Another 1st from Starcomms!…Isn’t that MTN’s line?

After about two weeks of announcing the launch of a new feature that allows their subscribers send Twitter updates via SMS on their mobile phones, Starcomms has today announced a new feature called Facebook on Starcomms.

Obviously Twitter and Facebook have increasingly gained popularity around the world, while usage and membership has grown exponentially in Nigeria.

Now you can catch up with your friends, followers and fans on Twitter and Facebook with the Starcomms Social Networking Service available via SMS from your mobile phone.

According to Maher Qubain CEO of Starcomms: “We want to be known as an innovative company and we intend to change the way people use Telecom”.

True, the social networking space is slowly crossing the barrier of the web and entering into the mobile arena, and companies such as Starcomms are focusing on developing products and solutions to help grow their communities.

And that’s why Starcomms wants to be the first to come to the market with such product features. But the fact is that Starcomms isn’t the first to integrate social media features into their community.

Earlier this year, Etisalat launched a product called Easy Cliq that allows their subscribers to cliq with their friends via Facebook. With this service, their users can update their Facebook status through SMS.

Again, Starcomms isn’t the first to use the “Another 1st” phrase, which has been around in the mobile industry for a while. I think MTN Nigeria started using that phrase (or perhaps Glo, not sure), and guess it might soon become a major buzz word, if any of them decides to sue the other for violation of patent, trademark or copyright laws.

What’s more?

I think that for Starcomms to claim to be leading innovative features through social media tools is a good thing, but wouldn’t it have been better if they had built a social networking platform on their site?

My guess is that it will foster participation and engagement within their community and attract more users to their network.

Update: Starcomms ran two full page ads on The Guardian Newspaper today on the two new features. Tweets are 10 naira per SMS and 8 naira per SMS for Facebook.

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