Virtual Hotspot Vouchers Hit Market
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday December 19, 2016 18:00
The application is available on Google Play and can be downloaded for free by any smart phone user.
Speaking during the launch in Gaborone last week, Infinity Tech managing director, Obakeng Gabanthate said that they have decided to create an app after seeing an advert on the newspapers saying that one can only purchase hotspot vouchers only in the local supermarkets.
“After seeing the advert, we then decided to come up with a solution by developing an app that allows people to purchase a hotspot voucher at the comfort of their homes, saving them time,” he said.
According to Gabanthate, in instances where one does not know where hotspot locations are, the mobile app has a feature that lists all hotspot locations around the country as well as the nearest location to the user.
“In cases where a user needs clarity or understanding with regards to hotspots, there is a section that assist with frequently asked questions where a user can get clarity from answers provided on the platform,” he said. Meanwhile, Botswana Fibre Network (BoFiNet) marketing and public relations specialist Shadi Linchwe said that the decision to source a local company was driven by their ‘support local initiative’.
“Hotspots are a local brand that provides ‘A’ standard services, thus this in itself is evidence that local producers and manufacturers are able to make quality products of international standards. We have quality mobile applications that have a wide array of uses to ease the hotspot user’s experience,” she said.
She said that Botswana hotspots would continue to advance, educate and cultivate the nation through easy Internet accessibility even in the rural areas, adding that it is their intention to have every person in the country to be able to access Internet, hence their slogan, ‘Internet for everyone’.
According to Linchwe, when they first introduced Botswana hotspots into the market, the aim was to ease and improve Internet accessibility to the average person. She said that their research indicated that only a few people with the privilege of having Internet in their homes and business had access to the Internet.
“This realisation was a major concern for us as one of the mandatory principles of our business is to afford Internet to everyone. With this in mind, we developed hotspots around the country. To date many Batswana are enjoying affordable hotspots Wi-Fi internet,” she said.
Linchwe said that they have since got good review about hotspots with many Batswana expressing their delight as to the affordability and convenience of hotspots.