Activity Description: A Chinese company has developed an inexpensive Linux-based computer as a way to close the "digital divide." YellowSheepRiver's $150 "Municator" is available now and claims to have performance akin to Pentium III-quality; it is also compared to MIPS's four-way superscalar R10000 processor, which shipped in 1995.
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Whereas the MIT One Laptop Per Child models offer an LCD display and no harddrive, the Chinese model offers an external 40GB USB drive and an S-video cable to support television hook-ups.

Activity Description: The International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) is an independent, non-profit organization that assists developing countries to realise locally-owned, sustainable development, by harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs). IICD works with its partner organisations in (currently nine) selected countries, helping local stakeholders to assess the potential uses of ICTs in development.

Activity Description: iT is a portable computer developed by Asiatotal for poor people to have greater access to knowledge, education, and social and economic opportunities. The computer connects to the internet and also comes with a printer, USB card reader, and other peripherals.

These computers will be distributed free of charge, owing to the fourteen hotkeys (e.g. "health," "money") on the keyboard that take users to sponsor sites.

Activity Description: i-Shakti is a program that promotes connectivity and communication in rural Indian villages by means of internet kiosks. Users of these kiosks, once registered, can receive helpful audio-visual information pertaining to health, education, agriculture, and other services. These kiosks are run by villagers for villagers to encourage local entrepreneurship. Like its predecessor program Shakti, i

Activity Description: With the support of USAID’s Last Mile Initiative, Macedonia has become the first all broadband wireless country in the world. In a country almost completely covered by mountains and where 42% of the population lives in rural areas, all of the schools have been connected to the Internet. As a direct result of the project, access to the Internet will decline from $125 USD per month to $15-20 USD per month.

Activity Description: Infineon Technology, a semi-conductor chip manufacturer based in Munich, Germany, has designed a chip that will enable mobile-phone handsets to cost under $20. Worldwide, there are currently about 1.8 billion mobile phone users. Infineon's initiative is targeted at the estimated 3.5 billion people living in areas with mobile phone coverage who cannot afford their own mobile phones. India, which has an estimated two million new mobile connections added every month, would be one of the key markets for this new ULC platform.

Activity Description: The Simputer is a low cost portable alternative to PCs, by which the benefits of IT can reach the common man. It has a special role in the third world because it ensures that illiteracy is no longer a barrier to handling a computer. The key to bridging the digital divide is to have shared devices that permit truly simple and natural user interfaces based on sight, touch and audio. The Simputer meets these demands through a browser for the Information Markup Language (IML).

Activity Description: ExpLAN Computers, Ltd. has developped an ultra-low power, transportable computer designed to operate from a number of different power sources including solar panels and lead-acid vehicle batteries. Its ultra-low-power design enables it to be used indefinitely away from sources of mains electricity. The Solo is designed to be assembled and supported by manufacturing companies based within developin

Activity Description: As part of the VIA pc-1 Empowered Connectivity Initiative, Via Technologies, Inc. expects to release the Terra PC in Fall 2005. Priced at USD 250, the Terra PC is designed for BOP consumers on a community-based, shared access model, with a focus on communication, education, and information.

Activity Description: Swayam Krishi Sangam is a microfinance organization working through a community-owned grameen (village) banking program that provides poor women with loans for both income-generating activities as well as for emergencies. Through a grant from the Consultative Group, SKS has begun an initiative to introduce smart cards and hand-held computers at the village level. The Smart Card Project will revolutionize microfinance by overcoming a major problem for microfinance institutions (MFIs) - the high cost of delivering financial services to the doorstep of the poor.

Activity Description: Smart Communications has transformed the cell phone market in the Philippines by enabling electronic sales of airtime via short message service (SMS) and by reducing the unit size of such sales to as little as US$0.03. This innovation has enabled millions of low-income Filipinos to access communications services - 98% of Smart's subscribers are l ow-income, pre-paid customers. Its distribution system, using SMS technology, allows merchants to re-sell minutes, taking a commission on every sale, in essence creating a business opportunity for 450,000 entrepreneurs.

Activity Description: Bangalore-based Encore Software and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are introducing two new computers this year. The low-end model, dubbed SofComp, includes a 15" monitor and will cost just Rs 10,000 (US$ 230). Costing up to twice as much, the Mobilis functions as both a desktop and a laptop. Both offer local language support, employ open-source software, use built-in memory in lieu of a harddrive, and can be powered by batteries for up to 6 hours.

Activity Description: Tel@bureau provides a low-cost solution to bringing remote areas of the world into the mainstream of global communications. Using state-of-the-art components, including its own solar power source, a Tel@bureau desktop contains everything needed to provide communication, education, training, and commercial resources to communities. A network of Tel@bureaus may be connected to a central hub to form a complete telecommunications infrastructure.

Activity Description: WorldWater Philippines, Inc. has surpassed former water supply systems with a revenue-earning model that implements solar-powered pumps and smart card technology, making it a candidate for adoption on the national level. The model captures the Philippines ideal sunlight conditions to distribute water from high groundwater levels, placing system management directly into the hands of local communities and farmers.

Activity Description: The Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE), in conjunction with mobile telephone company Safaricom, has developed a system to keep farmers better informed of commodity market prices. Short Message System (SMS) technology is behind the system, which will cost farmers only 15 shillings (about $0.20 USD) per use, giving them access to price information that was previously only available directly at the market.