Why we prefer Nigeria to launch Jongla - CEO

ITRealms:

The chief executive officer of the latest in town Instant Messaging, Jongla, Riku Salminen has revealed why they preferred Nigeria to launch the brand in Africa, reports ITRealms.

Salminen explained this in Lagos during the West Africa Mobile Conference 2016, saying that the choice of Nigeria to launch Jongla in Africa was because their investigations showed that many people are frustrated with the current user experience that most of the Instant Messaging (IM) apps offer. 

“We have been able to solve various technical challenges without needing to compromise on functionality,” Salminen said, stressing that Jongla has made instant messaging possible for people who don’t have high-end smartphones and live and work in areas where there is often limited access to mobile broadband. 

Users, Jongla boss said, want something more fun and personal than just basic messaging to connect with friends and family. We believe in a world where everyone can communicate instantly, freely and securely from anywhere and with anyone regardless of where they live, which phone they have and which network they can access.”

The Jongla team, Salminen said, is currently working to add new social and collaborative features to Jongla that will go way beyond traditional messaging.

“The next generation of Jongla, introducing new social features, will be launched by mid-2016,” the CEO disclosed, pointing out that Jongla is already localised to 20 languages and it could be downloaded for free by people living and working across Africa from the App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, and Firefox Marketplace. 

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Thuraya checks on social media with SatSleeve

Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) leading operator, Thuraya, has introduced its SatSleeve product; the world’s first and only satellite adaptor for the iPhone^, which provides access to users’ favourite applications, electronic mails (emails) and instant messaging.

Shereen Hanafi, Director of Communications, Thuraya, disclosed this to ITRealms, saying that the SatSleeve not only allows users to make phone calls and send Short Messaging Service (SMS) via Thuraya’s satellite network, it also enables them access to emails, as well as popular social media and instant messaging apps such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and WhatsApp among others.

Thuraya SatSleeve, according to Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya, affords users to now post news updates, chat via messaging apps with their contacts as well as send and receive email from the most remote locations in satellite mode. The device can be used across Thuraya’s extensive satellite network with coverage in over 140 countries.

, said: “The new release of the SatSleeve, which now includes data, underscores our commitment towards delivering new and innovative mobile satellite products. Thuraya is powering ahead of the competition with our strong product innovation strategy focused on making satellite communications more accessible and user-friendly. Users today are increasingly relying on their smartphones to stay connected and we strongly believe in listening to them and to their requirements as we develop new mobile satellite products that align with their needs.”

Thuraya SatSleeve enables users to enjoy ubiquitous coverage even in the most remote environments that are not served or that are under-served by terrestrial networks. The device also serves as an important mobile communications device, in addition to being a security backup for users that are operating in remote locations and in areas where natural or man-made disasters can render terrestrial communications unavailable.

 

The SatSleeve customers, he highlighted include corporate users, enterprises from all industries, explorers, mountaineers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Just as SatSleeve could be used across the Thuraya network either with a Thuraya SIM card or with a standard GSM SIM card available from 356 worldwide GSM operators across more than 160 countries, from September 10.

"This makes the Thuraya SatSleeve highly flexible with the ability to be suited to the users’ individual needs," official says.

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*SPix: amer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya