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Meet Moya Messenger – WhatsApp’s Data-Free Rival in South Africa

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Moya Messenger is the world’s first data-free mobile messaging app that is rapidly becoming a rival to WhatsApp in South Africa.

Developed by biNu, an Australian company that launched its services in South Africa in 2014, Moya Messenger was released in South Africa in July and instantly attracted lots of users, enabling them to communicate without excessive data costs.

South Africa has 18 million active social media users, almost half of whom spend most of their time on WhatsApp. WhatsApp has almost taken Mxit, Blackberry Messenger (BBM) and WeChat out of the picture in South Africa, as it is the most convenient and affordable mobile messaging app in the country.

However, despite WhatsApp’s dominance in South Africa, Moya Messenger is becoming a real rival to the app, since it provides a similar messaging experience but allows users to send unlimited text messages at no data cost, even when they have no airtime or data balance on their mobile devices.

Moya Messenger definitely looks promising in South Africa, with the cell phone market in the country currently being the 4th fastest growing in the world, raising at a rate of 50% per year, not to mention that the country’s IT industry is booming at a breakneck pace. South African IT market is the largest IT market in Africa by value.

According to The Information Technology Industry in South Africa 2017 report, the South African IT sector grew at 4% of GDP for 2017.

These statistics only prove that South Africa is a fertile ground for any startup that’s willing to look beyond. We’ve already seen many VPN services making strides to establish their servers in the country. This is not too surprising as VPN technology is primarily used to improve online security and privacy; and as we’ve seen over the years, the developing IT industries need security solutions, as at this stage the whole infrastructure could still be very susceptible to virtual security threats.

With an impressive overall growth, it’s only a question of time when we’ll see other big tech player making moves in South Africa.

Moya Messenger Functionalities

The South African challenger to WhatsApp offers data-free unlimited texting and data-free group chat, high security with automatic end-to-end encryption and automatic contact discovery for quickly connecting with Moya Messenger users.

However, there are a few drawbacks to the app. Message attachments are not data-free, which is where WhatsApp definitely wins, at least for now. Moya users can send attachments like photos, videos, and documents, but they will be preemptively warned that data costs will be incurred, so they can either allow that or switch to WiFi.

Also, for the users to actually use the app, they need to switch mobile data on. Furthermore, to send data-free text messages, the users must use specific mobile networks that are compatible with Moya Messenger. This means that they can only communicate through the app with the users in South Africa who use those mobile networks, as Moya Messenger is not available outside the country.

Moya Messenger has a reverse billing agreement with four South African major mobile network operators – MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telcom – which means that biNu will pay those mobile network operators for all the mobile messaging data costs.

Another drawback to Moya Messenger is that the app is currently available only for Android devices, so 20% of iPhone users in South Africa are not yet able to use the app.

Will Moya Messenger Beat WhatsApp in South Africa?

Moya Messenger exhibits significant benefits, primarily because users can communicate with one another at zero data costs, not to mention that they don’t need to load airtime or purchase data bundles to send text messages. As such, Moya presents a threat to WhatsApp, but it’s still not so clear whether or not it has what it takes to become the dominant messaging app in the country.

Nevertheless, over 10000 users have already installed the app, and the number keeps rising with each coming day. Since data tariff is very high in South Africa, it’s not a stretch to say that the app will become quite popular in the country. It has enormous potential, and more and more people realize it.

Moya Messenger is rapidly gaining a strong foothold in the South African market, but we are yet to see what the future will bring for the app. Stay tuned.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Netflix to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery in $82.7bn Mega Deal

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By Adedapo Adesanya

Netflix has reached a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to buy the legendary TV and movie studio and assets like the HBO Max streaming service for $82.7 billion.

Warner Bros. Discovery is moving forward with its plans to split into two publicly traded halves in 2026. Once the split takes effect, Netflix intends to acquire the Warner Bros. half. The other half, Discovery Global, will house CNN and other cable channels. The Warner Bros. half includes its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.

The transaction values Warner Bros. Discovery at $27.75 per share, implying a total equity value of approximately $72.0 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion.

The deal is subject to regulatory conditions, of which there will be several, due to the size of the companies involved and what it means for competitiveness.

For several weeks, Paramount was thought to be the frontrunner in the auction for Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount executives, who want to buy all of Warner Bros. Discovery – including its cable assets – were confident about their merger proposal and their mutually beneficial relationship with President Donald Trump.

However, Netflix surprised many with the boldness of its bids as it agreed to the same costly breakup fee that Paramount proposed, according to reports. This means the would-be buyer will pay Warner Bros. Discovery billions of dollars if the deal is not completed.

“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” said Mr Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix. “By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies—from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends—with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we’ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”

Mr Greg Peters, the other co-CEO of Netflix, said the acquisition would “improve our offering and accelerate our business for decades to come,” adding: “Warner Bros. has helped define entertainment for more than a century and continues to do so with phenomenal creative executives and production capabilities. With our global reach and proven business model, we can introduce a broader audience to the worlds they create—giving our members more options, attracting more fans to our best-in-class streaming service, strengthening the entire entertainment industry and creating more value for shareholders.”

“Today’s announcement combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love to watch the most,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. “For more than a century, Warner Bros. has thrilled audiences, captured the world’s attention, and shaped our culture. By coming together with Netflix, we will ensure people everywhere will continue to enjoy the world’s most resonant stories for generations to come.”

The terms of the agreement will see each Warner Bros. Discovery shareholder receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in shares of Netflix common stock for Warner Bros. Discovery common stock share.

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Video Gaming Firm Xsolla Offers Nigerians Paga Payment Option

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By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A global video game commerce company, Xsolla, has integrated Nigeria’s Paga into its payment system, allowing Nigerians more secure payment options.

Xsolla helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games and with a large market available in Nigeria, with a population of over 230 million people, working with Paga is a good idea.

With services like Pay with Paga, Bank Transfers with Paga, and Cash by Paga, Xsolla provides a comprehensive payment solution that caters to diverse needs.

Serving more than 20 million users and processing massive volumes nationwide, Paga is one of Nigeria’s largest licensed mobile-money operators.

By integrating Paga’s full suite of payment options, players can enjoy seamless transactions, whether through quick in-app purchases, bank transfers, or cash deposits – with instant confirmations and reduced friction for all types of payments.

“Introducing Paga as a new payment method to players in Nigeria reflects our commitment to meeting players where they are,” said Chris Hewish, President at Xsolla.

“Paga’s strong local presence and trusted platform make it easier for Nigerian players to engage confidently, ensuring that convenience and security go hand in hand.”

From Nigeria to the world, Xsolla provides every payment method developers need to grow and monetize their games globally.

Local payment methods are crucial, enabling developers to reach every player, increase transaction conversions, and drive more sales and revenue. With Paga in Nigeria, it’s easier than ever to pay, play, and succeed.

Key benefits of the Paga integration include instant confirmations, localized experiences, and increased market reach and conversion.

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Temu Partners Dellyman to Scale Logistics Capabilities Across Nigeria

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

As part of its strategies to aggressively scale its logistics capabilities across key African markets, especially in Nigeria, the fast-growing global e-commerce powerhouse, Temu, has entered into a delivery partnership with Lagos-based logistics startup, Dellyman.

Through this collaboration, Temu customers in Nigeria will experience faster, more predictable, and more transparent deliveries, a critical factor in sustaining the platform’s customer satisfaction as order volumes continue to rise.

Dellyman’s technology-driven approach, spanning rider management, route optimisation, and customer visibility, played a central role in Temu’s selection process.

In the pilot phase, Dellyman completed more than 1,300 deliveries with a 95 per cent success rate, demonstrating its readiness to support large-scale e-commerce operations nationwide.

Founded in 2020, the firm has grown into one of Nigeria’s most reliable same-day and last-mile delivery platforms.

The company recently achieved a 10,000-order monthly delivery milestone in November 2025, contributing to a cumulative total of more than 300,000 lifetime deliveries.

This track record made Dellyman a strong fit for Temu, which is aggressively scaling logistics capabilities across key African markets.

“Our partnership with Temu is a major endorsement of the vision we set out with, to build Nigeria’s most reliable, scalable, and transparent last-mile delivery infrastructure.

“Achieving a 95 per cent delivery success rate during the pilot underscores our readiness to support high-volume e-commerce platforms.

“This collaboration shows that local startups can meet and exceed global standards when given the opportunity,” the chief executive of Dellyman, Mr Dare Ojo-Bello, said.

He further noted that the partnership represents more than operational growth as it signals a shift in how global e-commerce brands view Nigerian logistics capabilities.

“This is not just about fulfilling orders; it is about reshaping perceptions of what Nigerian delivery companies can achieve. We are committed to building the kind of infrastructure that supports international standards, empowers local businesses, and ultimately strengthens consumer trust in the broader digital economy,” he noted.

Mr Ojo-Bello added that Dellyman will continue investing in capacity, fleet expansion, and merchant-facing tools to ensure superior delivery experiences for Temu buyers and other online shoppers nationwide.

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