Cherple Cherps

The impact of mobile communication throughout the world has been huge, even in less-developed countries where basic survival needs triumph the need for any kind technical innovation, mobile communication has found its way into the lives of everyday people and, as a result, texting and other forms of SMS (Short Message Services) have become familiar and widely used, offering advantages over traditional voice services, including reduced cost and the ability to send messages to large numbers of people in a short amount of time.

While this type of mobile technology was originally designed to support and enhance the Western way of doing business, and still very much does, its transformative impact has had the most dramatic ramifications within some of the most underserved societies. The vast majority of mobile phone subscribers today live in the developing world. Africa, with East Africa at the forefront, is currently the fastest-growing mobile phone market in the world. As the price of a capable mobile phone falls below $20 US in many of these markets, the mobile phone has become many people’s single technology purchase.

The reduction in the price of handsets has allowed a dramatic increase in the number of individuals relying on this technology to do their jobs. In some remote African villages, day labor is organized via text message, and thanks to SMS services like FrontlineSMS, important grassroots non-governmental organizations can communicate safely and barrier-free using SMS.

As a true pioneer in mobile social media and communication, Cherple has taken SMS out of its comfortable cell-to-cell method and has introduced the personal computer into the mix. Just like the way standard texting is offering the most cost-effective means of communication in developing societies, a lot of good can be accomplished through Cherple’s free-to-PC-user SMS service.

Links:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703790404574473612220288046.html

http://www.txteagle.com

http://www.frontlinesms.com