Vodafone launches mobile money transfer scheme

Vodafone is testing an international mobile money transfer service in partnership with Safaricom and Western Union. The service will let people in the UK send money from selected Western Union outlets (currently just in Reading... and no, I don't know how large Berkshire's ex-pat Kenyan community is) directly to Safaricom mobile customers in Kenya. People receiving money can use their funds in a variety of ways, including withdrawing it via participating agents in Kenya or forwarding it on to another mobile phone user. The new scheme builds on the success of Vodafone and Safaricom's existing M-PESA service in Kenya. [Press release]

Kenyan elephants send text messages before rampaging

Here's a prime contender for this week's "And finally..." story on the Mobile News podcast, I reckon. An elephant conservancy group in Kenya is fitting troublesome elephants with mobile-equipped collars that send rangers a text message if the elephant heads towards crops. It means the rangers can divert the elephant, protecting farmers' livelihoods without causing the elephant any harm. [Source: Ol Pejeta conservancy]