Tech@State: Mobile Diplomacy - "Mobile in Developing Countries" Breakout Panel

"Mobile in Developing Countries" Breakout Panel of Tech@State: Mobile Diplomacy on October 3, 2014 at George Washington University
Moderator - Larissa Fast, USAID
Panelist - Patricia Kabra, GWU
Panelist - Nick Martin, TechChange
Panelist - Sean McDonald, FrontlineSMS
Panelist - Will Sullivan, BBG
Panel Description:
Mobile phone usage is soaring in underdeveloped areas of the world such as sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Locales that were once off the grid entirely have newfound connectivity, but exploiting mobile’s full potential in these regions poses major challenges. Constraints such as cost, low bandwidth, limited internet connectivity, and uneven distribution of access to mobile phones require the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. government agencies abroad to rethink and adapt their mobile strategies to impact foreign citizens. This panel will focus on the directions mobile technology is heading in developing countries and how foreign policy professionals can remain best positioned to take advantage of these new developments.