Bringing down the barriers: interactive audio programming and mobile phones

In the development and NGO community, one of the most commonly asked questions is: How do we get information that matters to those who need it most?

The people who need information the most.. live on the margins of society without access to the Internet, , Pod Casting and all the other sexy new innovations in ICT. But technologists, media and development practitioners keep ignoring the fact that the majority of poor people don’t have access to computers and fancy gizmos, and continue to innovate in ICT without the communication needs of marginalized communities in mind.

And so, to Freedom Fone The use of mobile phones in marginalized communities is high. Freedom Fone’s interactive audio programming software intends to make the most of it.

IVR? (Interactive Voice Response) An automated telephone information system that speaks to the caller with a combination of fixed voice menus and data. The caller responds by pressing digits on the telephone or speaking words or short phrases.

What does Freedom Fone bring to IVR? Integration of SMS, Polls and IVR Callbacks to requests received via SMS & ‘missed call’ Simplified interface with activists and development practitioners in mind

Scenarios Epidemics and emergency relief Elections Minority languages Special interest groups Diasporan communities Agricultural extension Community radio support

Likely beneficiaries All phone users: Mobile phones (2 billion+ GSM phone users) Landlines VoIP (eg Skype, Gizmo, GTalk)

Deployment telephony options 1. GSM gateways a. VoiceBlue Lite – 4 sim cards – approx EUR880

Deployment telephony options 1. GSM gateways b. MobiGater – 1 sim – approx EUR70

Deployment telephony options 2. Landlines via ATA (Analogue Telephony Adaptor) 3. Voice over IP via Internet connection 4. High capacity phone lines 5. Any combination of these options

Why is this stuff cool? It opens up an important new channel for two- way communication with the public Automated telephone information systems do not require a broadcasting license This type of digital content is not currently subject to censorship You can run your own information on demand service yourself.

To see how Freedom Fone is being piloted in Zimbabwe, visit:

For more information Websites: Contact: Brenda Burrell