Practical Insights on Mobile Phones

How can mobile phones help poor people?

Mobile phones can be used in ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development) to help poor people.

Mobile phones can be a powerful tool for promoting development and improving the lives of people in developing countries, by providing access to information, opportunities, and services. For example:

  • Healthcare: Mobile phones can be used to access health information and services, including telemedicine and other remote healthcare services. This can help to improve access to healthcare, especially for people in remote or underserved areas.
  • Education: Mobile phones can be used to access educational resources, including online courses, educational videos, and other materials. This can help to improve the quality of education and expand opportunities for learning.
  • Employment: Mobile phones can be used to find and apply for jobs, as well as connect with potential employers and clients. They can also be used to start and run businesses, providing a source of income and economic opportunities.
  • Communication: Mobile phones can be used to stay connected with friends and family, and to access news and information from around the world. They can also facilitate the exchange of ideas and facilitate collaboration with others.
  • Political participation: Mobile phones can provide a platform for people to engage in political discourse and participate in the democratic process, helping to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
3 Digital Business Opportunities with Micro Merchants in Bangladesh

3 Digital Business Opportunities with Micro Merchants in Bangladesh

Published on: Feb 06 2019 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on 3 Digital Business Opportunities with Micro Merchants in Bangladesh
  Imagine you could impact over 1.3 million people and their families, who represent 13% of the gross domestic product of Bangladesh. That’s the promise with...
The Definitive Guide to Mobile Data Collection in International Development

The Definitive Guide to Mobile Data Collection in International Development

Published on: Nov 21 2018 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on The Definitive Guide to Mobile Data Collection in International Development
Are you mobile data collection curious? Do you have colleagues who always ask you how to collect qualitative and quantitative data using mobile devices? Or do you...
9 Lessons Learned in Rolling Out Dimagi’s Mobile Device Management Pilot

9 Lessons Learned in Rolling Out Dimagi’s Mobile Device Management Pilot

Published on: Nov 01 2018 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on 9 Lessons Learned in Rolling Out Dimagi’s Mobile Device Management Pilot
Enumerators, who are people like you and I, like to download Candy Crush, Facebook, YouTube videos, mobile screen savers, to their mobile phones, and use up significant...
Beware the Mobile Phone Hardware Quality Divide for Rural African Women

Beware the Mobile Phone Hardware Quality Divide for Rural African Women

Published on: Sep 20 2018 by Wayan Vota - 12 Comments
We all can celebrate the massive adoption of mobile phones across the African continent, and be astonished at the rapid uptake of smartphones in countries like...
Do Not Forget USSD: The Third Universal Mobile Application

Do Not Forget USSD: The Third Universal Mobile Application

Published on: Aug 29 2018 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Mobile applications designed to work with carrier provided services have generally focused on voice through Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and text through Short...
Which Mobile Phones Work Best for Disaster Responders and Humanitarian Aid Field Teams?

Which Mobile Phones Work Best for Disaster Responders and Humanitarian Aid Field Teams?

Published on: Mar 05 2018 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
During my time working with a well-known Mobile Industry Development group, one request which would turn up on a regular basis in my in-box was for recommendations...
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Published on: Feb 24 2018 by Steve Vosloo - 1 Comment
Quartz Africa reports that last year feature phones won market share from smartphones in Africa. The market share of smartphones fell to 39% in 2017 (from 45%),...
Can Mobile Device Management Improve the Data Collection Processes?

Can Mobile Device Management Improve the Data Collection Processes?

Published on: Feb 19 2018 by Guest Writer - 10 Comments
When doing large scale monitoring, evaluation and research, organizations often deploy hundreds of frontline workers with hundreds of devices for mobile data collection. Naturally,...
10 Key Takeways from UNESCO Supporting Teachers with Mobile Technology Report

10 Key Takeways from UNESCO Supporting Teachers with Mobile Technology Report

Published on: Dec 18 2017 by Steve Vosloo - Comments Off on 10 Key Takeways from UNESCO Supporting Teachers with Mobile Technology Report
UNESCO recently released the Supporting teachers with mobile technology report, which draws lessons from UNESCO projects implemented in Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan...
A Novel Analysis of Mobile Phone Impact on Rural Farmers

A Novel Analysis of Mobile Phone Impact on Rural Farmers

Published on: Aug 16 2017 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on A Novel Analysis of Mobile Phone Impact on Rural Farmers
Many scholars have hailed the mobile phone as a tool to give farming in developing countries a new impetus. However, studies on the impact of mobile phones in general,...