You are here: > About Us > Media Centre > Archive

01 November 2012

8ta offers self service on social media platforms

8ta ramped up its interactivity on social networking platforms by becoming the first mobile network operator in Africa to launch an integrated Self Service Application within social networking site Facebook and Internet browser Google Chrome.

Facebook users are now able to view their 8ta account balance, redeem vouchers and purchase data bundles by accessing the free App available on the 8ta Facebook page.

In contrast to Apps currently available in the market, which redirect users out of Facebook, 8ta's Self Service App delivers a seamless experience as the customer does not have to leave the Facebook environment to use the App.

"Social networks are extremely popular communication vehicles and we understand that our customers need to constantly interact and be engaged, hence their relationship with these platforms. Our new Self Service functionality empowers our customers to access the information they want from the platform of their choice," said Senior Managing Executive at 8ta, Amith Maharaj.

"We have achieved incredible success with the introduction of the iPad Self Service App into the market in June and consumers have requested that this service be made available on other operating systems. "

"We followed suit with Android and in just 10 days more than 1 000 downloads were recorded on the Google Play Store. The 8ta iPad App has recorded over 13 000 downloads from iTunes over the last 3 months," he added.

A version of the App is also available from the Google Chrome Web Store and it allows customers to manage their account in the same way as the Facebook, iPad and Android App from the browser's New Tab page.

"8ta is designing convenience as a necessity instead of a nice-to-have for our customers," concluded Maharaj.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Pynee Chetty

Senior Specialist: Media Relations

Group Communication

Tel:+27 12 642 1716

Mobile: +27 81 389 7874

Email: chettpr2@telkom.co.za

 OR

Leigh-Ann Francis

Specialist: Media Relations

Group Communication

Tel: +27 12 642 1728

Mobile: +27 81 391 4780

Email: francilm@telkom.co.za

Telkom Park, The Apex

92 Oak Avenue

Technopark

Highveld

Centurion

ABOUT TELKOM:

Telkom is a leading communications services provider in South Africa. We had consolidated operating revenue of R16.8 billion and normalised profit after tax of R1, 683 million for the period ended 30 September 2015. Total assets amounted to R41.9 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R23.5 billion as of 30 September 2015. The group generated normalised free cash flow of R1.4 billion for the period ended 30 September 2015.

As of 30 September 2015, we had approximately 3.3 million telephone access lines in service and 1,030,441 ports connected via MSAN access. We offer business, residential and payphone customers a wide range of services and products, including:

  • fixed-line retail voice services using PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines, including ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines, and the sale of subscription based value-added voice services and calling plans;
  • fixed-line customer premises equipment rental and sales services both voice and data needs and these include PABX, Computers, Routers, Modems, Telephone handsets and other ancillary equipment;
  • interconnection services, including terminating and transiting traffic from South African mobile operators, as well as from international operators and transiting traffic from mobile to international destinations;
  • fixed-line data services, including domestic and international data transmission services, such as point-to-point leased lines, ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) services, packet-based services, managed data networking services and internet access and related information technology services;
  • Data Centre Operations includes e-commerce, application service provider, hosting, data storage, e-mail and security services;
  • W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), a 3G next generation network, including fixed voice services, data services and nomadic voice services;
  • mobile communication services, including voice services, data services and handset sales through our mobile navbar-brand called Telkom Mobile;
  •  information and communication services including cloud services, infrastructure services, workspace services, global service integration management and hardware and network equipment sales locally, in seven African countries, the UK and Dubai through Business Connexion Group; and
  • other services including directory services, through Trudon (Pty) Ltd, wireless data services, through Swiftnet (Pty) Ltd.

Convergence is one of our key strategic initiatives in building a sustainable future for Telkom.  We will lead the provision of converged services in South Africa in support of our mission statement: Seamlessly connecting people to a better life.