How do I convince mobile operators to provide an API for my online mobile recharge site?
I want to build an online mobile recharge website. What I found out was the most important to do is to provide an API. I have an appointment next week with the manager in one of the companies. How do I convince him to provide the API?
Do I have to show the cost benefits or how it increases revenue for them? If so, how do I calculate stuff like quantifying the profits?
I am making a presentation, which will show the features like:
1) User registration
2) Account panel
3) eWallet recharge facility
4) Sales report
5) Failure report
6) Automatic email sent
7) Member list
Any suggestions or experience obtaining an API would be great to hear. Thank you.
Expert Answers
Sort by Date
Sort by Votes
Aug 3, 2015
I think you have a great idea that offers a HUGE upside BUT with limited resources and lacking in credibility.
This might be a good a time to consider giving up some of the riches you'd like and consider cutting in someone else. After all, 100% of nothing is still nothing
Why not consider going to one company that already works with one or more upline providers (like gamers or something), and offering to cut them in. Then let them go to their contacts and make the deal and leave you a percentage
Online billing is hot now but the #1 concern of any provider is how do they know you will pay them. what's to keep you from collecting funds and moving to Zimbabwe?? If you don't have a corporate credit rating I have serious doubts they would be willing to allow you to use their name/logo to collect funds online.
THEN they are going to want to know about the code and efficiency. After seeing your code they would very likely just tell you no then build their own and license the online recharge software to one of their established vendors like the guys you probably should have made the deal with in the first place.
Soooo, I would suggest if you're going to spend any money at all, spend it on a patent attorney getting an NDA and at least a trademark, copyright and hopefully a patent. then hope to goodness they rip you off. It would take some time but eventually you could expect a sizeable settlement and a piece of he income.
Massa
Jul 23, 2015
Going with someone another companies API can be cheaper but if you have custom requirements or wants it might be best for you to have one built for you. If you have time lets connect and explore the possibilities with a provided API versus a custom API built around what you want.
Jul 22, 2015
Hi Vamsi
Go back to the WIIFM
What's In It For Me . . . or in this case, for them?
Work out why would they want to connect with you?
What is the benefit or advantage?
Are you offering something that the others are not?
Jul 22, 2015
Hey Vamsi, I've never actually gone to a company and asked them to create an API but I assume it's pretty difficult. Building an API can be a decent amount of work and most companies are very busy. But I think you're on the right track.
Try to provide a compelling case why it benefits them. You could also make a case that they'll be able to profit off your company and any other company after that wants to use the API.
Another option is to offer to pay for the creation of the API and/or pay based on number of API requests. If they're not interested in providing a free API and this would still be profitable for your company, it might be the way to go.
As far as how to quantify the profits...I don't know enough about your situation to say. But if you paid based on API requests, that would be pretty clear cut. Just simply estimate your number of API calls and multiply by the price.
Jul 22, 2015
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your reply The companies are really big ,so i was presuming that they will already have an API and all i have to do is get it from them .I am a single developer,i dont have any team ,so creating an API by me is not possible ,as i dont have domain knowledge and i hardly doubt they will give me the access to code for a single individual .I wouldnt be meeting the technical or IT Head but the Manager at the Head Office ,and i hardly doubt he will understand IT terminology. Right now,all i can think of is ,ideas to show him how it will generate more revenue for them ,but thats about it .
Thank you
Thank you Robert ,the companies are refusing to give the API and my investor backed down too.But the points you raised were eye opening i didnt think all that ,now that i think of those possibilities you said ,i feel it was for the good that i had to drop this idea.