Cell phones may bring internet to African poor

While many Africans may have never even surfed the web before, a new technology being launched predicts that this can change by the ability to bring internet access via mobile phones. "This is an opportunity to bring Africa into the information age," said Karel Pienaar, chief technology officer at Africa's biggest cell phone operator MTN, which aims to launch 3G in South Africa in June. Further, there are some innovative examples of Africans using technology to tackle the continent's myriad problems: Rural HIV/Aids sufferers in South Africa are monitored by SMS; fishermen in Senegal get tip-offs on which local market is offering the best price for a haul. But these are usually the exception than the rule.