UAE MNP ... a Bride waiting for groom #mobile #mnp #uae

I was really exited after the announcement came for MNP availability in UAE market. It can address many of challenges. As I have seen the MNP in India and Pakistan the MNP usually it come with bundle of offer from the operators side to attract customers from one network to another but here in UAE you cannot see the much attraction. Du & Etisalat has spent million on advertising it but if a customer wanted to switch he needs to convenience its telecom operator that he has many valid reason to port out.

I like Du CEO statement and openness in public that "MNP ‘will not be a game changer’,  http://goo.gl/8FjzN6 and currently customer is not getting even a FREE SIM if he try to change its network. In DU customer has to pay AED 55 and Etisalat is offering the complimentary service for the new family members.

Recently TRA has disclosed that 5,000 user has request to change their network http://goo.gl/nlUWdE but the numbers of du and Etisalat request are not yet disclosed.

If still MNP goes without any welcome package and its only meant for network change. This service will not fly high. TRA should allow DU and Etisalat to introduce welcome package to attract more loyal user to the network.

UAE welcomes its first NFC application for transport & micro payments

Road & Transport Authority (RTA) has announced its  partnership with Du & Etisalat in UAE to provide NOL (ePurse) services via NFC technology and launched SMART NOL NFC application. Currently NOL (ePurse) has the 6 million active cards and people in Dubai using it for day to day for transportation purpose (buses, metro & marine bus). The concept is not new in the world the same products has been launched for transportation in Singapore, London & Hong kong. RTA is leading in region for this product so far if you compare with other GCC countries.

RTA CEO express about the importance and their expectation from SMART NOL (NFC BASED). Since they have 6 million cards and looks forward to have good adaptation from early adopters.

The next big thing which is alarming for VISA and MasterCard, American Express and others that RTA has started focusing on introducing micropayment in Dubai. The challenge its self its very big because in absence of VISA and MASTERCARD acquiring network for NOL, RTA has to build its own acquiring merchant network which accepts NOL for purchases. This makes sense due to high number of card members across UAE is using it for transportation.

The Smart Nol success is highly dependent on operators push and this will be make or break situation for RTA to enter in mobile payment market. Since both operator (DU & Etisalat) till today don’t have any approval from Central Bank UAE to start micropayments in UAE. This can be a good start for both of them to learn and own the NOL application and use it to build customer base for their upcoming financial service which includes mobile wallets, bill payments, mobile remittance & P2P.