On November 21st, TIME revealed its annual list of the 100 Best Inventions that are making the world better, smarter, and even a bit more fun. KaiOS, the leading mobile operating system used in Energizer smart feature phones, has been recognized on this list in the Social Good category, as a driving force in making the internet more affordable—and hence accessible—to all.
Making mobile internet more affordable has vast implications for consumers, carriers, and manufacturers. Recent research indicates that over four billion people are still not connected to the internet. Device affordability is a critical blocker, and KaiOS and its partners, such as Energizer Mobile, solve this problem by providing a light operating system that requires little memory and other system resources. This approach keeps the price of devices low; Energizer KaiOS-enabled phones retail for as little as US$29.99 with a battery life of at least several days.
KaiOS-enabled devices have the essential features of a smartphone—a store for apps, Wi-Fi, 3G/4G, NFC, GPS—but in the form-factor of a feature phone. On the content side, KaiOS works with the leading global players—WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Google Maps—but also with local app developers in each market to provide locally relevant apps.
“We’re excited and honored to be selected by TIME,” said Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies. “Our mission of bridging the global digital divide not only led to the invention of KaiOS but continues to guide our ongoing innovation. Today, we’ve already powered more than 110 million devices in over 100 countries, and are continuously expanding into more emerging markets with a growing content ecosystem to fuel the digital revolution. We’re thrilled that KaiOS has made a name for itself around the world, and we hope that KaiOS-powered smart feature phones will help spread access to valuable digital resources, regardless of location or wealth.”
For first-time internet users in emerging markets, benefits of connecting to the internet include access to information, accessibility to education, boosting work opportunities and productivity (and hence the economy at large), financial inclusion (e.g., micro-loans, insurance, banking, payment), and women empowerment.
Energizer smart feature phones powered by KaiOS: Energy E241S & Energy E241
