MobileActive.org

The simplicity of new mobile platforms requiring only a basic mobile phone with SMS capacity has allowed their adoption all over the world — from South Africa, to India, to Mexico — to monitor elections, track violence and crime, provide logistical support in natural disasters, and oversee inventories. The portability and ubiquity of mobile phones have helped them become an important tool for civil society, enabling local mobilization and networking among geographically dispersed people.

This report looks at early evidence of the role mobile technologies can play in developing countries, particularly related to democratic governance. Within mGovernance, the report analyzes mobile technology in inclusive participation, responsive institutions, poverty reduction, the environment and energy. The report analyzes ways to create a fruitful environment for the growth of mobile technologies for mGovernance. Points are further illustrated through case studies.

Mobile phones are approaching ubiquity in Pakistan. Allowing low cost access to community members across class, linguistic and geographical boundaries,  the mobile phone can be an effective tool to communicate with ordinary people in Pakistan, as well as to learn from them, and even collaborate with them. This guide provides a research-driven and practical guide for using SMS  to  do  so.  It  is  intended  for  both  Pakistani  and international institutions, whether in government, civil society or the humanitarian sector. It represents the findings of its authors only, and, it is hoped, is the first draft of a collaborative document, to which many of its readers might contribute.

This document is intended to provide an understanding both of the range of technical options available for SMS-based communications, and of the ways  in  which  campaigns should be conceived and executed in light of the scope and character of both SMS use and phone use in Pakistan.

It also makes the argument that SMS provides an opportunity to do more with mobilebased communications than simple announcements and polling, useful activities though they are. It argues that the conversational nature of SMS, in Pakistan and elsewhere, allows