CIO East Africa - Business Technology Leadership

Mobile Service provider yuMobile today continued its roll-out of Relationship Centers with the opening of the first centre in Nairobi Central Business District. The Centre is the second of several new-look relationship centers to be rolled out countrywide as part of yuMobile's expansion plan intended to serve its rapidly growing number of subscribers countrywide. The new-look Relationship Centre is located at Nairobi's Gilfillan House along Kenyatta Avenue and will provide a range of services such as yuMobile data settings, postpaid activation, and bill payments, selling of prepaid lines, airtime, modems and handset sales.

Speaking during the launch of the new centre at an event graced by Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia, yuMobile Country Manager Madhur Taneja confirmed that the firm had stepped up its market reach efforts to meet the demands of its growing subscriber base.

"As a fast growing mobile phone network, we are moving expeditiously to guarantee quick customer queries resolution by opening doors to conveniently located relationship centers countrywide. The opening of this Relationship Centre here at Gilfillan house now serves to beef up our Nairobi City Centre presence."

He further added that as of this morning, YU mobile had 2.3 subscribers citing that it's the fastest growth that has been registered in the telecommunications industry. Mr. Taneja added that Yu subscribers can now walk in the relationship centers and make free calls from yu to yu network, browse for free and make downloads for absolutely free. "We plan to set up one relationship center every month across the country" He said

Town Clerk Phillip Kisia confirmed that Nairobi City Council would continue to provide requisite business support services to encourage further investments within the city centre and its environs. The council, he added was also taking steps to fully automate its services through various delivery channels including mobile phone solutions. "We have no other business but to facilitate and serve our customers for a better Nairobi" The town Clerk noted.

"By working closely with mobile service providers such as yuMobile, we may very soon unveil platforms to deliver our services more conveniently on mobile phones," Kisia said adding that now using your phone you can verify a city council's employee by sending a text message with the words "staff (space) ID number) to 3032.

He added that the City council of Nairobi is the first in East and Central Africa to launch a web based building plans approval and submitting building plans online aimed at reducing human interface. Two weeks ago the Council launched the first phase of its electronic payment system.