//

Africa is not perfect, just as every other continent isn’t. But what has shaped and keeps shaping the world into a better place are solutions; man keeps building solutions. Growing up in sub-Saharan Africa, precisely Nigeria, comes with lot of challenges. Challenges that are in need of tact solutions, some of which has to do with security, power, education, transport system; all of which are calling for man’s solution to meet man’s need. With the penetration of technology in Africa, solutions are beginning to spring up to solve the African need.

This has thus created a lot of problem solvers, but still, there exists a communication gap between Africans facing problem(s) and the problem solvers. The Police for instance, whose primary duty is enforce order in a society has not had any direct connectivity with its denizens, as person(s) witnessing crime or societal disorder still find it hard to get in touch with the security agency. Well, except the elites; the average Nigerian does not have his district’s police phone number. In other instance, amidst recent escalating rate of domestic violence, depressive thoughts, human trafficking, crime etc., a lot of people still have no idea that there are people/agencies they can reach out for help. Sometimes they know (via TV ads, billboards) but don’t take note of reachable contacts, they ignore until the need is dare. This is also the same trend when there is need for an enquiry or service from a business organization, but reachable contacts are nowhere reachable.

It was with this in mind that a team of 3 Nigerians came up with a solution to boost communication between solution provider(s) and solution seekers in Africa by reinventing the phonebook, into a smarter spec called HollaNow. An app that lets its users find any contact (phone number & email) of people and organizations they need, beyond those saved on their smartphone. Every user creates a username that acts as their contacts for other users in need, so there’s no need jotting down or saving phone numbers when you can find them pre-saved on your smart phonebook. The idea by the team is to turn every phone numbers seen on posters, website, TV, radio, billboards, roadside into a username that can easily be remembered when those medium are not available to give you the digits, even if it’s just the name of the organization. Meaning one doesn’t need scouting for phone number of Govt agencies like the EFCC, NAFDAC, NEMA, FRSC, nor Organizations like anti-domestic violence agencies, human trafficking agencies, suicide counselors, or businesses and even friends they lost contact with, JUST SEARCH YOUR SMART PHONEBOOK.

Users of the app can also enter their crafts and occupations, which help other users find the contact of nearby service providers they need directly from their phonebook. Which mean anyone looking for an agent’s phone number or a taxi’s phone number –as its common – can easily find them from their smart phonebook.  Way to go! If only L.G.A chairmen can sign up to this, maybe constant calls would keep them accountable to their electorates.

More interestingly, users don’t have to be worried about how to reach a contact saved on their smartphone when its switched off or misplaced, as every other smartphone with HollaNow makes any person reachable. For instance, if a person a user need to reach –when their phone is probably stolen or off- is registered on HollaNow, all they need do is look for the nearest smartphone with HollaNow and search the registered name of the person to get their contacts. And if the person to reach is not registered, users can get the nearest smartphone with HollaNow, Log the owner out, Log yourself in and their personal phone contacts comes up. This backup feature help users back their contact up for life, with their username and password!

In a bid to make the app social, the team introduced an exciting feature called HollaNow call-note, which allows users send a short note while dialing a number. This short note is seen by the receiver when the call comes in, to identify the reason for the call. This is also designed for the caller to express the urgency of the call to the receiver to facilitate a pick-up. Users can also use it as a flash to send information that requires a call back. This feature is exclusive to HollaNow users.

Dubbed HollaNow 1.0, to be officially released on 18th of September 2017 and with a vision to subsequently release superior versions of the app, HollaNow Technologies, -a team of 3 partners; Stanley Chidi, Michael Iheruome, and Okonkwo Ikenna- is on a mission to give its users unlimited access to contacts they need whenever they need it, reduce stress when user’s phone goes off or gets stolen, give user’s easy access to phone numbers they need when stranded or in an threatening situation and finally, to never to lose contact with their besties.

And most of all, connect solution providers to solution seekers.

Google Play Link: http://ift.tt/2jsHhAi

Website – www.HollaNow.com

The post HollaNow 1.0; Reinventing the Phonebook for Africa (Nigeria First) appeared first on Disrupt Africa.

from Disrupt Africa http://ift.tt/2jtWSzq