simfy africa went live this week after what it describes as a “hugely successful pre-registration campaign which saw thousands of users pre-register, tweet and talk about the product”.
South Africa’s first homegrown music streaming operation is a partnership between the European streaming provider, simfy, and local digital content company eXactmobile. The alliance brings with it the international company’s know how and technology, coupled with the South African operation’s experitise in digital content, local infrastructe and customer support.
“Over the past 12 years plus I am proud to say we have achieved some remarkable feats in helping to shape the way South Africans consume digital content, especially through mobile. However it is no exaggeration to say that everything we have done to date has been a warm up for this – the main event,” says Davin Mole, the CEO and co-founder of eXactmobile.
“However it is no exaggeration to say that everything we have done to date has been a warm up for this – the main event. Even as early as 2005 we knew that eventually with the way the internet and mobile phones were evolving there would be an ‘end game’ way to consume music and we knew that roughly speaking it would look like simfy africa. Hence to have just launched a service which we know will dramatically change the way South Africans consume music in the years and decades to come, is a very satisfying milestone for eXactmobile and the great team of people behind it,” he says.
Simfy africa says it is supported by all major record labels, receiving music directly from music labels. Revenue is shared with artitsts and labels.
In the pre-launch phase of the service, South Africans who registered before midnight on 23 August started free trials three days before launch. They listened to over 70 000 songs via 4 400 playlists and had quite a bit to say on Twitter.
DannyK @dannykmusic: loving @simfy – hope its good for the SA music industry” thanks Danny – it will be #simfyafrica
Sound quality fantastic. This marks the start of the end of keeping a local personalised library, or buying CDs/MP3s to own. #simfyafrica
Simfy Africa brings legal, all you can eat Streaming Music for R60 pm https://www.bandwidthblog.com/2012/08/27/simfy-africa-brings-legal-all-you-can-eat-streaming-music-for-r60-pm/ via@bandwidthblog
So what does it cost? simfy africa can be accessed on your laptop and on up to three mobile devices (including tablets) for only R60 a month. The mobile and desktop apps mean you can listen online or offline – saving data charges. It is supported by phone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry), PC, Mac, and tablet. And you can use it in your car – or anywhere elese – via docking station, car stereo or any Bluetooth speaker connection.
Users can access 18 million songs (with an average of 500,000 new songs being added monthly) and instantly share playlists with friends via simfy africa, Facebook, Twitter or email. There’s also branded playlists from your favourite artists, and music.
