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SMS Public Notification System (SPNS)

Challenges Entered: 

The SPNS (SMS Public Notification System) will be solving two main problems. One is that of reaching out to the public faster, widely and at low cost. Second is that of acquiring an SMS notification system easily and at low cost. Currently there are many businesses that keep coming up with ideas of using SMS as a way of informing their publics, but their dreams are either derailed or put on hold due to (i) lack of technical staff to create such systems for them and (ii) high prices demanded by the few people who are capable of building such systems.

Now, SPNS will make it as easy for anyone to get an SMS public notification system as opening a new e-mail account. The system will be integrated to enough set of short-codes and assign them automatically to anyone who signs up for the service on a website that will be created for this purpose.

The SPNS will comprise of (i) a website for use by customers and admins, (ii) SMS shortcodes, and (iii) softwares to manage the processes.

SPNS will be  sold in person  (ie, personal selling) to a  select high potential clients like public utilities, and also marketed to the public via media outlets, and outdoors using the funds obtained from clients.

Project Assessment
Financial support: 
No
Sustainability Model: 
This finacial model is in relation to Tanzania alone where development and testing will take place.START UP FUNDING required $ 20,000FIRST YEAR SALES expected $ 100,000- OPERATING EXPENSES $ 50,000OPERATIONAL PROFIT $ 50,000- CORPORATE TAX (30%)   $15,000NET PROFIT   $ 35,000FOR YEAR 2, 3 & 4 ANNUAL SALES expected to be not less than $ 60,000   AND OPERATING EXPENSES not  more than $ 30,000.
Expertise needed: 
Management Expertise: Management expertise will be required in managing corporate clients, and managing an expanded roll-out process into other countries starting with Tanzania neighbours (Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Burundi, Rwanda, DRC and Zambia)
Project goals: 
Week 0 : Sign-off, and startingWeek 15: SPNS system completed.Week 30: First customer signed up
Identified Obstacles: 
Potential obstacles are:1. Failing to obtain start-up funding2. Escalation of operational costs due to inflation, which may be hard to offset by increasing prices3. Gaining traction. It's not a new idea, and SMS'es are becoming common but still  high potential clients are managed by old guys who may be harboring deep roots to mass media as a good channel for advertising and notifying the public.
Submitted by channelpartners on March 17, 2010 - 5:19pm

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