Google Chief: New "Robust Networks" in Developing World Can Bridge Education Gaps (Updated Sept 22)

(HN, September 21, 2010) - The day is not far off where students in remote developing countries will be accessing text books through mobile phones.

That's according to Google chief Eric Schmidt, who said the rapid roll-out of robust networks and cheap handsets will make it easier for students in developing countries to access content. 

Schmidt said costs for smart phones and so-called feature phones are tumbling to below $150, making India the fastest-growing mobile phone market in the world. "Prices are going to fall very, very dramatically," said Schmidt, adding it could "empower citizens on an individual basis.

He said textbook content in the local language of students could be downloaded into phone - cutting the costs of printing and distributing hard copies.

Schmidt said that in natural disasters such as Haiti, his Google technology was deployed to provide low level imagery to help logisticians reach their targets.An ad for WIMAX in Maseru, Lesotho CREDIT: HUMNEWS

Worldwide, there are about 1-billion smartphones and about 4 billion feature phones.

Indeed, in southern Africa, large and medium-sized networks are rolling out high-speed, wireless WIMAX networks - though costs can be prohibitive to the average subscriber. Aid agencies on the continent are using SMS technology in some countries for sending out behaviour change messages, collecting data or warning people about oncoming disasters.