Technology is powerful; it can lift people out of poverty. All point to the world was skipping landlines and desktop computer eras, and going straight to mobile phones. With that, the two - way communication is also changing international development, more than shopping and paying online could offer.
The mobile industry estimates that there are now about 7.5 billion mobile connections globally, yet 10% of the 7.2 billion people in the earth lack access to the essential text services and about one-third do not have access to mobile internet.
As these cell phone networks disperse to rural areas, people who need help most made it possible to change their lives by having access to money, work, and government activities through this.
Money and Banking: Since traditional banking is not always available for all, mobile is bringing people into a new financial system for easy access to money especially when in high need. This enables people to start a business, invest in education, or save for bad weather. Users can also transfer money to any part of the world through text messages.
Governance: living in a remote area keeps your voice unheard and makes the authorities hard to reach. The UNICEF has made a way to poll its million members through text messaging as well as gathering information and opinions from 15 different countries. Polling is also helpful in tracking disease outbreaks and violence. The Philippine government has now used mobile money to manage payroll, and collect fees. (247)
Agriculture: According to the UNICEF, most poor people are farmers who get only enough for themselves and their community because getting a surplus in the market is too expensive. With this, the USAID teamed up with the government to use the mobile program in sending information to the farmers about crop prices, market access, and disease prevention of crops.
Education: Mobile phones and tablets give teachers and students the comfortable, easy, and fast way of learning. Mobile applications helpful for learning such as the dictionary, ebooks, and other references can easily be downloaded and stored in your mobile and can easily be accessed.
Health: Mobile phones are now used all over the world with regards to health reminders, such as sending messages to pregnant women as to how they should take care of themselves during pregnancy. In Mozambique, mobile is used to fight HIV and AIDS. They used phones to remind the patients of their therapy appointment dates, and others.
Mobile still has much to go through before it can reach all the people who need technology the most. Specifically reliable affordable energy and complete network coverage. Until these are improved, dumb phones will continue to be the "standard" ones. And while many were saying that mobile phones can lead to distractions and addiction, it has also helped the world and gave people the better life they long to have.
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