Western Union and MTN Group are launching a mobile money transfer service in Uganda, allowing MTN customers to send and receive money across borders using nothing but their mobile phones.
With the new service some 2 million customers of MTN’s Mobile Money in Uganda will be able to add funds to their accounts that were sent through Western Union’s system. Moreover, MTN customers can also send money internationally with Western Union directly from their Mobile Money accounts for cash payout at Western Union Agent locations worldwide or to subscribers of select mobile phone companies with which Western Union has agreements.
But that’s not all. To further propel the service, the two companies will provide 9,000 branded mobile “Yellow Phones” to Ugandans. Customers who receive these devices must already have an active MTN Mobile Money account or sign up for one in order to use the new remittance service. The phones will be given away via ongoing promotions throughout Uganda over the next few months…