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    @Martin said:

    said:
    Perhaps we should think 'mobile' rather than just apps - as the content should be inclusive as possible - if you've an old - probably recycled - phone you could receive SMS updates and even advice - perhaps there's a need for a platform that could work on the web, apps and SMS, so the delivery can reach as many people as possible, whatever their level of tech and wherever they are. If you struggle to even charge something up, the likelihood of app level technology may seem far away and the need is now! If it was one integrated platform then you could access it at the right level for you and move up as the technology allowed.
    on 1/6/11
  • Reply

    Gemma Hume said:

    said:
    @martin you're right, after all, any technology must be 'appropriate' for their area. I think it's a fantastic idea to develop a platform that could work on web, apps and SMS, so it's as inclusive as possible. Well I've certainly enjoyed talking to you all about this. Thanks to all you "geeks" out there for taking an interest in our work and engaging in our conversation. It will be interesting to keep an eye on mobile and app development for developing countries and I hope that we can work with the relevant people to turn this conversation into action because as @martin says, the need is now!
    on 1/6/11
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    Richard Rio said:

    said:
    i think when it comes to mobile apps we should concentrate more on SMS considering our targets might not get hold of a smartphone but mark you any phone can get access to sms eg nokia 1110 compared to blackberry torch.the way to sms then is first of all to find an affordable sms gateway
    on 6/6/11
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    Ellie said:

    said:
    Great idea!
    on 1/7/11
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    Gemma Hume said:

    said:
    Mobile phone apps have transformed our lives. There are more than 300,000 apps available today and they do just about everything from helping you get to places to balancing your budget. But how could we harness the potential of apps to transform the lives of poor people across the world? I recently stumbled across “M-Farm”, a Kenyan initiative that aims to give rural farmers a fairer deal when selling their produce. It gives real-time market prices for crops and matches up farmers with buyers, cutting out costly brokers and middle-men. Some Kenyan farmers report that their profits have risen by half since subscribing to M-Farm! We'd love to hear your ideas so please do join in the conversation.
    on 1/6/11
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    Lincoln Smith said:

    said:
    Whats needed is technology transfer, and these services need to expand into other countries. For example, taking the M-farm app to other countries and regions such as parts of rural India. Another huge area for growth will be for apps which don't run on smartphones. The poor may have more mobiles than smartphones, but many of these are outdated models by todays UK standards. Mobiles form part of the role of information transfer to people living in poverty.
    on 1/6/11
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    Ed Stivala said:

    said:
    Hi Gemma, I had a quick look at the m-farm video (on YouTube) and it seems to describe a solution based on SMS and premium rate numbers. A little bit more research unearthed FrontlineSMS:Medic which seems to deliver health care via SMS. I'm sure that a little while back I heard about a Cambridge UK based team that were promoting an open source SMS technology that underpinned many of these solutions. Seems to me that the constraining factors will be what handset technology is currently available and how accessible (cost & coverage) are data mobile networks to the end users of these services. Whilst SMS on basic handsets might be the right approach today, are there any initiatives to redistribute / recycle early generation Smartphones? If there were then that would significantly change what could be delivered in terms of applications.
    on 1/6/11
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    Yinka Osu said:

    said:
    i agree with Lincoln on tech tranfer but must come with skill tranfer too not to make the system redundant. And since large number of illiterate will be involved I believe the local languages should be incoprated. This should make the technology use more easier.
    on 1/6/11
  • Reply

    yinka Osu said:

    said:
    I am suggesting an app for this forum/discussion. Which provides real time communication. I am operating from my BlackBerry touch.
    on 1/6/11
  • Reply

    Gemma Hume said:

    said:
    Yes Yinka, I agree with you and Lincoln on technology transfer and skill transfer, which is integral to all our work in helping poor people to use technology to transform their lives. I also agree about using local languages. We do this with our podcasting work (more information at http://www.practicalaction.org/podcasting-3) where we broadcast audio lessons to people, in this instance in Zimbabwe, in their local dialect. You are right about smartphones - many poor people have mobiles that aren't smartphones. However, the end user may only need a phone capable of SMS messaging services. Ed, as you said, the newly launched m-farm service in Kenya relies on this “lowest common denominator” approach: the whole system uses web sites, smartphones, and SMS but the interface with farmers in the field is with SMS. We should be looking at initiatives to redistribute /recycle early generation smartphones.
    on 1/6/11

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