SUBSCRIBE TO TMCnet
TMCnet - World's Largest Communications and Technology Community

Mobile World Congress - Featured Article

Gates Foundation Calls on Mobile Banking for Emerging Markets


Of all the amazing new technologies and services that came out of the Mobile World Conference 2009 in Barcelona this week, perhaps the most altruistic splash came from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which pledged millions in funding to a project aimed at stamping out poverty through the mobile banking.

The foundation has teamed with the GSMA (News - Alert), a worldwide consortium of mobile industry players, to create the Mobile Money for the Unbanked (MMU).
 
The idea behind the project is to create economic opportunities through mobile banking in emerging markets by supporting mobile money deployments targeting the unbanked.
 
The Gates Foundation pledged $12.5 million in funding.
 
While it may seem an odd juxtaposition – bringing mobile financial services to regions before standard banking services are established – economists believe access to formal financial institutions spur economic growth. In addition to that theory, which is backed by the World Bank, economists also suggest there is a direct correlation between mobile communications and economic growth.
 
The MMU plans to unite industry players with a view to sharing market information, educating the market regarding economic opportunities for mobile banking, and supporting mobile money deployments targeting the unbanked.
 
The MMU says its goal is to enable 20 million un-banked consumers to have access to financial services by 2011 by brining together mobile operators in developing countries, banks, microfinance institutions, governments and development organizations.
 
The $12.5 million from the Gates Foundation is earmarked for supporting 20 individual projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In addition, $5 million of the grant is being used toward expanding and encouraging mobile network operators to create new services for previously unbanked people.
 
As TMCnet reported earlier, VAS solutions integrator Bharti Telesoft (News - Alert) was one of the first to be invited as a founding member of the MMU Working Group by the GSMA, according to the company.

Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Tim’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Tim Gray


Mobile World Congress - Related Articles



Mobile World Congress - Latest News

3/28/2024 3:00:12 AM
3/28/2024 2:19:10 AM
3/28/2024 1:31:08 AM
3/28/2024 12:39:34 AM
3/28/2024 12:00:26 AM


Comments powered by Disqus



Technology Marketing Corporation

2 Trap Falls Road Suite 106, Shelton, CT 06484 USA
Ph: +1-203-852-6800, 800-243-6002

General comments: [email protected].
Comments about this site: [email protected].

STAY CURRENT YOUR WAY

© 2024 Technology Marketing Corporation. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy