Around three-quarters of the world population now has access to mobile devices, states a new study conducted by World Bank and its technology entrepreneurship and innovation program infoDev, to analyze the growth and development of mobile telephony, and the rise of data-based services, including apps, delivered to handheld devices.
The study reveals that the number of mobile subscriptions, both pre-paid and post-paid, has grown from less than 1 billion in 2000 to over 6 billion now. Nearly 5 billion of these subscriptions are from developing countries.
Mobile phones are being used for more than just calling and texting people. According to the study results, more than 30 billion mobile applications, or “apps,” were downloaded in 2011. Increase in the usage of apps indicate that people are performing more activities using their phones.
“Mobile communications offer major opportunities to advance human and economic development – from providing basic access to health information to making cash payments, spurring job creation, and stimulating citizen involvement in democratic processes. The challenge now is to enable people, businesses, and governments in developing countries to develop their own locally-relevant mobile applications so they can take full advantage of these opportunities ,” said World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte.
“Most businesses based around mobile app technology are at an early stage of development, but may hold enormous employment and economic potential, similar to that of the software industry in the 1980s and 1990s. Supporting the networking and incubation of entrepreneurs is essential to ensure that such potential is tapped,” added Valerie D’Costa, Program Manager of infoDev.
The report emphasizes the role of governments in enabling mobile application development, and highlights how mobile innovation labs – shared spaces for training developers and incubating start-ups – can help bring new apps to market.
http://www.buzzom.com/
The study reveals that the number of mobile subscriptions, both pre-paid and post-paid, has grown from less than 1 billion in 2000 to over 6 billion now. Nearly 5 billion of these subscriptions are from developing countries.
Mobile phones are being used for more than just calling and texting people. According to the study results, more than 30 billion mobile applications, or “apps,” were downloaded in 2011. Increase in the usage of apps indicate that people are performing more activities using their phones.
“Mobile communications offer major opportunities to advance human and economic development – from providing basic access to health information to making cash payments, spurring job creation, and stimulating citizen involvement in democratic processes. The challenge now is to enable people, businesses, and governments in developing countries to develop their own locally-relevant mobile applications so they can take full advantage of these opportunities ,” said World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte.
“Most businesses based around mobile app technology are at an early stage of development, but may hold enormous employment and economic potential, similar to that of the software industry in the 1980s and 1990s. Supporting the networking and incubation of entrepreneurs is essential to ensure that such potential is tapped,” added Valerie D’Costa, Program Manager of infoDev.
The report emphasizes the role of governments in enabling mobile application development, and highlights how mobile innovation labs – shared spaces for training developers and incubating start-ups – can help bring new apps to market.
http://www.buzzom.com/
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