In this AppDate issue, SEAN BACHER highlights Mobi Moola, Qlik Playground, ttrumpet with the Ward feature, LikeMoney.co.za and HouseMe.
Mobi Moola
Mobi Moola, an app aimed at enabling cellphone users to pay for public transport using their airtime, was named the winner at the recent TADHack challenge sponsored by MTN. The app was designed for people who use taxis daily and don’t have the correct amount of cash for a trip. Mobi Moola uses USSD and can be installed on most smartphones or feature phones to transfer payment to taxi operators, using airtime from any mobile operator. The taxi driver generates a QR code which generates a USSD string, or a QR code is placed on the side of a taxi and scanned, launching the payment system.
Platform: Android and iOS
Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.
Expect to pay: A free download
ttrumpet with Ward Feature
The locally developed ttrumpet community app now includes a Ward feature. This allow consumers to report service delivery issues such as blocked drains, burst pipes, electricity outages, missing manhole covers, refuse issues, and faulty street signs. The app uses a device’s geo-location, so municipalities know exactly where the issues are and can move to correct them. Users can then access that fault through the app to view its current status and time it will take until it is repaired.
Platform: Android and iOS
Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.
Expect to pay: A free download.
LikeMoney.co.za allows South Africans to make more informed decisions when choosing a particular service or product. For example, users can compare financial products based on what their friends and other social media users like and recommend. They can then use the website to compare credit card deals, bank account costs, insurance costs, investment returns and broadband deals. LikeMoney is designed to provide unbiased, objective and independent information so users can evaluate the benefits of financial and consumer products without being pressured by any one provider.
Platform: Any device with an up-to-date Internet browser
Stockists: www.likemoney.co.za
Expect to pay: A free service.
HouseMe
These days finding a suitable tenant can be a challenge. Although you can interview and do a few background checks on a candidate, you never really know who you are inviting to move in with you. HouseMe, a mobile app and web portal, aims to streamline the process. It offers an online auction mechanism where landlords receive bids on their rental properties from prospective tenants eager to secure their accommodation. Through its growing database of registered users, HouseME also offers tenant-rating scores to give landlords peace of mind when selecting a tenant and includes guaranteed rental for landlord. From a tenant’s perspective, because some come from all over South Africa and are not always able to view property, the HouseMe app verifies every listed property and provides the most recent photos.
Platform: Android or any device with an Internet browser.
Stockists: www.houseme.co.za
Expect to pay: A free service.
Qlik Playground
Qlik Playground is a web-based application that gives developers an easy way to learn about, use, and experiment with the Qlik platform. The app gives developers a “sandbox” to experiment and try out specific APIs for working with, analysing, and visualising data. By connecting to their own data and accessing public data sets through Qlik’s APIs, developers can get hands-on experience on how certain data sets interact with others, and bring them to life visually.
Platform: An up-to-date Internet browser
Stockists: www.qlik.com
Expect to pay: Free to use.
* Sean Bacher is editor of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter on @SeanBacher