The problem of SMS or any technology that requires phone numbers is that
it is quite easy for a government to shut it down. In small countries
far away they just have to ask the operator to disconnect you. You can
use numbers in another country (international SMS), but then it becomes
too expensive for the users.
If you can solve the numbers problem, you can either install your own
platform to manage e-mails (such as open source FrontLine or Kannel) or
cooperate with an organization such as the NGO Instedd, which operates
SMS services that directly solve your problems.
There are a number of SMS services for human rights operating in Kenya
and Tanzania.
https://spidercenter.org/newsroom/article/ict4democracy-east-africa-network
Javier
On 8/27/13 11:36 PM, Richard Brooks wrote:
I have colleagues living in a small country, far, far
away with a history of rigged elections who want to
put in place a system for collecting information
using SMS. The local government keeps shutting
down the systems that they put in place.
I think I understand their needs and wants. SMS is
really not my strong point. If anyone with an understanding
of SMS, SMS web interfaces, and/or related security issues
would be willing to point me in the right direction
(or discuss potential issues) I (and by extension
they) would be grateful.
The alternative is for me to dedicate my excess cycles
to researching those issues from scratch, which sounds
time consuming. They kind of need help in the near future.
-Richard
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