Question 2 for discussion Wednesday, 19 Nov.

Hi, Michael. I feel that the most innovative feature of today's mobile telephony is that it isn't just about mobile telephony anymore. Today's mobile phone is not only a communication device. It can very well be a handheld computer, an entertainment medium, a documentation (video-audio capture) tool, a mobile learning platform, a portable play station and a combination of any or all of the above depending on the model or services provided. The synergies produced by such a gadget tend to disrupt social systems.

The mobile phone has indeed evolved dramatically, and is expected to continue morphing into "a device that has it all". We see technological improvements in mobile phones happen at a very fast pace, finding their way in many new models that surface in the market for the buyers' delight. Of course, the manufacturers and sellers are delighted too :-). The sad part is :-(, the potential socio-economic impact that the technology can bring to the communities (especially those in the underdeveloped and developing countries) is not tapped to the fullest, or maybe just 50% of it. Users are more pre-occupied with the gadgets and technological enhancements, and not so much with the productive uses of those enhancements for poor communities. The companies that profit most from these products should be encouraged to invest more of their money to (a) development of mobile telephony application systems/solutions - e.g., in agriculture, and (b) community e-centers, like telecentres, that make use of ICT and collaborate with ICT users and key stakeholders as well, for community development. With that, we might be able to see an increase in the annual economic growth rate in underdeveloped and developing countries that is much more dramatic than the 1.2 percentage points mentioned in the study of the Deloitte Consulting Firm as discussed in the following webpage: "Bridging the Digital Divide" (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/09/09/robert.conway/)

As the fact of the matter is, too little is known about the impact of the mobile telephone on the people. Mobile phones increase the ability to coordinate activities, especially across remote sites. This means that it is no longer necessary to conduct communications from an office desk. The mobile phone has radically transformed these boundaries, making them increasingly permeable. Mobile phones are not purely tools of the trade or means of organizing domestic chores.They are also crucially the instruments of leisure. Outside the workplace and domestic sphere, the mobile phone's role within leisure and an expanding consumer culture - most obviously amongst younger generations - is visible everywhere. There is no invention that has provided more distinct opportunities in innovation for development than the mobile phone. The mobile phone has traditionally offered voice and data transfer tool to connect people. With improving capabilities and cheaper rates, it is a domain that provides a powerful space for innovation and, as it is subject to lower financial and educational barriers, provides a potentially wider sphere of influence than the internet has to date. Latest innovations exhibit convergence between telecommunication services, the Internet, media content and broadcasting. New generation phones now combine media and information products with digital broadband networks, increasing the"scope for interactivity and user customization of services'. As digital technologies penetrate more intimate domains of personal and business life, it is reasonable to expect significant and unforeseen innovation. Mobile Health is another potential of mobile telephony to bring health care to the front line.There are several distinct facets of mobile health today: the possibility for almost real time communication and two-way information, the access capabilities that effectively jump the distance barrier between patient and doctor and the widening of the health sector to leverage public and private sector, allowing new roles to emerge and non traditional actors such as mobile network operators, to become involved in the value chain to provide innovative ways to develop health care. Mobile health can add efficiency/efficacy to existing systems, facilitate new systems, and ultimately transcend health care benefits across society. For example, in Latin America and the Caribbean of the 360 million who live on less than US$300/month, 160 million are mobile phone subscribers. This allows direct interactive access capabilities to these groups for the first time. Though not a universal remedy, this is a real opportunity to improve health systems and benefit the majority.

Dear Michael, thank u for your nice and significant question. mobile telephony opens a new window by which peoples of far can exchange their will and woe quickly and also by hearing others original voice. peoples always in the sense to express his ideas to others. If the mobile telephony can solve their burning problems it will be their much profit. Suppose a farmer of the rural area can solve his problem of his field by making a mobile phone call, he will be much excited. The new innovation must have a relative advantages. if not then why other will accept it. so it is obviously a matter how it can be beneficiary to all kind of human beings? Thanking You and all Bulbul Ahmed

Hi Michael there are many innovative applications of mobile phones to farmers. through smart krishi initiative, multimedia phones are being used to guide farmers regarding crop/disease attack. They send the crop pictures to the scientists sitting far away and get prescriptions regarding use of pesticides/ other practices. t has got applications in branchless banking where farmers are involved in money transfers throgh Sms They also get their account statements throgh SMS. Another application is in ehealth services Dr SMS project in Khozikode district which I have highlighted during previous part of discussion.

Dear all Mobile could be innovatively used as an advertisement means to the farmers, as new phones are supported by multimedia. This could also help in generating revenues for the project. We have seen the WARNa example , where internet was replaced by mobile phones

dear sapna, thank u for ideas and knowledge sharing. i am from Bangladesh. here i see a lot of time that farmers are not getting their appropriate value of their labor. they will think that is the information is right. here a lot traitor businessman are present who are making this theme for their profit only. i am worry about them Thanking u Bulbul ahmed BSc Ag MS(AEIS) Research Assistant Win Incorporate Dhaka Bangladesh