"Analyzes the growth and evolution of mobile telephony, including the rise of data-based services delivered to handheld devices through “apps” (applications) and other ways. Summarizing current thinking and seeking to inform the debate on the use of mobile phones to improve livelihoods, the report looks, in particular, at key ecosystem-based applications in agriculture, health, financial services, employment, and government, with chapters devoted to each, and explores the consequences of the emerging “app economy” for development. The global conversation is no longer about the phone itself, but about how it is used and the content and applications that it opens up. These apps and “mash-ups” of services, driven by high-speed networks, social networking, online crowdsourcing, and innovation, are helping mobile phones transform lives in developed and developing countries alike." (Back cover)

"The Country Tables in the appendix to this report provide comparative data for some 152 economies with populations of more than 1 million and summary data for others, with at-a-glance tables focusing on the mobile sector. The report is complemented by the World Bank’s annual Little Data Book on Information and Communication Technology, which presents a wider range of ICT data. The Statistical Appendix reviews the main trends shaping the sector and introduces a new analytical tool for tracking the progress of economies at different levels of economic development in widening access, improving supply, and stimulating demand for mobile services." (Page 7)