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Cell Phones

Cell phones have emerged as a widely available option; providing multiple opportunities for improving communication. Cell phones can be used for 

1. Voice to voice - call and ask specific questions (e.g., market prices, input availability, talk back radio, call centers)
2. Voice to machine - call and get an automated response
3. Text to pre-packaged response 
4. Text to call center for individualized text or recorded voice response
5. Watching Videos
6. Accessing the internet

​Examples of Use.

• Banking: m-pesa ;  IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL)
• Market information: Esoko ; Infotrade Uganda

• Technical information; ATA call center (Ethiopia) ;  m-Kilimo (Kenya farmers helpline) ; Community knowledge workers (Uganda) ; e-Krishok ; HNI 3-2-1 ; iCow ;  mKisan ; Sawbo (animated video) 
• Input access: myAgro
• Organizations like GSMA are increasingly offering powerful support for the better use of cell phones to support rural communities.​​

Cell phone types
Cell phones can be defined as

1. Basic- with talk and text
2. Featured - with talk, text and some other applications, or
3. Smart  - As above plus they can access the internet

Pros

Cell phones are portable, relatively cheap and increasingly available 
Cell phones have multiple present and potential uses

• Market and input access. Farmers can contact buyers and sellers directly offering a powerful way to improve market access and input access
• m-Banking. Cell phones offer a powerful way for poor farmers to build savings through mobile-banking.
• Problem diagnosis. This is possible but depends on the availability of experts or expert systems at the "call center". Call centers can be linked to existing internet problem diagnostic sites.
• Accessing technical information. Users (on Smart phones) can link to existing internet technical sites. Call centers are an option, but impact depends on the availability of experts or expert systems at the "call center". Post-project sustainability needs to be addressed. 

Cons

• Cell phone coverage can be limited
• Costs can be high
• The amount of information that can be downloaded can be limited
• Screen size can limit usefulness of video
• Some applications require availability of experts or expert systems which may not be the case.

Key Principles 

The key ‘enabling factors’ behind the successful introduction of mobile phone-based ICTs in developing country contexts (from Poate 2010) include: 

• Familiarity with the technology – the recent and rapid increase in the use of mobile phones in many countries has fostered an overall familiarity with the technology;
• Technical or resource support – despite the overall familiarity of mobile phones, donor support is often required, especially where a non-standard and/or more complex application or activity is being introduced;
• Regulatory environment – pragmatic and flexible regulation plays a key role in supporting the introduction and continuing development of services, especially m-banking;
• Business strategy – is an important factor in the early growth of commercial services such as m-banking, which further determines whether they reach a ‘critical mass’ of clients; and
• Previous experience in mobile phone-based ICT systems – can be an important contributing factor to the successful introduction of mobile phone-based ICT.

The appropriateness and relevance of mobile phone-based ICTs in specific situations is further determined by: 

• Relevance to the needs of users – whether or not services are relevant to the needs of users is a crucial factor in determining their sustainability. The design and functionality of mobile phone-based ICTs may need to evolve over time to meet these needs;
• Advantages over existing systems – whether they contribute to reducing the cost and improving the reach, timeliness and quality of existing services, or if they offer innovative new services;
• Cost effectiveness and affordability – whether they deliver on the potential for services to be redesigned in more cost-effective and affordable ways, which can make services more relevant to lower-income individuals;
• Reach and appeal – whether they have wide-based appeal and are successful in achieving the potential of extending servicers to lower income people. The available evidence is mixed, but generally positive in this regard;
• Range of services offered and functionality – whether they offer the type of services and functionalities that are valued by their intended users. Experience suggests that lower income people may have different requirements from other members of society; 
• Technical factors and cost of operation and maintenance (O&M) – whether the technical demands and ongoing costs of O&M are appropriate to the situation in which the project operates. Such requirements can be larger than first anticipated; and 
• Technical issues – problems such as poor network coverage and unpredictable electivity supply can undermine the added value of mobile phone-based ICTs and affect their replicability and scalability. 

For more:

• Mobiles for Development Handbook (USAID) Link 
• PowerPoint Summarizing Key Handbook Concepts (UC Davis IPO) Link
• Mobile Agriculture: Understanding Challenges and Opportunities for Mobile Ag Solutions (USAID/FHI 360 FACET) Link
• Poate, Derek . 2010. Study on potentials of mobile phones in investment and development projects. FAO Working Paper Link 
• Aker, Jenny C. . 2010. Dial “A” for Agriculture: Using Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Extension in Developing Countries. October 2010. Tufts University. Link

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Sawbo animated videos delivered on cell phone