MIDs, 3G, and mid/low socio-economic groups in Emerging Markets

> Dear MW4D Group,
> 
> My job currently focuses on mLearning in an international development
> context - so I've been watching the lively debates with interest.
> This is a great list-serve, and MW4D is a brilliant endeavour!
> 
> Ultimately, as everyone has been saying, cost is the number one
> barrier (prohibitive handset cost, expensive data rates) to mid/low
> SEC (Socio Economic Group) adoption of mobile web in emerging markets
> in (for example) Africa, Asia, and South America.
> 
> Although there are encouraging signs with regard to rollout and
> take-up of 2.5G+ connectivity, and low cost mobile internet
> handsets/MIDs, it is only a "pioneering" or affluent market segment
> that will be able to get these products and services, for several
> years to come.
> 
> This means ... a "trickling" of MID and 2.5G+ availability in emerging
> markets, won't mean "mass" adoption, as it's only market SEC A and B
> that will be able to afford the MID devices and data connectivity.
> And, SEC A and B are groups that, to a certain extent, 'digital
> divide' (in mass-reach, international development context) concerns
> are not currently aiming at.  
> 
> Meaning...  SECs C, D (etc) in emerging markets will simply not be
> able to get access to MIDs and cheap data rates til something like
> 2012 - 2015, although there is much promising (and conflicting) market
> research and growth projections in this area.
> 
> Until there are 'mass market' consumer price points for MIDs and data
> tariffs in emerging markets, then the best "mass-aimed" (rather than
> "specialist group" M-Learning) "Mobile for International Development"
> technologies in the short term (2008 - 2012, approximately) would
> continue to be SMS and IVR (Voice XML).  Initiatives such as the
> Spoken Web and HSTP protocol look amazing too - very impressive and
> interesting.
> 
> Also, I have point, with regard to fake Chinese handsets in the Asian
> market (not sure if this has been discussed on MW4D list before?)
> 
> In recent trips to Bangladesh, I was doing some informal research on
> the grey/black market for handsets, in the many mobile handset retail
> outlets in Dhaka.  There is a truly astonishing range of fake (or 'non
> brand name' but 'mid spec') handsets out there, some with mobile
> internet access.
> 
> Some of the fakes are quite poor, of course...but a few are 'good'
> fakes, as it were...in terms of the way they function.  
> 
> Although, of course, if one has a fault and needs to invoke the
> warranty ... I imagine there's not much that can be done to rectify a
> fault with an untrackable manufacturer source!
> 
> Anyway - just throwing this issue out there to this list.  (that of
> fake mobile internet devices in emerging markets, that are MUCH
> cheaper than the 'real thing') 
> 
> I'm not sure about the African/South American market, but it's clear
> that the Asian market has a substantial amount of fake handsets, aimed
> at - and seeminly being consumed by - SEC C and D.  So, it's important
> to note this for anyone making/delivering apps, as the
> browsers/software may behave erratically (or perhaps not, in some
> cases, where the fakes are "good") for Wap sites (WML or XHTML), J2ME
> MID-P apps, etc.
> 
> As an example, Nokla (note the "L") handsets seem popular...and in
> self reporting on focus groups, etc, it seems likely that some people
> may mistakenly report owning a Nokia, where in fact, they have a fake
> Nokla, etc.
> 
> One fake I saw out there that was pretty brazen - and used the same
> logo font, etc, was a "Suny Ericssom"- more info here...
> 
> http://news.softpedia.com/news/Be-The-First-to-Buy-a-Suny-Ericssom-P99
> -45356.shtml
> 
> Ultimately, despite the quality issues and the fact it's an IP crime,
> low income consumers who want a 'high end' looking phone, with mobile
> internet...will I imagine be sorely tempted to pick up a cheap fake,
> over the real thing.  For example, the fake Nokia N95's I saw looked
> reasonably 'genuine', and are a fraction of the cost of the 'real
> thing'.
> 
> Cheers all,
> Josh
> 
> PS At the moment I'm wading through masses of bespoke commissioned,
> detailed research on the Bangladeshi mobile market - hence I have a
> good overview here.
> 
> 
> Josh Saunders  - Senior Mobile Producer
> BBC World Service Trust 
> www.bbcworldservicetrust.org 
> 

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