Microsoft 4Afrika partners with Skrill to launch e-commerce portal and bring Africa's economies online

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft 4Afrika and Skrill today announce their partnership to launch a new e-commerce portal.  By integrating with mobile network operators (MNOs), the portal enables Africans to use their mobile wallets to buy from global internet brands, access free educational content and use Microsoft software.

This new form of partnership between mobile payment systems, network operators and merchants is the first of its kind in Africa and was announced at the 17^th annual AfricaCom conference. The portal will be fully live by December 2014.

Nilesh Pandya, SVP of emerging markets at Skrill, commented: "Africa is urbanising faster than any other continent, with cities enjoying strong levels of wireless and data coverage.  It has the world's most youthful populations and we know that it is the younger generations that are often first to embrace technology. Disposable incomes are rapidly increasing, making discretionary spend on e-commerce an immediate reality.   These conditions deliver the perfect storm for a massive surge in consumer demand for digital payments.

"However, a high percentage of Africans remain unbanked and so have no means of paying for global online brands. Even banked Africans often find that global online merchants are reluctant to serve these markets for credit and debit card transactions due to perceived fraud risks."

Skrill enables users to make payments instantly, cost effectively and securely. Using mobile wallets, users can buy products and services from Skrill's extensive global network of merchants, including video on demand business iROKOtv, music download and streaming business Spinlet and a range of social gaming providers.

By logging into the portal, consumers are also given access to special product offers and discounts on goods and services exclusively available through this purchase route and their mobile provider.

E-commerce transactions do not incur any additional cost for the consumer and specific fees charged to merchants, relating to this market have been determined by Skrill to reflect the opportunity for growth, tempered with the challenges inherent in a new market.  By partnering with merchants, Skrill can ensure that their products and services are available in some of the fastest growing markets in the world.

Via the portal, Microsoft will be providing free access to One Drive, as well as Outlook email addresses so that users can register accounts with the relevant merchants. Microsoft OneDrive will enable consumers to download and store up to 15G free of charge.  Microsoft's 4Afrika Initiative is providing free access to educational content, from basic numeracy games to courses on app development through its virtual academy.  Entrepreneurs in Africa will now have the tools required to build online businesses that Skrill will enable them to monetise. 

Frank McCosker, general manager, affordable access and smart financing, 4Afrika at Microsoft, added: "As part of 4Afrika's drive towards affordable access, this portal seeks to bring Africa's offline economies online, enabling the continent to take part in the global digital revolution, which in turn, will drive innovation, inclusion, skills and trade.

"Africa continues to be a breeding ground for major innovations that extend to the world stage. With monetisation being a priority, the offline economy cannot be ignored."

About Microsoft 4Afrika 

The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative was launched in Feb 2013 to help accelerate Africa's economic development and to improve its global competitiveness. It is a long-term commitment to help empower African youth, entrepreneurs, developers, and business and civic leaders to turn great ideas into a reality that can help their community, their country, the continent and beyond.

The 4Afrika Initiative is built on the dual beliefs that technology can accelerate growth for Africa, and Africa can also accelerate technology for the world. We want to help Africa become a net producer of technology, rather than a net consumer. We believe that African innovation can and should shape Africa's future. The initiative is built on three key enablers critical to the success of that mission: innovation, world-class skills and affordable access.

For more information please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/africa/4afrika/ 

About Skrill
Skrill is one of Europe's leading online payments companies and among the world's largest independent digital wallet providers. Skrill enables any customer to make online payments conveniently and securely without revealing personal financial data, as well as send and receive money online cost-effectively. Skrill's mission is to become the preferred choice for online payments.

Skrill's worldwide payment network offers businesses access to direct payment processing via 100 payment options in 200 countries and territories and 40 currencies, through just one integration, allowing everyone to pay and get paid globally.

For more information please visit www.skrill.com

Please contact:
Skrill Team at Burson-Marsteller
[email protected] / 617-912-5406

SOURCE Skrill

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