SMS Applications come into their own when the majority of subscribers don’t have smartphones.
Juniper Research believes that, in 2008, approximately 45% of mobile devices sold worldwide were socalled ‘entry-level’ handsets (which… Nokia defines as being handsets with a retail value less than $60). A small but growing proportion of this total is accounted for by ultra-low cost handsets, which retail for $15 or less.
Of the 700 million low-cost handsets expected to be sold in 2014, Juniper Research believes that the greatest proportion – around 24% – will be sold in Africa and the Middle East…
Speaking to Mobile network Operators all over Africa, it appears that, as they move their focus to the poorer urban and rural communities, these ultra low-cost handsets are becoming even more important.
In support of this:
Africa’s largest mobile phone company, MTN Group Ltd, is planning to bring handsets with MTN’s brand costing as little as $12 in the first half of next year. MTN’s Vice President of southern and east African region, Tim Lowry, said the handsets would be manufactured in China and may be priced between $12 and $15.
Making these phones available will help many unserved African communities to take their first steps across the digital divide. The next step is to encourage the use of SMS and SMS based applications to enable them to experience the benefits of digital communications.
Source: Juniper Research, Wireless Federation
Tags: African mobile networks, Bridging the digital divide, digital divide debate, ForgetMeNot Africa, Handsets, Low cost handsets, Ultra low cost handsets
