Text as a platform
The internet allows for a paradigm that doesn’t care what device you have, whether PC or phone, as long as you have a database and a channel you’re in the game. As long as the device has some type of text or voice communication it is suddenly a read/write platform.

SMS internet
What we’re seeing in applications coming from Africa is a way to stretch the use-case of “old” messaging technology like SMS, USSD or voice into new ways of data transfer that challenge Western conceptions of what the internet is.

He also explains how ForgetMeNot Africa are working with global handset manufacturers such as Sony Ericsson, to build mobile applications utilising the SMS channel.

A busy show today and ForgetMeNot Africa have been nominated for the best new Service category at tonights prestigious AfricaCom Awards so watch this space!

Facebook, email and online chat access using SMS
Africa’s premier telecoms award gala has shortlisted ForgetMeNot Africa for the deployment of its Message Optimiser technology with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s eTXT service, which provides Facebook, email and online chat access using SMS to all of Econet’s 5 million subscribers.

Visit us today at stand A19
If you are at AfricaCom stop by stand A19 where we can demo our award winning technology.

We will help Ghana’s farmers & fishermen by providing real time information and help them boost their incomes and the local economy.

ForgetMeNot Africa has been chosen for the event
ForgetMeNot Africa has been chosen for the event for the deployment of its Message Optimiser technology with the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF), which enables all GNAFF members to access internet-free Facebook, email and online chat services via SMS. Through the partnership all GNAFF members will be able to bypass the need for internet access, expensive smartphones and data plans to access vital information such as agricultural techniques, weather reports, market pricing, soil cultivation, cropping activities and new product and distribution information on even the most basic mobile phone.

Innovative Technology
Jeremy George, Chief Operating Officer at ForgetMeNot Africa, said: “This is a great opportunity for ForgetMeNot Africa to showcase the effect our innovative technology is having on rural parts of Africa to the mobile industry. Vital agricultural information has only previously been available to GNAFF members on smartphones or PCs which remain limited in rural areas due to economic and technological constraints. We are using existing tools and infrastructure in smarter and more efficient ways to improve livelihoods and sustainable outputs, contributing to the overall national food security program of Ghana.”

Fresh Digital Thinking
ITU’s Secretary General Dr Hamadoun Touré said: “This competition draws on our long-standing expertise in harnessing the power of fresh, digital thinking. Applications, services and products driven by next-generation networks can truly transform the everyday life of millions. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for digital innovators to receive the support, recognition and seed funding needed to turn promising digital ideas into valuable, working contributions to a better world.”

For more information click here

Facebook, email and online chat access using SMS
Africa’s premier telecoms award gala has shortlisted ForgetMeNot Africa for the deployment of its Message Optimiser technology with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s eTXT service, which provides Facebook, email and online chat access using SMS to all of Econet’s 5 million subscribers.

47.5 million people access to Facebook via SMS
The Message Optimiser technology has been implemented by six operators in five countries across east, west, southern and central Africa, giving 47.5 million people access to Facebook via SMS in February 2011, in addition to email and online chat.

Transforms the most basic SMS-enabled device
Message Optimiser bypasses the need for fixed telephone line Internet access, PCs, expensive subscriptions, smartphones, Java downloads and data connections to provide email, online chat, instant messaging and social networking to even the most rural communities in Africa. It transforms even the most basic SMS-enabled device into a virtual smartphone.

AfricaCom Awards
The AfricaCom Awards – now in its 4th year – is supported by Orange, Gateway Communications and ComViva. The ceremony, which recognises and rewards excellence in the African telecommunications market, will be held at the Waterfront Lookout, in Cape Town, South Africa on 9th November 2011. For more information visit: http://www.africacomawards.com/

For more information on ForgetMeNot Africa call +44 207 408 4730 or visit www.fmnafrica.com

The ForgetMeNot Africa team are excited today after having been nominated for two categories at the prestigious Meffys Awards in London tonight.

The Meffys – regarded as “the benchmark in the mobile media industry” has shortlisted ForgetMeNot Africa for both the Best Technology Innovation Award for eTXT Facebook from Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, and in the Best Mobile First Innovation category for Message Optimiser.

Fingers crossed.

Technology to help boost agricultural production
The use of technology to help boost agricultural production, be it pre-cultivation, crop cultivation and harvesting or post harvest management is one of the key areas that the Government of Ghana wants to strengthen.

Using FMNA’s award winning, patent pending interactive messaging technology, members of GNAFF will now be able to access and use information previously only available through high end devices; devices that continue to be inaccessible to the majority of members due to financial or technological constraints. FMNA transforms any mobile phone into a 2-way messaging and information capable device, opening the doors to a vast repository of information and services that can be critical in assisting sustainable and meaningful agricultural improvements.

GNAFF members will be able gain access to vital information
With the capability to also improve agricultural extension programmes through the dissemination of information and critical data retrieval capability GNAFF members will be able to have far greater access to vital information such as agricultural techniques, weather information, market pricing, soil cultivation, cropping activities, new product and distribution information etc. FMNA is a strong believer in using existing tools and infrastructure in smarter and more efficient ways to improve livelihoods and sustainable outputs. The work we are doing with GNAFF is a great example of this and we hope to be able to contribute to the national food security programme of Ghana overall.

John Dziwornu, National Secretary Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen commented:
“GNAFF is excited to be working with FMNA on this project. With this collaboration, our farmers and fishermen will not only be able to share critical information like market prices, but will also be able to receive and share agricultural extension information, network amongst themselves, as well as have access to new product and service information using existing, easily accessible and low cost technologies. Our members have always expressed the need for real-time information on their activities to be available and also the desire to be able to communicate interactively so this collaboration is indeed timely”.

Bernard Otabil, Regional Manager FMNA commented:
“FMNA’s association with GNAFF is in line with the Government of Ghana’s aim of strengthening agricultural production through an extensive programme for the sector. We are thrilled to have been chosen to provide our interactive messaging and information services to GNAFF and look forward to working with GNAFF in helping the organisation boost its member’s outputs and incomes throughout the country.”

ForgetMeNot Africa’s Message Optimiser technology took home the title at the events ceremony on Wednesday, June 22. The Message Optimiser system bypasses the need for fixed telephone line Internet access, PCs, expensive subscriptions, smartphones, Java downloads and data connections to provide email, online chat, instant messaging and social networking to even the most rural communities in Africa. It transforms even the most basic SMS-enabled device into a virtual smartphone.

Jeremy George, Chief Operating Officer for ForgetMeNot Africa, said: “This award celebrates ForgetMeNot Africa’s continued progress in bridging the digital divide in Africa. Our goal remains to provide internet messaging on every mobile phone on the continent. In the past year our technology has enabled access to Facebook, in addition to email and online chat, for more than 47.5 million people in east, west, central and southern Africa, with further expansion planned in the next 12 months.”

ForgetMeNot Africa was also nominated for the Messaging Application: Consumer award for its Facebook through Message Optimiser service.

Award winners can be seen in full here.