ICTs for development: Building the information society by understanding the consumer market

Abstract

Ensuring that consumers have a right to choose from the innovative technological facilities, at the most cost-effective affordable price, is the main objective for building the information society. Mechanisms involving comprehensive strategies, concerned with the buildup of information societies, have been addressed in this chapter. The particular focus is on the digitally divided underserved areas where consumer market needs have to be identified in their peculiar diverse culture, technology consumption ability, as well as practically applicable mechanisms for increasing the teledensity. Technological landscapes appear on the brink of radical transformations. Consumer patterns and technological advancements are going through a consolidation and adaptation phase for devising new structures. The ICT convergent era is offering a vibrant discourse to the dynamically changing consumer needs in their native and global scenarios. In addition, the potential of the alternative avenues for addressing the consumer market needs have also been analyzed.