September 16, 2011
By Donovan Jackson

Probably one of the biggest challenges facing any aspirant mobile developer is just how to break into the market. In addition to the programming knowledge and an understanding of how platforms, ecosystems and the mobile value-stack work, the developer also needs access to appropriate facilities, business insights and infrastructure. Solving that problem for South African entrepreneurs is a new facility powered with the assistance of Nokia: the mLab. The Pretoria-based facility provides the latest and greatest to allow mobile technology entrepreneurs, application developers and innovators to get stuck in with the support, guidance and resources they need to create great solutions.

Nokia’s involvement is significant; it is the leading choice of handset across Africa and it is providing considerable resources and insights which support developers in their creation of apps that people can use to improve their lives. The potential of such facilities is perhaps made clearer by the fact that the mLabs are a result of a private – public partnership (called Creating Sustainable Businesses in the Knowledge Economy) between the government of Finland, Nokia, and the World Bank. Such high-profile support does not come unless there are substantial advantages which can be achieved.

Showing just how keen the market is for such a facility, its recent launch drew some 150 people eager to use the facility; equally encouraging was that in addition to Nokia, the mLab has drawn widespread interest from other businesses and even government leaders who recognise the benefits of driving mobile innovation.

mLab is a concept taking hold elsewhere in Africa, too – the Pretoria one is not the first. Its presence is preceded by another in Kenya, opened in June this year, and which similarly provides networking and training opportunities, support for the development of a viable business model, mentoring, subsidised office space, and technical and financial support. These services are aimed at helping mobile entrepreneurs to make it through the most difficult and challenging part of getting into business: the start-up phase.

Of course, Kenyans (and other East African nations) have really taken to the advantages of mobile with the unprecedented success of the M-Pesa mobile payment system. It is just this sort of innovation, which can make life more convenient and easier, which mLab is supporting.

mLab Southern Africa’s activities are aimed at making the region a global hub for mobile innovations that will boost job-led growth and tackle economic and social needs. The facility draws on South Africa’s high bandwidth environment and talented pool of expertise with a view to fostering the development of solutions for all of Africa.

But it’s not just an African thing: the concept is going international with three more mLabs to open in Armenia, Pakistan and Vietnam. All of them will be linked for cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovations.

If you’re a developer (or an aspirant one) tell us what you think of this development – and if you will approach the mLab to get involved…