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Motofone: Contributing to Change in the World?

By Adam Blasquez

The introduction of new technologies inevitably changes societies in various ways. The ability to communicate with others can dramatically change an area of the world in many positive ways. For example, current technologies can provide developing nations with tools that increase their earning power. Communication devices introduced into the third world can also help people become more literate, potentially reducing social stratification.

For US $30, the Motorola Motofone specifically targets just such emerging markets. The Motofone offers a redesigned user interface with innovative voice prompts in local languages. This cellular phone also gets up to 400 hours of standby battery life with only one charge due to the lack of power sources in developing countries.

This will affect small communities where everything is face-to-face or physical. This media-type influence has the potential to bridge the gap between a small village and the rest of the world. A single cell phone can increase the size of local communities. In India alone, 5 million new customers sign up for cell phones every week. Small tools. Big changes.