2012 Information and Communications for Development: Maximizing Mobile

Information et communications au service du développement: Exploiter au maximum la téléphonie mobile

World Bank

No 11958 in World Bank Publications - Books from The World Bank Group

Abstract: With some 6 billion mobile subscriptions in use worldwide, around three-quarters of the world's inhabitants now have access to a mobile phone. Mobiles are arguably the most ubiquitous modern technology: in some developing countries, more people have access to a mobile phone than to a bank account, electricity, or even clean water. Mobile communications now offer major opportunities to advance human development from providing basic access to education or health information to making cash payments to stimulating citizen involvement in democratic processes. The developing world is 'more mobile' than the developed world. In the developed world, mobile communications have added value to legacy communication systems and have supplemented and expanded existing information flows. However, the developing world is following a different, 'mobile first' development trajectory. Many mobile innovations such as multi-SIM card phones, low-value recharges, and mobile payments have originated in poorer countries and are spreading from there. New mobile applications that are designed locally and rooted in the realities of the developing world will be much better suited to addressing development challenges than applications transplanted from elsewhere. In particular, locally developed applications can address developing-country concerns such as digital literacy and affordability. This 2012 edition of the World Bank's information and communications for development report analyzes the growth and evolution of mobile telephony, and the rise of data-based services delivered to handheld devices, including apps. The report explores the consequences for development of the emerging 'app economy.' It summarizes current thinking and seeks to inform the debate on the use of mobile phones for development. This report looks at key ecosystem-based applications in agriculture, health, financial services, employment, and government, with chapters devoted to each.

Keywords: Information and Communication Technologies-ICT Policy and Strategies Health Economics and Finance Education-Education for the Knowledge Economy Environmental Economics and Policies Macroeconomics and Economic Growth-Knowledge Economy Health; Nutrition and Population Environment Information and Communication Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8213-8991-1
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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