NeoEdge has featured an article on bKash on their 2nd Edition of Mobile Commerce ASIA eZine! They were also kind enough to publish my thoughts under "Industry Shakers and Movers" section.

Here are the extracts from the magazine:

You may download the eZine from http://www.neo-edge.com/mcommerce2012.>

July 21st, bKash is finally a reality! It has been a great team effort, and wish the spirit goes on. The first cmplete mobile financial service is here guys, get ready to step into another socio-economic revolution in Bangladesh.

By the way, I am on the first page of today's The Daily Star with a big smile :)

Ps. bKash service is now available on Robi network. Call 16247 from your Robi phone to get more info on how to create your bKash wallet and enjoy our service.

Where do I begin? Two days back (12th June), my HTC Desire got stolen on my way back from Rajshahi trip. The trip was fantastic, but the unfortunate event kind of left me in a bit upsetting mood. I had a difficult Sunday, and Monday wasn't getting any better either. Then the most surprising thing happenned. It was around 8pm, Sabit (my wife) and I were getting ready to go to a wedding. Somebody called on her phone. I answered and a series of events took place after that. I got my phone back this evening. Never imagined even in my wildest dreams. Thanks to Allah. Now I am cleaning up and installing custom ROM. Very happy today. Life is really full of surprises.

Visa, a global leader in payments, acquires Fundamo, a leading platform provider of mobile financial services for mobile network operators and financial institutions in developing economies.

"Combining Visa's unparalleled network scale, global reach, extensive product suite and established financial institution relationships with Fundamo's expertise in delivering mobile financial services in developing economies presents us with an important long-term opportunity to grow our business and drive financial inclusion in key geographic markets," said Joseph W. Saunders, chairman and chief executive officer of Visa Inc.

"Mobile network operators and financial institutions will now be able to take advantage of Fundamo's trusted mobile financial services platform backed by Visa's high standards for security, reliability and scale," said Hannes van Rensburg, CEO of Fundamo."Mobile network operators and financial institutions will now be able to take advantage of Fundamo's trusted mobile financial services platform backed by Visa's high standards for security, reliability and scale," said Hannes van Rensburg, CEO of Fundamo.

Fundamo is the platform partner of bKash mobile financial service. The platform enables the delivery of mobile financial services to unbanked and under-banked consumers around the world, including person-to-person payment, airtime top-up, bill payment and branchless banking services. The combined Visa Fundamo platform will now add enhanced functionality and new services to bKash subscribers for safe, reliable and globally accepted payments solutions.

Privately held, Cape Town, South Africa-based Fundamo has more than 50 active mobile financial services deployments across more than 40 countries, including 27 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Fundamo's deployments currently have a base of more than five million registered subscribers and the potential to reach more than 180 million consumers with mobile financial services.

Reference: http://corporate.visa.com/media-center/press-releases/press1128.jsp

"bKash has been created to promote sustainable micro-savings to achieve broader financial inclusion by providing services that are convenient, affordable and reliable." - Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash.

Access to Information Programme (A2I), a UNDP-supported government programme, and Local Government Division (LGD) are implementation partners to operate Union Information and Service Centre (UISC) in 4,501 union parishads. bKash will act as the payment service operator to provide all banking services to the poor through cellphones, people will have access to banking without going to the banks.

Reference: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=187458

bKash, a universal financial service platform for country’s mobile users, will focus to serve the low-income people of Bangladesh and promote sustainable micro-savings to achieve broader financial inclusion by providing services that are convenient, affordable and reliable.

Managing Director & CEO of Robi Axiata Limited Michael Kuehner and CEO of bKash Limited Kamal Quadir inked the agreement on 24th Feb 2011. bKash is to provide access of its services for Robi users and include Robi’s service points to extend its distribution.

Reference: http://www.bkash.com/Robi.php

Being a long time Symbian fan and user, I waited for the disappointing N8 before my switch to Desire. Yes, N8 is a fine piece of hardware. But in the race of smartphones, Symbian has to come out of its sluggishness. And if that's a big uncertainty, adoption of smarter new like Windows Phone 7 seems to be the right move for Nokia. If N8 came with WP7, I would have taken it. But for now I am loving my shiny new Android.

bKash Limited -- a joint venture company between BRAC Bank and Money in Motion LLC, USA, -- recently signed an agreement with ShoreBank International, an international consulting firm, to provide financial services through an extensive network of community-based agents and existing technologies, including mobile phones.