Around 800 million people worldwide cannot read or write their
mother tongue. Most of them live in developing countries –
mainly in rural areas. Mobile phones have been a phenomenal
success in terms of sustainable development and its business
model proved viable in many developing countries despite huge
infrastructural shortcomings in terms of e.g. the availability of
electricity. Coverage has seen huge improvements and most of the
growth for mobile provider now lies in attracting customers in
rural areas who mainly work in agriculture. Low-end smart
phones with touch screens have already dropped below the $100
mark and will be soon within financial reach of less affluent rural