Telecommunications company Safaricom has unveiled Kenya’s first Video Ring Back Tone (VRBT) service in partnership with Huawei. Dubbed VybCall, the VRBT service is innovated off the Skiza service, which was launched nearly 20 years ago.
Safaricom, during the unveiling on Wednesday, October 8, announced that this new service introduces short-form videos that enable customers to personalize their caller-waiting experience.
With VybCall, customers will now entertain their callers with curated video content as they wait for the call to be answered. The service makes Kenya the first African country to introduce VRBT.
Difference between Skiza Tunes and VybCall
Skiza service is audio-based and includes music, jingles, and voice messages, whereas VRBT is video or multimedia-based and includes music videos, animations, and promotional content. With Skiza, callers hear an audio tone while waiting for the receiver to pick up. In contrast, with VybCall, callers see and hear a video while waiting for the call to be answered.
In addition, Skiza works on both 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. VybCall, on the other hand, requires 4G or 5G with VoLTE capability for video streaming. While Skiza is compatible with any mobile phone, VybCall requires a smartphone with VRBT-enabled software. Safaricom’s device partners include Samsung, OPPO, Xiaomi, and the company’s Neon.
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Another difference is that Skiza is limited to sound engagement, while VybCall offers higher engagement through visual storytelling and brand appeal.
Skiza also offers monetization through music subscriptions and caller tune downloads. On its part, VybCall‘s monetization options have been expanded to include brand videos, ads, and user-generated content.
How Kenya’s first Video Ring Back Tone works
VybCall is currently available on the Safaricom Neon range, select Samsung and Oppo devices, and Xiaomi’s Redmi A series, with planned support on Vivo devices in Q2 2026. Customers can opt in by dialing *860# on compatible devices or via the Safaricom App on vybcall.safaricom.com to set up.
“At Safaricom, we are constantly exploring new ways to give our customers choice and control through targeted experiences. The launch of Kenya’s first Video Ring Back Tone service is one way we are transforming daily moments creatively, buttressing our commitment to innovation,” said Safaricom CTIO, James Maitai.
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On his part, Gavin Gao, Huawei CEO- Kenya, said, “Vybcall will help the amazing creatives in Kenya, which is just one of the many ways that Huawei works with our partners to develop innovative technologies which improve customer experience and drive economic growth.”
The Call Back Ring Back Tune service, Skiza, was launched by Safaricom in 2009. The idea was to help artists monetize their music when people subscribed to it on Skiza. Initially, it was music only, but as time went on, other content creators were also given the opportunity to onboard their content.
“Since its introduction almost two decades ago, Skiza has been a household name, allowing customers to share their favourite tunes with callers. With shifting content consumption habits and growing global popularity of short-form video, Safaricom is innovating to keep its services relevant and valuable to customers,” Safaricom notes.
The company has maintained that the new VRBT feature “allows for monetization capabilities for content through customization, enhancing user experiences, and will give businesses an edge to turn idle time into a marketing opportunity.”
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