Desi lingo web content for 3G phones

Yesterday evening, I was watching a television discussion on the popularity of new age communication like Twitter in India in the context of Shashi Tharoor's 'cattle class' remarks. The panelists on the discussion were unanimous that the reach of the new age media - Internet - was only marginal in India as of now. The arguments on which this premise was drawn were the following limitations:

• The almost prohibitive cost of owning computer/ laptops for the average rural Indian.
• Little or NO access to computer at workplace or otherwise for the average Indian.
• English speaking pockets in India limited to Urban areas.

In other words, these very 3 points are the enablers for the popularity of Internet to the so-called upwardly mobile, educated and English speaking Urban Indian.

Like all revolutionary ideas come, I think I had a eureka moment here. I quickly tried to understand and see this in the context of the article I read in Times of India the same day. The article mentioned that within an year the 3G phone prices in India could fall to as low as Rs. 4000/-!!!

Like it is often said for Innovation, the enabler is itself the greatest constraint. The evolution of the mobile phone technology to the extent of substituing a computer for high speed internet access has clearly challenged the first two limitations and made them irrelevant.

However, I think the third point still holds valid.

A huge market awaits those who can challenge the 3rd constraint. This could be done in quite a few ways. I think it is far more easier to build content in the vernacular than to teach colonial Englsih to the average Indian. We could have numerous 3G ready websites that host content in the local Indian languages. This wave could really bridge the gap and provide access to information and entertainment to the most deprived sections. Building low cost data-to-voice and voice-to-data applications could enhance the reach to the aged, and even to those who have never know the alphabet.

Need to watch this space for the Innovators, the Early adaptors and the business models that emerge here..