Next 2 us

Kenyan Social Network that connects people around place and topics of interest using SMS

Mobile phones and SMS can be used to connect people together around place and topics of interest. Source and License.

An introduction to Next2.us Geosocial Network 

Next2.us, builds local social networks around place and topics of interest using only SMS.   Any mobile device that can send and receive text messages can be used to publish content, discover other users nearby that share common interest, and send and receive messages with internet users.

The mission of Next2.us is to connect people together that do not have an internet connect but want to work together to find local solutions to local problems.  Next2.us achieves its mission by automatically exchanging text messages between users based on location and topics of interest.

Here is an overview of how the service works:

1. Customers register for the service by sending a SMS text message with the name they want to use and their location.  
2. A "sharing circle" of 10 kilometers is automatically established around their location and used to exchange content (text messages) with other users.
3. Customers "signal" what they want, have or would like to discuss with others by sending a text message that starts with have, want or discuss followed by a keyword or phrase.
4. Messages are automatically matched and exchanged between users based on location and common topics of interest. Matched messages come in as a new text message on the customers mobile phone.
5. Customers can direct text each other using their Next2.us name without having to reveal their mobile phone number.

Next2.us also provides the following benefits:

1. Using only SMS text messaging customers are create a web address where their public text message appear on the internet (example http://m.next2.us/brip).
2. A customer Next2.us home page can be used to send a message to the customer from the internet.
3. Customers may respond to messages by replying using text messaging.
4. Customers can exchange PRIVATE messages which are matched and exchanged but are not posted to the customers Next2.us web page.

Customers can increase of decrease the size of their sharing circle, change location and post both public and private text messages using Next2.us SMS commands.

Customers with an interent connection can use the same message match features by using the mobile version of Next2.us at http://m.next2.us

Next2.us is available in Kenya and the United States via SMS short code.  The Kenya short code use incurs a KSH 5 fee to send a text message.  There is no fee to receive text messages using Next2.us.  Next2.us is in the process of translating the SMS commands into Swahili.

The Kenyan short code should be available shortly.  Once the correct billing is established for our dedicated short code the service will be available for Kenyan users.

Still waiting on our Kenyan premium short code

Its been an exasperating month.  We are still waiting for the proper billing on our Kenyan premium short code to be correct.  The rate should be KSH 5 to send a text message and free to receive a new text message.  The short code manager is going through a major software upgrade this weekend.

We hope to have the proper billing in place shortly.  Sorry for the delay.

Development 2.0?

Quote of the week -- Talk of a “Development 2.0”—meaning a mobile-driven transformation of how poor countries develop—thus seems premature. But the potential of mobile services should not be underestimated. If they take off, they could transform lives and livelihoods, not just by connecting the world’s poor to the infrastructure of the digital economy, but by allowing them to become digital producers and innovators.

From: http://www.economist.com/node/18008202?story_id=18008202

 

Open Letter to Safaricom Ltd's CEO Bob Collymore cc, Airtel LTD

February 11, 2011

 

Mr Bob Collymore

Safaricom Limited 

re: Platform ecoystem

 

Mr Collymore,

If there is one thing you could do to grow traffic over your network it would be to directly open up your network infrastructure to developers, such as myself, so we could hook our applications and web services directly into your network.  This would allow us to quickly develop, test and release new services that in turn would provide customers with new features and services, increase network traffic, and build brand loyalty.

If you haven't already, please take a look at what Telefonica has done with BlueVia developer community.  Using BlueVia a developer can;

1. Obtain access to "sandbox" to test application/service integration with Telefonica's network.
2. Share 10% to 50% of API transaction and up to 70% of any application sales or subscription revenue.
3. Support the sale of services and applications via online store
4. Research,  test, develop and release and earn revenue all in seamless, online environment that supports the developer.

Telefonica has dedicated a team to BlueVia, and as a developer, you quickly get the impression that the company stands behind the offering.  It makes you want to build something with them for your mutual customers.

From my experiece doing integration with multiple APIs, I imagine the technical integration of web services into a network isn't the hard part.  Its managing the relationship that is tricky.  However, Telefonica has somehow developed an online portal and system that essentially removes all barriers that developers face in getting to market.   

The procedures to get to market in Kenya (and, frankly, most markets) is complicated, time consuming and expensive.  Telecommunication carriers need to flatten the levels between developers and customers and reduce obstacles so entrepreneurs can more easily and quickly develop, test and release new services.

Here is a copy of Telefonic's 2/10/11 BlueVia Press Release

Any help in streamlining the cumbersome, slow process of getting new services onto your network would better serve us both.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely

Brian Puckett

Founder

Next2.us

Update on Kenyan Short Code

We are still waiting on our Kenya short code 5557 to be properly configured with the correct billing (KS 5 to send KSH 0 to receive) for text messaging.  We hope to have the SMS short code working properly shortly. 

Next2.us SMS commands and instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Finally a social enterprise funding platform that makes sense @33needs cc. @joshtetrick

 

 

33 Needs is a new "Social Enterprise" funding platform that just launched today.  I have looked at a number of ways to raise capital from family and friends such as Kickstarter and others, but none seem to make sense like what Josh Tetrick and his teams have done with 33 Needs.   They seem to have done the hard legal work of figuring out how to do private placement with unsophisticated investors without running afoul of security law.

Some of the things I like really like about 33 needs is;

1. You can raise the amount you want and it is paid back as a percentage of your revenue over a set period of time.
2. You don't (can't) actually issue company stock (equity) for the investment.
3. Investors take risk, if you can't pay it back then at the end of the time period your obligation ends.
4. 33 needs manages the investor pool communication and engagement.
5. If there is a liquidity event (you want to sell) investors get a pre-determined investment kicker and then they are out and you gain back total control over your business revenue.
6. 33 needs takes a modest fee (5%) the the amount raised.
7. The reporting is minimal and what any business normally does for tax preparation.

I have been following for years the growth of the local food movement.  One of the problems local farmers have is gaining investments to grow their business.   Think of all the successful CSA (community supported agriculture) that could use the 33 Needs platform to fund growth of their favorite farmer or get a farmer into a new food business.

The team aspect of 33 Needs is also, in my opinion, innovative. It lets groups form to invest together in social enterprises.  I would think CSA members could be encouraged by a farmer in pooling resources and helping a farmer expand or new local food enterprise get started.  Investor take the risk of loosing their money but they also have the upside of potential making a return on their investment.

This is exactly what the slow money folks should be doing.  I think they should join and support Josh in his efforts.

I believe Josh may have cracked the nut on how to do neighbor-to-neighbor investing without the hassle and restrictions of actually issuing stock or defaulting on a interest bearing loan.