Low-cost African airline, Mango, has launched to a range of new products and services for customers via its mobi-site and tablet applications
The functions that will be available from 20 September 2012 will make it possible for South Africans to book and pay for flights, choose seating and purchase ancillary products on the go.
The mobi-site, which is linked to its existing Flymango.com URL, will automatically detect and adjust to different mobile devices.
A tablet application will be available for download at no cost from various app-stores by the end of October.
“Innovation is one of the cornerstones of our business," said chief executive officer of Mango, Nico Bezuidenhout. "Going mobile will not only make doing business with the airline easier, but also provide access to bookings where traditional e-commerce has no reach.
“Mobile connectivity in South Africa accounts for a significant portion of internet users who solely connect using their cell-phones. This represents a vast, untapped online market well within our potential customer base.”
According to published highlights of the 2012 Internet Access SA study, South African internet connectivity has grown by 25 per cent in 2011 to 8.5mn by the end of 2011. In 2010, growth was pegged at 28 per cent.
Of these connections, approximately 7.9mn internet users accessed it through their cell phones, just over six million through traditional PCs and laptops and 2.48mn users who solely use their cell phones to access the internet. By the end of 2011 there were 8.5mn smartphone users in South Africa.
“We will effectively reach nearly 2.5mn potentially new customers who do not access the internet in any other way," said Bezuidenhout.
“Marry this with our wide payment method acceptance, particularly Edgars and Jet store charge cards that are highly relevant to this market, and you have a winning recipe.”
