Misconceptions regarding USSD

Two misconceptions exist regarding the utilisation of USSD for mobile banking.

The first is that it is possible to deploy bank-grade security mobile banking solutions with USSD. All bank-grade electronic banking solutions assume that a certificate based secure token be injected by the Transaction Input Device (POS, ATM, etc.). Typically the bank (or an organisation trusted by the bank) would want to control this input device - this is especially true when transactions are trusted from other banking sources (which is for sure a mobile banking objective). The only way that this is possible in mobile banking is if the bank supply the application on the Transaction Input Device (i.e. on the mobile phone). This can only be achieved by a Java or SIM-based architecture.

This does not mean that USSD can not be utilised to provide mobile banking of an acceptable level of security. By making use of dual factor security, limitation of functionality, limits etc. it is possible to deploy USSD solutions that are quite safe for the consumer.

The other common mis-conception is that USSD is free or not expensive. Whereas it is true that it is difficult to bill for USSD and mobile operators often provide the service for free, it is intrinsically quite expensive to deliver (compared to SMS for instance). The cost to the consumer is a function of what mobile operators bill and this range from free to quite expensive from one market to another. Because USSD is a session based technology and would tie up expensive infrastructure when mobile banking takes off, mobile operators may be forced to charge for it at relatively high levels.

In summary: USSD is a good solution for mobile banking if deployed wisely, but is not the ultimate panacea.

Implications of RBI guidelines

The recently guidelines as published by the RBI is as can be expected from a Central Bank taking their role seriously. The guidelines are on the strict side of what will enable mobile banking services to be rolled-out with very little risk to the monetary system. The RBI should be complemented on this. In reading the guidelines, the following are particularly interesting:

2.2 Restricting the service to proper KYC/AML complaint accounts is wise, but will impact many services based on viral or light wallet type solutions. Also pre-paid debit cards will adversely be impacted. Some schemes currently implemented in India will have to be modified.

2.3. Limiting the service to "only Rupee based services" means that services like money remittance and transactions involving Card Association services will have to be re-evaluated.

3.3 The requirement of a signed document to subscribe to the service have massive impacts. The definition of "Standard Services" should possibly extended to also cater for payments to previously defined beneficiaries and to ad hoc payments.

4.1 The implication of this requirement, if analised properly have major implications. I would argue that none of the services deployed currently comply with confidentiality nor non-repudiation as the bearer channels utilised are all not bank-grade secure.

5.1 The requirement of having all services available on all networks are almost unattainable, unless network operators will be forced to co-operate.

5.2 The requirement to conform to ATM-type 8583 will be very difficult to implement if this requirement requires this to originate on the handset (as one would expect)

Annex II The requirements described in this annexure (especially application level encryption and many of the requirements regarding the management of PIN's) are not deployed in any of the Indian mobile banking solutions based on my limited understanding of what has been deployed. The RBI will have to relax this requirement or all mobile banking deployments will have to be re-designed.

What is of interest for me, is reference in Annex I of countries where regulatory guidelines exist. We at Fundamo have been pioneering mobile payments and banking in all of these countries (and others). We have always worked with the Central Banks, and it seems to be paying off.

Dow Jones: Corrections

Source: http://www.chartoftheday.com

Read premium magazines free online

All these while premium magazines were to be subscribed. Even magazines like Reader’s Digest, MIT Technology Review, PC Magazine, MacWorld, Lonely Planet have there online editions but one has to subscribe them as well. Well not any more.. a small tweak on your Mozilla Firefox browser setting does the trick and enables you to read all these magazines for free.

Surprisingly this is a very simple tweak which enable you read these magazines absolutely free. Follow the below few steps and you are in.

Step 1. In Firefox: enter “about:config” in the location bar
Step 2. Enter “useragent” in the filter and change the value for “general.useragent.extra.firefox” to “Mobile Safari 1.1.3″.
Step 3. Open zinio.com/iphone and here you can start reading your favorite magazines.

After reading, set it back to setting to “Firefox/2.0.0.14″ to get back to normal mode. By the way you could also read magazines like Playboy and Penthouse. Thanks caul for the tip via Labnol

The Characteristics of a Good Cell Phone for Seniors

After posting a number on posts on handsets that are suitable for seniors, I thought that it would be helpful to make a post dedicated to the characteristics or attributes found on a mobile phone for seniors.

Here's a list of attributes that makes a handset a good cellphone for the elderly.

  • Affordability - since seniors are usually on a fixed income and do not have the luxury of going over their budgets, an affordable cellphone would be a good choice for them. There's no need to spend a ton of bucks ona smartphone that can do a lot of things because they would not be able to use them anyway. A cell phone for serniors should be affordable but reliable.
  • Large Keypad- raised, separated number keys and a large keypad are always best for seniors. A good mobile phone for seniors should offer a keypad that makes it easy for seniors to press the keys and distinguish one from another.
  • Loud Speakerphone- seniors will appreciate a handset with a loud speakerphone because they can be a solution to hearing aid incompatibility. The Speaker phone allows a user to hold the phone away from a hearing aid to reduce feedback and improve the call quality.
  • Bright and Large Display - good mobile phones for seniors should have a large brightly lit display with large text because vision tends to decline with age. Handsets that have large brightly lit screens with
  • User Friendliness- Although today's seniors are familiar with modern technology, they may not consider the need to access email or the internet from their cell phone a priority. They need a handset for emergency purposes and to simply communicate with friends and family. A simple handset will make asking for aid quicker and more efficient. A device that seniors can customize for convenience and ease of use is suitable for the elderly.
Well, these are the basic attributes of great mobile phones for senior citizens. Users can look for them or use them as guides when they are looking for a cellphone for senior citizens. Of course, phones that are suitable for the elderly may not have all of these attributes but they should have at least three of them to be judged as appropriate for seniors.

I also thought it would be helpful to list the cellphones for seniors that I have featured on this blog. Click on them if you want o get more info on these devices.

Tune in to this blog for more info on mobile phones for seniors.

The Characteristics of a Good Cell Phone for Seniors

After posting a number on posts on handsets that are suitable for seniors, I thought that it would be helpful to make a post dedicated to the characteristics or attributes found on a mobile phone for seniors.

Here's a list of attributes that makes a handset a good cellphone for the elderly.

  • Affordability - since seniors are usually on a fixed income and do not have the luxury of going over their budgets, an affordable cellphone would be a good choice for them. There's no need to spend a ton of bucks ona smartphone that can do a lot of things because they would not be able to use them anyway. A cell phone for serniors should be affordable but reliable.
  • Large Keypad- raised, separated number keys and a large keypad are always best for seniors. A good mobile phone for seniors should offer a keypad that makes it easy for seniors to press the keys and distinguish one from another.
  • Loud Speakerphone- seniors will appreciate a handset with a loud speakerphone because they can be a solution to hearing aid incompatibility. The Speaker phone allows a user to hold the phone away from a hearing aid to reduce feedback and improve the call quality.
  • Bright and Large Display - good mobile phones for seniors should have a large brightly lit display with large text because vision tends to decline with age. Handsets that have large brightly lit screens with
  • User Friendliness- Although today's seniors are familiar with modern technology, they may not consider the need to access email or the internet from their cell phone a priority. They need a handset for emergency purposes and to simply communicate with friends and family. A simple handset will make asking for aid quicker and more efficient. A device that seniors can customize for convenience and ease of use is suitable for the elderly.
Well, these are the basic attributes of great mobile phones for senior citizens. Users can look for them or use them as guides when they are looking for a cellphone for senior citizens. Of course, phones that are suitable for the elderly may not have all of these attributes but they should have at least three of them to be judged as appropriate for seniors.

I also thought it would be helpful to list the cellphones for seniors that I have featured on this blog. Click on them if you want o get more info on these devices.

Tune in to this blog for more info on mobile phones for seniors.

Is Nigeria the new Hotbed for Mobile Banking?

Everyone seems to be getting involved in Nigeria with the best solution for mobile banking in this unique country. Some weeks ago paybox announced their Moneybox initiative in collaboration with local entrepreneurs. A recent announcement from UK company Broca (having won a deal to deploy their SMS platform in Nigeria) also highlighted how their solution would be ideal for Nigeria.

Anyone familiar with Nigeria would be aware that some exellent solutions ar ein production and have been developed in the country itself. Some of these have been in production for some years now. In working in this country, the relationships between different mobile operators and banks should be considered. As well as switching companies and the Central Bank. The environment is extremely complex.

Fundamo have been involved in the market since 2005 and have worked on a number of initiatives. The country is an ideal environment for the deployment of mobile payment solutions, but many problems require solutions - the least of these being innovative technology.

Is Barclay's Hello Money secure?

Barclay's recently launched "Hello Money" in India (See website). Based on face value this is commendable and it seems as if a great job was done. It is always good if progress is made in mobile banking. I wish them many subscribers and of course a positive business case.

The one topic that I do find intriguing and would like to place on the table of discussion is the claim that it is secure. (I assume that this means that Barclay is happy that it conforms to their banking security policy). Based on what I have seen on their website, I would like to argue that this is not the case...

USSD traffic through the GSM network as it travels from the handset via base-stations and the radio network through the IN platform is often in the clear. This means that it can be intercepted by engineers skilled in the art of GSM traffic. It is virtually impossible to defend against such an attack (primarily because the bank does not have any control over this protocol). This means that it is possible to steal security information that would allow some-one to perform a fraudulant transaction.

Usually banks caters for this risk by limiting the functionality available through USSD-based mobile banking. Yet, Barclays have decided to allow fund transfers to unregistered Visa cards on a once off basis. This creates a serious potential security loophole. Am I missing something, or have they been ill-advised?

The conference bandwagon

The Mobile Money Transfer Summit arranged by the GSMA in Cairo was a huge success. The speakers speaking at the conference was a whose-who of the industry. The organisers ensured that many of the presenters where pioneers of the industry with clear stories to tell. (Some vendors were also given the opportunity to present). The number of delegates and the distance that they travelled indicated that the industry came of age. (Also see my previous blog-entry)



It is therefore no surprise that conference organisers also climb on the band wagon. This is a compliment to the GSMA and an indication that it is recognised that a lot of interest exist in this industry segment. A case in point is the MMT08 conference organised by Claion Events. In selecting a name for the conference that looks exactly like the name utilised by the GSMA have confused a number of vendors thinking that this conference is endorsed by the GSMA. Clarion also "mined" the speakerslist of the Mobile Money Transfer Summit and used dubious tactics to invite vendors to the conference. (Like advertising speakers not speaking and a vendor shoot-out with vendors not attending).



It is a pity that tactics like these are being utilised by unscrupulous conference organisers.

Recent research


A recent report produced by Juniper, was promoted by the following tagline: "more than 2bn Mobile Users Will Have Bought Digital Goods With Their Phones by 2013". This is huge.

The report seems to be well structured according to specific regions and look at things like transaction sizes and volumes. It seems as if they have done a good job to substantiate the claim. If these numbers materialise, a lot of work will have to be done by a lot of people and - for sure - this would be the biggest revolution since the invention of money.

The Status of Branchless banking


Many advances have been made in the past period towards the dream of branchless banking. Financial services have always been available to lower income earners under trees and in villages. We are all familiar with informal saving schemes and community lending mechanisms. These provided in a need that obviously existed, but were always informal and offered no or limited protection to the consumer. Also, because they are not visible to regulators, it is difficult to work at improving systems to support these. Infrastructure available are also often limited in capacity.

This is now changing with new support from central banks and guidance from the Worldbank. A concerted effort is being made to include previously marginalised people into the formal banking world. This is of course made possible through mobile banking and utilising new types of disruptive banking, but the more important this is being given momentum through support from central banks. The most recent example is clear guidelines recently published by the Pakistan central bank.

A number of major banks also announced initiatives in providing product and services to these markets. Recent announcements came from banks like Tameer Bank in Pakistan, ICICI bank in India, Corporation bank in Mongolia, Pacific and Western in Canada to name a few.

If banks were to be liable for on-line fraud

According to a recent report on Finextra, the UK's House of Lords would like to make banks legally responsible for lasses incurred by customers through electronic fraud. This made me wonder about how banks would act if they were liable and what would the legal rules be that would constitute a customer loss? How will banks ensure that they can eliminate customer fraud made up to look like a loss? Would Internet banking and mobile banking security mechanisms be the same as what they are today?

Maybe if the laws were more strict, one would see more secure electronic banking solutions?

Banks tell us about hackers after they are caught

A number of very interesting stories about how people hacked into banking systems was published recently.



The first was about an arrest of a teenage hacker in New Zealand who supposedly headed up a gang of cyber-crooks that managed to steal about $20 million through fraudulent transactions. Read more here.

Teenage hacker (Finextra). Another one is the story of Alistair Peterson who over a period of two years managed to steal almost R 10 million off South African banks. He used an elaborate mechanism with mules to achieve this undetected for a long time. Read more here. Also the story about the HSBC clerk who got caught in an attempt to steal £ 72 million from the bank. Read more here.



The fact that all three these stories broke almost at the same time, made me conclude the following:



  • Internet banking fraud is alive and well and being practiced everywhere in the world where banks exist
  • Banks tell us about the crooks that they catch so that we know about the loopholes and can defend against them
  • But they don't tell us about the crooks that they don't catch, for obvious reasons: it may lead to a lack of confidence in the banking systems. But how many of them do not get caught and how prevalent is Internet banking hacking really?


GLD: SPDR Gold Holding (ETF)

Source: Jsmineset.com

Gold Oil Ratio LT - Rapport LT or pétrole (GOR)

Source: Marketoracle.co.uk

Nokia 6133: A Good Looking Cell Phone for Seniors

I've found another device that's suitable for senior citizens. This time it's a cell phone that will cater to users who want a beautiful phone. This handset has been describe by some experts as a "good looking" device.

Normally, mobile phone for seniors are designed for quality and user friendliness rather than fashion. But beauty is a bonus that most people want. After all, no one at any age would want to carry an ugly looking handset. Anyway, let's take a look at the "good looking" Nokia 6133.

The Nokia 6133 is similar to the Nokia 6085, a good mobile phone for seniors that I featured on this blog about three months ago. Both of these phones share many attributes that make them great handsets for the elderly. Let's explore the characteristics that defines the Nokia 6133 as a cell phone for grandparents.

The Nokia 6133 belongs to a series of clamshell Nokia phones that offer an external display. The 6133 offers a 1.5-inch, 128x160-pixel external display that shows the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo or video caller ID. However, it's the internal display that marks the Nokia 6133 as a good cell phone for seniors.

The Nokia 6133's internal display measures at 2.2 inches, 240x320 pixels, and supporting an awe-inspiring 16 million colors. These numbers puts most other comparable mid-tier cell phones to shame. The display is one of the most important factor that makes a good cell phone for senior citizens because seniors usually have poor vision. And the Nokia 6133 offers one the the brightest and best displays in the market.

Senior users can also change the font size so they can make the text and numbers if they have difficulty seeing the information on the screen. The Nokia Series 40 platform is also included in the Nokia 6133's design so users can benefit from the vivid and intuitive menu.

Size wise, is sleek and compact which is good for senior users. A thin phone would not be good for seniors because they are not easily to hold. And this cell phone for seniors is also affordable because it offered $99 with service. This is a good price considering the features that it offers.

The Nokia 6133 mobile phone for seniors also offers a key pad that is good for elderly users. This handsets keys are tactile with large, backlit numerals. These are good attributes because seniors can easily press the keys and the backlight helps users differentiate one key from the rest. There are also skinny silver bars that separate the individual rows of keys which is another good bonus.

This handset also offers a good speaker phone. Speaker phones are a workable solution to hearing aid incompatibility. Users with hearing aids can hold the phone away from the hearing aid to help reduce any feedback. It also has a 1.3 mega pixel camera which seniors can use to take and store images of their friends, children and grand children.

Tune in to this blog for more services and cell phones for seniors.

Nokia 6133: A Good Looking Cell Phone for Seniors

I've found another device that's suitable for senior citizens. This time it's a cell phone that will cater to users who want a beautiful phone. This handset has been describe by some experts as a "good looking" device.

Normally, mobile phone for seniors are designed for quality and user friendliness rather than fashion. But beauty is a bonus that most people want. After all, no one at any age would want to carry an ugly looking handset. Anyway, let's take a look at the "good looking" Nokia 6133.

The Nokia 6133 is similar to the Nokia 6085, a good mobile phone for seniors that I featured on this blog about three months ago. Both of these phones share many attributes that make them great handsets for the elderly. Let's explore the characteristics that defines the Nokia 6133 as a cell phone for grandparents.

The Nokia 6133 belongs to a series of clamshell Nokia phones that offer an external display. The 6133 offers a 1.5-inch, 128x160-pixel external display that shows the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo or video caller ID. However, it's the internal display that marks the Nokia 6133 as a good cell phone for seniors.

The Nokia 6133's internal display measures at 2.2 inches, 240x320 pixels, and supporting an awe-inspiring 16 million colors. These numbers puts most other comparable mid-tier cell phones to shame. The display is one of the most important factor that makes a good cell phone for senior citizens because seniors usually have poor vision. And the Nokia 6133 offers one the the brightest and best displays in the market.

Senior users can also change the font size so they can make the text and numbers if they have difficulty seeing the information on the screen. The Nokia Series 40 platform is also included in the Nokia 6133's design so users can benefit from the vivid and intuitive menu.

Size wise, is sleek and compact which is good for senior users. A thin phone would not be good for seniors because they are not easily to hold. And this cell phone for seniors is also affordable because it offered $99 with service. This is a good price considering the features that it offers.

The Nokia 6133 mobile phone for seniors also offers a key pad that is good for elderly users. This handsets keys are tactile with large, backlit numerals. These are good attributes because seniors can easily press the keys and the backlight helps users differentiate one key from the rest. There are also skinny silver bars that separate the individual rows of keys which is another good bonus.

This handset also offers a good speaker phone. Speaker phones are a workable solution to hearing aid incompatibility. Users with hearing aids can hold the phone away from the hearing aid to help reduce any feedback. It also has a 1.3 mega pixel camera which seniors can use to take and store images of their friends, children and grand children.

Tune in to this blog for more services and cell phones for seniors.

Silver LT (1978 - 2008)

An addition to the Orkut tricks collection

In the past i have shared quite a number of orkut tricks now to add to the collection here's a new one. Give it a try to test it, i am sure you would like it.

If you have a friend in orkut and you want to know all female/male friends connected to your friends list, this small trick would come handy. Follow simple steps as mentioned below.

Step 1. Open the profile of your friend you wish to know male/female friendslist
Step 2. On “HER FRIENDS” or “HIS FRIENDS“ category, click on the “VIEW ALL” option
Step 3. Now here you can view all the FRIENDS of your friend..the url will be like
(http://www.orkut.co.in/FriendsList.aspx?uid=************************ )
Step 4. Now here add “&q=female” AT END and press enter or “&q=male” AT END and press enter.
eg: http://www.orkut.co.in/FriendsList.aspx?uid=************************&qfemale

Wolla, the friendslist only shows female or male friends..

Update: The Orkut team has fixed up the security bug.. the trick is no more valid from Jan 2008

A Go Green Initiative - for we have only one earth

Going Green is not an option anymore, its mandatory for all of us. Each one of us can really help and contribute.. How ?? In two simple steps... 1) Read the below article and 2) Send this link ( http://askwiki.blogspot.com/2008/07/go-green-initiative-for-we-have-only.html ) via email to friends, family, colleagues or anyone you know who can help spread the message.
So are you going to support us in spreading the message ??

Global Warming - An Eye opener..

We only have one Earth and we have to do our best to take care of her... read through 10 things that you could do to save our planet.

1. Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

2. Do not leave appliances on standby
Use the "on/off" function on the machine itself. A TV set that's switched on for 3 hours a day (the average time Europeans spend watching TV) and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode.

3. Use the washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full
If you need to use it when it is half full, then use the half-load or economy setting. There is also no need to set the temperatures high. Nowadays detergents are so efficient that they get your clothes and dishes clean at low temperatures.

4. Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.

5. Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!

6. Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Look for transit options in your area.

7. Drive carefully and do not waste fuel
You can reduce CO2 emissions by readjusting your driving style. Choose proper gears, do not abuse the gas pedal, use the engine brake instead of the pedal brake when possible and turn off your engine when your vehicle is motionless for more than one minute. By readjusting your driving style you can save money on both fuel and car mantainance.

8. Protect and conserve forest worldwide
Forests play a critial role in global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere - deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

9. Move your fridge and freezer
Placing them next to the cooker or boiler consumes much more energy than if they were standing on their own. For example, if you put them in a hot cellar room where the room temperature is 30-35ºC, energy use is almost double and causes an extra 160kg of CO2 emissions for fridges per year and 320kg for freezers.

10. And of all the very important part, you spreading the message to fellow citizen of the world. Your first step really counts... So copy the below link ( http://askwiki.blogspot.com/2008/07/go-green-initiative-for-we-have-only.html )and spread the word or Click Here to email. And if you are a blogger or can publish contends online join our 'Go Green Initiative" copy this HTML code and paste it on your website.

Thanks for your valuable support, let Go Green to provide a better future to our childrens.. Comments and suggestions always welcome

Google's Green Initiative is on the roll

The Google Store is going all green. Under its green initiative Google Store is now selling their usual products that are now from sustainable sources, organic, recycled and/or, non-polluting.

Their items in the eco friendly range include pencils made from recycled blue jeans, bamboo t-shirts, biodegradable lip balm and a cool hemp travel organizer. Way to go Google...

Well Google seems to be doing its bit towards greener earth. More details available at the Google store website itself. http://www.googlestore.com/

Silver demand - Demande d'argent

Source: Silver Institute