June - August 2009 J une -A u g us t 2009 A MUSICAL ODYSSEY CLASSICAL FUSION KENYAN WIN a laptop! CONTACT CENTRE 100 000
Mar 18, 2016
June -August 2009gJune -August 2009
AMUSICAL ODYSSEY
CLASSICALFUSION
KENYAN
WIN alaptop!
CONTACT CENTRE
100 000
THIS MONTH
The Option June-August 2009 1
Ed’s letter
InsideMANAGING EDITOR: Chris Muthama
ACTING EDITOR: Maryann Michuki
CONTRIBUTORS: Craig Bishop, Jane Barsby,
Patricia Hughes Scott, John Kamakiru,
Chebet Karago, Julie Masiga,
Candice Miranda, Wangui Thuo
PHOTOGRAPHY: Charlie Grieves-Cook,
Gina Din Corporate Communications, Alex
Kamweru, Duncan Willetts
PUBLISHERS: East African Magazines Ltd,
Nairobi
PRINTING: Colourprint, Nairobi
ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
The Option Magazine
Safaricom Limited
P.O. Box 46350- 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
www.safaricom.co.ke
The editorial content and individual opinions
expressed herein are solely those of the
authors and do not necessarily represent those
of Safaricom Ltd. Neither Safaricom nor the
Publishers accept any responsibility for the
content. All rights reserved. No part of this work
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, without
prior permission in writing from Safaricom.
1 Editor’s letter
2 From the CEO
4 What’s news?
6 Kenyan Classical Fusion
11 Win!
12 The new Jambo Contact Centre
15 Tips on buying a mobile
16 Our Passions
18 Pay bills with M-PESA
20 Meet our Safaricom team
23 Making Kenya green
24 All about the Blackberry Bold
26 Dial 24/7
29 Cellphone funnies
30 The latest gadgets
32 Technology: Bluetooth uncovered
34 Stay connected in East Africa
35 Caroline Mutoko’s world
38 What’s hot!
40 Safaricom shops
In this edition, we cover some ground-breaking events that have taken place within Safaricom
in the last two months. In the true spirit of community involvement, Safaricom organised the
hugely popular Classical Fusion music event in April (page 6). For those of us who are not
musically minded, this was going to be a first, paying an affordable Ksh500 to listen to world-
class classical music on our own doorstep. The event was worth every single cent. The 4000
guests, talented artists, melodious choirs, gripping live performances and variety of instruments
really was piece of musical heaven down at the Impala Club. Read about this, and more, inside.
Safaricom is also proud to announce the launch of its brand new Jambo Contact Centre
(page 12), a state-of-the-art call centre (and more!) situated on Mombasa Road. This
piece of architectural genius has been designed to offer Safaricom customers world-
class customer service. The centre currently sits 1200 customer care representatives
and has drastically improved service levels. The centre has been custom built to
ensure customer care personnel are taken care of, and their needs are met as much as
possible. Facilities range from a fully equipped gymnasium, a crèche, giant fish tanks
where brightly coloured tropical fish swim around oblivious to what’s going on around
them, game rooms, a library, food courts and even a standby doctor!
Last but certainly not least, M-PESA has now launched its Pay Bill service (page 18),
allowing you to pay your bills from the comfort of your home, office or favourite restaurant.
Talk about the march of technology. Safaricom is walking the extra mile for you, our
customer. Read all about our landmark event and the latest services we’re offering, all of
which are underway as we speak. Enjoy!
Chris Muthama, Managing Editor
WIN a DellVostro Laptop!11
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Foreword
2 June-August 2009 The Option
As we enter the second quarter of this year,
our vision of being Africa’s best company
is on the inside track. In an increasingly
crowded market that has lately been assailed by
the aftershocks of a prolonged global recession,
Safaricom stays ahead through our leadership
in product innovation and our commitment to
customer service.
Nowhere is this more visible than our loyalty to
ethical business in our dealings with colleagues
and customers alike. We believe ethical business is
profitable business and this mantra transcends all
our brands and activities in the market.
The Code of Conduct, to which all of us have
signed allegiance and which we continuously
amplify through refresher clinics for all staff, requires
nothing less than the highest standards of business
integrity from us.
But we are also alive to the fact that we are
only as ethical as our inbuilt defenses against
corruption’s many manifestations in a fast-paced
business, whether we directly face customers or
offer support services in the back office. Each one
of us needs to be constantly vigilant to ensure we
maintain 100 per cent integrity at all times.
Our data product is flying off the shelf, a further
demonstration of our leadership in product
innovation and growth. What our data customers
get and expect from us is the same signature quality
that has become our hallmark over the years; a
speedy, bankable service that answers the needs
of both the home and business user anywhere
in Kenya. Currently, there are many claims about
providing mobile data services, but only Safaricom
with its 3G network can really provide broadband
highspeed data to its customers. We are providing
many individuals and firms with the best data
speeds by any provider in this market.
The international component of connection has
been the chink in Kenya’s quest for better Internet
services. This realisation is behind our considerable
investment in the country’s quest for a fibre optic
link with the rest of the world. Safaricom is providing
leadership and has already put money in this
venture, both in equity and as an advance buyer
of capacity. These initiatives will underpin better
services for all our customers.
The success of Safaricom is due to the
exceptional talent we have assembled in all
functions. Our corporate citizenship is built on the
fact that we are only as successful as the society
in which we do business and from which we draw
our loyal customers, our biggest asset. Safaricom
employees continue to give back through a number
of long-term and sustainable initiatives in sport,
education, health and culture.
From theCEO
Michael JosephChief Executive Officer
PHOTOGRAPH:DUNCANWILLETTS
4 June - August 2009 The Option
We’re here for youSafaricom is proud to be associated with endeavoursthat show the human spirit at its best, whether throughbusiness success, social action or excellence in sport
Okoa JahaziSafaricom has launched another first aimed
at adding greater value for subscribers.
The new credit advance service will enable
PrePay subscribers access to airtime
on credit, enabling them to make calls in
situations where they cannot immediately
purchase airtime, or in an emergency.
Okoa Jahazi will allow PrePay subscribers to
access a fixed Ksh50 credit advance and repay
within 72 hours with a subsequent top-up.
To be eligible, customers must have less than Ksh5 in balance,
and must have been a PrePay customer for at least 12 months. The
subscriber should also have no outstanding advance credit, and
usage should amount to more than Ksh50 in the previous seven days.
Beach volleyballFrom the shores of California to the
Indian Ocean beaches, volleyball
brings the world together. The first
leg of the Kenya Beach Volleyball
Council’s (KBVC) national circuit in
April was – thanks to Safaricom’s
sponsorship – a resounding success.
In all, 13 men’s teams, six women’s,
four mixed couples, and two novice
teams made up the four categories
which battled it out for the winners’
trophies, medals and cash prizes.
In attendance were the provincial
director of sports, Felix Indakwa,
Josh Collins of Safaricom,
Rosemary Muthoni, station
manager of DHL, and staff from
Pirates Restaurant, which hosted
the event. Edward Kisaka, vice
chairman of the Kenya Volleyball
Federation, represented the
parent body.
KBVC chairperson, Patricia
Hughes-Scott said that the sport
encouraged young people to keep
fit and was also a great source of
tourism revenue.
SAFARICOM SUPPORTS KENYAOPEN SECOND YEAR RUNNINGWith excellent golfing conditions, the
2009 Tusker Open Golf Tournament was
held between 15th and 19th April, on
the greens of Muthaiga. But it was not
the fairytale the Kenyan contingent were
hoping for, in golfing terms at least.
Safaricom CEO, Michael Joseph noted
the importance of the firm’s involvement,
saying that as a Professional Golfers
Association (PGA) event it not only
continues to enhance Kenya’s image on
the global map, but offers Kenyan golf
professionals the opportunity to play
against their peers from all over the world.
In addition to its Ksh10 million
sponsorship, Safaricom provided
reporters with an ultra-modern media
centre, facilitating fast and efficient, real-
time communication. The centre was
equipped with computers boasting high
internet speeds supported by Safaricom’s
3G network and a mobile base station
dubbed “Cell on Wheels”.
South Africa’s
David Hewan
tees off in the
2009 Tusker
Open Golf
Tournament
in Nairobi.
PHOTOGRAPH:ISTOCKPHOTO.COM,
GINADIN
CORPORATECOMMUNICATIO
NS
on the wire
The Option June-August 2009 5
Make a differenceWe all dream of being paid to do something we love while making a
difference. This has now become a reality for Safaricom staff. The World of
Difference initiative allows staff to take three months away from their daily
work to take part in a community project of their choice. The initiative was
launched during the five-year anniversary of the Safaricom Foundation and
will allow staff to contribute their knowledge, skills and expertise to needy
communities. Selection is carried out on a competitive basis, with each team
comprising four people from a multi-disciplinary background, working in
partnership with their project of choice. The successful team will receive an
opportunity to work with their selected project partner and local community
on a full time basis for a year.
Safaricom has applauded the
Kenyan national sevens team for
its exemplary performance at the
fifth Rugby World Cup Sevens
tournament in Dubai. The 12-man
squad, plus coach Benjamin Ayimba
received Ksh3250000, with each
player pocketing Ksh250000, after
having qualified for the semi-finals
in the tournament, in which they
eventually lost to Argentina.
Safaricom had earlier announced
a cash pledge to the team ahead of
the tournament where each member
of the playing squad was to receive
Ksh500000 if they got to the finals
of the main cup competition, and
Ksh250000 per player for making
it to the semis. This was when
the team paid a courtesy call to
Safaricom House to present CEO
Michael Joseph with a team shirt.
Joseph said that the team had,
in the past, beaten the best sides
in the world and that fans were
convinced that it would not be long
before they brought the overall
winners’ trophy on to Kenyan soil.
The national sevens team made
the semis after defeating Fiji in the
quarter-finals. In the group stages,
Kenya beat Tunisia and Hong Kong,
but lost to England in the last game.
NATIONAL TEAM LAUDED FOR SEVENS HEAVEN
Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph presented the Kenyan
rugby sevens team members with cheques worth
Ksh 250 000 each for their performance in Dubai.
Moody Awori, former VP of Kenya, at the launch of the World of Difference initiative, which coincided withthe five year anniversary of the Safaricom Foundation.
6 June-August 2009 The Option
Let me admit something from
the outset: I have never been
a classical music fan. I usually
go cross-eyed with boredom
at the first stroke of a violin. I was
your ultimate philistine – a complete
popular music junkie – until, that
is, I heard about Safaricom’s fusion
of classical music. The publicity
surrounding the event made it sound
sexy. Hip. Du jour. It seemed sinful
not to give it a chance.
So, one Friday night in April, we got
suited up and made our way up the
hill to the newly refurbished Nairobi
Museum for the first instalment of the
Safaricom Kenyan Classical Fusion
festival. I would not regret it.
It was an outdoor concert, under
an overcast sky. The imposing pillars
that distinguish the new museum
facade made for a very romantic
back drop. The show was scheduled
to start at 7.30pm, but guests began
to arrive at about 6pm, whereupon
they were welcomed with drinks in
the courtyard. Beaus and belles all
milled about, ball gowns sweeping
the floor, sharp suits cutting through
the evening air, mixing and mingling
over cocktails.
When the bell tolled, signalling
guests that the concert was about
to start, we were ushered into the
performance area. Seating was
organised in a semicircle facing
a stage illuminated by dozens of
sparkly lights.
The lovely soprano Elizabeth
Njoroge was the mistress of
Listen tothe musicA fabulous fusion oforchestra, opera, jazz,gospel and our very ownKenyan music wowedguests at the first KenyanClassical Fusion festival
WORDS: JULIE MASIGAPHOTOGRAPHS: CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK
AK
Levi Wataka conducting
the Kenya Conservatoire
of Music Orchestra.
Singer Thelma Mbodze.
kenyan CLaSSICaL FUSIOn
The Option June-August 2009 7
ceremonies for the night and, in her
soothing operatic voice, she wasted
no time getting the ball rolling. First
up was Michael Joseph, Safaricom
CEO and classical music aficionado.
It was several months ago, while
in idle conversation with soprano
Elizabeth Njoroge – the proprietor
of the Art of Music company and
Classics magazine – that Joseph
had the idea of fusing local and
international cultures through
classical music.
The crowds that turned up were
a testament to the success of
his vision. It certainly turned this
philistine into a believer!
Mr Joseph thanked the full house
for their attendance, cracked a few
jokes to break the ice and then the
music began. The curtain-raiser
was the regionally famous Nairobi
Chamber Chorus conducted by
seasoned musician Ken Wakia.
They started off with a Luhya folk
song in a classical style, but still
distinctly African sounding. Divine.
The Chamber Chorus went on to
tickle our musical fancy with pieces
from South Africa, Canada and the
US, before ending on a light note with
a classical rendition of Swedish pop
group Abba’s Thank You for the Music.
After this rhythmic and melodic
introduction, proceedings moved
seamlessly on to the main act, a
performance by the world famous
English a capella group, Voces8,
performing in Kenya for the first
time. The award-winning group has
Popular Afro-pop
sensation Eric
Wainaina gave a
sterling performance.
Members of the
Conservatoire
strings prepare
during the concert.
established itself as the foremost
young British a cappella group, since
coming on to the classical music
scene in 2005. They have been
praised for “a sound that spans the
whole range of vocal colour”. And if
their jubilant, vibrant and technically
sound performance was anything to
go by, that is no empty accolade.
They moved gracefully, like a finely
cut gemstone on a pendulum, from
one side of the musical spectrum to
the other, sampling early polyphonic
pieces, unique jazz and even
popular arrangements that included
George Gershwin’s I got Rhythm and
Otis Blackwell’s Fever. Certainly a joy
to hear. So joyful, in fact, that even
the rain, which was threatening to fall,
held back to have a listen.
Fast forward to Sunday afternoon,
after the festival had made a pit stop
Grace Nangabo (soprano) and
Jonathan Opinya (bass).
Voces8, the award-winning British a cappella octet.
Conductor Ken Wakia in
action under the fairy lights.
The Kenya Conservatoire of Music gave one of the most powerful performances at the concert.
The Safaricom Choir performing
with their CEO, Michael Joseph.
The Option June-August 2009 9
kenyan CLaSSICaL FUSIOn
at the coast. The rain came down
with a vengeance, but the guests sat
entranced through the concert.
Tourists and expatriates mixed
good-naturedly with locals in an ode
to all things musical. The Nairobi
Chamber Chorus sang again, as
did Voces8. By the end of the day,
more than 120 performers had taken
to the stage, including the Kenya
Conservatoire of Music Orchestra, the
Nairobi Orchestra, the Moipei Girls
Quartet, sopranos Elizabeth Njoroge
and Grace Nangabo, piano maestro
Paul Nduati, cultural fusionists
Kachumbari 7, the Safaricom Choir
and several other equally talented
musicians.
Aptly for a festival billed as a
classical fusion extravaganza,
the classically trained Eric Wainaina
showcased his unique blend of
benga under the cover of a gentle
African drizzle. As they say in Africa,
rain is a sign of God’s blessing.
In his closing remarks, Mr Joseph
promised the audience that the
festival will be back next year.
The Moipei Quartet during their performance. Children enjoying
the outdoor
concert.
Guests enjoy the ambience of the Friday concert
The Nairobi Chamber Chorus
performing at the Friday concert.
{ }TOURISTS AND
EXPATRIATES MIXEDGOOD-NATUREDLYWITH LOCALS INAN ODE TO ALLTHINGS MUSICAL
kenyan CLaSSICaL FUSIOn
10 June-August 2009 The Option
The Kenya Conservatoire
of Music in action during
the concert.
Dromadary
rides were one
of the activities
available.
Guests enjoy the
festivities at the outdoor
concert on Sunday.
The Option June-August 2009 11
WIN, WIN, WIN
WIN aDell Vostro Laptop!
How to winSend an SMS with your
name, age, occupation and
city/town to 311 in one SMS,
separating each with a comma.
You will then receive an SMS
prompting you to answer the
three questions in the boxes.
Send your answers (codes
only) to the three questions in
one SMS, separating each by
a comma (for example 6,4,13).
Send your answers to short
code 311.
Just Ksh3.50 per SMS!
Winners will be contacted
directly by the mobile:
0729 333333. Competition
closing date is 31 August 2009.
Subscribers who answer all
questions correctly and SMS
their answers to the correct
number stand a chance to win.
Brought to you by Safaricom, in association with Mobile Planet
SMS your answers and stand a chance to win one of three fabulous prizes
3 FABULOUS PRIZES1ST PRIZE – a Dell Vostro Laptop goes to the 2000th entry
2ND PRIZE – a Safaricom Internet Modem powered by 3G
goes to the 1000th entry
3RD PRIZE – a 700 MB Data Bundle goes to the 500th entry
First SMSName, age, occupation, city/town
Second SMSquestions1. Which statement below best
describes how you got hold of your
copy of The Option?
STATEMENT CODE
I was given it by a friend/familymember
1
I collected it from the Safaricomoffices
2
I got my copy from a Safaricomretail centre
3
I normally get it delivered to myphysical address
4
I got hold of it from a dealer shop 5
2. Which of the statements below
best applies to your situation?
STATEMENT CODE
This is the first The Optionmagazine I have ever read.
1
I have read several issues ofThe Option magazine, but onlybecause I always stumble on it.
2
I always go out of my wayto try and get myself a copyof The Option magazine.
3
3. Which story/stories in this The Option
magazine captivated you the most?
STORY CODE
On the Wire 1
Kenyan Classical Fusion 2
Making Contact 3
M-PESA 4
Our World 5
Dial 24/7 6
Techno Bytes 7
Meet the Team 8
Lifestyle 9
What’s Hot 10
Our Passions 11
Celeb Watch 12
And the winners areThe winners from the March - May
2009 issue competition are:
1000th entry - Blackberry 8300
winner, Nelly Rombo, admin
assistant, Nairobi.
500th entry - Nokia 5000 winner
Dennis, entrepreneur, Narok.
100th entry - Vodafone 125 winner
Sylvia Omboga, banker, Nairobi.
12 June-August 2009 The Option
With the launch of its
Jambo Contact Centre,
Safaricom has proved
it is the leader among
mobile phone service providers when
it comes to innovation. This first
state-of-the-art call facility was set
up to address the growing Safaricom
customer base, and the escalation
in subscribers’ needs that have not
only become more sophisticated, but
require timely and informed solutions.
Safaricom broke out of the mobile
phone service providers’ fold in 2007
when the company introduced the
GSMA Global Mobile Awards winner,
M-PESA money transfer facility,
which enables customers to transfer
money to other mobile phone users,
withdraw cash, buy airtime, pay bills
or make loan repayments safely and
affordably using the mobile phone.
The new Jambo Contact Centre,
or JCC, as it is popularly known,
became operational in November
2008 and is situated in a large
building on Mombasa Road.
According to the chief customer
care officer in charge of the centre,
Pauline Warui, the JCC can handle
four times the number of calls that
were being handled at the previous
call centre in Westlands.
Warui, who has over 10 years
experience in customer care, says,
“This is not just a call centre. It is
a contact centre, an all important
‘interface’ that has been set upto create a touch point with our
13 million customers. It is a place
where we add value to customers’
enquiries and resolutions by offering
Happy to helpHighy trained staff at Safaricom’s new Jambo Contact Centre
handle thousands of calls each day
Pauline Warui, chief
customer care officer,
overlooks one of
the workstation at
the centre.
MAKING CONTACT
The Option June-August 2009 13
technical support at different levels.
We want to give all our customers a
delightful experience.”
Currently, the call centre, which
embraces the “Happy to Help”
theme, is manned by more than 1500
staff members and has a capacity
for over 1000. Staff work in shifts to
provide 24-hour customer support
and they handle around 100000 calls
a day.
The latest technology has been
employed in the telephony and
data system tools. Calls to the front
office and other external customer
correspondence, which can be as
basic as enquiries about credit limits,
and as complex as data set-ups and
activations, are directed to the call
centre where quality analysts monitor
calls to ensure that the customer is
receiving the best solution to their
inquiry. This also helps the analysts
identify areas that need improvement.
At any given time, 600 customer
care staff are on-hand, ready to
respond to subscribers’ calls. During
a recent visit to the JCC, I realised
that the tranquil façade of the huge
building – with a blue roof, cream
walls and fronted by huge white
columns – belied activities inside
the building. This was especially
true when I came across the 600
customer service staff: headphones
on, hard at work responding to
subscriber needs.
Surprisingly, the atmosphere is
also serene. Although there is lots of
buzz and quick movement of hands
as staff receive and solve customer
problems, the ringing tones are
Clockwise from top left: the Jambo Call Centre; two of the 600
customer care staff at work answering queries; the serene decor
inside the centre; customer care trainees undergo a session inside
the JCC building; staff enjoy a break in the cafeteria at the JCC.
MAKING CONTACT
14 June-August 2009 The Option
subdued and there are no raised
voices: evidence of the intensive
in-house training staff undergo. In the
training rooms, I found 180 trainees
working hard to fulfill the eight-week
training required of them before they
are able to man the phones.
Around the gym, cafeteria
and other areas away from the
workstations, the atmosphere is
easy-going. Staff stopped to say
hello and happily showed me around
their new work areas.
There are six distinct work areas,
or zones, in the centre, each named
after a wild animal, among them Chui
and Nyati. Each zone has training
and interview rooms with television
screens. The centre also has eight
training rooms, each named after
prominent writers, including Wahome
Mutahi and Wole Soyinka, and
several management offices.
Warui says that with the increase
in Safaricom’s customer base, more
information has been up-loaded to
the Interactive Voice Response (IVR),
which can handle 60% of the daily
enquiries. This automated processing
of inbound phone calls will, among
other things, direct customers to the
nearest customer care centre.
“We provide customer support to
our Postpay and Prepay customers,
corporate clients who require data
products, M-PESA agents and
Safaricom dealers. A customer
can also call the directory service
(191) for a one-off fee of Ksh20 to
enquire about a telephone number,”
Warui says.
At the main reception, a huge
aquarium straddling two columns
forms a picturesque backdrop.
The inside of the building ispainted in warm earth colours and
huge aquariums and young palm
plants line the corridors separating
the different zones.
The work areas are spacious and
warm. “That is deliberate,” Warui
says. “Safaricom values its people
and believes in a comfortable
working environment for high
performance and delivery of results.
We want the ‘feel good’ factor to be
passed on to our customers.”
The location of the JCC, 17kms
from Nairobi’s central business
district, ensures that staff are able to
concentrate on their work. When staff
members need to take a break from
the headphones, they can choose
to go to a fully equipped gym with
steam and sauna, a game room
with tennis and pool tables, a prayer
room, cyber café, library, and, of
course, a rest room.
Other facilities include a doctor on
site 24-7, a feeding room and crèche
for infants, M-PESA, canteen and
rooms next to workstations where
water and tea are available all day.
“We want to provide a calm
working environment for our busy
team members, because we realise
that a busy call centre business
like ours can be very demanding,”
Warui says.
Staff at the centre receive intensive
training in-house to be able to
achieve and maintain high standards.
“Everything at this call centre has
been tailored to benefit the end user.
We want the customer to know that
we take their concerns and feedback
seriously and are dedicated to giving
solutions to all their problems by
providing a service that will add value
to their Safaricom experience,” Warui
points out.
The JCC will revolutionise
Safaricom subscribers’ customer
care experience, much in the same
way that M-PESA proved to be a
vital service for many Kenyans –proof
indeed that Safaricom really is the
better option among mobile phone
service providers.
CALL 24/7PREPAY: Call 100 (free), or +254 (0)722 002 100 (chargeable at Ksh8 per
minute from your safaricom line). Email: [email protected]/ADVANTAGE: 200 (free), or +254 (0)722 002 200
(chargeable at Ksh7 per minute from your Safaricom PostPay line).
Email: [email protected]
Far left: Millicent
Njue, the librarian at
the centre.
Left: Keeping fit at
the office - a staff
member preparing
for her workout
session at the gym
based inside the
JCC building.
WORDS:CHEBETKARAGO;PHOTOGRAPHS:ALEXKAMWERU
Spoilt for choiceThat might be how you feel when
you look at all the different makes of
cellphones on the market these days.
They all have different gimmicks,
so what exactly do you need your
hand-held to do for you. Is your
eyesight poor? Perhaps you need
a model with a big screen. Perhaps
internet access is important, or a
camera or the ability to download
your favourite ring tones. Whatever
your personal
preferences, there are
several factors you
should always take
into account when
getting connected.Example: Nokia N97
Organise yourselfEven basic handsets offer organiser
applications, from an alarm clock
to a currency converter and a
thermometer.
Mr PopularHow many people do you know?
If your business or your social
life revolves around always being
available to network, you need a
phone that can store all your contacts.
In addition, voice dialing, which allows
you to make a call without pressing
any buttons,
is perfect for
when you need
your hands to
do something
else.Example: Phones
that have memory
cards such as Nokia
E and N series
Surf’s upBeing able to access the internet
allows you to surf the latest news,
sports, business trading, weather
and gossip. This function also
allows you to download information,
including ring tones and games.
Although many internet sites are
not designed for cellphone users,
Wireless Access Protocol (Wap)
browsers are designed for viewing on
small cellphone screens. The latest
models come with a HTML browser.
An added benefit is the ability to use
your cellphone as a modem for your
PC, although you will need to buy the
correct cables for this.Example: Windows mobile devices e.g.
HTC Touch HD and HTC Touch 3G, Samsung Omnia,
Motorola Q9
Message meText and multimedia messages
are crucial for the modern human
being, especially the younger,
versions. Some handsets also
support instant messaging. You can
also receive work and personal
emails to your
cellphone. This can be
expensive, so enquire
about frequent use
packages from the
service provider. Some
models come with an
alphabetic keyboard for
faster typing.Example: Blackberry
DOs & DON’Ts
It’s your call
PHOTOGRAPH:GETTY/G
ALLOIM
AGES.COM
The Option June - August 2009 15
When you are buying a new cellphone,you need to decide exactly what it is youneed it to do for you, writes Craig Bishop
Lights, camera, actionWhether you fancy yourself as
another Ridley Scott, or you just want
snapshots of your firstborn taking his
or her first steps, many cellphones
offer decent photo resolution.
It’s all about the megapixels:
the more, the merrier,
as they say.Example : LG Viewty KE 990
BluetoothThis lets you connect your cellphone
to a computer or another cellphone
to exchange or download music,
images, text and games.
MultimediaLook out for models with a digital
music player, MP3 support,
FM radio, streaming video and
3G wireless broadband networks.
Downloading data takes up a
lot of memory space, so buy a
model with a detachable memory
card. Example: Nokia 5130 Xpress Music
AccessoriseIf you want the trendiest cellphone
in town, buy a model that allows
you to play around with colours
and faceplates. Most phones
offer a range of personal options,
such as display wallpaper, screen
savers, and ring tones.
Helping handsSafaricom’s involvement in social issues is an indication of the company’s
passionate determination to add value to our world
16 June -August 2009 The Option
The Safaricom Foundation is
inviting staff to sign up on a
competitive basis and to work
in community programmes of their
choice, contributing their professional
skills, knowledge and expertise to the
day to day activities in various charity
and aid organisations.
Staff members must form teams
of four from multi-disciplinary
backgrounds and come up with
a proposal on how they intend to
work together for the year, with the
organisation of their choice.
The criteria used to assess the
teams includes commitment, skills,
experience and the sustainability of
PARTNERS FOR LIFEThe Safaricom Foundation is offering staff the chance to takepart in a life-changing experience through its World of Differenceinitiative, which aims to help the neediest communities in Kenya
their proposed approach towards the
World of Difference initiative.
The successful team will work
with their selected project partner
on a full time basis for a year. Each
member will work for three months
before handing over to the next team
member, after which they will resume
their normal role at Safaricom. During
the three months, they will still
receive their regular pay and benefits
from Safaricom, and they will be
covered for any new expenses such
as transport and accommodation.
Project partners might include
mental health institutions,
environmental and conservation
groups, aid organisations, youth
projects, disabled groups and
underprivileged groups.
All the project partners are
organisations that the Safaricom
Foundation has worked with in the
past and the present.
Safaricom Foundation is taking
corporate social responsibility to
the next level. So far, a variety of
professional roles are available for
staff to choose from including IT,
counselling, legal, public relations
and communication, fundraising and
strategic planning.
The initiative was launched on 26
February this year, and the selection
of successful candidates will be
announced on 29 May, with the
project set to kick off in earnest from
July 2009 for the 12-month period.
The project areas are vast and cover
areas all over the country, including
Nairobi, Laikipia, Kitale, Timau, Kilifi,
Kisumu, Thika and Mount Kenya,
among others.
Remember to check future editions
of The Option to see which is the
winning group and how they are
faring in their new roles.
Staff plant a tree for the
Safaricom Foundation’s
Ngare Ndare tree
planting initiative.
Fred Waithaka of
Safaricom mentors a
student in the Junior
Achievement Kenya
programme.
OUR PASSIONS
The Option June-August 2009 17
Thousands of families face
starvation in Kenya today.
Children have to sit though
classes with empty stomachs, while
their mothers travel far from home
in search of food for the family.
Lack of adequate rains, escalation
of food prices, as well as last year’s
post-election violence, are all factors
that have led to the lack of food in
communities all over the country.
The areas hardest hit include
Yatta, Makueni and Turkana. The
government and other agencies,
led by Kenya Red Cross, have been
distributing food to these affected
areas, but they need help.
Safaricom Foundation, with their
donation of Ksh10 million, was
among the first to contribute towards
the kitty. Safaricom staff also made
personal contributions.
Donation boxes were put on each
floor of their office block, and within
a few weeks, not only was there
a commendable amount of cash
donations, but also a store full of
foodstuff.
The foundation collected
Ksh217 500 and food stuff worth
Ksh135 000 from staff, which
Safaricom Limited then matched as
an appreciation of their staff efforts
and goodwill.
On 20 March, a group of 25 staff
representing the various divisions, set
out for Kajiado for the handover, in
conjunction with Kenya Red Cross.
They went ahead and presented
Kenya Red Cross with a cheque
for Ksh435 000 and food valued
at Ksh270 000. They served the
community and distributed grains
and other dry foods.
Safaricom staff have a passion
for the world around them and they
refuse to miss an opportunity to help
their less privileged countrymen.
Safaricom staff visited Ilbisil Primary School in
Kajiado, where they donated food to the children and
community in conjunction with the Kenya Red Cross.
FAMINE RELIEFSafaricom Foundation recently donated Ksh10 milliontowards famine relief in Kenya. Staff also reached intotheir own pockets to bolster the initiative
18 June-August 2009 The Option
Peace of mindSafaricom’s new Pay Bill facility enables you to pay bills quickly, and on time
You know the story all too well. A bill arrives in the
post and you put it to one side. You fully intend to
deal with it immediately, of course, but there are a
thousand and one other bits of paper demanding
your attention and, somehow, it gets forgotten. In all this
hurly-burly, you forget to pay the bill and the electricity is
cut off, or the water, or the satellite TV.
For Safaricom subscribers, however, all this is a thing of
the past, thanks to the company’s new Pay Bill service.
Pay Bill allows you to rest assured that all your
important bills can easily be paid on time. Linked to the
already popular M-PESA service, Pay Bill cuts out the
middleman. Instead of writing out a cheque and sending
it to your service provider, who must then clear it and
credit the payment to your account, now all you have to
do is confirm that the company you wish to pay accepts
payments via M-PESA, then go ahead and credit the
money to your Safaricom M-PESA e-account, key in
the relevant business number, key in the account and
payment details, and press the CONFIRM button.
The M-PESA system then channels the payment to the
relevant service provider and sends you a reassuring SMS
to confirm that the payment has been received. Phew,
we hear you say. No more spending the evening hunched
over a candle, eating supper out of a can.
HOW DO I ACCESSTHIS SERVICE?
1First of all, you must register for the M-PESA service.
To do this, go to your nearest M-PESA agent (there are
over 8 650 nationwide), upgrade your SIM card if required
(at the minimal cost of Ksh20), register yourself as an
M-PESA user (it’s free) and activate the M-PESA menu on
your cellphone.
2 Welcome. You’re on Pay Bill.
Once registered, you’re only one button away
from joining the happy ranks of Pay Bill users. Now all
you have to do is check that your cellphone is Pay Bill-
enabled: select ‘My Account’ from your M-PESA menu,
select ‘Update Menu’ and then follow the instructions
on screen.
Now no-one will ever push your buttons again. So far,
some 65 service-provider partners have joined the
Pay Bill service, offering services as diverse as insurance,
micro-finance, motor
vehicle servicing,
water pumps,
health services and
pharmaceuticals.
M-PESA
The Option June-August 2009 19
PHOTOGRAPH:GINADIN
CORPORATECOMMUNICATIO
NS
FREQUENTLYASKED QUESTIONSWHAT IF THE SERVICE PROVIDER IWISH TO SEND MY PAYMENT TO ISNOT REGISTERED WITH THE PAY BILLSERVICE?This is a relatively new service. It has been running
for one year now, which means that not all service
providers have completed the formalities involved.
However, now that Pay Bill has proved just how
useful it is, service providers are signing up daily.
So, in order to check if your chosen provider has
registered yet, just check the website above or ask
the service provider.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT MY PAYMENTHAS BEEN RECEIVED?You will receive an SMS message on your
cell phone, which confirms the fact that your
payment has been received. It contains a
transaction number and we suggest you keep
this as reference until you receive payment
acknowledgement from the service provider,
incase you need to query it. Alternatively, you can
call the dedicated customer-support number of
your chosen supplier: these numbers are provided
on the list below, are available from the website,
or can be obtained by calling Safaricom Customer
Care: call 234 (for free) on your Safaricom line.
HOW LONG MUST I WAIT FOR THISMESSAGE?You will get the M-PESA acknowledgment in
seconds. The service provider will process
the payment detail to your account with them
in varying periods. For example, if you pay
Safaricom, they update it every 30 minutes during
working hours. For KPLC, please pay 2 days in
advance as they update every 24 hours.
HOW MUCH DOES THE PAY BILLSERVICE COST ME?Many of our providers have elected to pay for the
cost of your Pay Bill transaction, in which case
the service is free to you. Alternatively you will be
charged up to Ksh30 per transaction, depending
on the service provider selected.
IS THE AMOUNT I CAN TRANSFERUSING PAY BILL LIMITED?Existing M-PESA limits apply: the maximum
transaction amount per day: Ksh70 000. Maximum
amount transferable per transaction: Ksh35 000.
REMEMBER• Make sure that you have sufficient money in your M-PESA
account to cover the sums involved.
• Make sure you have all the relevant service provider
account payment details before you start pushing buttons.
• Make sure you have the correct business number of
the service provider you wish to pay. These numbers are
available on www.safaricom.co.ke, or call M-PESA customer
support on 234 from your Safaricom line.
M-PESA AT A GLANCENumber of M-PESA customers to-date 6 175 056
Number of M-PESA agents countrywide 8 650
Monthly value of person-to-person
transfers
Ksh17.29
billion
Cumulative value of person-to-person
transfers made since the launch of the
M-PESA service in March 2007
Ksh135.38
billion
(FIGURES AS AT MARCH 2009)
RECOGNITION FORTHE M-PESA SERVICEM-PESA, which is operated by Safaricom in Kenya in
partnership with Vodafone, won the GSMA ‘Best Mobile
Money Service Award’ in February 2009.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAIDThe GSMA judges described the M-PESA service as,
“an accessible and intuitive solution, reflected by an
unprecedented take-up rate for a service of this kind.
M-PESA will serve as a blueprint for other operators around
the world. This provides a simple means for people to safely
transfer and carry money.”
Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph and KPLC engineer Joseph Njoroge try out the
new M-PESA system that enables KPLC customers to pay their monthly bills via
M-PESA, assisted by M-PESA senior sales manager Adnan Adnan.
The professional, versatile and industrious staff at Safaricom are “happy to help”.This team is living up to its promise of delivering on Safaricom’s passions
Behind the scenes
20 June - August 2009 The Option
Phyllis WaicungoRetail Support Analyst, Rex House Retail Centre
PASSION: PeopleAT WORK: Phyllis provides second-line support
to the retail centre support at the front line, including
escalations, activations and follow-ups.
THE CHALLENGE: With the transition from customer
management to retail, the systems are also constantly
changing to accommodate the new products coming up.
Phyllis took it upon herself to get the staff to internalise
and understand the changes between the old and the
new system.
HER SOLUTION: Able to handle pressure at all times,
Phyllis developed a positive attitude and took the initiative
to master the systems. She then gave training and
coaching to the staff to embrace this new system.
HER MOTIVATION: A smile from an appreciative
customer gives Phyllis the drive to be at her best.
HAPPIEST: With a good movie, dancing or reading an
inspirational book.
MEET THE TEAM
The Option June - August 2009 21
Kenneth KipropRetail Centre Support Analyst, Nakuru Retail Centre
PASSION: Innovation and creativity
AT WORK: Kenneth resolves issues in the back office
that cannot be resolved by the retail agents, including
escalations and activations.
THE CHALLENGE: Safaricom is constantly expanding
and releasing new products into the market. These new
product launches are communicated to all staff at the
same time via email. Known for his love of all things to do
with technology, colleagues will line up at Kenneth’s desk
asking for explanations on the new product.
HIS SOLUTION: Kenneth is already on the ball,
researching all he can on the product, understanding it
and looking for ways to break it down in a simple manner
to colleagues. He then passes on this information to his
colleagues by guiding them on how the products work
rather than doing it for them. This ensures versatility.
HIS MOTIVATION: Learning new products and
services, sharing this information with colleagues who in
turn give the Safaricom customer a highly informed and
professional service.
HAPPIEST: Exploring technology and catching up
with Jack Bauer on the action series 24.
Muthoni MbaeSenior Retail Agent, Sarit Retail Centre
PASSION: Customers
AT WORK: Muthoni deals with customer issues and
processes their requests – anything from SIM card
replacement and the activation of roaming services to
solving handset problems.
THE CHALLENGE: Difficult situations often crop up.
In one instance, a customer had a billing issue for which
he demanded a print-out showing a thorough breakdown
of his expenses, to ascertain whether the charges were
accurate. He took a seat at the shop and said that he
would wait for as long as it took.
HER SOLUTION: Patience is Muthoni’s key trait,
which comes in handy in calming down upset clients. In
this instance, Muthoni asked a colleague from the post-
paid department to help her with the print-out. She then
went through it with the irate customer who left the shop
delighted with the customer service he had received and
continued his service with Safaricom.
HER MOTIVATION: The great teamwork amongst
Safaricom’s employees ensures Muthoni is always ready
to take on whatever challenge may come her way.
HAPPIEST: When reading. She also enjoys swimming.
MEET THE TEAM
22 June-August 2009 The Option
Rita MwadimeRetail Centre Analyst, Buruburu Retail Centre
PASSION: ResultsAT WORK: Rita is tasked with attending to all
customer-related issues.
THE CHALLENGE: Being newly appointed at the
Buruburu Retail Centre just late last year, and with no
prior exposure to Safaricom’s products and services,
Rita had to ensure that both the shop and her personal
revenue targets were achieved. She also needed to
establish, maintain and grow her own client base.
HER SOLUTION: Focus. With every free
opportunity she got, Rita researched and read up on
all of Safaricom’s products and services. This enabled
her to always be one step ahead of the client. As a
result of her diligence, Rita has managed to establish
an impressive client base, and she managed to
successfully attain and surpass the revenue targets set
for her.
HER MOTIVATION: Finding ways to be constantly
new and different in her approach towards client and
customer relations in an ever changing industry.
HAPPIEST: When outdoors on a road trip or tackling
mountain climbing.
PHOTOGRAPHS:ALEXKAMWERU
Jackie MadowoRetail Agent, I & M Retail Centre
PASSION: The world around us
AT WORK: Besides handling customers and ensuring
the ship is generating revenue, Jackie is in charge of
merchandising and she ensures there is order in the
shop by making it presentable and attractive to the
customer.
THE CHALLENGE: With a new shop as her canvas,
Jackie was tasked with making the environment
a customer-friendly experience that would ensure
customers returned time and again.
HER SOLUTION: Jackie set about designing displays
and brochures, making the shop accessible to the
customer. She decided to use live phones instead of
dummies on the display, so that customers could enjoy
a ‘real’ experience. She also trained staff in
merchandising, and they are now capable of running
the shop in her absence.
HER MOTIVATION: Jackie has a genuine passion for
helping customers. When an upset customer leaves her
shop smiling, she is energised for the next challenge.
HAPPIEST: While watching cartoons and animation
movies, The Princess and the Pea being her favourite.
Let’s take a snapshot of
Mother Nature. Climate
change, reduced forest cover,
depletion of fresh water
basins, pollution, drought and famine
– all point to one common theme: the
urgent need for humanity to restore
balance to threatened eco-systems.
Countries are beginning to recognise
the problem, and the publication of
regional Millennium Development
Goals has called for greater forest
cover and the protection of valuable
water catchment areas.
How does this global
dilemma impact on a mobile
telecommunications company like
Safaricom? Firstly, Safaricom has
the willingness and ability to do
something to alleviate the problem.
Safaricom seeks to support
initiatives that are geared towards
environmental conservation. The
protection of Kenya’s forests,
tree-planting, protecting and
conserving wildlife, mitigating
against human-wildlife conflict and
community clean-up campaigns all
form a large portion of Safaricom’s
environmental strategy.
To this end, the Total Eco Challenge
– primarily a tree-planting exercise –
was launched in 2003, the goal being
to plant 100 million trees a year.
This number, believe it or not, is the
minimum amount required in order
for Kenya to meet its fundamental
need of 10% forest cover. Safaricom
is one of more than 5 000 entrants
in 11 different categories which
include individuals, schools, industry,
non-governmental organisations and
associations. Safaricom has won
gold in the business category for
four consecutive years, thanks to
its tree-planting regime
– more than 1
million trees have
been planted by the
company each year.
An example of Safaricom’s
success in tree planting is
evident along the Thika Road
heading out of Nairobi. These trees
were planted in 2004 together
with Nairobi City Council and
the participation of Kibera
and Mathare primary schools
for World Environment Day.
In 2008, the company
launched ‘Trees for
Knowledge’ in schools
The Option June -August 2009 23
OUR WORLD
Trees for lifeAs part of its environmentally responsible businessplan, Safaricom has partnered with Total EcoChallenge to plant 100 million trees a year
PHOTOGRAPH:ISTOCKPHOTO,GINADIN
CORPORATECOMMUNICATIO
NS
countrywide. The Total Eco Challenge
came up with a list of schools
and self-help groups who had the
potential and passion to grow trees.
Schools that were in the process of
tree planting were given endangered
and/or rare seedlings. Schools in
Kwale District were provided with
planting bags and African Moringa
and baobab seeds, both of which
have important medicinal properties.
All in all Safaricom has facilitated
the planting of over 100 000
seedlings with the participation of
more than 130 schools and children’s
homes countrywide. The Agape
Children’s Home in Dagoreti, which
looks after of HIV-infected children,
for example, has planted more
than 500 nutritional and
medicinal plants in
just a quarter of
an acre. Other
beneficiaries
include Maseno University, the
Trees is Life, Nyahururu
project, the Soysambu
and Sweetwaters
conservancies, the
Ruiru Environmental
Conservation and
Education Trust, and the
Tree Nursery Operators
self-help group. Each
of these participants
has planted 3 000
indigenous trees.
Left: Students planting seedlings for the Total Eco
Challenge tree planting initiative.
Below: Nelly Githaka, Safaricom’s sponsorship
manager receives the gold medal in the business
category at the Total Eco Challenge awards held
in November 2008.
24 June-August 2009 The Option
Berry niceAll the reviewers are saying the same thing– if you are a BlackBerry fan, you are going tolove the Blackberry Bold
In a world without borders where
business spans cities, countries
and even continents, staying in
touch has now, more than ever,
become more than just a 9-5 thing
– it’s a way of life. Work is no longer
bound to an office or a notebook,
and those valuable minutes between
destinations in a taxi to and from the
airport need not pass idly by.
You can close deals while standing
waiting to check-in, or email your
final financial presentation to your
secretary when you step off the
plane. It’s all about being in touch.
And being in touch is all about your
Blackberry Bold.
If you’re already one of the
approximately 21 million fans around
the world who’ve made the switch to
the Blackberry way, then you know
exactly how it’s changed your life.
But for those of you still clinging
to your old handset, here’s the
drill: The Blackberry is a handheld,
wireless personal digital
assistant (PDA) best
known for its email
and mobile phone
capabilities, which
comes in a variety of
models suited to your
individual needs.
Are you a group
CEO who needs
to be reached for
decisions wherever
you are in the
world? Blackberry’s
got you covered.
A PR executive who
needs to network with
clients after hours? There’s a
Blackberry for you. A freelancer who
doesn’t want to miss out on a job
offer just because you’re not at a
computer? How about a busy mom
scheduling play dates and charity
meetings, or a student who doesn’t
want to miss out on the latest
Facebook postings? Yup, all of you
are covered, too.
And in case you needed any
more of a picture, consider this:
the elected president of the United
States in November last year,
Barack Obama had one condition
(well, apart from all that economy
and foreign policy business) – his
Blackberry was going nowhere! The
device, he says, lets people around
him get hold of him immediately,
his way of connecting anyone who
helped get him to the top.
While the rest of us aren’t running
countries, we still want a taste of the
presidential lifestyle – something the
Blackberry Bold is bringing that little
bit closer to our fingertips.
SWITCHING TOSMARTThe last two quarters of 2008
saw an increase in the purchases
of smartphones, according to
Chris Henschel, the general
manager of Cellucity, and this is
expected to increase even further
with each new model release,
such as the Blackberry Bold.
And, while smartphone users
have traditionally been more
older professionals, Henschel
says the age group between 24
and 35 are making the switch,
specifically because of the
unfettered access it gives them
to email and social networking
sites such as Facebook.
According to Henschel it’s
about more than just browsing
the net – Blackberrys push your
mails through to you, which
means no more waiting for them
to download. And, he says, as
our employers and places of
study place restrictions on what
sites we can access during
office hours, we’ve switched to
smartphones as a way of being
online and connected during our
personal time.
WORDS:CRAIG
BISHOP;IM
AGES:GSMARENA.COM,BLACKBERRY
The Option June-August 2009 25
lifestyle
SCREENWhen the guys at
theboygeniusreport.com, a site that
reviews mail and phone technologies,
say, “We can safely say that this is
the best screen we’ve ever seen on
a mobile device. Hands down,” you
know you’re on to a winner.
The screen is 480x320mm of
pure dazzle – rich colours with no
pixilation in sight, it ticks both the
function and form boxes (you won’t
be squinting to read an email on
the Bold).
In fact, the images are so inviting
(even when it’s just another memo
reminding you of a meeting that you
have to attend) that you’ll have to
hold yourself back from thinking it’s a
touch-screen!
KEYBOARDFact is, there’s no point in having a
smartphone with email capabilities
if your fingers are tripping over the
miniscule keys half the time. And it’s
here that Blackberry has won many
fans, who say that it far outreaches
other smartphones in this respect.
And the Bold is no different!
There is a slight angle shift
compared to other Blackberry keys,
but once you’re used to this, they’re
just perfect. Gizmodo.com, another
tech-review site, says this about the
Bold’s keys: “They’re fantastic, like
a delicately balanced wine, with a
perfect blend of springy, punchy and
spongy [and] … the backlighting is
beautiful.”
BODYYou’ve got the stylish leather
briefcase, the perfectly tailored suit
and the swish shoes – so why ruin it
with a phone that just doesn’t look
the part?
This is not a problem with the
Blackberry bold, though – it’s sleek
and stylish, with a modern design
that really does scream, “I’m powerful
and I make the decisions.” Although
it’s a little wider than other Blackberry
models, it still fits comfortable into
one’s hands, and it also has a solid
and sturdy feel.
CONNECTIONSThis all depends on where you’re
connecting from, but all the ways of
staying online are there:
3G, GPS and Wi-Fi.
BATTERYThe draw of the Blackberry Bold is
that you can stay in touch wherever,
whenever, without being confined
to an office or your study at home.
Which is why a good battery life,
which the Bold has in buckets, is an
absolute must!
With plenty of browsing, emailing
and use of the other applications, it
still lasts throughout a heavy day or
two on the road – and that is exactly
what you need until you can get to a
power source and charge it up again.
EMAIL“What’s a BlackBerry without email?”
ask the reviewers at Gizmodo.com,
and they’re exactly right! The email
isn’t much different from previous
Blackberry models – their thinking,
perhaps, was, “Why fix something
that’s not broken,” – although there
are a few little tweaks here and there.
The screen makes the email text
stand out more clearly, and you can
now see pictures in messages, full
HTML and attachments.
BROWSERHow easy is the Bold to navigate?
One user said that by the end of
his first day with the Bold he was
skipping easily through different
applications, sending emails and
browsing the web – it was that easy
to get used to!
VIDEOSWith the bigger, brighter screen,
watching videos and browsing
through photos is a great experience,
and the speaker
backs this up with
good-quality audio.
A BOLD NEW WAYIf there’s one thing that reviewers of the Blackberry Bold all agree on, it’s this
– the Bold is the most complete, all-round Blackberry yet and, as one reviewer
said, “the answer to every Blackberry users dreams”. It has all the hardware
that Blackberry fans expect to be there – 3G, GPS, Wi-Fi, QWERTY keyboard,
camera – packaged in a smooth, sleek design that fits as neatly as a smooth
pebble into your palm. Here’s the breakdown:
WHAT THE FANS HAVE TO SAYAll in all, this is the best Blackberry
ever – and one which almost makes
it a pleasure to be stuck doing work
once you’ve left the office. And don’t
just take our word for it – here’s
what some users had to say:
Gizmodo.com: “This is the phone Blackberry fanatics
have been waiting for.”
Gizmodo.com: “It definitely sets the standard for what
mobile browsers should do.”
Gsmarena.com: “To Berry buffs it may be about as good
as a mobile phone gets.”
26 June-August 2009 The Option
WORDS:KIM
ANIKAMAKIRU•PHOTOGRAPHS:ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Call from your Safaricom lineto access these value-addedservices FREE OF CHARGE!
CUSTOMER CAREPREPAY24-hour customer care line for all your
Safaricom-related queries
Call 100 from your Safaricom line or
+254 722000100 from any
other network
Email: customercare@
safaricom.co.ke
POSTPAY24-hour customer
care line for all Safaricom
customers on PostPay
Call 200 from your Safaricom
line or +254 722000200 from
any other network
Email: [email protected]
SAFARICOM DEALERS24-hour support for all Safaricom
dealers
Call 300 from your Safaricom line
or +254 722000300 from any other
network
Email: dealerhelpdesk@safaricom.
co.ke
SAFARICOM BUSINESSSERVICES24-hour support for all Safaricom
corporate subscribers
Call 400 from your Safaricom line
and +254 722000400 from any other
network
Email: businesssupport@safaricom.
co.ke
M-PESA24-hour M-PESA helpline for all
M-PESA customers
Call 234 from your Safaricom line
and +254 722000234 from any other
network
Email: [email protected]
Pesapoint withdrawal service support
Call +254 726853000
Email: [email protected]
SIMU YA JAMIISimu ya Jamii dealers’ support
Call 795 from your Safaricom line
Email: [email protected]
Manage youraccount
CHECK YOUR PREPAYBALANCEKeep track of your airtime balance.
Dial *144#
TOP UP YOUR PREPAYACCOUNTReload your account to continue
enjoying Safaricom services
Dial *141*Voucher PIN#
TO CHECK YOUR POSTPAYBALANCEKeep tabs on your PostPay
balance.
Dial *200#
Online: https://youradvantage.
safaricom.co.ke
TO SAMBAZASambaza is an airtime sharing
service that allows PrePay
subscribers to share airtime
with friends and family. Create a
new SMS message and enter #
immediately after the airtime value,
followed by the number you want
to top up and send to 140.
TOP UP ANOTHER NUMBERDIRECTLYSafaricom subscribers can also top
up another number directly.
Create a new SMS and enter #
immediately after the PIN, followed
by the number you want to top up
and send to 141.
POSTPAY BILL PAYMENTSafaricom PostPay subscribers can
now pay their bill with ease at any
of the following centres:
• Any Safaricom Retail Centre
countrywide;
• M-PESA: Paybill, Business
Number 200200;
• Any Commercial Bank of Africa
branch countrywide;
• Any Co-operative Bank branch
countrywide;
• Any Standard Chartered Bank
branch countrywide;
• Any Nakumatt branch
countrywide.
SIM REPLACEMENTReplace your lost or damaged
SIM card at any Safaricom Retail
Centre or authorised dealer
countrywide. Dial *180*1*MOBILE
NUMBER*PIN*NEW IMSI#
Much morefor yourmoney
afaricom line or
from any
are@
aricom
Pay
Safaricom
200 from
afaricom.co.ke
ALERS
The Option June-August 2009 27
Find it fastDIRECTORY SERVICESWhen you need a number, don’t
reach for a pen and paper, reach
for your cellphone. Each call will
cost a flat rate of Ksh20 and you
can request up to two numbers
per call.Call 191 for any number,
anywhere from your Safaricom
line and +254 722000191 from
any other network.
{ }{{{ }}
DIAL 24/7
Voice services
PLEASE CALL MENot only can you send a message
to any other Safaricom subscriber
asking them to call you but
Safaricom subscribers get FIVE
FREE SMSs per day. Dial *130*other
number#
PERSONALISED VOICEMAILSERVICESLike an answering machine, it takes
your calls when the network is busy,
or off, remains unanswered, or there
is no network coverage. A message
is stored and you can then retrieve
it at the next available moment.
Activate all diverts: Dial *222#
Retrieve voicemail: Dial 111
VOICE SMSYou can now make a voice SMS
for just Ksh5. Dial 1 followed by the
number, eg 1 0722004000.
CALL WAITINGCall waiting provides you with
notification of an incoming call while
on another call, and allows you to
handle another call or take a call
that is waiting.
Activate: Dial *43#
Deactivate: Dial #43#
Check status: Dial *#43#
CALL HUNTINGThe Call Hunting service is a
PostPay solution that allows you
to have 30 calls to one number,
routed to your chosen numbers, eg
small call centre or switchboard.
Corporate PostPay tariffs apply.
Call 400/ +254 722000400 for sales
enquiries.
TOLLFREE SERVICESThe TollFree service is an enterprise
PostPay solution that allows your
customers to reach your TollFree
number at no charge to them. Call
400/ +254 722000400 for enquiries.
Data & messagingservices
TEXT 4 TEN (GROUP TEXT)Send the same message to several
members of a group from a single
SMS. Ksh10 per message sent. SMS
to 184 and set up your group.
INTERNET AND MULTIMEDIASETTINGSYou can now surf the net from your
phone and receive multimedia
messages.
Activate: Dial *445# from data
enabled handset and save all
settings. Manual settings: Access
point name (APN) “safaricom”.
INSTANT INTERNET ANDEDGE/GPRS DATA SERVICESUsername: “saf”
Password: “data”
PURCHASE DATA BUNDLESThere are various data bundles
that are available to Safaricom
subscribers:
• 300MB costs Ksh999 and to
activate SMS “activate” to 446
• 700MB costs Ksh1,999 and to
activate SMS “activate” to 447
• 1GB costs Ksh2,499 and to
activate SMS “activate” to 448
BLACKBERRYBlackBerry keeps you connected to
people and information while on the
go with push-based technology that
automatically delivers email and data
and voice services.
Activate: Dial *211#
SAFARICOM EMAILGet your own personal email address
from Safaricom FREE OF CHARGE!
This service gives you 6GB of
storage space, a calendar facility and
more.
Go to www.safaricom.com to set up
your free email address today.
GET IT 411Get It 411 is an innovative
information service that allows you
to request information by sending an
SMS message.
The information that you request is
instantly sent back to you by return
SMS.
All Safaricom subscribers have
access to this service.
You can access Get It 411 services
through the SIM tool kit on your
mobile phone.
Bonga loyaltyschemeBonga is Safaricom’s reward
programme that is available
to all Safaricom subscribers,
both on Prepay and PostPay
services. The more you
use your Safaricom line, the MORE
POINTS you get and the BIGGER
THE REWARDS!
ENROL, CHECK ANDREDEEM YOUR BONGAPOINTSTo enrol, check or redeem your
Bonga points, simply dial *126# and
follow the voice prompts. Handsets
available at all Safaricom retail
centres countrywide.
International travelThe Safaricom Roaming Service
allows you to stay connected in
more locations outside Kenya than
ever before. Safaricom has bilateral
roaming agreements with GSM
operators in popular international
destinations.
EAST AFRICAN CALL RATESSafaricom, MTN Uganda, UTL
Uganda Vodacom Tanzania and
MTN Rwanda – the three biggest
networks in eastern Africa – have
partnered to offer you the most
affordable, seamless and reliable
way to communicate when travelling
within the region on business or for
pleasure. IT’S SIMPLE = your phone
automatically connects with one of
these networks.
PREPAY ROAMINGSafari Tariff allows you to roam with
your Prepay line in +40 networks in
25 countries. Activate by dialling 213
from your Safaricom line and listen to
the voice prompts.
POSTPAY ROAMINGAllows you to roam in +160 countries
with +260 partner networks. Dial 200
from your Safaricom line to activate.
TRAVELLERS TO KENYAAs a traveller to Kenya you can
roam with Safaricom, the Vodafone
network in Kenya. You can continue
to use your existing cellphone and
number to make and receive calls or
SMSs.
Visitors to Kenya simply select
Safaricom or 63902 networks to
access voice, messaging and data
services while on the move. For
help, dial +254 722000200 or email
28 June-August 2009 The Option
PEACE OF MINDSECURITY 911In times of need, dial 911 to access Safaricom’s emergency response
system. This uses Safaricom’s network in conjunction with a rapid
emergency response unit from Cartrack and other companies in Kenya’s
Tracker Group. There are over 50 vehicles located at strategic sites
around Nairobi ready to respond to any emergency situation, be it at your
residence, roadside location or place of work, so you have total peace of
mind 24/7. 911 affords you the help you need anywhere in Nairobi.
DIAL 24/7
Show me the funny
Crossed linesILLUSTRATIO
N:ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
It’s a wacky world out there
A GIRL’S BEST FRIENDForget diamonds. Cellphones are a girl’s best friend, according to a
survey of single American women by Samsung Telecommunications
America. “The cellphone is an integral part of the single female’s life,
serving as a pocket-size detective, matchmaker, wing-woman and
beyond,” says Samsung marketing VP, Randy Smith.
Among the survey findings:32% said a man’s cellphone is a good indication of what he is like in bed.
12% said that they would be less likely to date a man who had a big and
bulky cellphone.
74% look at their cellphone, rather than their watch, to tell the time.
70% said they have snooped on their significant other’s cellphone,
for example, by looking through text messages or picking up their phone
to see who is calling.
73% have ditched traditional paper address books for their cellphones, to
keep track of contacts. The average number of cellphone contacts is 63.
34% have asked a friend to call them to interrupt a date.
48% prefer to flirt with someone they are interested in via text message
when they are away from them.(SOURCE: WWW.MARKETINGCHARTS.COM)OOPS!
I used to work with this guy who
was a real player. He got all the
chicks. Anyway, he used to work at
an electronics store in Nairobi, and
one day a man came in enquiring
about cellphones that had video
functions. My mate was busy with
another customer so he handed
over his brand new Sanyo VM 4500,
the one with a built-in video camera.
“Here,” he said to the second
customer. “I’m busy right now.
But have a look at this and I’ll be
right with you.” He had completely
forgotten that he had stored several
photos and videos of girlfriends on
his phone.
All of a sudden, he saw the
customer blush furiously and smile.
He had inadvertently opened a video
of my friend’s girlfriend posing naked
for the camera. Expecting to be
soundly reprimanded, if not fired, my
mate started to apologise, only to be
told by the satisfied customer, “That
looks perfect. I’ll take one, please!”
Genderfender benderOyunga rushes in to work one day
and announces loudly, “I tell you,
women drivers are dangerous!
Driving to work this morning on
the freeway, I looked over to my
left and a woman in a Jaguar was
clocking over 120km/h with her
face up close to the rear-view mirror
putting on her mascara.
“I looked away for a couple of
seconds and then the next thing
I knew, she was careering all over
my lane. It scared me so badly
I dropped my electric shaver into
my coffee, and it spilled all over
my cellphone.”
From cellphone bling to digital accesories, these hot gadgets grab the imagination
Technologyto tantalise
Bluetooth accessoriesThere are plenty of Bluetooth accessories on the market. The
ever popular Retro Handset has been updated to connect to
your cellphone using Bluetooth technology. No more tangled
cords, just pure retro-cool.
Keep the sun out your eyes while making a phone call
with these funky new sunglasses which are actually
a Blutooth headset in disguise. Volume and call
answer controls are located on the arm, and
the unit has a talk time of 3.5 hours.
Turn to page 32 for more on Bluetooth
technology.PHOTOGRAPHS:SUPPLIEDBYMANUFACTURERS
30 June-August 2009 The Option
Protective skinsGelaSkins Inc is a provider of protective covers for the
iPhone, iPod, laptops and the Motorola RAZR. At close to
2mm thickness, the covers are scratch resistant and use 3M’s
adhesive technology, which is currently being used in other
industries, including the aviation,
transport and medical sectors.
techno bytes
The Option June-August 2009 31
High tech lighterCome on baby, light my flash drive. Electronics and fire may never have
been bosom buddies, but when it comes to this USB flash drive, they
have decided to call it a truce. Taking the form of the ever-popular Zippo
brand of lighters, this flash drive comes with an ample 8GB capacity, and
the lighter is, of course, refillable. The USB connector slides
out of the bottom of the metal casing, using a small lever
located on the side of the lighter. The lighter itself has a
polished chrome finish and an adjustable flame. It
also comes with a USB cable.
iPod TVNew from Apple, this is an easy and fun way to play your favourite tunes, movies, TV
shows, photos and podcasts, in fact any digital content you have downloaded from the
internet, on your home TV set. Just connect the interface to your TV and away you go.
The device has a 40GB hard drive which can store 50 hours of video, 9 000 songs, 25 000
photos, or combinations of each. It connects to most modern, widescreen TV sets and
delivers high definition 720-pixel output.
Mobile jewelleryYou wouldn’t step out the door improperly dressed,
so why do the same to your mobile? Cellphone bling
makes a statement about who you are and what you
think about life. From attachable, dangling pendants to
arty beadwork, there is something for everyone.
technology
32 June - August 2009 The Option
After cellphone cameras,
Bluetooth is probably
the next biggest thing
in the world of cellular
communications. It is estimated that
more than one billion people around
the world regularly use Bluetooth
since its inception a decade ago. But
what actually is it?
Put simply, Bluetooth refers to
a short-range (10-metre), wireless
communications technology that
allows two or more devices to
communicate securely and quickly
with one another. So if I have a
photograph, a tune, a document or
other data on my cellphone, I can
Bluetooth it to you, so long as we
both have the relevant software on
our phones. Bluetooth can also be
used to access a network or the
internet. This is done with a notebook
computer by connecting wirelessly to
a cellular phone.
A BLUE WORLDThis opens up a world of possibilities,
allowing a multitude of devices
(including person-to-person, in-car,
in-office and in-home equipment
and appliances) to share data and
commands with one another.
When I try to send you data via
Bluetooth, my phone first locates
your phone and then sends a
message asking whether you want
to accept the incoming data. Many
modern electronic appliances
are Bluetooth-aware. Bluetooth
wirelessly connects office computer
components such as your mouse,
keyboards and cursors (used for
presentations). Modern home
entertainment systems, including
stereos, DVD units, satellite receivers
and televisions, can be wirelessly
commanded using Bluetooth.
Offices can use Bluetooth
technology to connect equipment
to complement other local wireless
network access within close
proximity. Printers, faxes and
cordless phones can be run locally
over a Bluetooth network. File-
sharing between computers and
mobile terminals in close proximity
is another common Bluetooth
Named after anancient Viking
king, Bluetooth isrevolutionising the waypeople and machines
communicate witheach other
All aboutBluetooth
The Option June - August 2009 33
application. This saves on local
area bandwidth utilisation, which
is a shared resource within the
organisation.
More specialised uses for
Bluetooth technology exist within the
fields of medicine, engineering and
manufacturing.
WHY BLUE TEETH?You are probably wondering why it
is called Bluetooth. The name refers
to the 10th-century Danish king
Harald “Bluetooth” Blaatand who
unified Denmark and Norway. In
the beginning of the Bluetooth era,
Bluetooth was aimed at unifying the
telecom and computing industries.
Today’s mobile phones are
highly sophisticated, miniaturised,
multimedia, digital devices
whose capabilities are strongly
complemented by Bluetooth’s
robustness, versatility, low power
demands and low cost.
So what can Bluetooth do for you?
Many of us will relate to Bluetooth’s
function as a support for hands-free
kits. Did you know that a UK-based
insurance company commissioned
a study that concluded that it’s safer
driving when drunk than driving while
on the phone. Interesting?
SPEAK THE LINGOBluetooth technology has created a
host of user-related terms. Here are
the most commonly used:
Blue-sniffing: The act of turning
on your Bluetooth function on your
phone to search for other devices
that also have Bluetooth technology
installed. It works over a 10-metre
circumference.
Blue-jacking: The unauthorised
sending of your business card to
another Bluetooth device within its
range. The saved address can in
future send messages over the GSM
network to the recipient’s number.
Blue-bugging: This is where a
hijacker remotely accesses your
phone and uses it as their own. You
then incur all the costs for the other
person’s illegal usage, including call
and SMS costs.
All of the above are seen as
Bluetooth-specific security threats.
Unauthorised Bluetooth access to
your phone can allow an attacker to
transmit computer viruses to your
phone. These viruses can destroy
your phone’s operating systems,
as well as run up unwanted costs.
Should this happen, you would
then need to reinstall your phone’s
operating system.
HOW DO I PROTECT AGAINSTBLUE-JACKING?Make sure that you keep your
Bluetooth function turned off when
you are not using it. Only accept
connection requests and data from
trusted devices and known senders.
Although it is almost impossible to
intercept Bluetooth communications,
or to eavesdrop on transmissions
between devices, most security
threats are influenced by the user
more than the technology itself.
Where users allow for open or
unauthorised wireless access to
their Bluetooth devices, attacks
are inevitable.
With everything going wireless,
maybe one day we will be able to
invent wireless power.
Here’s to the future.BYKIM
ANIKAMAKIRU;PHOTOGRAPH:GETTYIM
AGES.COM
stay connected
On the roadSafaricom, MTN Uganda, UTL Uganda, Vodacom Tanzania and
MTN Rwanda have partnered up to offer their subscribers the mostaffordable, seamless and reliable way to communicate in East Africa
On-net calls VODACOM TZ MTN UGANDA UTL MTN RWANDA
Calls to roaming network 24.00 17.50 22.00 17.50
Calls to other network in visited country 30.00 25.00 22.00 25.00
Calls to any network back home
(Safaricom, Zain, Orange, Yu)27.50 18.50 18.50 18.50
Calls to East Africa (Kenya, TZ, Uganda,
Rwanda, & Burundi)24.00 24.00 32.00 24.00
SMS
Local network & Safaricom 4.00 5.00 5.50 4.00
Other network 8.00 9.00 5.50 8.00
International 8.00 9.00 7.00 12.00
What costsare involved?Subscribers can purchase
airtime from authorised dealers
within the visiting countries
and pay with local currency.
For example, a PrePay subscriber
travelling to Tanzania can top up
with Vodacom Tanzania airtime
through the PrePay Roaming
Top-Up (PPRTU) service.
How do I connectwhen I travel?Your phone will automatically
pick up MTN Rwanda, MTN Uganda,
UTL Uganda or Vodacom Tanzania when
travelling in East Africa. Subscribers
do not need to migrate to Safari Tariff
to use this service. When calling home,
dial the country code and the area
code (dropping the ‘0’), followed by the
number, eg. +254 720 123456.
How is this servicedifferent from roaming?Because of the following:
• Subscribers can receive incoming
calls for free.
• No roaming access required.
• No deposits required.
• No migration to special
roaming tariffs.
• Available to all Safaricom subscribers
(prepaid and postpaid).
Giving backCELEB WATCH
WHAT CSR PROJECTSARE YOU WORKING ON ATTHE MOMENT?I have two projects on the go at the
moment. The first is called, ‘Just A
Girl’. This is part of my ‘Millennium
Development Goals’ for which
I am a torch bearer.
This time next year, I want to have
upgraded three schools. I’m looking
for girls’ schools that are doing well
and I want to know if anything is
holding them back – do they need
dorms, text books, latrines, water
tanks, a roof? I want to fix that.
My second project is a tiny one and
it is for the kids in Mathare. I have
30 kids in school – I pay their school
fees. Just Ksh950 a term!
The kids write to me twice a term,
with their grades and marks. They
start the letter, “Dear sponsor,” – they
don’t even know it is me! I’m hoping
to extend the number of kids I help to
100 by the end of this year.
WHEN DID YOU STARTGETTING INVOLVED WITHCSR PROJECTS?About five years ago, when the
first famine hit Kenya. That was
the first time we went out to the
communities to distribute food –
you see the poverty and you
understand the need.
You don’t know what that bag of
unga means to someone. You stop
being fickle – you stop thinking of
that pizza you might normally treat
yourself to. I don’t throw any food
away now. I save everything. I even
put the cork back in a wine bottle!
WHERE DO YOU FIND THETIME FOR THESE PROJECTS?Well, how long does it take to write a
cheque? When you have a profile like
mine, people come to you. A lot of
Kenyans would like to give, but they
don’t know how. So when you have
a public profile, what’s stopping you
from making a difference? People
write to me and ask me what
I need: mabati, water tanks, do you
need a lorry for transport? It’s not
impossible. It’s unfair if you do not
use your public profile positively.
WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OFTHESE PROJECTS?It centres me. I might complain about
a lot of things, but when I remember
those kids, it makes me see things
in perspective. Since I started
supporting these kids, I feel better
about myself.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OFSAFARICOM’S WORLD OFDIFFERENCE PROJECT?A lot of us would like to do something
and give our time, but then who
would meet our bills? The Safaricom
Foundation understands this.
They say go! I hope enough
people at Safaricom will
take advantage of this. If
I had my way, I would
love to take three
months off work
and finish my
‘Just A Girl’
project. World
of Difference
– do it!
Radio personality Caroline Mutoko chats abouther passion for corporate social responsibilityprojects and how her efforts have changed herlife as well as those of the less fortunate
WORDS:CANDICEMIRANDA;PHOTOGRAPH:JOANPERERUAN
WHAT MESSAGE WOULDYOU LIKE TO SPREAD TOOTHERS?I want people to know they can make
a difference. Give yourself a chance,
because you don’t know the amazing
feeling you will get. You’ll realise that
your problems are small compared to
some people’s problems. Nobody’s
asking you to change the world.
Just allow yourself a chance to give
back. You’ll be shocked how you can
change someone’s life for the better.
Kenyans are amazing people.
When ladies of Koinange Street
give you water, milk, sugar and bales
of unga at 2am for the ‘24 hours for
Kenya campaign’, when parking boys
on Aga Khan Walk tell you they will
not sniff glue for the day so that they
can feed somebody else, you know
that doing good is not impossible.
Turn to page 5 to read more about
Safaricom’s World of Difference project.
Motorola W160
FM radio
Polyphonic ringtones
Long battery life
2,499/-
LG KP105
FM radio
300 phonebook entries
Long battery life
2,699/-
Samsung M3510
Supports expandablememory
FM radio
Edge
2 megapixel camera
14,499/-
Nokia 1208
Colour screen
Torch
Animated screensaver
2,549/-
Nokia 1661
Colour screen
Stereo FM radio
Voice and audiorecording
250 SMS storage
3,699/-
Motorola EM30
2 megapixel camera
FM radio
Sleek and stylish
17,499/-
GreatdealsAvailable at all Safaricom retailcentres. Find an outlet close toyou by consulting our convenientshop location guide on page 40
HOT OFFERS
36 June-August 2009 The Option
Experience the new sleek and stylishNokia N97 with both touch and Qwertykeyboard. Add a little colour in yourlife with the new user friendly anddependable Nokia 1208. See below formore details on both phones.
Nokia 5130Xpress music
2 megapixel camera
Stereo FM radio
MP3 player
Edge
10,499/-
Motorola W230
MP3 music player
FM radio
Easy internet browsing
4,999/-
Nokia 2680
Slide phone
FM radio & recording
Bluetooth
Easy internet browsing
7,999/-
Motorola W377
MP3 music player
FM radio
Easy internet browsing
8,999/-
Motorola EM325
1.3 megapixel camera
MP3 player
Bluetooth
Built-in hands-free
Voice dial
9,999/-
Samsung E250
VGA camera
FM radio
Bluetooth
7,499/-
g
S
7
Motorola V8
External touch sensormusic buttons
512MB internal memory
2 megapixel camera
22,999/-
SLEEK OFFERS
LG Viewty KE 990
Auto rotate cameraand sensor
5 megapixel camera
Stereo bluetooth support
Fully touch screen andexternal touch sensor button
20,999/-
HTC Touch 3G
Wi-Fi
Touch screen
Windows Mobile 6.1Professional
3G
3.2 megapixel camera
39,999/-
Nokia 5800
Fully touch screen
3G HSDPA
Xpress music
Auto rotate
3.2 megapixel camera
31,999/-
Nokia N97
3G HSDPA
Full QWERTYkeyboard
5 megapixelcamera
Wi-Fi
69,999/-
Samsung Omnia
Sensor auto rotate
Windows Mobile 6.1
5 megapixel camera
Full touch screen
39,999/-
SUPER DEALS
The Option June-August 2009 37
BUSINESS PHONES
CAMERA PHONES
Motorola Q9H
3G HSPDA phone
Free docking station
Windows mobile 6.0
2 megapixel camera
32,999/-
HTC Touch HD3G HSPDA
FM radio
Windows mobile6.1 professional
Wi-Fi
Touch screen
5 megapixel camera
69,999/-
Nokia 7610Supermova
Edge
TV OUT
Memory card slotup to 2GB
FM radio
3.2 megapixel camera
19,999/-
LG KF-510External touch sensorbuttons
Touch screen
Stereo Bluetoothsupport
Music player
3.15 megapixel camera
16,999/-
Motorola ZN5
Wi-Fi
FM radio
5.0 megapixel camerawith Kodak lens
27,499/-
Samsung i450
3G HSPDA
FM radio
Slide phone
2 megapixel camera
23,999/-
Samsung G400
Music flip phone
Stereo Bluetooth support
External touch screendisplay
5 megapixel camera
31,999/-
Nokia N96
3G HSPDA
WLAN, Wi-Fi
16 GB internal memory
Built-in GPS
5 megapixel camera
65,000/-
Nokia E75
3G HSDPA
Wi-fi
Full qwerty keyboard
Designed for business
3.2 megapixel camera
45,999/-
Samsung i780
3G HSPDA phone
Wi-Fi
Windows mobile 6.1
2 megapixel camera
32,999/-
Nokia E71
3G HSPDA
Designed for business
Full qwerty keyboard
3.2 megapixel camera
38,999/-
Nokia E63
Full qwerty keyboard
3G
Wi-Fi
110 MB internal memory
Expandable memoryup to 8GB
23,500/-
38 June-August 2009 The Option
S9Stereo BT headset, never miss a call while listening to
music. Streams music from phone via BT, talk time up
to 14 hours, music playing up to 17 hours, mini USB
charger pin, control your music (FW/rewind, volume)
and receive/end calls from HT820, external jack for
connecting other music players like iPOD.
7,999/-
T505Iconic portable hands-free speaker designed to
unlock the power of your car system by streamlining
voice calls and music from your Bluetooth stereo
device into your car’s FM radio channel. Clear voice,
surround-sound audio experience without the hassles of
pro-installation. Easy pairing and guided FM operation.
Up to 20 hours talk time.
6,499/-
P790Portable charger, charge your phone without wires
and move around, ideal for frequent travellers or area
where electricity is a problem. Once P790 charged, it
can charge 2 full phones or 10 Bluetooth headsets.
It charges full phone in 2 hours compared with 3.3 hours
with standard travel charger.
2,500/-
D200Motorola Bluetooth laptop / PC adaptor
1,999/-
D650BT iPOD connector
3,200/-
H350Low-cost mono headset, bestselling in the world.
Crystal talk, rapid connect, talk time up to 7 hours.
Weighs less than 17gm.
2,699/-
EQ5Bluetooth-enabled pocket portability speakers. High
definition stereo sound. Play time up to 8 hours. Can
do conference calls and stream music wirelessly.
6,500/-
ACCESSORIESDATA OFFERS
su
pro
Up
Subject to availability of stockswww.safaricom.co.keTerms and conditions apply
BlackBerry 8100
Slim design
Designed for email
Multimedia capabilities
T9 dictionary recognition
1.3 megapixel camera
26,650/-
BlackBerry 8300
Full qwerty keyboard
Supports expandable memory
Designed for email
2 megapixel camera
48,995/-
Safaricom 3GModemSafaricom mobile internet
solution for PrePay subscribers.
Plug & Play USB modem can be
used on any PC or laptop.
3,999/-
SafaricomBroadband RouterExperience the wireless gateway and USB modem
functions at any time and any place. Specifically
designed for more than one user, the router can
allow simultaneous connections to the Safaricom
internet service for up to 10 computers. Available
on both PostPay and PrePay plans.
25,000/-
Get connected to a great deal
Laptop + Safaricom
Broadband modem @
49,999/-
Description• Dell Vostro
• Intel Core Duo
• HDD 120GB
• 1GB RAM
• OS Windows Vista Basic
1
B
d
The Option June-August 2009 39
HOTNEWOFFE
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40 June-August 2009 The Option
Your most convenient Safaricom retail outlet at a glance!
Safaricomshops near you
CENTRE NAME LOCATION CONTACT DETAILS OPENING HOURS
BURUBURU RETAILCENTRE
Kenya National Library Building,Nairobi
Tel: 0722 002 552Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8:30am–6pmSaturdays: 9am–6pmSundays: 10am–3pmPublic holidays: Closed
DIGO RETAIL CENTRE Digo Road, Opposite GPOTel: 0722 003 730, 0722 003 840,0722 003 731Email: [email protected]
Weekdays & Saturdays: 8am–6pmSundays: 9am–2pmPublic holidays: Closed
ELDORET RETAILCENTRE
Metro Towers, Oginga Odinga Street,Eldoret
Tel: 0722 002 518Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–6pmSaturdays: 9am–3pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
I & M RETAIL CENTREI & M Building, Ground Floor,Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi
Tel: 0722 002 051, 0722 002 078Email: I&[email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 7:30am–6pmSaturdays: 8am–4pmSundays & public holidays: 10am–4pm
JKIA RETAIL CENTREJomo Kenyatta International Airport(JKIA), lounges at gates 6 & 11
Tel: 0722 003 590/1Email: [email protected]
Seven days a week (including public holidays):6am–12 midnight
JUBILEE RETAIL CENTRE(KISUMU)
Oginga Odinga Street, KisumuTel: 0722 002 502Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–5:30pmSaturdays: 9am–1pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
KIMATHI RETAIL CENTREBalfour Building, Ground Floor,Kimathi Street, Nairobi
Tel: 0722 002 714, 0722 002 700Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 7:30am–5:30pmSaturdays: 9am–4pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
KISII RETAIL CENTREHospital Road, Kisii(former Shabana Hardware,opposite Falcon petrol station)
Tel: 0722 002 547Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–5:30pmSaturdays: 9am–3pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
KISUMU MEGA PLAZARETAIL CENTRE
Oginga Odinga Street,Kisumu
Tel: 0722 002 535, 0722 002 542Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–6pmSaturdays: 9am–3pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
KITALE RETAIL CENTREKenyatta Street, Kitale(opposite Suam Supermarket)
Tel: 0722 002 184/5Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–5:30pmSaturdays: 9am–1pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
MERU RETAIL CENTRE Njuri Ncheke Street, MeruTel: 0722 002460Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–6pmSaturdays: 8am–1pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
MIA RETAIL CENTRE Moi International Airport, MombasaTel: 0722 002 249Email: [email protected]
Seven days a week (including public holidays):6am–8:30pm
MOI AVENUERETAIL CENTRE
Shankardass Building, Ground Floor,Moi Avenue (next to Kenya Cinema),Nairobi
Tel: 0722 002 914/9Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 7:30am–5:30pmSaturdays: 9am–4pmSundays: 10am–2pmPublic holidays: Closed
NAKUMATT NYALI RETAILCENTRE (MOMBASA)
Malindi Road, MombasaTel: 0722 003 226Email: [email protected]
Weekdays & Saturdays: 9am–7pmSundays & public holidays: 10am–4pm
NAKURURETAIL CENTRE
Ereto Plaza, Ground Floor,Mburu Gichua Road, Nakuru
Tel: 0722 002 562Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8:30am–5:30pmSaturdays: 9am–3pmSundays: 10am–2pmPublic holidays: Closed
NYERI MOBILE UNITWhispers Park, Old Municipal CouncilGrounds, Gakere Road (behind SamratSupermarket)
Tel. 0723 681 274Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8:30am–5:30pmSaturday: 9am–1pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
REX HOUSE RETAILCENTRE (MOMBASA)
Ground Floor, Moi Avenue, MombasaTel: 0722 002 028Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–5:30pmSaturdays: 8:30am–2pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
SARIT RETAIL CENTRE Ground Floor, Karuna Road, NairobiTel: 0722 002 236, 0722 002 137Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–6:30pmSaturdays: 9am–5pmSunday & public holidays: 10am–4pm
THIKA RETAIL CENTRE Haria House, Nkurunah Road, ThikaTel: 0722 002 193Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8am–6pmSaturdays: 9am–2pmSundays & public holidays: Closed
VILLAGE MARKETRETAIL CENTRE
Limuru Road, Nairobi(opposite Nairobi Sports House)
Tel: 0722 002 376, 0722 002 609Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 9am–7pmSaturdays: 9am–5pmSundays & public holidays: 10am–4pm
WESTGATE RETAILCENTRE
Nakumatt, First Floor, Mwanza Road(off Peponi Road), Nairobi
Tel: 0722 002 490, 0722 002 123/4Email: [email protected]
Weekdays, Mon–Fri: 8:30am–8pmSaturdays: 9am–5pmSundays & public holidays: 10am–4pm
PICTURE:ISTOCK.COM
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