Malawi: Airtel, ZBS start mobile news service
"Subscribers who are also listeners of Zodiak Broadcasting Station will be able to access daily news by sending a word 'Zodiak' to 54141," she said.
She said people will also be able to send messages on condolences, deaths, illnesses, or comment on debates, express their opinion on any topical issue, as well as announcements on religious gatherings or wedding ceremonies using this service.
Unyolo said the cost of the sms is will be MK25.
Similar initiative from BNL
Commenting on the initiative, Zodiak Online editor Gabriel Kamlomo said they are excited to always lead with technological innovations in Malawi.
"We hope to reach the 75 percent of the Malawi population we broadcast to with this initiative," he said.
This initiative has also been followed by a similar one initiated by Blantyre Newspapers Limited in partnership with TalkAWE.
The two firms announced that they will soon introduce a breaking news service, for latest news updates on both fixed and mobile phone lines.
According to The Daily Times of Friday, 10 June 2011, the service is expected to roll out on 15 June and subscribers will be getting news headlines early before the newspaper hit the streets.
The news headlines will be taken from all the four titles published by BNL namely The Daily Times, Weekend Times, Malawi News, and Sunday Times.
Distributing headlines
TalkAWE's commercial director Gloria Fiwa told the daily that the service will involve sending of news headlines to subscribers.
"This will be available in all phone networks in the country and any handset as long as they have an sms facility. The service will allow subscribers to be the first to know what is in the newspapers and to get breaking news at any time of the day," she is quoted as saying.
She said with the global technological advancement, it was important for readers to be updated through phones.
"It is global trend and why should Malawi stay behind. The service will also allow subscribers to get latest news updates even if they are outside the country so long as they are using Malawi lines," she said.
The paper says the subscribers for BNL breaking news will have to choose a maximum of three categories from international, national, business and entertainment, religion and sports.
Subscription rates are K2, 000 monthly, K5, 750 quarterly while half yearly subscription is at K11, 500 and annual subscription is K22, 000.
About Gregory Gondwe
Gregory Gondwe is a Malawian journalist who started writing in 1993. He is also a media consultant assisting several international journalists pursuing assignments in Malawi. He holds a Diploma and an Intermediate Certificate in Journalism among other media-related certificates. He can be contacted on moc.liamg@ewdnogyrogerg. Follow him on Twitter at @Kalipochi.
