Mobile Technology and the Last Mile: “Reluctant Innovation” and FrontlineSMS

Abstract

ing them the most ubiquitous communications platform in human history. Communications technologies are unique among many other types of innovation in that they fundamentally change how we interact with each other. As mobile phones grow in sophistication and become smarter and smarter, many overlook the one basic piece of functionality that has done the most to change how we share information between one another: the text message. Text messages, or Short Message Service (SMS) messages which weigh in at 160 characters or less, don’t, at first blush, seem obvious as a powerfully transformative technology. Yet, it is their simplicity, availability, and affordability that make them appealing to groups of people who have little experience with technology. The impact of SMS can be seen in almost every aspect of life, from teenagers’ fragmented attention spans, to presidential campaigns, to the ways victims of natural disasters seek relief. The use of mobile phones to improve systems and services, especially in underserved contexts—dubbed “mobile for development” (m4d)—represents one of the most rapidly growing frontiers in innovation, particularly in the developing world. FrontlineSMS is an open-source SMS gateway that enables grassroots organizations to use text messages and mobile technologies effectively to serve their communities. Over the last six years, FrontlineSMS has been downloaded more than