Mobile Financial Services in Africa: MNO Business Models and Market Forecast provides an in-depth, up-to-the-moment analysis of mobile financial services in Africa, focusing on the offerings from major market players, such as Safaricom and Vodafone.Download an excerpt to view key findings, list of companies mentioned, and more:http://www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=1&sc=PRN100510_RPMFSAWatch the Pyramid Preview: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/All_Previews.htm?sc=PRN100510_RPMFSAPurchase the report: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/RPMBPAYMENT.htm?sc=PRN100510_RPMFSA"In many developing regions, including Africa, the availability of formal financial services is limited to certain geographic and income ranges, often leaving the majority of the population to rely on unreliable and costly informal channels," says Jan ten Sythoff, Analyst at large for Pyramid Research. "Key market players, banks and mobile operators in particular are keen to address this opportunity.""Operators, as shown in this report, can enjoy a number of different benefits, including a new revenue stream, customer retention and acquisition, and cost savings," ten Sythoff explains. "Of the 65 live networks in the 14 countries analyzed in this report, Pyramid expects that 42 – almost two-thirds – will have launched a mobile money service by 2013. By 2015, Pyramid forecasts that more than 1 in 5 people in Africa will be registered to use mobile money services."The success of M-Pesa in Kenya has demonstrated that mobile financial services can benefit mobile operators and can provide benefits to the ecosystem, including banks, the distribution network, merchants, and companies. At the same time there are important issues and challenges that need to be addressed. "Regulations vary country by country and impact which services can be offered, by whom and in which way," ten Sythoff says. "Low literacy rates, which can also be a determinant of text usage, can also impact adoption, and lastly, the existence of widespread and low-cost alternative money transfer services is also a factor."Mobile Financial Services in Africa: MNO Business Models and Market Forecast is part of Pyramid’s research report series. Purchase the report here:http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/RPMBPAYMENT.htm?sc=PRN100510_RPMFSA Press contact: Jennifer Baker Pyramid Research +1 617 871-1910 [email protected]

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