The Sunday Mail
LOCAL mobile device company, Astro has launched an ambitious online platform, the Astro Mobistore, that is designed to market and sell local music, merchandise books, applications and wall paper. However, an online music selling platform will likely provide renewed hope to local artistes, the majority of whom have been negatively affected by rising piracy.
The Astro Mobistore is basically a free, Android-based local digital content store modelled around the Google Play and the Apple Store where third party content providers or owners can sell their content on.
“Astro’s Mobistore has been tested and ready to go with uptake from people very encouraging.
“There has been serious interest from artistes we have talked to, to use the platform including Oliver Mtukudzi, Jah Prayzah, Suluman Chimbetu and Alick Macheso amongst musicians, whilst merchandisers and authors are also very happy to start selling their books and products on our Mobistore platform,” explained the company’s chief executive officer Mr Munyaradzi Gwatidzo.
It is believed that music that will be sold on the platform will be encrypted and can only be paid via a special media player that comes with the Astro Mobistore.
The Mobistore has all the mobile money transfer services such as EcoCash, Telecash, OneWallet and Textacash that also enables users to make payment for the content.
Notwithstanding the mobile money services, the company also has its own payment system — Astro credits — that also work the same way as gift cards.
The head of Mobistore, Mr Leonard Mafati, noted that the platform could ideally be a conduit for Zimbabwean goods onto the international market as sales can be done via other international channels.
“Apart from the local payment platforms, we also have Mastercard and Visa also available as payment options.
That means Zimbabweans can sell to the world through Mobistore, which is an opportunity few had before Mobistore came on the scene,” said Mafati.
