These Chargers are Being Used to Charge Phones in Developing Countries
Rahul Kalvapalle — March 20, 2014 — Social Good
References: buffalogrid.org & virgin
A charitable organization called BuffaloGrid has developed a portable solar-powered charger that can be used to quickly and safely charge phones in developing countries. Cellphones have proven to effectively connect communities in countries lacking wired telecommunications infrastructure; however, the lack of electricity infrastructure makes device-charging a problem. BuffaloGrid tackles this by providing solar-powered charger hubs to communities, and offers them a share in its profits.
BuffaloGrid founder Phil Schluter spent 20 years as a coffee trader in Africa, and came up with the idea after seeing the benefits cellphones were bringing to local communities and recognizing the difficulties in charging phones.
The BuffaloGrid equipment is provided for free to entrepreneurs in the local community. Customers pay for the use of the device by sending a premium text message as their payment. The entrepreneurs who own and manage the device then share in BuffaloGrid's profits.
BuffaloGrid founder Phil Schluter spent 20 years as a coffee trader in Africa, and came up with the idea after seeing the benefits cellphones were bringing to local communities and recognizing the difficulties in charging phones.
The BuffaloGrid equipment is provided for free to entrepreneurs in the local community. Customers pay for the use of the device by sending a premium text message as their payment. The entrepreneurs who own and manage the device then share in BuffaloGrid's profits.
Trend Themes
1. Portable Solar-powered Chargers - The trend of portable solar-powered chargers provides an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the mobile device accessories market.
2. Connectivity in Developing Countries - The trend of utilizing solar-powered chargers to enhance connectivity in developing countries presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the telecommunications industry.
3. Shared Economy for Device Charging - The trend of shared economy models for device charging, like BuffaloGrid's profit-sharing approach, offers an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the energy and service sectors.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile Device Accessories - The portable solar-powered chargers trend opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the mobile device accessories industry.
2. Telecommunications - The trend of utilizing solar-powered chargers to enhance connectivity in developing countries creates disruptive innovation opportunities in the telecommunications industry.
3. Energy and Services - The shared economy model for device charging, as demonstrated by BuffaloGrid, offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the energy and service sectors.
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