1. Posted on Monday 10 January 2011 - 11:40

   ---

   Mtheto Lungu

   

   • Profile
   • Homepage
   • 449 messages

   ---

   Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi

   A research team at the University of Dar es Salaam says half the Tanzanian population is currently hooked to mobile phones, and that it takes just a handset to run a business in the country. Led by Prof Ophelia Mascarenhas of the university, there is no need for offices, visiting cards or huge capital investments.

   

   He is joined by Dr. Raphael Mmasi and Dr. Hezron Makundi of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in his findings.
   
   The team however remind mobile phone firms to take a more serious approach to mobile banking services, where they argue there is “great potential for ‘banking the unbankable.”
   
   A Tanzania newspaper reported to-date; such opportunity is dwarfed by fun gigs giving people access to the latest ‘music vogues’ or ‘pseudo-gambling’ assets promising millions overnight.
   
   “It is time to address the more serious aspect of the mobile (handset) – through mobile banking … it is of no use to the poor to be able to ask for help if the help in the form of remittance of cash cannot be made because the service is still not available in both the urban and rural areas,” they argue.
   
   In one case, a customer had to travel 35km just to collect an unspecified sum of money sent through M-Pesa, incurring 6,000/- in commuting to the nearest service point.
   
   The Tanzanian study is part of four-nation initiative code-named PICTURE-Africa. The other countries currently doing similar studies are Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – all financed by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
   
   In Tanzania, COSTECH is playing host. Popularity of the mobile handset has come in large part by a combination of low purchasing prices, from a whopping Tshs. 200,000 down to 20,000/- within a decade and easier access to support services across the urban-rural divide.
   
   In many ways, the study shows a steady ‘replacement’ of the radio set as a first preference as an ICT (information communication technology) tool if a family were to choose between two.
   
   In another development, use of the Internet and e-mail services scored a resounding ‘zero’ with some of the respondents in rural areas reportedly saying they didn’t even know such services existed – and their urban counterparts complaining they were still spread too far between them.
   
   On a positive note, the phone companies have been chasing each other around apparently smarter customers: When Company A promises cheap airtime incentives where you can ‘talk until you snooze’ on the line at wee hours, the customers don’t ditch their old SIM cards from Company B – they simply buy another SIM card to loop-in the ‘talk-until-you-snooze’ kudos, reported the Daily News of Tanzania.
   
   Rural entrepreneurs are particularly happy with the arrival of the mobile handset: One Zainabu Salehe who own a small shop outside the suburban Mlandizi trading centre is quoted as saying she stands to save some Tshs. 250,000 per year in travel costs.
   
   “She uses her mobile phone to contact her customers and business partners (suppliers) as well as to communicate with fellow businesspersons for price updates,” the study says.
   
   Overall, the study illustrates that ICTs, notably the mobile handsets, had since served to reduce poverty “not only in terms of financial poverty but also in increasing capability, facilitating the acquisition of social services, reducing risk and vulnerability and enhancing social inclusion and status.”
   
   On financial poverty impacts, assessment of such benefits was backed with statistical data. “For many of the respondents the benefits such as getting in touch with friends and relatives, getting information on family and reducing risk and vulnerability were equally important,” the researchers argue.
   
   Poverty isn’t just about lack of financial resources “but the sum total of a number of deprivations” – and cite lack of access to new skills, not being able to get in touch with others and learn and share information with others and a feeling of insecurity and isolation.
   
   “Greater access to ICTs reduced these dimensions singly or in two or more dimensions,” the study shows.

   ---

   ---

Reactions

1. Posted on Wednesday 14 December 2011 07:31

   ---

   businessphoneco

   

   
   3 berichten
   Lid sinds December 2011

   ---

   Africa is undoubtedly one of the most populated countries in the world with a huge potential for phone companies to tap into. India is also another such a country. If companies are willing to invest in lower priced models, the sheer volume of mobile phones in demand would already generate a profit.
   
   Tony - Business Phones

   ---

   ---

2. Posted on Monday 19 December 2011 04:34

   ---

   sitelikesDX

   

   
   3 berichten
   Lid sinds December 2011

   ---

   Nowadays, we all need phones, it keeps people closer and more communication.
   As for us, http://www.geminideal.com has phones they needed, and just have a look.
   cool gadgets

   ---

   ---

3. Posted on Wednesday 31 October 2012 17:31

   ---

   randyjames

   

   
   260 berichten
   Lid sinds October 2012

   ---

   My partner and i still cannot quite feel that I could become one of those reading through the important suggestions found on your website. My family and I are seriously thankful on your generosity and for providing me the advantage|opportunity|possibility|potentialthe chance to pursue my personal chosen profession path. Many thanks for the important information I acquired from your web site. vimax reviews I gotta favorite this internet site it seems invaluable very helpful.

   ---

   ---

4. Posted on Friday 02 November 2012 08:22

   ---

   CarmelinaMckellar49

   

   
   147 berichten
   Lid sinds November 2012

   ---

   Purely to follow up on the up-date of this theme on your blog and wish to let you know just how much I treasured the time you took to create this beneficial post. Inside the post, you really spoke regarding how to truly handle this problem with all ease. It would be my personal pleasure to collect some more suggestions from your blog and come as much as offer other folks what I learned from you. Thanks for your usual fantastic effort. vigrx Rattling nice design and style and fantastic content material, very little else we require .

   ---

   ---

5. Posted on Thursday 08 November 2012 03:55

   ---

   WileyRhodd20

   

   
   149 berichten
   Lid sinds November 2012

   ---

   I had been honored to obtain a call from my friend as soon as he found out the important suggestions shared on your own site. Studying your blog article is a real amazing experience. Many thanks for thinking of readers much like me, and I want for you the best of success being a professional in this area|arena|discipline|domain|realm|surface area|topic|in this field. vigrx plus I have learn a few good stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you place to make this kind of wonderful informative website.

   ---

   ---

6. Posted on Wednesday 05 December 2012 05:00

   ---

   CarmelinaMckellar49

   

   
   147 berichten
   Lid sinds November 2012

   ---

   Its great as your other blog posts , thank you for putting up. vigrx plus I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You've made my day! Thanks again!

   ---

   ---

7. Posted on Wednesday 12 December 2012 15:25

   ---

   cyx831101

   

   asdf asdf
   38 berichten
   Lid sinds December 2012

   ---

   fwNorth Face Winter Coats, Cheap North Face Coats For Women, Men On Sale
   Cheap Mens North Face Winter Coats On Sale Apex Bionic Jacket Water Blue
   Discount North Face Winter Coats Outlet Apex Bionic Jacket TNF Red-Mens
   The North Face Winter Coats Outlet Store Jackets Cheap Sale Windstopper Darkblack-Mens
   Buy Men's Cheap North Face Winter Coats Denali Sale Fleece Clearance Brown
   Cheap North Face Winter Coats For Men Windstopper Jacket Black On Sale

   ---

   ---

8. Posted on Monday 17 December 2012 11:51

   ---

   tonysatrio

   

   
   217 berichten
   Lid sinds December 2012

   ---

   In many ways, the study shows a steady ‘replacement’ of the radio set as a first preference as an ICT (information communication technology) tool if a family were to choose between two.
   Vimax Singapore
   Vimax France

   ---

   ---

9. Posted on Thursday 17 January 2013 03:45

   ---

   randyjames

   

   
   260 berichten
   Lid sinds October 2012

   ---

   I always was concerned in this subject and stock still am, thank you for putting up. blue diamond male enhancement Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice even as you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a weblog web site? The account helped me a applicable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered shiny clear idea.

   ---

   ---

10. Posted on Monday 04 February 2013 05:18

    ---

    KatherynChanady61

    

    
    135 berichten
    Lid sinds November 2012

    ---

    I am forever thought about this, regards for putting up. vigrx plus pills I just like the helpful info you provide on your articles. I'll bookmark your blog and take a look at once more right here regularly. I'm somewhat sure I'll learn plenty of new stuff proper right here! Best of luck for the next!

    ---

    ---

11. Posted on Thursday 07 February 2013 09:31

    ---

    KelleySieger62

    

    
    93 berichten
    Lid sinds February 2013

    ---

    Wonderful items from you, man. I have bear in mind your stuff previous to and you are just extremely magnificent. I actually like what you have received right here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which through which you are saying it. You're making it enjoyable and you continue to care for to keep it sensible. I can't wait to learn much more from you. That is really a tremendous site. Full Report Only wanna remark on few general things, The website design and style is perfect, the content material is real fantastic .

    ---

    ---

12. Posted on Saturday 16 February 2013 16:15

    ---

    allesiamilano21

    

    
    23 berichten
    Lid sinds February 2013

    ---

    I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post..
    
    VigRX
    VigRX Plus
    Male Enhancement

    ---

    ---

13. Posted on Monday 25 February 2013 14:21

    ---

    jorgeandrew92

    

    
    2 berichten
    Lid sinds February 2013

    ---

    I would like to thank you for sharing your experience with us and the time it took to post!! Two Thumbs up!
    MBA thesis paper help| and |nursing thesis papers writing help

    ---

    ---

14. Posted on Thursday 28 February 2013 07:01

    ---

    ClarenceSrey85

    

    
    106 berichten
    Lid sinds February 2013

    ---

    I got what you intend,saved to favorites, very decent site. vigrx plus What i don't understood is in reality how you are no longer actually much more well-preferred than you might be now. You're very intelligent. You realize thus considerably in relation to this subject, made me personally consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like women and men aren't involved except it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding. At all times care for it up!

    ---

    ---