MyVodafone Android App

After finishing up on the MyTiGO app, I thought I could just do a few code modification to provide the ease and relief of common network tasks that MyTiGO brings to other networks as well. And so, as you might have noticed, this is the same version of the app for +Vodafone Ghana subscribers.

If I have to go through the features again, then it is a very simple android app aiding users perform simple tasks as checking credit/balance, loading up credit, subscribing for data or internet bundles. How different is this from the traditional way of performing these tasks you may ask. Well, you don't have to remember and call any short codes. Just a touch of an on-screen button and you are good to go. For example, no entering of *123*...# to load up credit. Just enter your scratched number in the text box, touch the load credit button and it's taken care of.

A few additional gimmicky features are pages for Vodafone Ghana social network profiles on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. This version for Vodafone Ghana also includes a button for contacting customer support which was not available in the +Tigo Ghana version.

The file can be downloaded from the link below for installation on only android devices. Please ensure that 'Unknown sources' is on in your settings as is the case with installing any apk file. On tablets, tasks such as loading credit, checking balance and customer care can only be performed if the tablet is cellular enabled (or works with a sim card - not wifi only).
(Link has been updated for a new version as the old one had a bug with loading credit)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0nh44gy9um2vhyp/MyVodafone.apk

Feedback will be gratefully appreciated. Thank you.

MyTiGO Android App

MyTiGO is an android application I developed and have been using for some time now. How many times have you had to pause and think for a while or even ask a friend for one of those short codes to check your balance, get internet bundles or even recharge? This is your answer. Having developed and been using it personally, I think it's time to get this in a lot of people hands as a lot seem to also have my code memorizing mental challenge as well.

MyTiGO helps to easily recharge a scratch card number for credit with just the touch of a button. Unarguably a better alternative to the *842*...# option or going through automated voice menus to perform a simple task. Also included is the ability to check your balance and bonuses. The app also provides quick access to the Tigo Cash menu where transactions can be made with the various sub-services under Tigo Cash. +Tigo Ghana can provide more details on that.

Tigo recently launched an Internet portal which I also included in the app. It most helpful to get details of and subscribe to various data packages. The first page of the portal that I incorporated gives an overview of the user's account providing information about balance, current data package and its expiration date.

Tigo Internet Portal Page

Additional features that are included are pages for the 3 main social network accounts for Tigo on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. All these are embedded into the app and can easily be switched back to the normal Tigo mobile services page.

Wrapping up, I think these type of applications should be provided by all the mobile network service providers to ease usability for their customers especially on mobile devices they sell directly to customers as pre-installed apps. The app is currently available to any interested persons who send me an email ( felixsarp@gmail.com or techdroolgh@gmail.com ) requesting for it. Please do send feedback of your experience and how it works for you just so I can optimize it for various devices.

Update: The apk file is now downloadable from the following links.
Download from the Google Play store now

Free Twitter Text Notifications

I thought I'll just pop by after a while to give a bit of a helpful tip combining 3 great things - Technology, Football and Freemium. Yes, two of my most favorite things plus everybody's desire. You know how most weekends you receive texts from your mobile service provider reminding you to subscribe to a service which alerts you via text messages about news and scores from your favorite team at very 'low' costs? What if you could have that for absolutely no cost at all with no bother from any service provider. Here you go.

What you need

• A mobile phone
• A twitter account
• Official twitter account of the football (or sports) team you support

Step 1
Create a twitter account if you do not already have one in this day and age. (It's much cooler than Facebook by the way)

Setting up your mobile phone to receive tweets.
At this moment you need to go into your settings via the wrench icon on the right side of the top bar of the page. Clicking it brings up a drop down list that includes 'Settings'. Once on the settings page, you want to click on the 'Mobile' link on the left side menu. From there you need to set the form up for 'Activate Twitter Text Messaging'. Just go ahead and select your country and input your mobile number as well selecting your network or carrier provider. At the moment, for Ghana, Airtel, +Tigo Ghana , MTN, Glo, Expresso and Vodafone are all supported.
On the next screen, you are instructed to text GO on your phone to 40404. Do so. In a little while, the screen should automatically change to show that the activation was successful. You can change or leave the additional options as you wish. I choose to leave them as they are.

Step 2

Once you have your twitter account set up and mobile phone ready for tweet notifications, go ahead to find and follow the official twitter account of your club. I'm only suggesting the official accounts. This is because I'm assuming you do not want to be unnecessarily disturbed by tweet alerts on your phone by the unofficial accounts which tend to tweet for the fun of it even if it does not remotely concern the team plus useless made-up rumors. To make things a bit easy, I'm putting up links to the official verified accounts of some of the big clubs you most probably are a fun of.

https://twitter.com/MUFCOFFICIAL
https://twitter.com/Arsenal
https://twitter.com/chelseafc
https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona
https://twitter.com/realmadrid
https://twitter.com/acmilan
https://twitter.com/FCBayern

If these links aren't helpful to you for some reason as your team not coming to the top of my head as a popular team, go ahead and use the search bar to find your beloved club and click the follow button to follow them.
Note: Verified official accounts are marked by a verification icon --->
While you are at that, you might want to follow me on https://twitter.com/felixsarp or https://twitter.com/techdroolgh

Step 3
Having successfully followed your team, you need to set them up for receiving their tweets as text messages on your mobile phone.
First you want to go to their profile if you aren't there already. This can be done by searching from the list of people you follow or as a shortcut, press 'g' and 'u' together on your keyboard if you are on a computer and start typing the name of the team. If found and on their profile page, identify the settings on the left of the following button. Click it to reveal the drop down menu and notice 'Turn on mobile notifications' in the list. You are left with simply clicking to tick it on and you are good to go.

Henceforth, all official tweets from your team will be received on your phone as text messages even if you are not connected to the internet without any charges. If you are reading this from a country where you are charged for receiving text, you might not be too happy with this. For my Ghanaian friends and readers though, I'm sure you'll be happy with this. Thanks for reading and I hope I've been helpful in a way.