Wireless and Less Developed Countries

The EPROM project at MIT is looking at how mobile phones can make a difference in less developed countries. Mobiles already make a huge difference in Africa:

A large part of this boost comes from the innovative use of mobile phone technology by local entrepreneurs. In contrast to their use in the developed world, mobile phones in Africa are used for a wide variety of tasks, from sending money to family members to buying a fish from the market. Kenyan business men, farmers, and laborers are finding new uses for a tool thought of as simply a voice communication device in the West, and are coming up with original methods for solving their own problems. For example, contract laborers can now provide their phone numbers to potential employers and move on, instead of having to wait for hours at a workplace in case a job arises. Access to market information through mobile phones also provides rural communities with invaluable information about centers of business; many African fishermen check the local fish market prices on their phones to determine where to bring the day’s catch. The Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (Kace), now provides crop growers with up-to-date commodity information via text message (sms). This allows farmers to access daily fruit and vegetable prices from a dozen markets, and many have quadrupled their earnings because they have access to information about potential buyers and prices before making the often arduous journey into urban centers to sell their produce. The community payphone, another innovation unique to the developing world, has helped bring mobile phone usage to the poorest areas of Africa. These payphones are owned and operated by entrepreneurs who buy airtime from the network and subsequently sell it to local people who don’t own phones themselves.

EPROM, supported by a grant from Nokia, is working on ways to enhance and extend these benefits.

Comments

[William Weil]

Is JumpStart participating with any less developed countries?

[Jeff Bonar]

Yes, South Africa. We are interested in others, particularly if there is the potential to deliver significant development benefits. JumpStart would be interested in working with non-profits to develop applications that could make a difference. We would be willing to do this as our contribution to building a world that works for everyone.