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The rapid rise of mobile phone use in poor countries is well known as an exemplary case

of a technology enabling bottom-up empowerment through information access, driven by smallmargin

business and end-user innovation. While many are not mobile phone owners themselves,

few today face a several mile walk to access an often-disconnected landline phone for

communication, which was a regular occurrence only ten years ago. But even as some marvel at

the rapid changes brought about by mobile phone use, a second generation boom is already

occurring, developing innovative applications for the now widespread mobile phone platform.

Building off this new connectivity, there are new programs aiming to provide public

information access, data storage and accounting, and even mobile banking, mostly utilizing only

the cheapest phone models. Whether for-profit or as charity, these applications are seen by many

as the next step in leveraging the power of mobile phone diffusion to provide information access

cheaply and efficiently to the world's poorest.

While some may see this new movement as over-exuberant, high-profile new programs

are being driven by enthusiasts representing the technology industry, academic research groups,

and international aid organizations. As a result, the future of mobile phone applications, as well

as most technology in development, is relevant to business and trade policy, research investment,

as well as traditional development aid programs.

BACKGROUND

Introduction

Extending the benefits of mobile phone use is now the focus for countless development

projects. Although many technical projects target assisting aid workers or providing group tools

for whole communities, mobile phones have uniquely become easily accessible and useful for

individual users. The rapid spread of phone usage, generally unaligned with formal aid programs,

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has prompted support for “connectivity for it's own sake,”1 the idea that giving people a tool to...