In Bangladesh there’s approximately 54 million mobile phone subscribers out of a 160 million total population, but the country has an internet penetration rate of well below one per cent. In a bid to get the population online and in particular those with mobile subscriptions Nokia introduced Bangladesh to Ovi Mail.
After just 20 days of campaigning to raise awareness around eleven thousand consumers got a new Ovi Mail account. The service brought together the Ovi Community along with content partners, NGOs and universities to truly connect people.
Ovi Mail was launched to bring email to the 25 per cent of the world’s population that don’t have internet access. Looking at the example in Bangladesh it seems to be working. Ovi Mail users need never touch a PC and can be completely connected to the online world through their mobile device. I for one think it’s one of the most exciting services launched by Nokia and it’s one that really does make a difference to people’s lives.
We’ve written before about innovation on Conversations and that it’s not always about creating the latest and greatest smartphones. Do you agree? Are services like Nokia Life Tools, Nokia Money and Ovi Mail the pioneers of innovation? Let us know in the comments below.