unserved doesn’t mean unservable, how can Bitcoin help?

[r1973]

Unserved doesn’t mean unservable. From the 2.5 billion people worldwide, who have no access to banking-services, half of them already have a mobile phone (and the other half can be granted a mobile phone). How can bitcoin help them enter the local and global village matrix, assuming their first step is a phone-call?  

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[The Sceptical Chymist]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

[r1973]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

My question is different... Can these 'unserved but servable' people hold a private-key with their mobile-device (with backups, like phrase words), and get 100 shatoshi wallet for free to be sent/ or recieved (and registered), like an online bitxoin-faucent website? It's their lifetime crypto-financial unique starting point. You my claim that 100 shatushi is very little "in our real world", but that's negotiable... These are 100 bits of new (endless) financial possibilities and paths.

[panju1]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

My question is different... Can these 'unserved but servable' people hold a private-key with their mobile-device (with backups, like phrase words), and get 100 shatoshi wallet for free to be sent/ or recieved (and registered), like an online bitxoin-faucent website? It's their lifetime crypto-financial unique starting point. You my claim that 100 shatushi is very little "in our real world", but that's negotiable... These are 100 bits of new (endless) financial possibilities. Is it possible?

Don't you need at least a smartphone for transacting? I remember that there was some currency which proposed setting up wallets and enabling transactions through SMS, but I am not sure what happened post that.

[r1973]

Don't you need at least a smartphone for transacting? I remember that there was some currency which proposed setting up wallets and enabling transactions through SMS, but I am not sure what happened post that.

It's for the entrepreneurs out there to figure the right model to execute it. Huge financial-untapped-nieche with great potential. Today's unserved can be (and should be) tomorrow's best and most welcomed ones. Can Bitcoin handle this scenario?

[The Sceptical Chymist]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

My question is different... Can these 'unserved but servable' people hold a private-key with their mobile-device (with backups, like phrase words), and get 100 shatoshi wallet for free to be sent/ or recieved (and registered), like an online bitxoin-faucent website? It's their lifetime crypto-financial unique starting point. You my claim that 100 shatushi is very little "in our real world", but that's negotiable... These are 100 bits of new (endless) financial possibilities and paths.

Sorry did I misunderstand your question?  If you have a phone you can use wallets like mycelium (it's what I use).  What am I missing here?

[MingLee]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

The only way anyone can expand into these places where the internet or bank accounts aren't a big thing is by modernizing their infrastructure and getting people educated. You can't help them any other way aside from getting them to help themselves, and education and expanding services allows for them to do this.

It is entirely possible, businesses and people just have to start investing in these underdeveloped areas. Buy their produce, resources, anything that they can form jobs out of, and start helping them get an education, bring in satellite communication devices, just get their situation better.

[whoreble]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

My question is different... Can these 'unserved but servable' people hold a private-key with their mobile-device (with backups, like phrase words), and get 100 shatoshi wallet for free to be sent/ or recieved (and registered), like an online bitxoin-faucent website? It's their lifetime crypto-financial unique starting point. You my claim that 100 shatushi is very little "in our real world", but that's negotiable... These are 100 bits of new (endless) financial possibilities and paths.

'unserved but servable'?  As opposed to unserved and unservable?

Now these 2.5 billion people, the bottom 1/3 of mankind, living on less than $2/day, you feel that what they really need is a smartphone and a wallet with 100 satoshis in it?! Because even tho the godforsaken hellholes they live in is hardup for potable water and electricity, cell coverage is awesome?

[davinchi]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

My question is different... Can these 'unserved but servable' people hold a private-key with their mobile-device (with backups, like phrase words), and get 100 shatoshi wallet for free to be sent/ or recieved (and registered), like an online bitxoin-faucent website? It's their lifetime crypto-financial unique starting point. You my claim that 100 shatushi is very little "in our real world", but that's negotiable... These are 100 bits of new (endless) financial possibilities and paths.

'unserved but servable'?  As opposed to unserved and unservable?

Now these 2.5 billion people, the bottom 1/3 of mankind, living on less than $2/day, you feel that what they really need is a smartphone and a wallet with 100 satoshis in it?! Because even tho the godforsaken hellholes they live in is hardup for potable water and electricity, cell coverage is awesome?

Okay. You're totally not getting the point which is how can Bitcoin help them? as the op asked. Assuming that half of those 2.5billion people already have mobile phones, it is not entirely impossible for them to the network. What we need here are investors. Having them enter the network would definitely a lot of money.

[whoreble]

...
Okay. You're totally not getting the point which is how can Bitcoin help them? as the op asked.

How Bitcoin can help them? Just like advanced engine management could help them. Just like absurdist literature and atonal jazz can help them. Which is to say "NOT AT ALL, the question itself is absurd."

Assuming that half of those 2.5billion people already have mobile phones, it is not entirely impossible for them to the network.

Similarly, assumong half of the pigs already have wings, it's not impossible for them to fly.
The fact that they don't, or that pigs tend to be indifferent to flight, is neither here nor there.

What we need here are investors. Having them enter the network would definitely a lot of money.

Wow. Nothing is beneath you, is it

[panju1]

Don't you need at least a smartphone for transacting? I remember that there was some currency which proposed setting up wallets and enabling transactions through SMS, but I am not sure what happened post that.

It's for the entrepreneurs out there to figure the right model to execute it. Huge financial-untapped-nieche with great potential. Today's unserved can be (and should be) tomorrow's best and most welcomed ones. Can Bitcoin handle this scenario?

The entrepreneurs will get it sooner or later, if a viable business model exists. If not, we will have to wait till technology develops further and the unbanked can be banked. If basic smartphone prices keep falling, we will get there.

[bittrojan]

Unserved doesn’t mean unservable. From the 2.5 billion people worldwide, who have no access to banking-services, half of them already have a mobile phone (and the other half can be granted a mobile phone). How can bitcoin help them enter the local and global village matrix, assuming their first step is a phone-call?  

its hard for bitcoin to reach that,but actually so many places in this world which dont have any acces to bank and still not have bank account,its will be matter,and internet also not reach all around the world.

[Evildrum]

India just released a $4 cellphone with dual camera and wifi option. Was thinking if they used their cell phones to allow others acess to the connection it could potentially branch out wider to bring other people into the fold.
They do not need to change to fiat, just need to show it is a viable currency. Africa exchanges cell minutes as currency and could adopt bitcoin if they see it works in a similar way.
India is looking to shake up the old way of doing banking. They need strong voices to make sure it is not seen as a hinderance.

[whoreble]

India just released a $4 cellphone with dual camera and wifi option. Was thinking if they used their cell phones to allow others acess to the connection it could potentially branch out wider to bring other people into the fold.
They do not need to change to fiat, just need to show it is a viable currency. Africa exchanges cell minutes as currency and could adopt bitcoin if they see it works in a similar way.
India is looking to shake up the old way of doing banking. They need strong voices to make sure it is not seen as a hinderance.

Bullshit.
From The Verge: http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/18/11260488/india-ringing-bells-4-dollar-smartphone-controversy

Then, reports surfaced indicating that the review units that were made available weren’t actually Freedom 251s. They were Adcom Ikon 4s, a $61 handset developed by a Delhi based company, and manufactured in Chinese, and Taiwanese units, and currently available in the market.

Amidst the confusion, reports of fraud surfaced. India’s Income Tax Department paid the company’s head office —which was shut down earlier this month— a visit. Since their initial announcement, the Ringing Bells’ website has listed all of its phones, including the Freedom 251 as unavailable for immediate sale, and their social media channels are flooded with unhappy customer comments.

From India Times, April 23: http://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobile/freedom-251-cheapest-smartphone-concerns/51031117

"Rs 251 for a 3G smartphone is economically not possible, it's not sustainable. This appears to be a marketing gimmick, if they aren't supported by the Indian government," said Tarun Pathak, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research.

"There is no known model of a subsidy like this that a Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 phone can be sold at Rs 251," said Pankaj Mohindroo, president of the Indian Cellular Association. "If there is something shrouded in secrecy or non-transparency, then the appropriate authorities will get to bottom of this."

And, of course, it's not the phone, it's the contract where the money's at. Many US providers *give away* a cheap model with a 1-year service contract, or offer high-end phones at a huge discount.

[franky1]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

follow the Mpesa business model

[whoreble]

How are they going to get money in the first place to buy bitcoin?  Locally? I doubt it.  They need a way to convert fiat in hand to bitcoin.  I think bitcoin is a great idea for such folks but I don't know how it's going to happen.  It definitely is useful to have a bank account--but that's your point and I get it.

follow the Mpesa business model

[img ]http://pointlessly large picture[/img]

I think the M-Pesa model is already set up. It's called M-Pesa, and requires bitcoin not at all
If you mean something like M-Pesa but with Bitcoin, that already exists too: it's called a smartphone, a web wallet and localbitcoin.
Doesn't seem to be catching on tho. Wonder why...