The document discusses the potential for SMS to be used as a social networking platform. It notes that the $50 mobile phone will be the default computing device for billions in Asia and Africa, and that SMS will be the primary technology for web access. It explores several examples of SMS-based social networks and applications, highlighting platforms used for messaging, networking, news, volunteering, and activism. The document argues that an SMS-only social platform could allow widespread engagement at low cost.
3. Context 1 of 3
Research on social media in the emerging
BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India &
China
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
4. Context 2 of 3
What can marketers, and entrepreneurs,
learn from digital activists?
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
5. Context 3 of 3
How to engage people who aren’t going to
spend much, or anything at all, at little or no
cost?
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
6. Three Big Ideas
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
7. Big Idea: 1 of 3
The $50 mobile phone will continue to be
the default computing device for billions of
users in Asia and Africa.
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
8. Big Idea: 2 of 3
SMS (not WAP, GPRS or 3G) will be the
primary technology for web access for these
users.
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
9. Big Idea: 3 of 3
The question is: can we create a social
networking platform entirely on SMS?
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
10. Mobile Social Networking:
Take One
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
24. Internet in Asia & Africa
The $50 mobile phone as the default device
for internet access in Asia and Africa
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
25. World Map of Computer Penetration
Source: United Nations Global Development Goals Indication
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
26. World Map of Internet Penetration
Source: Emiel van Wegen based on World Internet Stats data
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
27. Cost of Broadband Access
Source: Wired Magazine based on ITU data
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
30. India: Google Internet Bus
Source: http://www.google.co.in/intl/en/landing/internetbus/
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
31. Why Mobile?
Source: ITU-UNCTAD World Information Society Report 2007
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
32. Why Mobile?
mobile use
Source: ITU-UNCTAD World Information Society Report 2007
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
33. India: Why Mobile?
ICT Penetration in India (August 2008)
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
27.02%
10.00%
5.00%
5.31%
0.00%
0.04%
Broadband
Internet
Mobile
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
36. Mobile Social Networking:
Take Two
Can we create a social networking platform
entirely on SMS?
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com
55. Using Mobile Social Networks to Mobilize
Using Mobile Social Networking for
Mobilizing Social Change
Source: http://mobichange.org
Gaurav Mishra | SNCR Fellow | GU Yahoo! Fellow | www.gauravonomics.com | gauravonomics@gmail.com