Beginning as early as March 2009, Nokia--working with Mobile-XL to embed their XL Browser in Nokia handsets--will ship "browser" enabled cell phones to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
While not a fully-fledged browser, the XL Browser nonetheless goes a long way to bridge the digital gap in areas where only SMS (Short Message Service) is available, and will serve up such features as searches for useful information--such as news, currency conversion, and finance information--and it will even play games.
According to their site, (http://www.mobile-xl.com/about.php) Mobile-XL™, the creator of the XL Browser, is a California-based technology company "focused on building value added services to mobile users worldwide. Mobile-XL™ provides emerging markets of Africa, Latin America and the Middle-East with affordable access to communication and relevant information with the ultimate goal of putting these areas on par with parts of the world that have readily available access to PCs, the internet and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)."
Their mission: "To bridge the digital divide by connecting families, friends, communities, and businesses by harnessing SMS and advanced data technologies in order to provide instant and reliable access to internet-based information on any mobile phone, anywhere around the world," is not only very timely, but nothing short of admirable.
While WAP is only available in areas where the mobile service provider is in fact offering full Internet access, SMS is seen as a basic GSM mobile service, and is generally available wherever you have mobile voice service.
Short Message Service (SMS) is the standard communication service in the GSM mobile communication system, using standardized communications protocols allowing the interchange of short text messages between mobile telephone devices.
SMS text messaging is the most widely used data application on the planet, with 2.4 billion active users, or 74% of all mobile phone subscribers sending and receiving text messages on their phones.
We have SMS technology to blame for the proliferation of text messaging. The connection between the phenomenon of text messaging and the underlying technology is so great that in parts of the world the term "SMS" is used as a synonym for a text message or the act of sending a text message, even when a different protocol is being used.
Again, according to Mobile-XL's site, based on SMS, the XL Browser offers any of the following:
• News
• Sports Scores
• Weather
• Flight information
• Package tracking
• Dictionary
• Thesaurus
• Translations
• World time
• Prayer time
• Fasting time
• Religious quotes
• Currency conversion
• Stock quotes
• Commodity prices
• Horoscopes
• Jokes
• Lucky lottery numbers
• TV guide
• Sudoku
• Checkers
• Music charts
• Ringtones
Also, Mobile-XL recently announced their SMS2NET platform, which further enhances the "browser" experience and extends it to email:
This feature allows you to send and receive email from your mobile phone. No need to be tied to a PC. And no need to upgrade to an expensive phone or service. You can communicate with contacts around the world instantly from your own phone using SMS technology. In fact, you can access hotmail and Yahoo! email directly from your handset.
Previously available only with your operator's or Mobile-XL's email servers, our sms2email platform has been extended to include 3rd party email providers. With this service, you will be able to:
• Check your emails anytime and anywhere without internet access
• Reply to important ones in real time with the XL Browser's Email Editor
• Save time and money by making sure that important emails have arrived before going online
• Save energy: no need to head out to a distant, crowded internet cafe
• Stay on top of business and personal email correspondence
For environments that lack Internet service, Mobile-XL is going a good job bridging the divide.
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