GOOGLE SMS INTRODUCED IN UGANDA.

The global economic model that arose over the past two decades that allowed low-wage earners in developing countries to service high-wage earners in developed countries becomes increasingly unsustainable as the wage differential between the served and the servers declines and as technology puts increasingly powerful devices directly into consumers' hands. The conundrum faced by those trying to service developing nations is that there is little wage differential between the served and the servers yet developing nation consumers can't afford state-of-the-art information devices such as Apple's (www.apple.com) iPhone, Android (www.android.com) smartphones, or RIM (www.rim.net) Blackberries.

Google (www.google.com) SMS, announced on June 29, is a suite of services intended to meet Africa's needs. Among this suite of services are the following applications:

- Google SMS Tips (6001*): an SMS-based query-and-answer service that enables users to have a "web search-like" experience--Google says users can enter a free form text query that its algorithms restructure and to which Google responds;
- Google SMS Search (6006*): news sports, stocks, horoscopes, glossary, currency converter, religious texts, translations, flights, Q&A, calculator, and local time;
- Google Trader (6007*): an SMS-based application that helps buyers and sellers find each other--people can find, sell, or buy any type of product or service.

These services are free of charge from Google. Carrier charges are 110 UGX for SMS Tips, while charges for SMS Search and SMS Trader are 220 UGX each. (1 Uganda Shilling [UGX] = 0.0004746 US Dollar [USD]) (*These services are currently supported by MTN Uganda [www.mtn.co.ug/] only.)

Google provided two search examples--one pertaining to the use of urine to control weevils, the other explaining the proper use of condoms—both examples address life and death issues faced by citizens in developing areas. Despite citing an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (www.itu.int) report that shows that Africa has the world's highest mobile growth rate, Google reports that mobile phones are owned by only one-third of the population. Internet penetration is even lower--only one sixth the penetration rate of mobile phones.

Google reports that its Tips and Trader applications are the fruits of partnerships with Grameen Foundation (www.grameenfoundation.org/), MTN Uganda, Busoga Rural Open Source and Development Initiative (BROSDI) (http://brosdi.or.ug/), Straight Talk Foundation (www.straight-talk.or.ug/), and Marie Stopes Uganda (www.mariestopes.org.ug).
-Stuart Whitaker

COMSCORE BEHIND COMMON SHORT CODE MEDIA MONITORING

Comscore (www.comscore.com) announced that it has been selected through Wireless Media Consulting (WMC) (www.wmcglobal.com) to monitor common short code (CSC) promotional materials for CTIA.-Stuart Whitaker

XTIFY / INTUIT EXTEND LOCATION-BASED SERVICES CONTEST

Xtify (www.xtify.com) and Intuit (www.intuit.com) have extended the deadlines for their location-aware business application contest. The contest, announced in April, is intended to showcase applications that integrate Xtify's location-based services capabilities with Intuit's Platform as a Service. Intuit's Platform as a Service allows developers to make their web applications available to millions of Intuit users. Xtify's capabilities allow developers to integrate location based features into Internet applications.

The Intuit / Xtify Application Contest will provide up to $ 12,500 in prize money to the top location applications for two prizes: one determined by a panel of judges, and one based on user adoption of entrant applications. The deadlines are:

- August 24: applications must be completed and published;
- November 2: winners will be announced.

The Xtify API allows Web applications to utilize location data tracked by a thin client running on BlackBerry, Google Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian OS smartphones. No plans have been announced for Apple iPhone compatibility. Judges for the contest include:

- Ed Zander – Recent CEO and Chairman of Motorola
- Jeff Samberg – Managing Director of Acadia Woods Partners, LLC
- Alex Chriss – Business Leader of Intuit Partner Platform, Intuit Inc.
- Andrew Weinreich – CEO of Xtify, Inc.

Xtify launched the beta version of its location based platform in 2008. A thin client on users' cell phones pushes location data to Xtify's servers on a periodic basis. Website developers can write to Xtify's API to access the location of participating users and reflect that location in content displayed to that user. Xtify says it is able to know where users are throughout the day and whether they are on the Internet. Users must opt-in to each service for Xtify location sharing. Users control with whom and when their location information is shared.

MeetMoi (www.meetmoi.com), a location-based dating service, and SeeMyWhere (www.SeeMyWhere.com), a social network, have implemented the Xtify technology. MeetMoi offers a free service that allows users to review "matches" and respond to messages initiated by other users. A premium service offers unlimited messaging and other features.

Andrew Weinreich founded meetMoi in 2006, and founded Xtify in 2008. Xtify is privately held, funded by Acadia Woods Partners and ETF Venture Funds (www.etfventurefunds.com).-Stuart Whitaker