Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty?

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4phun - 13 Apr 2008 03:49 GMT

I came across an article that will be published tomorrow in the NY
Times about cellphones. It is extremely long and very informative
about the future marketing of cellphones globally. Nokia is trying
hard to be a leader by examining cultural needs of potential
customers. The future ideal global phone suggested and described near
the end of the article is remarkably close to the Apple iPhone in its
current design. Go figure.

Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/magazine/13anthropology-t.html?ei=5087&em=&en=
e46d649779a0b9be&ex=1208145600&pagewanted=all

or a shorter link version of that URL I just created

http://NYTimes-cellphone.notlong.com

Now for all those nut cases that hang out on Usenet.

This article is not my idea but the thoughts of NY Times and Nokia.
Read it and enjoy or hate it for what it is. It may expand your view
of how cellphones affect others around the world. Will cell phones
end poverty, I don't think so but they may clearly alter the speed of
future events in currently unforeseen ways.

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D. Stussy - 13 Apr 2008 06:22 GMT

> I came across an article that will be published tomorrow in the NY
> Times about cellphones. It is extremely long and very informative
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty? [links]

Wrong. The cell phone will CAUSE global poverty. Look at the rates they
charge us! ;-)

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Richard B. Gilbert - 13 Apr 2008 16:07 GMT

>> I came across an article that will be published tomorrow in the NY
>> Times about cellphones. It is extremely long and very informative
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Wrong. The cell phone will CAUSE global poverty. Look at the rates they
> charge us! ;-)

In that case, the only defense would seem to be buying stock in Verizon
Wireless!

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Cubit - 13 Apr 2008 17:45 GMT

>I came across an article that will be published tomorrow in the NY
> Times about cellphones. It is extremely long and very informative
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> end poverty, I don't think so but they may clearly alter the speed of
> future events in currently unforeseen ways.

Connectivity enhances technological and economic advancement. The old
approach of distributing copper cable pairs is very expensive and might be
avoided in third world environments.

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4phun - 13 Apr 2008 19:50 GMT

> >I came across an article that will be published tomorrow in the NY
> > Times about cellphones. It is extremely long and very informative
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> approach of distributing copper cable pairs is very expensive and might be
> avoided in third world environments.

Those points are made in that article. The problem is that cell towers
consume energy and diesel is prohibitive in the out back of some
countries for powering towers. Figure out how to make each tower self
sustainging energy wise and you will be come a wealthy person.

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