Safaricom and Vodafone Launch Apps Challenge

Nairobi, 6th September 2012…Leading integrated communications service provider Safaricom Limited and the global telecom's giant Vodafone Group PLC have today have today announced the launch of AppStar, a unique mobile applications developer challenge that will see the top Kenyan developer take home Kshs 1 Million. Appstar is a regional competition which will take place in Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Tanzania, Egypt, Ghana and Qatar that will run from September 6, 2012 to November 21, 2012.

Speaking during the launch, Safaricom's Director of Corporate affairs Nzioka Waita said," we recognise that the next phase of real innovation in the mobility space will come from local app developers. We therefore see the Appstar challenge as the logical next step in deepening local talent giving them a chance to compete against the best in Africa but also reap from their innovation."

The competition will feature entries in six categories: Games/ Entertainment, Health, Education, Agriculture, Financial Inclusion and Productivity. All applications developed during the challenge must run on Android, BlackBerry, Symbian or Java operating systems.

Safaricom will spend over Kshs 2 million on this award scheme and also give the overall winners and runners up the opportunity to compete with finalists from the other six countries for the grand prize from Vodafone in Johannesburg in December.

Applications from the competition will be hosted on the Safaricom and Vodafone apps stores for use by customers within these networks. This will increase exposure of a developers' application across the multiple networks which make up the Vodafone Group.

The Deputy General Manager- Applications Store and Developer Program within the Vodafone Group, Karthik Srinivasan noted, "We recognise that huge app development talent exists in the emerging markets and in fact, only such developers can provide applications suitable for their respective markets. This competition is an effort to showcase the depth of that talent and give those developers a chance to benchmark themselves against regional peers.

About Safaricom Corporate
Safaricom provides a comprehensive range of services under one roof. This includes mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms. With annual revenues in excess of Kshs 100 billion, it is Kenya's widest 3G network with a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence.

Safaricom pioneered commercial mobile money transfer globally through M-PESA, the most successful such service anywhere in the world. Launched in March 2007 as a money transfer service, it now has over 15 million customers and over 37,000 Agent outlets countrywide.


The Sustainability Report is hinged on the 8 strategic pillars that cut across the regulatory environment, energy and network security, innovation, ethical supply chain conduct , corporate ethics, environmental impact and employee engagement..

Nairobi, 6th September 2012…Leading integrated communications service provider Safaricom Limited and the global telecom's giant Vodafone Group PLC have today have today announced the launch of AppStar, a unique mobile applications developer challenge that will see the top Kenyan developer take home Kshs 1 Million. Appstar is a regional competition which will take place in Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Tanzania, Egypt, Ghana and Qatar that will run from September 6, 2012 to November 21, 2012.

Speaking during the launch, Safaricom's Director of Corporate affairs Nzioka Waita said," we recognise that the next phase of real innovation in the mobility space will come from local app developers. We therefore see the Appstar challenge as the logical next step in deepening local talent giving them a chance to compete against the best in Africa but also reap from their innovation."

The competition will feature entries in six categories: Games/ Entertainment, Health, Education, Agriculture, Financial Inclusion and Productivity. All applications developed during the challenge must run on Android, BlackBerry, Symbian or Java operating systems.

Safaricom will spend over Kshs 2 million on this award scheme and also give the overall winners and runners up the opportunity to compete with finalists from the other six countries for the grand prize from Vodafone in Johannesburg in December.

Applications from the competition will be hosted on the Safaricom and Vodafone apps stores for use by customers within these networks. This will increase exposure of a developers' application across the multiple networks which make up the Vodafone Group.

The Deputy General Manager- Applications Store and Developer Program within the Vodafone Group, Karthik Srinivasan noted, "We recognise that huge app development talent exists in the emerging markets and in fact, only such developers can provide applications suitable for their respective markets. This competition is an effort to showcase the depth of that talent and give those developers a chance to benchmark themselves against regional peers.

About Safaricom Corporate
Safaricom provides a comprehensive range of services under one roof. This includes mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms. With annual revenues in excess of Kshs 100 billion, it is Kenya's widest 3G network with a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence.

Safaricom pioneered commercial mobile money transfer globally through M-PESA, the most successful such service anywhere in the world. Launched in March 2007 as a money transfer service, it now has over 15 million customers and over 37,000 Agent outlets countrywide.


The Sustainability Report is hinged on the 8 strategic pillars that cut across the regulatory environment, energy and network security, innovation, ethical supply chain conduct , corporate ethics, environmental impact and employee engagement..