3.11: Mobile Technologies
Increase Use of Mobile Technologies. Other Information:
Secretary Clinton announced support from the United States for the first Pakistani mobile phone-based social network, Humari
Awaz (“Our Voice”) during her visit to the country October 29, 2009. The Humari Awaz platform leverages SMS technology and
enable Pakistanis to build mobile-based networks around shared interests, themes and subjects. In addition to linking friends
and families, the network also helps a range of other users - from farmers and resellers who want to share market prices,
to businesses that wish to communicate with their staff on the road, to news outlets that want to share information with targeted
groups. U.S. support for the program covers the costs of the first 24 million Humari Awaz messages. The program already surpassed
the 24 million message mark and began charging a minimal fee for messages on March 12, 2010. Despite the network being phased
into a fee for service model, over 80% of its original participants still actively use the service. The rampant level of crime
in Mexico is fueled by the drug trade. So the Department implemented a program in Mexico to restore anonymity to crime fighting
using the tools of technology by allowing people to send free, anonymous text messages to report crimes. The Department will
continue to support similar efforts to use mobile technologies as a means for social engagement in 2011.
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