Liberia: Cellcom Launches Smile Mobile Money Service

Cellcom Telecommunications Inc., which has a long history of offering innovative products and services, last week launched its mobile money platform called "Smile Cellcom Money." The new service was formally unveiled at an official soft launch program held at the Cape Hotel in Monrovia.

Releasing the new product to the public, Cellcom's Chief Executive Officer Mr. Avishai Marziano said that Smile Cellcom Money was created in Liberia and took into the account the needs of Liberian consumers.

He outlined that Cellcom's vision was to build a mobile money platform that could positively transform the entire economy. Said Marziano: "We know that when the full population has access to a formal financial system, economic activities will thrive greatly and the overall economy of Liberia will grow."

Cellcom's head of Mobile Money Sales devision Ms. Christine Taylor explained that the advantages of the new services were numerous, including being able to give subscribers the ability to make transactions in both United States and Liberian dollars, transfer money to both Cellcom and non-Cellcom subscribers on other GSM networks, as well as the ability to receive Smile Money at Cellcom points of sales and any banking institution in Liberia.

"We've created a product that will make everybody smile because of the ease and convenience that we've built into this product," said Taylor.

CEO Marziano outlined that Smile Cellcom money was built on a platform of ease. He explained: "Smile Cellcom Mobile Money will benefit everyone irrespective of the network that the mobile money recipient is connected to.

With Smile Cellcom Mobile Money, our customers will be able to easily transfer and receive money, pay bills or top-up Cellcom airtime for themselves or for other Cellcom subscribers. Every transaction can be done fast and smoothly, directly using a mobile phone."

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cellcom Mr. Avi Zaidenberg observed that the release of Smile Cellcom Money had come at a crucial point in the Liberian development process.

"At this moment, there is a focus on decentralization of financial systems, but the capacity to do this has been limited. With Smile Cellcom Money, Liberia is now in a better position for government and organizations to pay salaries easily in the most remote areas, for people to send money to family members across the country, and for business people to have access to money readily without having to carry large amounts of cash which is a risk."

Cellcom's VP for Regulatory and Government affair Mr. William Saamoi assured the public that Cellcom's mobile money services had been built on a reliable platform that would not have issues such as customers paying bills and not being able to receive instant credit.

"I am personally impressed by the technology because we've put a lot of time to ensure that our customers can do so much including buying credits, paying bills or getting access to cash on the go without worrying about system failures," assured Mr. Saamoi. "We have built something that is unique and different."

The new service is already available to consumers and hundreds of subscribers have already begun to register.

SOURCE: THE HERITAGE