If information is power, the Internet has been one of the great equalisers in human history. As Ray Kurzweil said, “Today, a kid in Africa with a smartphone has access to more knowledge and information and capability than the president of the United States did 20 years ago”. But extending these benefits to many parts of the world is a challenge.

Many African countries do not have widespread or reliable landline infrastructure. So more and more people are using mobile devices exclusively to access the Internet. Android devices are helping to overcome this information access challenge in two ways — (1) by driving down the cost of advanced mobile technology and (2) by making it easier for entrepreneurs to build new features and services.

Android handsets are now available for N10, 000 or even less. The Tecno P3, for example, is available for around N10, 000. As the cost of devices has gone down, the potential utility for users has gone up. For over a decade, most mobile services in Africa were SMS-based. These have worked well, particularly when used for trading and payments, but their functionality was limited. Basic phones lack the processing power and apps necessary for features like voice recognition, which can allow illiterate people to speak into phones to find information or translate between different languages. A smartphone with apps and access to the full Internet can provide people with new economic opportunities.

On the one hand, it helps existing businesses work or reach their customers more efficiently. On the other, it opens the door to new businesses as people develop local apps, which can truly change people’s lives for the better. Suddenly, people in Nigeria and other countries such as Ghana and Kenya are pursuing the cycle of engagement and innovation that was once the exclusive reserves of Silicon Valley. When people who get to town by commercial motorcycles have powerful, affordable handsets, the effect is huge. Beyond “fun” apps like Angry Birds and practical apps, such as Google Maps, access to information through the full Internet and the right apps on an Android device can literally mean the difference between life and death. Here are a few apps and services that show the transformative power of Android and mobile technology.