Comments on: Why SMS in Africa? http://manypossibilities.net/2010/02/why-sms-in-africa/ In the beginner's mind there are... Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:40:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Alexander Chemeris http://manypossibilities.net/2010/02/why-sms-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-2462 Alexander Chemeris Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:41:43 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/?p=1032#comment-2462 I plan to make USSD apps easier to create in OpenBTS. I think we can convert USSD requests to HTTP requests and then any enough skilled web-developer can create USSD app. And there are thousands of web-developers out there. I hope this will bring more innovative USSD apps to OpenBTS installations so they can rival SMS apps. I believe USSD is more natural way of accessing many types of information then SMS. I plan to make USSD apps easier to create in OpenBTS. I think we can convert USSD requests to HTTP requests and then any enough skilled web-developer can create USSD app. And there are thousands of web-developers out there. I hope this will bring more innovative USSD apps to OpenBTS installations so they can rival SMS apps. I believe USSD is more natural way of accessing many types of information then SMS.

]]> By: Katrin http://manypossibilities.net/2010/02/why-sms-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-2452 Katrin Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:24:53 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/?p=1032#comment-2452 Steve, nice. Here is another reason: SMS gets through. With the massive growth and inadequate infrastructure in many countries, voice and where available IP are just not feasible unless there is massive investment to beef up the networks. SMS WILL get through even when the 'network is busy' for hours on end. Katrin Steve, nice. Here is another reason: SMS gets through. With the massive growth and inadequate infrastructure in many countries, voice and where available IP are just not feasible unless there is massive investment to beef up the networks. SMS WILL get through even when the ‘network is busy’ for hours on end.

Katrin

]]> By: Andi http://manypossibilities.net/2010/02/why-sms-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-2450 Andi Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:04:44 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/?p=1032#comment-2450 Some interesting points to consider Steve, thanks. I've posted an article about my thoughts regarding the challenges of SMS-based services over on my blog at http://www.andifriedman.com/index.php/2010/02/why-not-sms-in-africa/ if you're interested. Some interesting points to consider Steve, thanks. I’ve posted an article about my thoughts regarding the challenges of SMS-based services over on my blog at http://www.andifriedman.com/index.php/2010/02/why-not-sms-in-africa/ if you’re interested.

]]> By: links for 2010-02-03 « Design in Africa http://manypossibilities.net/2010/02/why-sms-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-2449 links for 2010-02-03 « Design in Africa Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:07:56 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/?p=1032#comment-2449 [...] Why SMS in Africa? «Many Possibilities 1. Familiarity of Experience 2. Always on 3. Already secure 4. 160 chars is a killer app 5. Network Effects (tags: sms sbs sms_ux) [...] [...] Why SMS in Africa? «Many Possibilities 1. Familiarity of Experience 2. Always on 3. Already secure 4. 160 chars is a killer app 5. Network Effects (tags: sms sbs sms_ux) [...]

]]> By: Theresa Sondjo http://manypossibilities.net/2010/02/why-sms-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-2448 Theresa Sondjo Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:17:02 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/?p=1032#comment-2448 IP is the wave of the future. The problem is designing systems that work with the "now," which in most African countries, isn't the Internet. In addition, in many African countries (even those w/ undersea cable links), monopolies have resulted in INSANELY expensive bandwidth. Many countries also *require* mobile operators to buy bandwidth from the state incumbent, instead of operating their own VSATs or buying from other ISPs. This makes IP expensive for everyone, doubly so for the end user. Add that to the fact that its audience is crazy small compared to the number of people with cell phones, and it just makes more sense to design for SMS right now. In 10 years, it'll be a different story, I'm sure. Maybe less, what with all of these undersea cables showing up and all. But today, there are huge parts of the continent where Internet is simply unavailable, and there are huge segments of the population who have not and will not ever use it (illiteracy, expense, lack of access, and a million other reasons). SMS is much more accessible and much cheaper. tl;dr SMS today. IP tomorrow. IP is the wave of the future. The problem is designing systems that work with the “now,” which in most African countries, isn’t the Internet. In addition, in many African countries (even those w/ undersea cable links), monopolies have resulted in INSANELY expensive bandwidth. Many countries also *require* mobile operators to buy bandwidth from the state incumbent, instead of operating their own VSATs or buying from other ISPs. This makes IP expensive for everyone, doubly so for the end user. Add that to the fact that its audience is crazy small compared to the number of people with cell phones, and it just makes more sense to design for SMS right now.

In 10 years, it’ll be a different story, I’m sure. Maybe less, what with all of these undersea cables showing up and all. But today, there are huge parts of the continent where Internet is simply unavailable, and there are huge segments of the population who have not and will not ever use it (illiteracy, expense, lack of access, and a million other reasons). SMS is much more accessible and much cheaper.

tl;dr SMS today. IP tomorrow.

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