1. MXit
The Past, Present and Future
Net Prophet 2009
14 May
By Herman Heunis
CEO
Silver Sponsors

2. Topics
 MXit Overview
 The Past
 Short History
 Factors that played a Role
 Challenges
 Lessons Learnt
 The Present
 User Growth
 User Demographics
 Current Status
 User Behaviour
 International Youth Research
 The Future
 Technology Future
 MXit Focus 2009

3. MXit Overview
 Free social computing software
 99% mobile based
 Various platforms (1200+ mobile, PC)
 Offers free communication (text, graphics, sound)
 Registered user base 13+ million
 Large base in RSA
 Users in 120+ countries
 Profitable in RSA since Sept 2006

4. The Company
Vision: to become a Global Lifestyle/Communications Company
Mission: to secure a significant portion of the 4 billion
mobile phones users in the world
Philosophy: We do not compete, we create
Slogan: “join the evolution” | “exit the ordinary”

5. The Company
Offices Data Centres
 Stellenbosch  South Africa
 Mauritius  Mauritius
 Germany
Staff
 100+
 Mostly software engineers but also
support, marketing, graphics teams

6. The Past – Short History
 Community desire
 Evolution
 The launch

7. The Past – Factors that played a Role
 Timing
 Marketing
 Publicity
 Software
 Funding
 Resources
 Mindset
 Strategy

8. The Past - Challenges
 User challenges
 Technical obstacles
 Monetization challenges
 Staff
 Funding
 Social changes
 Press

9. The Past – Some Lessons Learnt
 Leading/bleeding edge
 Analysis paralysis
 Right partners/team
 Product development chasm
 Competition
 Procedures and processes

10. 0
2000000
6000000
8000000
4000000
10000000
12000000
Nov-04 14000000
Feb-05
May-05
Aug-05
Nov-05
Feb-06
May-06
Aug-06
Nov-06
The Present – User Growth
Feb-07
May-07
MXit Registered Users
Aug-07
Nov-07
Feb-08
May-08
Aug-08
Nov-08
Feb-09

11. The Present – User Demographics

12. The Present – Current Status
 Innovation
 Mobile/PC Products
 MXit Economy
 Revenue
 Gateways
 Telcos

13. The Present – MXit User Behaviour
Our Findings
 Mobile phone is the remote control of the universe
 Belong to multiple social networks
 Mobile behaviour differs substantially from PC
 Incredible ability to multi-task
 Generation Y has little problem revealing personal info
 Adapting and accepting new technology is no big deal
 Role-play is an international “thing”

14. The Present – International Youth Research
Trends
 User satisfaction not always equal to brand loyalty
 Brand advocacy and viral
 Traditional ATL youth marketing has to change
 “Youth don’t have time”
 Social networks are EXTREMELY important to youth
 Even $1 is too much to pay for music and other
 DRM is a swear word
 Needs content digitally delivered

15. The Future – Technology Future
“No one knows – we all predict –
some better than others”
 Future Computing
 Mobility
 Battery life
 Processing power
 Communication speed
 Display capabilities
 Storage

16. MXit Focus 2009
 Gaming and entertainment
 Education in Africa
 MXit Portals

17. THANK YOU
Contact details:
www.mxit.com
herman@mxit.com