Friday 14 June, 2019
In partnership with Vodafone Fiji, Vititech and NaDraki have been providing SMS based weather information to Vodafone customers over the past ten years. Vititech
who are the technology providers for NaDraki Weather services has now launched Fiji's first weather App.
The locally developed weather App is designed to provide accurate and localized weather data to Fiji and the rest of the Pacific.
"With the proliferation of smartphones and the easy access to the internet, the transition from supplying weather updates via SMS to mobile applications was a natural transition, says Director Vititech Truman Bradley.
Vodafone's
Chief Marketing Officer, Rajnesh Prasad added that NaDraki weather has grown to be a respected and trusted source of weather forecasting in the country. Vodafone always explores ways to deliver solutions that are simpler, easier and helps with
people's daily lives. With the App, users can go through their daily routines and as the weather changes, and they will receive notifications for places in their vicinity that could impact the choices they make for the day ahead.
SMS
updates have been an adequate mechanism but as the market trends change we have to be market relevant. SMS based weather alerts also pose a limitation with important information condensed in just 160 characters. Smartphone users can now get instantaneous
and contextually relevant information on the weather at the right time to make more informed decisions instead of gazing the skies, said Prasad.
The Nadraki app features include: Current weather temperatures,
wind speeds, humidity, pressure, the chances of rain, sunset & sunrise, daily tide table information for mariners, and daily summarised forecasts, 5-day forecast, current warnings, forecasts upcoming events, weather map, and chat to the weatherman,
some of these features are freely available while some require a premium subscription.
The App is Available on Google Play, and iTunes absolutely free to download.
"In the past year, we have been working to bring to market
the last piece of the puzzle for customers to access this information and today we stand proud of the weather app that enables all customers to access real-time data of weather that is happening in Fiji and the microclimates that exist.
Summarised forecasts and adverse weather warnings sent directly from the NaDraki team is another feature that makes this app stand out as subscribers receive updates early to ensure they are better prepared. Neville Koop as the meteorologist
for NaDraki develops and interprets the information that becomes our forecasts. Partnering with Vodafone gave NaDraki Weather leverages on coverage around the country", added Mr. Bradley.
Partnering with Skyward Industries to deploy
weather stations (made in Fiji) around selected areas in the country to ensure that the weather data is current, accurate, and localized to the users.
"Over the years NaDraki has been able to deliver the most accurate weather forecasts and
warnings to our users to help them make more informed decisions about their day and with the App, it allows the access to local weather on the go.
As a pioneer in mobile communications in Fiji, we acknowledge and applaud the work
and effort of Vititech to be the first to explore the mobile weather category in Fiji.
Our partnership with Vititech has always been about pairing the best location data with the best weather data. It's a great combination, as we have
the major network coverage in Fiji and NaDraki is able to reach to the majority of the Fijian populace", said Prasad.
Vititech has been in partnership with Skyward Industries for over 8 years now developing the most sophisticated and
100% locally produced weather station and content delivery system available in Fiji.
The App will give knowledgeable, convenient information making its users aware of the weather given Fiji's unpredictable Cyclones and constantly changing
weather patterns given that most of the subscribers have latched onto NaDraki weather forecasting.
There are two weather stations that are active in Nadi and Suva, and another 4 stations will be deployed in the coming weeks.
"Internet of Things (IoT) is the next big push in the world today and the collaboration with our partners and have shown how a local company can both design, develop, manufacture and finally deliver a first-class system for all our customers.
Our partners that develop the weather stations in Fiji also produce them with 100% local input including their own circuit board design and manufacturing that run the stations. Indeed all of this is a huge achievement for all of us", said
Mr. Bradley.
Vodafone in partnership with Vititech and associate partners look forward to the future development of the App to further deploy more solutions to our customers.
