Econet Wireless, the leading telecoms and technology company in Zimbabwe, is once again showcasing a wide array of innovative and technology-driven applications at their Zimbabwe Agriculture Show (ZAS) stand this week.
The company’s exhibition this year features activations and demonstrations from Econet products which include BidBuddie, BuddieBeatz, Elevate, Connected Lifestyle and many more.
The company’s Chief Commercial Officer Mr Navdeep Kapur said he was gratified by the public’s interest in Econet’s products, saying the pace of new innovation adoption in the country was particularly high.
“We are happy with the interest and uptake of our products, and very impressed with the pace at which Zimbabweans adopt new technologies and new and innovative ways of doing things,” Mr Kapur said.
Commenting on their BidBuddie App, he said farmers who want to dispose of equipment or just make extra money could now do using the App.
“The online auction App allows farmers to list their produce or equipment they have replaced so that they get the best prices. The App is free for customers to list and bid on, with farmers getting access to an audience of over 100 000 potential buyers,” Mr Kapur said.
Econet is also showcasing the popular BuddieBeatz Brand, which customers can ‘experience’ by visiting the Econet stand to watch live performances by BuddieBeatz artists such as Mbeu, Tammy, Tgonzi & Ishan. Customers can also video-stream the live performances from the Econet Wireless Facebook Page.
Mr Kapur said Econet was inviting more established and up-and-coming musicians to visit the Econet stand and sign up to get their music on the BidBuddie App for free.
“Artists will receive royalties for any of their music that is streamed or downloaded on the App each month,” said Mr Kapur. Currently the music platform has over 600 000 users.
He said BuddieBeatz was now being accessed by customers from over 30 countries, adding that the service was also supported by local radio stations such as ZiFM and Star FM, which provide weekly chart playlists on the App.
He said the App was helping fight music piracy and empowering local musicians to make more money from their work as it provided a platform for their music to be heard around the world, including Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.
Econet’s Youth empowerment brand Elevate is also exhibiting at ZAS, where it is hosting an e-Sports Tournament at the company’s stand on Friday August 23 and on Saturday August 24. Elevate is inviting gamers to register online in the buildup to the 32 individual gamers that will battle it out for over Z$10 000 worth of prizes to be won.
Econet is also running Virtual Reality (VR) gaming on a daily basis, where customers are able to immerse themselves into the latest gaming technology and play exciting games using Oculus technology and fast 4G connectivity.
General Manager for Marketing at Econet Wireless, Ms Mellany Msengezi, said: “The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show is a great platform for engagement with the public and with our customers. It presents an opportunity for customers to share their needs with us and also for them to interact with and try a wide range of new technologies that we have on display. We believe this year’s interactive elements have been a hit among both the young and the old.”
The Econet exhibition is themed: Step into the future’ and is in the ICT Hall at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.