From YouTube, a shot from a presentation at the M-Pesa launch in South Africa
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Web host Rackspace Hosting (www.rackspace.com) announced Monday it will host and support UK mobile phone company Vodafone’s (www.vodafone.com) M-PESA platform.
The platform provides a fast, secure and simple way to transfer money between people in economies where banking infrastructure isn’t easily accessible outside of major cities and mobile phone use is high.
With over 16 million customers using M-PESA in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Afghanistan and Fiji, Vodafone recently announced expansion plans to other countries with similar banking infrastructure.
“Rackspace has a long history of being able to meet demand quickly and we are delighted to work with them in order to deliver this important and increasingly popular service,” said senior operations manager for Vodaphone Neil Dwyer. “It is essential for us to work with a hosting company that can provide 24/7 support and comprehensive security. Rackspace has proven their ability to deliver and their rapid response times allow us to scale quickly and effectively to meet peaks in demand.”
The press release says Rackspace will use satellite streaming technology to send and receive real time transaction data using clustered database servers.
Rackspace will provide managed back-up and dedicated hosting for Vodafone as well.
“We’re excited to be working with Vodafone on this project and look forward to seeing how it develops across the world to support those people who currently do not have access to banks and in turn help them to become more economically active through the application of innovative technology,” said managing director for Rackspace David Kelly.
Vodafone’s website says users of M-PESA don’t need to have a bank account, they deposit cash in exchange for electronic money at an authorized agent such as a mobile phone retailer, and the recipient can redeem it for cash by visiting another agent.
Users can pay bills or update their phone minutes through this platform as well.
As an example of one of the platform’s interesting uses, Vodafone says that In Tanzania, a non-governmental organization, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania uses M-PESA to send money to patients unable to cover travel costs associated with surgery.
About Nicole Henderson
Nicole Henderson writes full-time for the Web Host Industry Review where she covers daily news and features online, as well as in print. She has a bachelor of journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, and has been writing for the WHIR since September 2010. You can find her on Twitter @NicoleHenderson.
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