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sms campaigns

 
MobileActive08

A Global Summit about
Mobile Technology for Social Impact
October 13-15, 2008
Johannesburg, South Africa

 
 
Wireless Technology for Social Change
Read the new report on trends in mobile use by NGOs:
Wireless Technology for Social Change.

The report was commissioned by the UN Foundation/Vodafone Group Foundation Partnership and written by Katrin Verclas and Sheila Kinkade.
 

NEW! Third MobileActive Guide Released: Mobile Phones in Fundraising Campaigns

March 23, 2007 | KatrinVerclas
file under:
fundraising, mobile campaigns, mobile fundraising, mobileactive, sms campaigns
MobileActive is announcing the third MobileActive Guide, profiling strategies and civil society organizations using mobile phones in their work to make the world a better place. The MobileActive Guide focuses on using mobile phones in fundraising campaigns. It features case studies from around the world, strategies for using mobile phones in fundraiaing, and a how-to section for organizations considering using mobile phones to support their causes.

Download the Guide here.

Mobile phones have become a powerful emerging tool for participation in civil society. This five part series looks ways nonprofits have used mobile phones in their campaigns and the effective strategies deployed, and shares lessons learned.


SMS FOR A BETTER WORLD? A Global SMS Hub for Civil Society Organizations.

January 23, 2007 | KatrinVerclas
file under:
global south, GSMA, mobileactive, sms aggregator, sms campaigns, sms hub, social enterprise

Photo by loungerie, Creative CommonsI am part of a research project for the Gates Foundation on the future of global online advocacy, where I have been adding data and commentary on mobile content.  One of the ideas we have floated is a global SMS hub – a commercial aggregator for low cost global SMS campaigns.  

Why is this needed? 

SMS is a critical tool for e-advocacy in the global south.  Given the high rates of mobile phone penetration in large parts of the world compared to Internet access, SMS allows a much wider reach than email.  However, mass SMS campaigns are not feasible option for many NGOs in the global south because of cost – costs that pertain both to the NGO itself and to potential campaign participants who must pay to text. Sending an email message (or a thousand) entails no excess cost for an NGO above the cost of an internet connection (which admittedly, can be formidable in some parts of the world).  However, if an NGO sends an SMS, it must pay per message (the global average cost is .10 US $), making mass texting thousands of messages prohibitively expensive. In addition, SMS  is in some countries still relatively expensive for consumers, making it somewhat unlikely that they would send an SMS message on behalf of an advocacy campaign.  

What would reduce the cost of SMS for social causes and allow for mass sms campaigns to become a reality for NGOs engaging their constituents?

What is needed is a global SMS hub for civil society organizations, and possibly even one with toll-free numbers for SMS that would not charge participants. With a toll-free SMS short code, the sender would not have to pay to send the SMS to a particular number or better yet short code.  This would require short code requisition for many countries and agreements with all telephone operator in the country (or countries) in which the service is to be offered -- short, a global aggregator service with a twist, a Clickatell for Good.

How far off from being a reality is a global SMS hub for civil society?

The GSM Association recently completed trials of a hub-baed interoperability structure.  From it’s press release:

Read More >>



Web Centrix

file under:
bulk sms, Computers and Technology, internet strategy, mobile applications, sms activism, sms campaigns, sms solutions, sms tools, technology consulting, web development
operates in:
Zimbabwe

contact:

Web Centrix (Pvt) Ltd
Box A215, Avondale, Harare
www.webcentrix.co.zw
info@webcentrixafrica.co.zw

Openmarket - We have a mobile and online based trading platform that allows individuals and organisations to find each other and do business. This has wide applications in rural areas as it enables a wider market coverage for rural businesses to gain greater coverage and better pricing.

Smschannel - This is abulk sms gateway allowing organisations and individuals to send sms messages for campaigns, information distribution and trade notices. 

 

References / Past Projects

Web centrix enables you to use your website, email, sms messaging, electronic catalogues and similar tools to effectively increase awareness about your cause, products and services in an innovative way. Our mobile and web platform allows you to effectively transact, communicate and aquire feedback about your activities.

Our value preposition to you is the ability to give you an effective, affordable and simple internet and mobile presence to increase awareness about your activities. Furthermore, we integrate the best way to aquire and analyse operational intelligence from your website and sms feedback systems.



Text Message Service for Activists Subpoenaed by New York City

March 31, 2008 | KatrinVerclas
file under:
activism, privacy, sms campaigns, tad hirsch, text messages, txtmob

TxtMob, a group SMS service and its creator, Tad Hirsch, a long-time MobileActive colleague, have ben subpoenaed by the city of New York to turn over information about TxtMob users and activists who participated in the 2004 protests against the Republican National Convention there.

In a blow to privacy and a chilling development to activists, the city, involved in a law suit, has requested that information about text messages, phone numbers, and other personal information is turned over to the city. Support is needed, so please go to TxtMob and donate.

Read More >>