Mobiles aid drive for development

The BBC has a good read on how cell phones are helping emerging countries to bridge the digital divide, and how the "GSM Association is trying to reach many of those people who live beneath the shadow of the networks but do not have a phone, by making affordable handsets specifically for developing markets."

... "One scheme in South Africa uses the cheap handsets that allows a handset to become a mobile payphone. Under the Sharedphone scheme, entrepreneurs can let others make calls and send text messages using the handset.

Some good quotes Tom Phillips Chief government and regulatory affairs officer for the GSM Association:

-- "Mobiles are no longer a luxury," he said, "they are essential business tools."

-- "The role of telecoms is every single bit as important as electricity and basic infrastructure in enabling development of an economy".

Some good links:

-- Emerging Market Handset Program

-- Shared Phone

Companies working on cheap mobile phones for emerging countries:

-- Sub-$20 cell phone for emerging markets

-- Philips targets $20 mobile phone for Chinese market

-- Korean Handset Maker Unveils $20 Mobile Phone

-- Philips Develops Platform for $20 Cell Phones

-- Hop-on's $36 Cell Phone

-- Microsoft Peabody phone will be aimed at mass market]

-- Motorola' $30 phone model

Other related articles:

-- Cellphone Game Rings In New Niche: Ultracheap

-- Cell Phone Makers Hope To Connect In Poor Nations

emily | 2:20 PM | Mobile phone projects - Developing World |
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