Vodafone Foundation Launches 'Vodafone Social Apps Hub'

NEW DELHI (April 7, 2016): Vodafone Foundation today launched the ‘Vodafone Social Apps Hub’, a first of its kind platform that curates all mobile apps designed and developed for community welfare on a single platform. Developed in partnership with the NASSCOM Foundation, this app store for India showcases the best of technology which addresses real life socio-economic challenges.

The Hub identifies reviews and features social apps developed for various developmental sectors and beneficiaries. It does so by bringing together various stakeholders including app developers and NGOs, government initiatives and social enterprises which use the mobile platform and technology to drive awareness building, inclusion and empowerment within communities, across sectors.

Over 100 such mobile applications are already featured across six main categories - Health, Safety, Education, Agriculture, Disability and Governance.

Launching the Vodafone Social Apps Hub, P Balaji, Director, Regulatory, External Affairs & CSR said, “The potential of mobile technology to address several of our country’s socio economic challenges is unparalleled. In addition to reducing the barriers in inclusion and communication, mobile technology has proved to be an effective means of development. Several mobile apps, across sectors, have already created substantial impact with their insightful approach and innovative solutions resulting in better education, health, livelihoods and safety. However, the awareness of such apps amongst beneficiaries, app developers, the development sector and general citizens is quite low. The Vodafone Foundation, guided by its philosophy of ‘Connected for Good’ has curated the Vodafone Social Apps Hub to solve this problem.”

Shrikant Sinha, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation said, “With the number of mobile connections across India crossing the 100 crore mark, mobile has been able to create inroads to the most remote part of our country and has become the best suited platform for social development. While the underserved communities across India are opening their minds to the power of mobile phones, it was a necessity to make sure that the best of the social apps that benefit them are all carefully handpicked and made easily accessible at one single web address. 'Social Apps Hub' is such a platform and we are proud to partner Vodafone Foundation in creating and helping them scale this further both in terms of the number of apps as well as the number of users benefitting from it”

Vodafone Foundation envisages the hub to create an ecosystem for users from diverse backgrounds to actively engage and learn about mobile applications and technologies which make lives easier and enable 360 degrees societal development.