The service was officially launched last week in Kenya and will provide mobile phones AND connectivity to health workers and villagers in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The service is jointly funded by Ericson and a Kuwaiti wireless carrier, Zain.

For years the international community has recognized the potential for migration to contribute to development and economic growth in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Remittances from diaspora communities living outside their countries of origin as well as professional skills and links to private investors are important resources that migrants could contribute to their countries of origin. In 2006 remittances to developing countries reached nearly $300 billion, virtually doubling ODA.