From the New York Times, 9 July, 2007: In developing nations, especially rural areas, where banks, ATMS, and access to financial services are notoriously poor, mobile devices may allow for the spread of financial markets to marginalized communities, allowing for increased access to loans and other financial services to the poor.

The GLCRSP LINKS project (Livestock Information Network and Knowledge Systems for Enhanced Pastoral Livelihoods in Eastern Africa) has been utilizing mobile devices as part of a communications system designed to collect, analyze, and disseminate near real time livestock production and market information to pastoral producers, middlemen, and livestock traders. The LINKS system provides information via the SMS text message system over mobile phone devices, email, WorldSpace radio systems, and on the internet.