ngBot.com - Nigeria’s First Real Mobile 2.0 Community?
ngBot is a web 2.0 portal that connects mobile phone users in Nigeria thereby providing them a social networking community with the latest tips, tricks and hacks for mobile phones.
A Nigerian mobile 2.0 community for mobile downloads (mp3s/ringtones, videos, apps, games)and discussions about anything mobile, ngBot mobile goes beyond sending of SMS and mobile downloads. It is a user powered community where anyone can contribute to every part of the site including uploading mobile items, messaging (sms, mms, wappush), item bookmarking, downloads, adding tips, codes, hacks, as well as articles.
ngBot mobile is targeted exclusively at phones and mobility. ngbot mobile features mobile downloads, SMS, phone and network codes and hacks, tips and articles.
Unique Features
The site has also been designed with all the usual features of an effective social networking site where members create profiles with pictures, search for friends, use the intra mail and participate in the discussion board (forum). ngBot mobile also features a phonebook (storage of up to 500 contacts), phone store (30MB storage for your phone items) and more.
The chat system of the ngBot mobile phone version features one to one chat and public discussion in 7 rooms - Entertainment, Newbies, News/Gists, PC/Internet, Phones/Gadgets, Relationship and Sports.
ngBot portal has a directory of Nigerian websites with categories such as Arts & Entertainment, Careers, Computing & Telecoms, Education, Finance, Hotels & Travels, Internet & IT, Life & Culture, Media, National Issues, Organisations, Technology amongst others as well as several sub-categories.
What’s More?
ngBot recently introduced a service called nairaMngr (my favorite), a java (J2ME/MIDP 2.0) mobile application for day to day earnings and expenditure recording. This feature helps you track your earnings either through a gift, cash at hand and in bank, interest, salary and whatever.
nairaMngr also helps you keep tab on how much goes to expenses like food, transportation, phone, utilities, liabilities and such.
How to Use nairaMngr
nairaMngr displays the front screen with the record date, earnings, expenses and the balance for that date. By default, the shown date is the current date (from the phone’s date settings).
To change the date to either see, add or modify the records for a cetain date, simply scroll to the date (highlighted) and press the phone button applicable to the ‘edit’ button that will be shown on screen. Once a new date is selected, the records for that date is displayed.
To add, see details or modify any of the earnings or expenses records, simply scroll to the applicable one as well and select ‘edit’.
My take on this
I think that this portal would grow to become one of Nigeria’s most popular web destinations in the nearest future as mobile penetration has grown exponentially in more recent times in Nigeria. The site’s mobile applications are very web 2.0ish as they support open source as well as open search technologies.
The directory seems to be well organized, perhaps because it is admin-driven and doesn’t allow users to add a website to the directory. But I think if it has to grow, it has to be a user-generated directory.
I seem to like the idea behind nairaMngr, which happens to be my favorite ngBot mobile app. I’m interested to see more mobile apps from Nigeria that would get the world’s attention just like everyone’s talking about Kenya’s mobile messaging service - Mpesa.
And in terms of building a truly mobile 2.0 community, the guys at ngBot have what it takes to make things happen. I’m eager to use their next feature. Just can’t wait!
I’ve checked out this site. It has a lot of potential. I also like the simple design. A Nigerian site with a lot of free mobile content is something that will really attract members. I’m expecting the other things they have up their sleeves. I also hope to hear from the guys behind it.
*I must also add that startupsnigeria is the most informative naija site i’ve come across. Nigeria is getting there.
Thanks for giving in a word. We really really appreciate this
ngBot.com itself is the parent portal that brings together our every ideas of web apps with primary focus on Naija. And the directory, blog and mobile site is just a little part of our big plans.
We are working at improving the directory, and as you suggested, making it user powered as well. We will be overhauling majority of the links (some are dead) and adding other nice features. Work continues on the mobile community as well. And we’ve got a lot of features we are working on (I won’t let them out now to make it a surprise). You can however bet you’d be part of the first to know when these things are up.
Once again, thanks for the word. We really feel inspired.
@Patric - Thanks for your comments. You’re right about the loads of free content at ngbot. That will sure get more members. And by the way…thanks for your props too!;-)
@ray - Thanks for dropping by. I guess the community can’t wait to get a taste of your cakes…meanwhile, I’ll be waiting to get the scoops;-)
Still lukin thru tho the syt is luking realy gud, its very precise i must say. Strictly 9ja stuff is what i feel shud b on ea, and u culd create an idividual uni alumni 4as many schls as posible. U rock
The site is a REAL home for all INTERNET active Nigerians and others due to its heterogeneity.