ADVERTORIAL
iFIND 34600 is the leader in the SMS directory listing market that provides cell
phone users with contact details for businesses or services, while offering businesses
a cheaper form of advertising directly to people with specific needs. It’s also
the first listing service that is accessible across multi-platforms, namely SMS,
USSD, Internet and a Call Centre.
The service is easy to use. To find a service or product, users need to decide on
a word that best describes what they need and where they need it, i.e. ‘Pizza Rosebank’
or ‘Dentist Cape Town’ and SMS it to 34600. After a few seconds, up to eight matching
directory listings are SMS’d back to the user. Users are charged R2 per search (terms
and conditions apply).
Advertisers can make use of this uncluttered marketing space at a low rate and have
the option to list up to ten categories. Search results have the potential to generate
‘hot leads’ for the listed company which automatically shares the listed company’s
business card. The service is available to all cell phone users, at any time and
with the latest market consolidation, iFIND 34600 can now generate even more exposure
and better results for its advertisers. Monthly advertising rates are a low R171
for a standard listing and R399 for a premium listing.
User satisfaction is of a priority for both iFIND 34600 and advertisers alike. Increased
user confidence in the service as affordable and convenient medium ensures a better
return on investment for advertisers. Statistics show that South Africans are using
iFind 34600 every minute of the day until late at night, to find what they want
and where they want it.
To register your business now, send an SMS with "Register TechSmart" to 34600.
For more information visit www.34600.co.za or phone the iFind 34600 call centre
on 082-286-7000.
Twelve Horses MessageMaker is the solution for iFind
34600
Issued by: Twelve Horses PR
Twelve Horses is pleased to welcome iFind 34600 as a new client. Twelve Horses will
be responsible for iFind's email marketing campaigns. We launched iFind 34600 first
email newsletter on the 2nd of May 2006 and the response from their clients was
great and in Tertius Bester's words: "Thanks manne, dit lyk smart. Weereens, well
done & dankie."
About iFind 34600
Have you ever got stuck needing something and not knowing where to get it, fast?!
Wouldn't it be nice to always have someone with you who knows where to find whatever
you need, wherever you are? Well, if you have a cellphone, you already do!
iFind 34600 is a mobile information directory service that enables you to find what
you are looking for anytime, anywhere!
Whatever you need to find, e.g. florist, attorney, accommodation, doctor, plumber,
hamburger, estate agent etc, SMS your enquiry and desired location to 34600 and
iFind will send you matching directory listings.
iFind is also available by USSD (*120*34600#), our website www.34600.co.za or by
phoning our call centre on 082 286 7000.
Try iFind 34600 today. You'll soon find it an indispensable aid to your daily information
needs.
Make sure your business is listed on iFind 34600!
We send out more than 500 000 company names and telephone numbers every month to
people looking for products or services. Subscription starts from a low R171 per
month for 10 categories! Don't miss out on this fantastic marketing opportunity.
About Twelve Horses
Twelve Horses is a global provider of email, fax, web and mobile text (SMS) communications
through a single platform.
Our drop-in, automated applications address common business challenges, including
customer acquisition, customer lifecycle management and debt collection. These solutions
are fast to deploy, deliver immediate results and require minimal upfront investment.
For more information about any of the MessageMaker products or services, contact
us at: 012 653 8718 or visit our website at http://www.twelvehorses.co.za.
Digicall Solutions helps iFind34600 to world first
ISSUED BY: DUO MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS
READ IN THIS STORY:
Background
Business issue
The solution
The results
[17 November 2005] - Client: iFind34600
Industry: Mobile directory services
Requirements: Establish and operate sales and service call centres
Background advertisement
iFind34600, developed in South Africa, is a world-leading directory enquiry service
for mobile telephone users. Users looking for a particular kind of business simply
SMS their requirement and location to a central number (34600), and within seconds
iFind34600 returns a list of nearby businesses matching the requirement (for example,
"plumber Claremont" or "pizza Sandton").
Users on the Vodacom network can be automatically located; other networks are set
to follow with a similar service soon. The iFind34600 database is also accessible
via a Web site and a call centre.
Business issue
iFind34600 is an innovative business that was conceived and launched on a very tight
schedule. With a number of rivals also eyeing the same market, the competitive pressure
was intense - not only to get the directory up and running as soon as possible,
but also to make sure the service met and exceeded user expectations.
The solution
iFind34600's Fanie Venter first approached Digicall in late December 2004. The idea
for the service was enthusiastically taken up and by January detailed planning had
begun. iFind34600 was launched just three months later, in April 2005.
Digicall's role within the project was threefold: firstly, to develop the software
needed to integrate their telephone systems successfully with iFind34600's databases;
secondly, to provide the call centre making sales calls to sign up new businesses;
and thirdly, to staff the 34600 call centre for those users who encounter problems
with the SMS system or would prefer to speak to someone in person.
"It was a hard project," says iFind34600's Venter, "but it came in on time and was
done fantastically."
"That's one of the things we're most proud of," says Digicall MD Willem de Clercq.
"To get a brand new business up and running with all the call centre technology,
systems and software and trained staff in place, all within three-and-a-half months,
is almost unheard of in the industry. It's a huge credit to everyone involved."
The results
Digicall's two outbound sales call centres in Randburg and Cape Town speak to about
2 400 potential advertisers between them every day, signing up 50-70 clients a day
as a result.
The Randburg call centre also handles around 3 500 user queries per week. Most of
these are SMS requests that the iFind34600 server cannot recognise because of a
spelling or other error; these are referred to a call centre agent who phones the
user to clarify the request and provide the information. "We respond to every call
within minutes," says Digicall's De Clercq.
Users dialling the call centre directly can expect even faster service, with Digicall
regularly exceeding the industry benchmark of 80% of calls being answered within
20 seconds.
"Digicall is great to work with," concludes Venter. "They went out of their way
to accommodate us and to adapt to our product - it's been a very good experience."
iFIND 34600 acquires market competitor
In Business Today
Posted: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 14:58 | © Moneyweb Holdings Limited, 1997-2005
>From iFIND 34600 (Pty) Ltd:
The world’s first and biggest SMS directory service, iFIND 34600 (Pty) Ltd is getting
even bigger, as it closes the market gap by acquiring ‘35500’ into its stable. This
is the first and biggest acquisition in the mobile directory market space and the
organisation has only been operating since April this year. It already boasts more
than 1,000,000 user search results (one SMS contains eight listings or eight different
companies).
Companies who were already listed with ‘35500’ as advertisers will enjoy the benefits
of a successful and growing business through iFIND 34600. The ever increasing user
base and awareness of the brand has entrenched the SMS number into the memory banks
of South Africans. According to Fanie Venter, Managing Director of this pioneering
company, “Through the simple, catchy jingle used in the advertising campaign, iFIND
34600 has built up an uncomplicated, easy-to-remember SMS number which consumers
will remember when in need. That’s the tool that makes a company in this business
survive.”
iFIND 34600 offers users access to information about where to find businesses or
services, whilst offering businesses a cost-effective means of advertising directly
to people with specific needs. It’s also accessible across multi-platforms, namely
SMS, USSD, Internet and Call Centre.
For further information, please visit www.34600.co.za or phone the iFIND 34600 call
centre on 082 286 7000.
You locked yourself out of the house.
On a Sunday. Or you suddenly have toothache while on holiday in Durbs.
Whom to call? Just send an SMS to iFind, South Africa's latest SMS directory enquiry
service. A quick message to 34600 saying 'doctor, Sandton' will beep back the numbers
of doctors in your area, or whatever product or service you require. iFind operates
across all three networks, and is also available over the Internet or via a call
centre.
Visit www.34600.co.za or phone the call centre on 082-286-7000 for more info.
Born in Mutare, Zimbabwe in 1963, Tertius is the eldest of three children and was
educated at Prospect Junior and Prince Edward Boys High in Harare. Nurturing a wide
range of interests from electronics through debating to swimming and hockey, he
was an active participant in many of the different sports, clubs and societies at
school. He was awarded school colours for Academic, Music, and Drama. Holidays were
spent between the family farm and working as a teller at the Standard Chartered
Bank of Zimbabwe.
Tertius Bester and Fanie Venter – great buddies and highly successful business partners!
He completed a B. Sc. (Agric) Animal Science at the University of Pretoria in 1987
where he continued his interest in the arts, playing in a number of musicals and
participating in a choir in the Crescendo Competition in 1986. He played in the
second hockey team of the University of Pretoria, and qualified as a Transvaal referee.
He started off in Olienhout men’s residence and later helped to manage the affairs
of the three different communes in which he lived whilst a student. He held three
part-time jobs; as a waiter/maitre D/assistant manager at a steakhouse in Menlyn
Centre; as a teller at various branches of Standard Bank; and operating a courier
service from various veterinary surgeries to a pathology laboratory in the east
of Pretoria. He was also involved in the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA)
as worship leader and counsellor.
After a short period as a farm manager in Muldersdrift near Randburg, he joined
the Department of Development Aid, seconded to Lebowa living in Pietersburg. Here
he spent ten years doing research and development work as manager of the Turfloop
Fish Breeding and Research Station. He was Chairman of the Far North Chapter of
the CMA where he initiated and managed the annual Far North Motorcycle Rally, first
in Pietersburg and later in Haenertsburg. Whilst there, he met Marinda du Preez,
fell in love and got married in 1991. Together they participated in various Christian
and community events over the next ten years, including two Passion Plays, a Youth
Conference, and a Junior Motorcycle Club.
In 1996 they relocated to Pretoria where he served in the International Relations
Directorate of the National Department of Agriculture and Marinda, in addition to
supporting him with his studies, runs her own secretarial / typing business from
their home in Villieria. After a period of illness, he left the Department seeking
something else where he could be accommodated with his limitations. His good friend,
and former MBA study-group member, Fanie Venter, has been most gracious to involve
him in a number of activities, and he is currently working with Fanie on an instant
sms directory called iFIND 34600.
Fanie Venter in his office – the formal businessman behind iFIND 34600 Fanie was
born in 1974 and matriculated in 1992. From an early age he had always been busy
with one or two ventures or schemes. The business background and structure came
from his father who encouraged, helped and guided him through every new scheme he
tried as this was his only source of finance. Fanie had many failures but, more
importantly, he learned from every one he made and had some great successes. He
followed his dad’s advice to get an education and enrolled as a full-time student
at the University of Pretoria in B.Com. Sport Management and, directly after that,
for his Honours degree.
While studying he ran a highly successful part-time operation and made enough money
to pay for his studies and to enjoy his time at university to the fullest. In his
final year he sold the business because the long-term profitability and growth were
limited.
Fanie then started a company called Sport Marketing International (SMI) with the
main business being contracting young rugby players and negotiating contracts on
their behalf with the different rugby unions. After getting the business going,
he sold it because of a new business opportunity that had emerged.
Putting everything on the line in pursuit of a unique opportunity in the trade publication
and emerging technology market, he joined MEDIA in Africa. He and his sister-in-law
purchased the company, and have expanded it to include a number of affiliate companies
operating primarily in the media industry.
How did they meet?
Tertius & Fanie met each other on the first day of the MBA programme at a team building
exercise organized by the GSM. They were members of the same study group together
with Phindiwe Gwebu, Andre Jooste, Ronel Aylward and La Verne Norman. On that first
day, they came up with their name, viz. The Apricot Group, which stayed with them
for the duration of their MBA programme. When forming iFIND, they decided to name
the holding company for their shares Apricot Holdings (Pty) Ltd. One of the highlights
of their MBA programme was the opportunity they had working with Outsurance as part
of their Strategic Management course. Interestingly enough, when working in The
Apricot Group, Fanie usually took responsibility for finalizing and checking any
financial related information, while Tertius usually did initial research. The group
then divided the work between themselves based on that research, and Tertius would
take responsibility for integrating and compiling the document. In the case of iFIND,
they followed the same process in compiling the business model proposal and presenting
the business plan to the potential investors. iFIND is the third business opportunity
that Fanie and Tertius have investigated and explored, and the first one they decided
to implement themselves and not sell off or pass on to others.
The iFIND idea
Media in Africa is jointly owned by Fanie Venter and his sister-in-law Liezel van
der Merwe, publishing Floors in Africa, and Walls & Roofs in Africa as specialist
magazines specifically to the design and construction sector (architects, specifiers,
and so forth). In addition they publish the annual Good Flooring Guide in the Garden
& Home as well as in a number of residential estate magazines and a directory of
golf courses in SA – Golf Pages (www.mediainafrica.co.za). Fanie was continually
looking at and investigating new ideas for business ventures, and a number of these
were tackled in 2002 and 2003, some in collaboration with other partners while others
were shelved or scrapped.
At the beginning of 2004, Fanie and his sister-in-law were toying with the idea
of including the contact details of the various golf estates on a cell phone sim
card, as an enhancement to their Golf Estates publications. Discussions soon focussed
on including other contact details as well and Fanie discussed the idea with his
friend and former MBA study-group member, Tertius, who was brought in to help with
researching the opportunity. Together they soon realized that there was a huge potential
to develop a business using a truly unique business model. Whilst most efforts at
creating a cellular business directory, both successful and unsuccessful, had been
technology driven, Fanie believed that the business would be much more successful
if it were driven from a media perspective. This required not only the technological
ability and capability, but also a keen understanding of the media industry and
the right partners.
Together they developed all the necessary components for the business model and
started approaching various potential partners, some of whom were already involved
in the sector. After going full circle through a number of different possibilities,
they secured the necessary technology and financial partners to form the new company
iFIND (Pty) Ltd. With Fanie at the helm as Managing Director, Tertius overseeing
Operations, Marinda helping with data capturing and training, and Liezel looking
after the Advertising, they tackled their dream. After a lot of hard work and dedication,
and committed support from their spouses and everyone else directly involved, iFIND34600,
the instant sms directory, was launched on 3 April 2005. Within the first seven
weeks since launch, iFIND 34600 has already showed itself to be hugely popular with
both the public as users of the service as well as to advertisers. Obviously there
have been a number of teething issues, but largely it has been embraced as a timely
product that is truly a useful addition to the daily lives of the South African
public at large. The advertising campaigns have been exceptionally well received,
with the iFIND 34600 bed/physiotherapist ad being voted the best new TV ad for the
month on 5FM. Literally thousands of sms requests are received every day, with some
TV ads regularly resulting in more than a thousand requests at a time. Within the
first six weeks the details of hundreds of thousands of businesses have been supplied
to people using the system. “We are humbled by the fantastic results that are being
achieved, and are truly grateful to everyone involved in making iFIND 34600 a success,
including especially our families, but I think most of all we are grateful to God
for the wisdom, guidance, and faith we have experienced.”
The cellphone has been put to so many uses you may have thought there was nothing
more it could do. But a South African firm has found a way to turn it into a nifty
"yellow pages".
The new business directory service offered to cellphone users via SMS is like having
a "yellow pages" business directory covering the whole country in the palm of your
hand.
iFind, which was launched a week ago, is set to revolutionise accessibility to information
in a way previously dominated by big, bulky directories and online services.
Now you can find a butcher in Kuruman or a hairpiece in Bloemfontein by simply sending
an SMS with key words and the area you are in to the service on 34600.
Within seconds you will receive an SMS listing shops in your area offering services
matching your request along with telephone numbers. iFind managing director Fanie
Venter said they offered more than 12 000 categories and more than a million products
and services across the country. The service worked across all cellular phone networks.
"In many aspects this package is a world first," Venter said referring to the multi-platform
options available to the user. The directory can be accessed via SMS, calling the
call centre, over the Internet or through a type of session-based communication
from your cellular phone called USSD.
Venter predicts SMS will remain the most popular alternative of the access options.
"It is easier, faster and does not cost you a lot of money," he said. It costs R2
a message.
Compilation of the database began in September and Venter is confident that a user
in even the smallest of towns will be able to use the service.
"If you are travelling and looking for a butchery in Kuruman, this service will
find it for you," he said. If the service does not find what you are looking for
in a specified area, an SMS explaining this will be sent to the user.
"Within five minutes the call centre will contact you to address your inquiry, because
you have not found what you are looking for and still need to be helped," Venter
said.
Venter boasted this was among the three biggest and most comprehensive databases
in the country and by far the biggest in the SMS dimension. The R2 the user pays
covers the basic network charges.
"We make our money on the other side by charging the advertisers, and we want to
make it as cheap as possible for the user," he said. The current business directory
market covers about 300 000 businesses. iFind says it has about 200 000 on its database.
Venter predicts this number will grow by 40 percent as more businesses come on board.
"Businesses that would previously not have listed because it was too expensive are
more likely to do so now because it is so much cheaper and has the widest coverage,"
he said.
A business is charged about R171 a month to join the service.
This article was originally published on page 22 of Cape Argus on April 09, 2005
SMS directory service coming
BY RODNEY WEIDEMANN, ITWEB TELECOMS EDITOR
[Johannesburg, 4 April 2005] - An instant SMS directory enquiry service, iFind,
which offers users access to information about where to find businesses or services,
will launch in SA this month.
The listing service will be accessible across multiple platforms, such as SMS, USSD,
the Internet and call centres, and will also allow businesses to advertise directly
to people with specific needs.
Advertisement
iFind MD, Fanie Venter, says this niche market space has the potential to reach
18 million cellphone users and tap into the existing 300 000 potential advertisers
in the South African market.
“Since iFind will make directory service listings that much more affordable, this
market of advertisers could grow up to 500 000, to include smaller companies,” he
says.
“This instant directory service is unique in that it provides location-specific
results to a user's search, meaning they need only SMS the word of the service or
product and the desired location to our service number to receive up to eight matching
directory listings.”
He says that for example, a user can SMS ‘Plumber Durban' to 34600 and a number
of options will be SMSed back, with the user charged R2 per search.
“The technology behind iFind comes from Cellfind, a company that holds an international
technology licence for a location-based service, allowing cellphones and thus cellphone
users to be tracked and located,” says Venter.
SMS directory service coming to SA April 04, 2005
An instant SMS directory enquiry service, "iFind", which offers users access to
information about where to find businesses or services, will launch in SA this month,
reports ITWeb.
"The listing service will be accessible across multiple platforms, such as SMS,
USSD, the Internet and call centres, and will also allow businesses to advertise
directly to people with specific needs.
This instant directory service is unique in that it provides location-specific results
to a user's search, meaning they need only SMS the word of the service or product
and the desired location to our service number to receive up to eight matching directory
listings.”
He says that for example, a user can SMS ‘Plumber Durban' to 34600 and a number
of options will be SMSed back." |
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