Weekly Review March 4-10

This week we’re sharing articles that cover the latest industry trends and news in mobile technology.

 

Village Telco: A WiFi-based mesh network that offers voice and data services anywhere” by Bertil van Vugt on VC4Africa
Steve Song, an innovator and entrepreneur in our BETA program, was featured on VC4Africa today for his company, Village Telco, and innovative technology, the Mesh Potato. Steve shares the story behind Village Telco, including the challenges that lie ahead. Stay tuned to our blog and Steve’s blog for more updates.

“March Madness! Mobile Events for the Month” by Anneryan Heatwole on Mobile Active
Mobile Active highlights mobile-focused events around the world for the month of March, like the  AITEC Banking and Mobile Money conference held earlier this week in Nairobi. You’ll notice lots of Android and social media-themed events, signaling the global shift towards feature and smart phones.

“Mobile carriers face a future without text messaging as data apps take over” on The Guardian
Mobile carriers are finding that hardware and applications are shifting consumer habits away from SMS. Operators are realizing that they “need to work with messaging startups instead of against them.” While a shift away from SMS is a loss of the traditional cash cow for telecoms, innovative apps increase utility for customers while decreasing the cost – highly beneficial for those in emerging markets.

“GSMA Research Highlights New Opportunities to Provide Mobile Services and Offerings to Women in Emerging Markets”  on GSMA News
Last week, the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress attracted its highest attendance numbers ever – up 11% from last year. One of the most exciting developments from MWC was the release of research on the usage of mobile phones by women living in poverty around the world. Together with AusAID and USAID, the GSMA published “portraits” of women in developing countries and the gaps that exist that prevent them from gaining access to or taking advantage of a mobile phone. While technology has made significant contributions to development, this research shows that there are still gaps (and therefore, opportunities) in the market remaining.

What noteworthy trends in mobile technology did you hear about this week? 

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