checkout to take on MPESA: worth a try, if they can compete on the same level(phone).
    6. Leveraging sales through “cool” apps: see point 3.

    In summary, your thinking here is skewed towards expensive gimmicks. Gimmicks are risky business, and you'll be hard pressed to find a company brave enough to take on a tech gimmick in Africa.

    Focus your attentions on that Google Checkout idea. That has potential of converting.

  • http://twitter.com/smartemwa james mwai

    I think you should have checked and seen that Nexus one has been discontinued. Why can't you just say Android? Although even if it were not, how many Kenyans would afford it let alone care to buy it? User adoption of such gadgets here is the only reason their makers don't care so much.
    If Google wants to make their Geo offerings useful here, they should start by having more useful data on their local business center and not just indexing yellow pages kenya which has not much useful info anyway. I have no data but i doubt 90% of small businesses in kenya know about Google Local. This is where they should begin and Kenyans can use any geolocation apps available on android market, app store or ovi that use google maps. e.g I would like an app that knows where am standing on Moi Avenue and tells me all the fast food joints within 200 meters and some reviews to help me make a decision. Right now the apps i have on my phone that use google local search have no such data. Google has API's for developers to do most of the stuff you talk about all they need is useful local data.

  • iddsalim

    well said bro.

    With all the might of Google, I still cant find the recipe of a good Omena dish there. Or how to cook githeri.

    Local content initiatives would really plug this gap.

  • iddsalim

    Mwana GM – I appeal the 5th amendment on this.. :)

  • gmeltdown

    Is the edit better? The discretion is yours – really ..

  • http://www.kenyansearcher.com Martin

    I am a web content writer but it may not be very profitable to provide much of local content as of now. The market is not ready. As of now. No one is searching for 'how to cook Githeri' . Most are looking for jobs, dating,Helb,etc. Trying to target that though; see http://www.kenyansearcher.com. Just thought I should meet a demand that is present as of now. Will provide others as demand arises.

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