If you are in search of a “mobile office” where you can access all the data on a hand held mobile phone, then a Blackberry would do for you. Blackberry technology provides mobile messaging, e-mail, calendar, contacts, rapid browsing, on-line news updates, instant group communications and a lot more in real time; it is a laptop in a mobile phone. This cutting edge technology was first introduced in North America in 1999 and has steadily made its way to Rwanda. Integrated Network Systems (INS) is the company marketing and selling the solution in Rwanda since last year. The company is located at the ICT Park building in Kigali. This is a country office for INS, a New Jersey based cutting edge technology service provider. According to Eric Mwangi, the head of INS, Rwanda office, there is ready market but the technology is still not well understood by most Rwandans. “It is very hard, so you have to visit company and government offices to market the solution,” Mwangi says. INS is targeting professionals in corporate institutions like Banks, Government Ministries and Corporate Companies. Mwangi describes the solution to be a laptop in a mobile phone that will help busy professionals to transact business fast and efficiently regardless of their location. Holders of blackberries do not need to be at their work stations to remain in touch with colleagues at the office. Blackberries help one to access any important information on internet while out of the office. Apart from targeting corporate institutions, INS has also targeted individuals to offer them this latest technology. INS provides the mobile phone at no cost for a one month trial period after which the customer is required to pay a monthly $30 (Frw16,300). Currently, INS Rwanda is using the central server in New Jersey, USA, to provide the solution. However, plans are underway to have a country server set up in Rwanda. Apart from Rwanda, the company is also actively providing the same services in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa and hopes to open up in other African countries. Mwangi says that the choice of Rwanda came after recent ICT developments in the country. He estimates that Rwanda is going to be a gold mine as far as technology is concerned. One of the clients, Albert Sharangabo of Kigali, plans to get the solution from INS. He expects that the technology will enhance the way he does his work. Having lived in North America, where the technology is common, Sharangabo is sure that it can offer value for money in Rwanda. He is eagerly waiting to get the good mobile messaging technology within weeks since he has already made his purchase order. Contact: frank2kagabo@yahoo.com
