Between the line:
MTN gave third parties access to its Mobile Money Access Programming Interface.The access gave the developers a chance to develop solutions without facing the cost of building a new API and maintaining it. Three innovators from Uganda win cash prizes and one gets a trip to the Ericson offices in Sweden.
In November 2018, MTN Uganda made history with a move that would spur innovation in the developer community by becoming the first telecom company in Uganda and in the MTN Group to grant third-party access to its Mobile Money Access Programming Interface (API) in what became the MoMo Open API challenge. This way, brilliant Innovators would have a chance to provide solutions without being crushed by the costs of building a new API and maintaining it.
The Winners of the MTN Open API Challenge
1st Prize: $2,500 and a trip to Ericsson Offices in Sweden for one team member
Team name: PearlbrainsName of App: WooCommerceAn online platform focusing on e-retailors, giving them access to reach more clients while collecting payments using MTN Mobile Money.
2nd
Prize: $2,000
Team name: Piper2Name of App: Digital School BursarAn application that allows students (or children) to request and manage their own finances when away from their guardians
3rd
Prize: $1,500
Team name: PauseName of App: Easy MomoAn android app that embeds MTN MoMo API, enabling generation and reading of QR codes to be used for business process integration.
As the biggest Mobile Money platform in Uganda, MTN Mobile money has evolved to allow payments of goods and services, school fees payments, loans, insurance and savings among others.
