When we think about mobile technology in these terms, things are pretty interesting. Mobile phones have had a massive impact in the developing world, despite being a 'Western' invention (although one with no, apparent, local alternative). Communities are getting hold of them left, right and center, and they are seen by many as their best chance of a passport out of poverty. Interestingly, appropriate technology-wise the mobile phone does not present us with a perfect fit. Until recently they were prohibitively expensive (an issue for people earning only a few dollars a day) and for many today's US$20 handset is still too expensive. Their need to be charged regularly is also a real challenge if there's no access to reliable electricity; heat, dust and humidity can put a strain on fragile electronic components. There are also issues of literacy and usability, for some.

But regardless, these devices are out there in the billions. Crucially, the "appropriate technology challenge" has now shifted from the third-world community -- who are using local solutions to solve their own problems -- to the developer community.

"Unlocking the potential of the mobile phone in developing regions" is a popular topic on the conference circuit, and that's where I tend to spend my time talking about what I call the developer-practitioner divide, and how we can help further understanding and appreciation of the cultural, geographical and economic issues that govern the usefulness of mobile phones -- and the applications that run on them -- in the developing world. Mobile solutions for this 'market' cannot be built in isolation, but many of them still are. For a start, many of the phones you come across in the field are more likely to be either older models, or lower-end handsets with limited functionality. Developing solutions based on Java technology, or mobile Internet access, will present many users with a problem. A message as simple as this is still missed by well-intentioned organizations seeking to solve some of the more pressing problems in the developing world.

Our challenge is ensure that solutions are culturally and technologically appropriate for the audiences which they are designed and built for. We can do this by helping spread the word among ourselves on the conference circuit, or we can work to empower the people who understand the problem best. To me and you, that's the users. As the well-quoted saying goes, "teach a man to fish"...

Ken Banks devotes himself to the application of mobile technology for positive social and environmental change in the developing world, and has spent the last 15 years working on projects in Africa. Recently, his research resulted in the development of FrontlineSMS, a field communication system designed to empower grassroots non-profit organizations. Ken graduated from Sussex University with honors in Social Anthropology with Development Studies and currently divides his time between Cambridge (UK) and Stanford University in California on a MacArthur Foundation-funded Fellowship. Further details of Ken's wider work are available on his website at www.kiwanja.net .