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A short introduction to FrontlineSMS, a free and open source application that turns a desktop/laptop and mobile phone into a central communications hub. It was presented in Day 2 at BarCamp Phnom Penh 2 on Oct 4, 2009. Most of the info here are abstracted from FrontlineSMS website, www.frontlinesms.com.
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FrontlineSMS
BarCamp Phnom Penh 2,PUC Campus, 04 October 2009
by OUM, Vantharith
What is FrontlineSMS?
FrontlineSMS is award-winning free, open source software that turns a laptop and a mobile phone into a central communications hub. Once installed, the program enables users to send and receive text messages with groups of people through mobile phones.What you communicate is up to you, making FrontlineSMS useful in many different ways.
Why FrontlineSMS exists?
A lack of communication can be a major barrier for grassroots non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in developing countries. FrontlineSMS is the first text messaging system created exclusively with this problem in mind.
Why FrontlineSMS exists? (Cont’d)
By leveraging basic tools already available to most NGOs — computers and mobile phones — FrontlineSMS enables instantaneous two-way communication on a large scale. It’s easy to implement, simple to operate, and best of all, the software is free.
How FrontlineSMS is different?
It does not require an Internet connection.It works with your existing plan on all GSM phones, modems and networks.Attach a phone and SIM card, and pay your local operator per SMS as usual.It is laptop-based so it can be used on the road or during power outages.It stores all phone numbers and records all incoming and outgoing messages.All data lives on a local computer, not on servers controlled by someone else.
How FrontlineSMS is different? (Cont’d)
It is scalable. Messages can be sent to individuals or large groups.It enables two-way communication, useful for fieldwork or during surveys.It is easy to install and requires little or no training to use.Developers can freely take the source code and add their own features.It can be used anywhere in the world simply by switching the SIM card.
ICT in Cambodia
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
InternetLandline
Mobile
0.50% 0.27%
18.45%
ICT Penetration in Cambodia (2007)
# of users (2007): - Internet: 70,000 - Landline: 37,500 - Mobile: 2.583 M(source: CIA Factbook & Wikipedia)
How can FrontlineSMS be used?
Human rights monitoringDisaster relief coordinationNatural resource managementElection monitoringEmergency alertsMobilising task forcesField data collectionConducting public surveys
How can FrontlineSMS be used? (Cont’d)
Health care info requestsAgricultural price updatesOrganizing protestsMobile education programsCoordinating fundraising effortsProviding weather updatesAnd more…
Usage in Cambodia
Cambodia Agriculture Market Information Service (CAMIS) - http://www.camis-kh.org/
Equal Access Cambodia – Integrating FrontlineSMS into its Khmer language radio programs - http://www.equalaccess.org/country-cambodia.php
Obstacles in Cambodian context
Though mobile phone penetration is high, including those among the low-income households, the language barrier (English language in SMS) is one of the main obstacles.Low SMS usage and low literacy among poor-income households.A very limited number of handsets support Khmer Unicode font.
FrontlineSMS - Homepage
Source: http://www.frontlinesms.com/
Around the World: Who use it?
FrontlineSMS in Cambodia
Interested? More info…
FrontlineSMS website – http://www.frontlinesms.com/ Frontline Community – http://frontlinesms.ning.com/ Frontline Blog –http://www.kiwanja.net/blog/category/frontlinesms/
Demo
Our friend, Justin, will take us through this demo
Type in “W”Send to 092XXXXXX
