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5 billion mobile phones by the end of 2010 -- but where are the apps and games?
A research group has just released an astonishing figure: at the end of the first quarter, 2010, there were 4.8 billion mobile phone connections across the world. The same report says that by the end of the year there will be no less than 5 billion connected mobile phones.To put this into perspective: there are only 7 billion souls on this planet. That means 71% of the entire world has a mobile phone -- a computer, a potential lifeline -- in their pocket.
As you'd expect, those missing 2 billion are mostly from the developing and third world, namely Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions. But those are also the areas of fastest growth -- just last year, India and Indonesia have connected 150 million new phones. If adoption continues at such a rate, which it surely must, we will soon have a world where everyone, except newborn children, has a mobile phone in their pocket.
But where is the software? Where are the games?
There are families with 10 children, living in mud huts with no running water -- but they have a mobile phone. Instead of water wells dotting the horizon there are telephone pylons. Try to get your head around this picture: a child, unfed and uneducated, slumped against a ramshackle outhouse somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. He's playing Snake on his Nokia phone.
Now, I'm sure running water and schooling would be a better long-term solution, but wouldn't it be great if people living tough lives in even tougher conditions had a better array of games and apps on their 'dumbphone'?
We're pouring billions of dollars into 3D games and gee-whiz apps that simulate the drinking of beer or the sound of a pistol being fired. What if we spent a little more on text-based educational games for children, or apps that assist in agricultural planning? How about an English-Their Language dictionary? The Bible?
I don't actually know what games and apps would be well-received in developing countries. Nokia, Ericsson, LG and Samsung, please find out. You might not make a lot of money, but you would be doing the world a huge favor.
Comments
12
Subscribe to commentsDanJul 5th 2010 10:40AM
The Bible? Really? More Christian colonialism is the last thing Africa needs, and a hella stupid idea to put alongside educational content.
seriousam7Jul 5th 2010 11:35AM
You just had to use *that* word, which completely undermines your credibility. Also, Europe (and by extension, North America) has a background full of Christianity, and you could argue that Europe and NA are the two most successful continents (whichever way you look at it) in the history of the world.
Now, many people think that it's a good thing that we're finally growing out of our religious molds, but that's definitely some food for thought.
danJul 5th 2010 12:51PM
@seriousam7: I know hella is pretty informal, and ironically based in the very religion I deride, but I don't think it's *that* big a deal :-)
J/K. I asume you mean colonialism, and you're right, it's a bit rich to describe the Bible on a cell phone that way. It was on off the cuff comment, I just wanted to roll my eyes at Sebastian because I think it's bad form to casually throw in the Bible with educational content, and Christendom's colonial history in Africa is context on some of why it's so tacky.
Sebastian AnthonyJul 5th 2010 1:30PM
Er, there's a lot to be said for the basic tenets of almost every religion!
I'm talking about Bibles here... not organised religion :)
You can switch 'Bible' for 'a basic set of rules for living a safe/peaceful life' if you like -- but 'Bible' was quicker and easier!
danJul 5th 2010 1:37PM
@Sebastian: Riiiiiight... The Bible is many things, but it's hardly safe and peaceful.
Sebastian AnthonyJul 5th 2010 1:43PM
Don't confuse a book and how a book might be taught...!
Next you'll be saying that everyone that reads the Qur'an is dangerous!
danJul 5th 2010 2:09PM
If you see the Bible as a safe, peaceful set of rules for living a moral life, I think you're the one confusing the relatively mild way the book is usually taught in Europe and America with the violent and tribal content of the book itself.
I do not think for a second that “everyone who reads” the Qur'an or the Bible is dangerous. I think it's dangerous to hand someone with little education either one of those books without also handing them The Age of Reason and On The Origin of Species.
dm3ntdJul 5th 2010 11:04AM
This is a bit over the top because it does not account for people that have 2 phones (1 for work, 1 for self).
Sebastian AnthonyJul 5th 2010 1:41PM
True, but... remember, the 'Western' world only makes up maybe 1 billion people (max). The percentage of those with two phones or more will be very small IMO.
sitrucJul 5th 2010 11:34AM
I'm not completely sure what the point of this post was, Sebastian.
Sebastian AnthonyJul 5th 2010 1:36PM
'5 billion people with silicon chips in their pocket!', basically :)
stinlen56Jul 5th 2010 2:57PM
I for one like this post. It may be a little directionless, but I have personally seen these kids that are unfed and uneducated, wearing burlap sacks as clothes and playing snake on their mobile phones and the first thing I thought of was their odd (wrong) priorities.
There's nothing wrong with suggesting the kids get culture or education by reading the Bible. It is already the most translated book in the world and comes on every mobile platform, and as seriousam7 pointed out, historically Christian areas of the world have done quite well for themselves so they could do worse for reading material.