30 June 2009 | Author: J. Cave SEO Consultant
It has always been Google's mission to simplify the way people seek knowledge and information, but while countries like the UK and the USA have succumbed to its charms, states with limited internet access have hindered this mission in a global context.
Africa is a classic example of this problem. According to Internet World Stats, there were around 54 million internet users in Africa in December 2008 - a 5.6% penetration - while only around 0.1% of the population were broadband subscribers.
For Google, the solution is SMS-based services. Computers - specifically those with internet access - are not widespread enough for Google to reach people in the same way it has done in more developed nations. SMS-enabled mobile phones, on the other hand, are prevalent throughout Africa - in fact, six times more prevalent than internet enabled devices.
Yesterday Google launched Google SMS, a suite of mobile applications that provide useful information via SMS for example information on news, weather and agriculture tips.
Included in the suite is Google Trader, an SMS based classified service that connects buyers and sellers, allowing mobile phone users to easily buy and sell, as well as find jobs.
Google SMS Tips, another application within the suite, is a 'query-and-answer' service which Google hopes will provide a similar experience to searching the web. Simply put, you enter a text-based query and the Google SMS algorithm returns the most relevant answer.
Although Google hopes to make these services available across Africa, Uganda will be the first country to experience Google SMS, with those on the MTN Uganda network able to access the SMS suite.
If successful, however, it is likely Google will launch the service across more African mobile networks.
Google SMS launches in Africa
In an attempt to give everyone access to the world's information, Google is launching a series of SMS-based services aimed at the African market.It has always been Google's mission to simplify the way people seek knowledge and information, but while countries like the UK and the USA have succumbed to its charms, states with limited internet access have hindered this mission in a global context.
Africa is a classic example of this problem. According to Internet World Stats, there were around 54 million internet users in Africa in December 2008 - a 5.6% penetration - while only around 0.1% of the population were broadband subscribers.
For Google, the solution is SMS-based services. Computers - specifically those with internet access - are not widespread enough for Google to reach people in the same way it has done in more developed nations. SMS-enabled mobile phones, on the other hand, are prevalent throughout Africa - in fact, six times more prevalent than internet enabled devices.
Yesterday Google launched Google SMS, a suite of mobile applications that provide useful information via SMS for example information on news, weather and agriculture tips. Included in the suite is Google Trader, an SMS based classified service that connects buyers and sellers, allowing mobile phone users to easily buy and sell, as well as find jobs.
Google SMS Tips, another application within the suite, is a 'query-and-answer' service which Google hopes will provide a similar experience to searching the web. Simply put, you enter a text-based query and the Google SMS algorithm returns the most relevant answer.
Although Google hopes to make these services available across Africa, Uganda will be the first country to experience Google SMS, with those on the MTN Uganda network able to access the SMS suite.
If successful, however, it is likely Google will launch the service across more African mobile networks.
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