Cell phones are changing the fabric of our world

There are almost two times more Cell phones in the world than TV's. Ant three times the number of PCs. This information is part of an excellent summary on the state of technology changes worldwide.

In the developing world, where the infrastructural costs of setting up telephone lines and other hard-wired communication tools are enormous, cellular and wireless technology has created incredible opportunities for rapid development.

For example, the UN Foundation, in partnership with the Vodaphone Group Foundation (UK) documented the use of wireless technology for development and aid agencies. The survey reveals that 86% of NGO employees are using mobile technology in their work, with the following key benefits:

-time savings,
-the ability to quickly mobilize or organize individuals,
-reaching audiences that were previously difficult or impossible to reach,
-the ability to gather and transfer data more quickly and more accurately.

In South Africa cell phones are easily accessible. According to UNICEF, approximately 40% of South Africans in rural and urban areas own phones - and relatively inexpensive with cellular networks covering approximately 90% of the country. It is therefore eminently suitable as a tool for delivering critical information or for transporting requests for information from members of civil society.

Now the Rockefeller Foundation, the United Nations Foundation and Vodafone Foundation have launched the Mobile Health Alliance with the goal of improving health care in the developing world through programs and information supplied by mobile phone. It is believed that the use of mobile technology will assist with accelerating the collection and storage of patient data, training rural professionals and personalizing the way patients receive medical treatment.

There are currently 1.3 billion fixed landline phones on the planet. In Jan 2008, there were 3.3 billion mobile phone subscribers (up from 2.1 billion in 2006).The Mobile Health Alliances reports that of this number, 2.2 billion mobile phones are in use in the developing world. Ironically, market penetration of cell phones in Canada and the US is amongst the lowest of all countries, with only 75% penetration. In Europe, penetration is estimated at 110%; ie more than one cell phone per person on average, including children and the elderly.

It is estimated that 80% of the world’s population now lives within range of a cellular network and the cost of cellular phones is becoming more reasonable--even within many developing countries, clearly.

Economic and social development is predicated on being able to communicate; the cell phone now allows people the ability to set up meetings with friends, colleagues or clients, communicate the price for a crop before going to the marketplace, setting up a microenterprise, or use mobile banking services—or, as in the case of the Mobile Health Alliance, improve access to basic health care and to educate patients about health care programs available.

Tool for social change? Absolutely.