This last blog in the Net2 2012 Look Ahead blog series focuses on the mobile world, and how it is revolutionizing the way we think about social change. I talked it through with Dale Zak, a mobile software developer passionate about helping people in need.

Over the past three years, Dale has contributed to Ushahidi's crowdsourced crisis mapping platform (to learn more about Ushahidi in the context of Net2 watch this net2allstar video), helped The Extraordinaries build their micro-volunteer system, as well as developed open source plugins for FrontlineSMS. He also coordinated several social good initiatives including organizing Mobile Tech 4 Social Change conference in Halifax, formed Apps4Good to bring together software developers to build apps for charity, established Repurposed Labs to re-purpose used computers into public internet terminals for low income communities, and deployed I Vote Because map to spark a pro-democracy movement why voting is important in Canada. This past December Dale travelled to Lusaka to teach Zambia’s first mobile development workshop at the BongoHive.

Dale’s interests and experience intersect with these of NetSquared on many levels -- the technology one, the social change one, as well as the international reach one. Dale has lived and traveled to different countries; he understands the diversity of social problems, and has worked his way through global projects. 

Read this short interview with Dale to learn more about how mobiles can change the world, and what they will be changing in the technology world in 2012. I also strongly encourage you to check out Dale’s blog, especially the articles on Building Technology vs. Solving Problems and Harnessing The Power Of Mobile, as well as the blog post from the iHub Nairobi in which he shares his thoughts on mobile design.

December 31 Deadline Rapidly Approaching for Competition with $650,000 in Cash and Prizes for Wireless and mHealth Solutions



The Vodafone Americas Foundation and mHealth Alliance announced the last call for submissions for the annual Vodafone Americas Foundation Wireless Innovation Project™ and the mHealth Alliance Award, a competition designed to spark innovation and help solve pressing global issues. Proposals will be accepted through December 31.




The Vodafone Americas Foundation and mHealth Alliance released a call for submissions for the annual “Wireless Innovation Project and the mHealth Alliance Award”. This competition identifies and supports wireless-related technologies that have a high potential for solving critical global issues.

The Vodafone Americas Foundation, one charitable arm of the mobile telecommunications company, launched the Wireless Innovation Project in 2009 to recognize innovative wireless solutions that could make a global impact. Applicants compete for first, second and third-place prizes worth $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000.

QR codes, two-dimensional bar codes that can be read by smartphones, are popping up in a surprising number of places. What you may not have realized is how they can be used by social benefit organizations.

With 2012 around the corner, political campaigns and lobbying are set to explode, and mobile will play a critical part unlike what has ever been seen before! There is an increasing need for nonprofits to turn their supporters into passionate activists and make citizens’ voices heard in government as important causes depend on it; mobile technology will serve as an important conduit for this.

Join us on September 29 at 2pm EST for our next webinar: ‘Creating Loyal & Engaged Advocates via Mobile Apps.’ In this Webinar we will showcase an advocacy group, Susie’s Law Movement, and the launch of their Smartphone app, ‘Susie’s Law First Responders’

We will highlight:

Given the constantly escalating number of Smartphone users in the country, Susie’s Law Supporters realized they needed to expand their brand to where their supporters were, and increase engagement and interaction with the animal lovers of North Carolina, to stay true to their mission.

Empowering the Charitable Sector with Interactive Technologies II

15th September, LBi London

NetHope, in partnership with USAID, GBI, and DNA, recently launched the Stop Human Trafficking App Challenge. This contest draws upon the thriving culture of innovation in Russia to respond to one of today’s most pressing development challenges – sex and labor trafficking. The contestants are invited to compete in a skills-based challenge to design and build innovative and functional mobile applications.

The recent Applications for Good contest challenged developers to create apps that would help low-income Americans become connected learners, find jobs, get healthy, and build financial security. Developers submitted their ideas and creations from March 14 until May 16. The winners were announced during a live streamed ceremony on June 14.

According to India’s telecom regulator, TRAI, India has around 500 million active mobile users. A new study by Opera Software released recently found that 49% of Indians are Mobile Only Internet Users (see this infographic for details on their useage).