Of course, the fact that access group is hosting the site is just classic cloud computing and has little to do with the many to many model.

Your thoughts on the subject are very similar to mine and yes, examples of 1LINK and MNet are very relevant for the evolving Branchless / Mobile Banking in Pakistan. Thats when the discussion on the Open environment / Interoperability makes good common sense. I have no doubt in my mind that sooner or later, this will happen. But undoubtedly the sooner it happens, the better for everyone. My apprehensions are that it might take us good amount of time to appreciate this and by then, so many entrants would be wasted too much of this time, energies and money, trying to develop something of their own.

Nevertheless, it is very crucial that this evolving Banking segment develops which will stimuate enconomic progess in many ways.

Wish Pakistan success in Branchless / Mobile banking initiatives!

To serve the huge population of the country, there is a strong need to integrate efforts by both MNO’s and Banks and the best form of this integration is through a centralized payment system.

1LINK has done this successfully for ATM transactions. It has not limited itself to ATMs but it provides customers the convenience to use any delivery channel like mobile, Internet, IVR, Call Center and Bank Branches.

If each MNO connect to each bank this project will take decade to execute. 1LINK as the payment hub connects the entire banking system of the country could serve the interoperability between MNO’s and Banks, as MNO’s like Telenor, Ufone and Warid already in the network for Bills Payment and Top-up service.

Welcome to the land of opportunities, where the possibilities are endless.

“Medicine is for the Patient; not for the profits. The Profits follow”. (George Merck – 1920s)

I am so glad to read the developments at Access Holdings and the spirit between MCB and Fundamo. What has been conceived and established can impact our Financial footprint Big Time and change so many lives for the better – God Willing. I hope sanity prevails mostly with the many new potential entrants in the marketplace.

I see a very positive Intent here (Congratulations Gentlemen) and if my reading is correct (which i think it is), I dont think there is anything stopping the Storm Rising!

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” (Robert Louis Stevenson)

I await to read about your next milestone, big or small.

My sincere best wishes

Rizwan Hafeez

And yes, the relationship between MCB and Fundamo is non-exclusive. Both Parties support and understand the importance of other entities also making use of the shared platform. Other banks and operators have already signed up to utilise the infrastructure and will be announced in due course.

My one question to the two gentlemen is that someone does own this Open / shared platform and in this particular case, who that is? MCB or Fundamo or someone else? Does that owner have any stake in any Brand / service or he only is the provider of this platform to everyone interested?

Second, it can only be permissible in the relationship between MCB and Fundamo if it is on non-exclusive basis? Right? Only in this case, others (MNOs or Banks) can utilize this platform to launch their own specific products / services.

The Gentlemen got the concept right, surely. It now remains to be seen if this model takes off successfully in Pakistan or not? I think the tendency still remains to have everything in house with complete controls but the real essence of this discussion is to let go of unnecessary setup and concentrate more on a high value, well differentiated product for everyone and not worry to much about ones existing, captive clientele.

Bravo Gentlemen for an idea / plan well conceived and well understood. Wish you success in your radical / different plan.

“If you want to be irreplaceable, you have to be different.”

“(foolish) Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds”

Best of Luck

Rizwan Hafeez