Stanford, Ericsson, team to promote e-learning in Africa

Stanford University is teaming with L.M. Ericsson to offer classes via cellphones in Africa.
The school unveiled a pilot project called Dunia Moja, or “one world,” that allows students at three partnering universities in South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda to attend lectures and interact with each other via their phones. Ericsson is providing 3G smartphones equipped with video cameras, audio recorders and Internet capability for the effort.
The project underscores the vital role mobile is playing in many developing regions. Consumers and businesses are increasingly depending on wireless in Africa, China and other markets where fixed-line communications may not exist.
“We are pleased to collaborate on this cutting-edge pilot program that studies how mobile technology can be used to bridge the digital divide,” said Ericsson CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg. “Building out the wireless infrastructure and leveraging Internet- and multimedia-enabled handsets for e-learning in Africa will help set the stage for future economic empowerment in the region.”