Paper
The Innovative Use of Mobile Applications in East Africa
Empowering communities through mobile phone applications
This report gives an overview of mobile phone services and usage in East Africa. It identifies mobile phone applications in the East African context that contribute to socioeconomic development and empowerment.
The report is based on secondary data and fieldwork in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in 2007-2008. It discusses:
- East Africa’s information and communication technology sector and the mobile market;
- Major operators and services in East Africa;
- Traditional usage and functions of mobile phones;
- Innovative applications of mobile phones, including m-Agriculture, m-Health, m-Education, m-Transactions, m-Banking and m-Governance;
- Issues and challenges in developing and sustaining mobile applications for empowerment and development;
- Potential and prerequisites for scaling-up;
- High-potential mobile application areas.
The report states that linkages between access, affordability, appliance innovation and applications of mobile services need to be strengthened to promote economic growth and social development in East Africa.
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