A while back we wrote a post entitled Mobile Technology, Poverty and Development which was fairly well received. Although this topic may be considered slightly off-topic to some of you it is still a very hot topic out there. If you are interested Quocirca has a small write-up on entitled – The right device for the developing world is not a PC which you may be interested in. Some key points:
[The Mobile Phone is] increasingly being used in developing environments in ways that span from the simple yet effective, to the complex and amazing… The benefits of the mobile phone in developing countries are manifold. It’s wireless so less physical infrastructure is required for connectivity. The phone itself is lower cost than a PC. It is self contained and has a generally higher level of environmental resistance than a PC. It uses less power than a PC, and is not dependent on being tethered to a mains power outlet. Batteries can be charged in vehicles or other 12V DC outlets, via small solar chargers, or at a central location.
Basic phones are capable of receiving and sending text messages; while more advanced models can browse the web. Whereas the recycling of PCs has struggled due to high costs and security concerns, the recycling of mobile phones is simple and cost effective.
The rest of it can be found here. It is a short read.
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