According to a recent article in the journal New Scientist, third world countries like Africa are leading the way in cell phone innovation that combines the power of a personal computer with the portability of a cell phone handset. Many European countries and most Asia countries are far ahead of the U.S. when it comes to multi-functionality. The Japanese have been using their cellphones for everything from gaming devices to internet portals to virtual readers for years.

Africa is now at the forefront of innovation because it is easier for people who live there to own a cell phone than a PC. Many parts of Africa now distribute health care information via cell phones, use cell phones instead of credit cards for transactions (a feature expected eventually to hit the U.S.), and social networking. Many experts believe that in the near future cell phones and PCs will become one and the same.

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Tags: Africa, Business, Cell Phone Use, Innovation