In efforts to keep with the current pace of development, yuMobile, the brand of Essar Telecom Kenya Limited, in partnership with ForgetMeNot Africa, will from Tuesday 24th May 2011 to 29th May 2011 give University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University students an opportunity to chat freely with their friends and families through yu’s peperusha SMS Chat Service.
 

Peperusha requires no smart phones, internet connections, device upgrades or application downloads for users to send and receive email and online chat messages. The service incorporates popular chat services such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Windows Live and Gtalk which enables users to send and receive messages and invitations across the digital divide.
According to recent studies conducted by CCK and other research bodies like TNS Research International and Synovate Kenya, usage of internet for email access, chat, and obtaining knowledge and education is growing rapidly in Kenya as compared to other countries within the East Africa region.
The study also revealed that online development path in Kenya is radically different from many other markets with 99% growth from 60% of internet access through mobile phones.
Speaking ahead of the launch, yuMobile’s Country Manager, Madhur Taneja said, “These exciting and interactive sessions with students is a reflection of our commitment to provide consumers with innovative products that are at the same time cheap”. Statistics show that majority of youth are extremely tech savvy.  He added that “In this regard, we are obligated to stick to our low cost model strategy to accommodate consumers who cannot afford to buy expensive handset to access such services.”
Students will be issued with free yu SIM cards which will be registered, and signed up to the service. With the help from yuMobile’s customer experience team, students will be taken through the steps of updating their Facebook status or profiles, as well as chat with their friends and families through the peperusha SMS Chat Service.
Further, students can earn upto Kshs.50 of airtime, and will be eligible to participate in daily draws where they can win t-shirts and iPods.