NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, April 29, 2005

Kenyans are finding it easier to post and find jobs via mobile phone text message than the traditional Internet, highlighting how mobile services leapfrog more than just voice communications in developing nations.
For years, there have been stories about how mobile phone service in developing nations would help them to “leapfrog” other nations with legacy landline phone systems. Most of the focus, though, has been on the voice communications aspect of the offerings, though, certainly some have been highlighting the data possibilities as well.
Job seekers in Kenya are providing a perfect example of how this works. While there is Internet service available, it’s difficult for many to use. It often involves traveling quite some distance to get to an Internet cafe to use an open computer to check for open job listings. Service is often quite expensive. However, with the growing use of mobile phones, employers looking for workers just need to send out a text messagedescribing the work offered, and potential workers can quickly and easily reply — and it still costs less than using the Internet. With it becoming common for small groups of people to share a mobile phone, it’s easy for word to get around quickly when jobs become available.
Story found here.