Certainly, the traditional Personal Computer (PC) age is drawing to a close. Connectivity trumps processing power in this new era. The developing world has a unique opportunity to leapfrog previous generations of technology. There is a powerful device already blossoming in emerging markets, connecting rural people to each other and the rest of the world, and facilitating commerce. That device is the increasingly ubiquitous mobile phone.
While it is true that the mobile phone cannot do everything a PC can, it is a more reasonable first step into the digital age for developing countries. For one thing, it is cheaper: Even the least expensive laptop on the market cannot compete with a device that retails for $40 or less. Mobile phones are more portable, and their extended battery life is suited to regions where access to electricity is lacking or non-existent. And the infrastructure needed to connect wireless devices to the Internet is easier and less expensive to build.
But most of all, mobile phones have already been chosen by the people. The growth in mobile phone subscriptions in developing countries has been organic and explosive – The number of cell phones in India, for example, has already crossed 200 million, and growing at 7.5 million a month. Or, for instance, Africa alone has grown from 10 million to more than 200 million subscribers in the last four years, and is expected to triple by 2011; This is in a market which analysts feared would never be able to afford wireless services.
For the first time ever, more people will have a mobile phone than a regular telephone. In emerging markets, the mobile phone is much more than just a means of communication. Often, the mobile phone is an identity, and the only way to reach across geographical boundaries. That’s why it’s important not to impose a bias when comparing the relative merits of mobile phones and PCs. For example, oral communication gets an edge over the written word for the semi-literate people. Mobile devices are much more than phones in emerging nations.
And mobile phones are evolving, too, offering many of the aspects of PCs. They are becoming easier to use, with easier access to information, video, photos and more. We are already seeing emerging technologies coming to mobile phones, including tiny devices that can project images from the cell phone onto a wall, overcoming the small screen sizes. With rapid advances in applications for cell phones - like voice recognition, speech-to-text, real-time translation and video - students can benefit in countless ways. Already the audio and video prowess of today’s handheld devices is facilitating learning in the classroom. For many countries, the mobile phone is, and can be, a student’s entry into the World Wide Web.
Compared to PCs, mobile phones have made a phenomenal penetration into this population segment. Low cost of ownership, the simple user interface consisting of a small keyboard, limited menu and voice-based access contribute to the success of mobile phones with the less literate.
An innovative initiative currently being piloted by the IBM’s India Research Laboratory is the “Spoken Web” project, which aims to transform how people create, build and interact with e-commerce sites on the world wide web using the spoken word instead of the written word. For example, an average person on the street does not need a PC, but needs access to information such as: Farmers need to look up commodity prices; Fishermen need weather info before heading out to sea; Plumbers can schedule appointments; and Grocery shops can display catalogues, offer order placement, display personalized targeted advertisements or reminders. It’s significant to note that such locally relevant information is not available for a majority of world population.
The path to prosperity is wireless. There is no learning curve, no literacy barrier and no technical-support challenge to overcome when it comes to the mobile phone. There are no costly and burdensome applications to load, maintain and update. Programs are called up as needed, and the potential for expansion of the services delivered over mobile devices is limitless.
So before we exhaust ourselves arguing over which microprocessor the developing world needs to power its laptops, or unloading our outdated PCs on emerging markets, let’s carefully consider the right technology for the ambitious effort of bridging the digital divide. The answer may already be in your pocket.
The author is Director, IBM India Research Laboratory
