Why virtual Cloud Phone technology matters, and why it isn’t about you

When it comes to technology, whether we want to admit or not, we hold huge biases around what is considered cutting edge or innovative.

Whether we’re talking about mobile devices, cloud infrastructure or AI, we tend to be magpies, perceiving the shiniest, slickest and often most expensive products to be the best solution for everyone. Online debates weigh up the merits of the hottest Apple or Android products, or for the price-conscious, “budget” devices which sit at the US$350 price range.

The problem with most conventional views on technology is that they are developed and built in service for people with money. The digital divide is widening around the world, driven by pivotal events like the end of 2G and 3G networks. It is high time for solutions that simultaneously address this shift and the needs of the underserved while creating economic opportunities to incentivize key mobile ecosystem players like telecom carriers, phone manufacturers and content providers.

Elusive digital inclusivity

The internet offers millions, if not billions, of videos, articles and reviews on product performance, app functionality, hardware aesthetics or data and privacy protection. Sadly, there is very little out there that looks at solutions to connect the billions of people who can’t afford smartphones and aren’t even part of the conversation yet. The truth is that the gulf between those who have ready access to devices and the modern internet and app ecosystem, and those who do not, is widening.

A recent UN conference highlighted the importance of digital integration to addressing poverty, gender equality and climate change. The discussion noted that while 63% of the world’s population is connected, the least developed countries still only count 27% of their populations as internet users. This underscores the likelihood that the data economy will remain dominated by a few stakeholders from a handful of technologically advanced economies. The scenario threatens to permanently exclude the world’s poorest from the fourth industrial revolution.

Virtual browser innovation for feature phone. Who cares?

CloudMosa’s Cloud Phone technology is here to disrupt this paradigm. Using cloud technology to run phone functions virtually, Cloud Phone presents a transformative array of features that extend internet accessibility and modern app experiences to 4G feature phones at prices 15 times more affordable than most budget smartphones. This innovation marks a significant departure from the accepted norm that cloud technology is a luxury for the affluent, demonstrating its newfound role as a democratizing force. Unlike traditional feature phones, the Cloud Phone system operates on a user-friendly virtual browser platform, facilitating seamless access to real-time content through popular web applications such as YouTube and Facebook via cloud-based widgets.

Now, anyone with a smartphone would probably be asking themselves who cares? Well, this technology isn’t for people who can afford smartphones, or anyone reading this article. While this technology might sound basic to the typical techie, it is in fact a highly technical, innovative solution to the immense problem of digital inclusion. So, while the temptation is to look at how the technology and functionality compares to a low-end smartphone or other Android and iOS challenger brand phones, that line of thinking misses the point. Before we go on about Cloud Phone and its advantages, let’s be clear on a few critical things:

Who it’s for: the world’s underserved — people on low incomes or below the poverty line.

Not: existing smartphone users looking for a cheaper option.

What it does: provide access to the modern internet and app ecosystem for existing feature phone users and the unconnected, with a goal to always remain accessible at the $10–15 price point.

What it doesn’t do: compete with smartphones or operating systems on performance, functionality or price in any way.

Why it matters: because digital inequality continues to increase and threatens to alienate even more people as new technologies emerge and the end of 2G and 3G is near.

It is not just another digital detox device.

A turning point in mobile computing

While the principle behind Cloud Phone seems simple, it is important to remember that there has been no major innovation on feature phones for the past two decades. This is because most were on a 2G network with extremely constrained hardware capabilities (e.g. tiny screens, limited storage) and use their own firmware and operating systems which are incompatible with the two major ecosystems — Android and IOS.

What makes Cloud Phone unique is that it can deliver an unlimited number of apps to feature phone users; and it makes it easy to develop apps that can perform on extremely low-end devices with 16 MB RAM and ROM, at the absolute lowest price points and with real-time content updates.

Cloud Phone has huge implications for connecting the next billion users, giving access to critical information, education, healthcare, government services, and entertainment for those with limited income. However, it also creates new avenues for business growth. This is critical to incentivising key ecosystem players to deliver this technology to more users and tackle digital inequality. What Cloud Phone offers manufacturers, mobile carriers, and content providers is a golden opportunity to reach untapped markets and expand their user bases.

Sometimes innovation isn’t for everyone

Cloud Phone is about innovation that matters for the world’s most underserved people. Our pilot program in India in partnership with industry leader HMD Global has brought YouTube Shorts and other cloud widget applications such as BBC Hindi to existing feature phone users through HMD’s Nokia 4G 110 (2023) and Nokia 4G 106 (2023) phones. This successful soft launch marks the start of Cloud Phone’s expansion to provide digital access to more underserved users across the globe.

Our aim is to continue delivering modern internet and app ecosystem access and improved experiences to users at the lowest possible price point. While some of our users today may become wealthier and move up the ladder to a smartphone, our technology will always be there to help them take that first step. The long-term vision for Cloud Phone is not to compete with Android or iOS and push our way into the smartphone market. It is to constantly find ways to deliver optimum performance at the $10 to $15 price point and to address the needs of a hugely underserved market, while also creating the business opportunities that make it possible for companies to invest in the technology.