The Mobile Money Open Application Programme Interface (API) has
been unveiled and now accessible by third parties; the expectation is to enable
innovation around payment systems, reports ITREALMS.
This is coming as MTN has launched a Startup Fund valued at
Shs1bn and unveiled the MTN Open API App Challenge.
ITREALMS reports
that MTN Uganda is the first telecom
company in Uganda and in the MTN Group to
grant access to third-parties to its Mobile Money Access Programming Interface
(API).
An Open API platform enables developers and programmers to
get free access to MTN mobile money proprietary software platform. MTN Mobile
Money is the most widely used mobile money platform in Uganda. Developers can
now access it, create products that ease payment options and leverage the 10M
of MTN clients registered on Mobile Money.
“This is an exciting development for the Ugandan start-ups
ecosystem. Innovators will now be able to develop applications that ease the
customer experience in terms of mobile money payments. We do hope that this
move will spur innovation in the developer community around the country because
this is the first time this is being done here,” said Ms. Elsa Muzzolini, the
General Manager, Mobile Financial Services MTN Uganda.
In January 2018, MTN Uganda and Consultative Group to Assist
the Poor (CGAP) entered a partnership intended to drive customer growth and
activity by facilitating a wider range of mobile wallet applications for all
customers through open APIs. According to CGAP, open APIs have the potential to
further drive financial inclusion, which is already being accelerated by the
usage of mobile money.
“Our expectations are that this decision will enable
innovators to monetise their products, ensure that there is fast turnaround of
innovations to get to market and improve the value created for innovators and
entrepreneurs, why not a Ugandan Ebay or Amazon in the next few months” Ms.
Muzzolini said.
Nenye Dom/GEE
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