FrontlineSMS turns a laptop or desktop computer and a mobile phone or modem into a two-way group messaging hub. Since it works anywhere there’s a mobile signal, it doesn’t need the Internet, a major advantage for many grassroots NGOs. Once you have the software running on your computer, you can send messages to wide groups of people, and collect responses to any questions or surveys you might want to run, all via text message.
Uses
FrontlineSMS can be used in many ways that improve communication between members of organizations or loosely affiliated groups to enable inexpensive two-way communication during elections monitoring projects.
FrontlineSMS has been used independently and in tandum with other platforms for election monitoring. It was first incorporated into an elections monitoring project in 2007 with the Nigerian elections. Since then Afghanistan, Mozambique and many other projects have used it and most Ushahidi deployments have been integrated with FrontlineSMS.
Useful Links
FrontlineSMS blog
FrontlineSMS Election Monitoring Group
FrontlineSMS wiki
FrontlineSMS on twitter
FrontlineSMS on facebook
FrontlineSMS community
FrontlineSMS on Wikipedia
FrontlineSMS founder’s blog