Grameen Foundation Launches Mobile Services Tailored to the Ugandan Poor

The Grameen Foundation has announced the launch of a suite of mobile phone applications developed with Google and MTN Uganda that deliver services and information that were previously unavailable to Uganda's poor and disadvantaged communities.

This is the first suite of applications resulting from an endeavor initiated by Grameen Foundation 18 months ago called the Application Laboratory (AppLab).

The suite of mobile services, provided using Google SMS Search technology and the MTN network, includes:

• Farmer's Friend, a searchable database with both agricultural advice and targeted weather forecasts;
• Health Tips which provides sexual and reproductive health information, paired with Clinic Finder, which helps locate nearby health clinics and their services;
• Google Trader, which matches buyers and sellers of agricultural produce and commodities as well as other products.

The services are SMS-based and designed to work with basic mobile phones to reach the broadest possible audience.

The new services in Uganda can be accessed by existing Village Phone Operators (VPOs) who extend service to people without mobile phones as well as by people who have their own phones.

"AppLab is a great example of innovation from and for the base of the pyramid, bringing relevant, actionable information to communities where access to the Internet is unavailable," said Alex Counts, president of Grameen Foundation. "Through an approach including sector research, field-based rapid prototyping, extensive interaction with target users, and carefully structured field pilots, we have been able to gain deep insights from the people who benefit directly from using these applications. We are excited to take the next big step -- going from an innovative product development approach to scaling proven and sustainable applications across Uganda for the benefit of the poor and poorest."

Posted to the site on 29th June 2009