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https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/homeless-not-phoneless-askizzy-app-saving-societys-forgotten-smartphone-tech-users/ https://www.cnet.com/tech/se

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/homeless-not-phoneless-askizzy-app-saving-societys-forgotten-smartphone-tech-users/ https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/homeless-not... Smartphones are essential in daily life to many people, even if they happen to be homeless. Hopefully in most countries it is possible to have an internet connection even if you don’t have a home address. I.e that even if no one lets you buy a mobile subscription it will still be possible to have prepaid SIM cards in your country. And that some of those prepaid providers do not require that you have a home address.

troupo 3y ago
> Smartphones are essential in daily life to many people, even if they happen to be homeless. Yes they are, and that is increasingly a problem. Especially for the unemployed and the homeless. Because you're required to have a relatively expensive gadget with good internet connection just to barely function within society.
- hgsgm 3y ago
  Smartphones start at $20. Urban areas where most homeless people are are blanketed with wifi.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - troupo 3y ago
    1. Can those smarphones run the necessary software? 2. You're tying people to the whims of internet availability 3. (not yet discussed: main reason for being unbanked is not enough money to even cover the initial required balance) 4. (not yet discussed: bitcoin transaction fees) But sure, do tell me how great Bitcoin is for "banking the unbanked": since we already increasingly exclude people by requiring them to have internet-connected smartphones what's another such requirement which is additionally also much more expensive for all transactions.
- alwillis 3y ago
  > Because you're required to have a relatively expensive gadget with good internet connection just to barely function within society. In most urban areas, every fast food establishment, public library, coffee shop, grocery store and convenience store has Wi-Fi. As long as a device has Wi-Fi and a free Google Voice or a dozen other VoIP apps, you don't even need cell service most of the time.
  - troupo 3y ago
    Some of the points, and others, covered here: https://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=36547210 https://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=36547210

troupo 3y ago

> Smartphones are essential in daily life to many people, even if they happen to be homeless. Yes they are, and that is increasingly a problem. Especially for the unemployed and the homeless. Because you're required to have a relatively expensive gadget with good internet connection just to barely function within society.

hgsgm 3y ago
Smartphones start at $20. Urban areas where most homeless people are are blanketed with wifi.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- troupo 3y ago
  1. Can those smarphones run the necessary software? 2. You're tying people to the whims of internet availability 3. (not yet discussed: main reason for being unbanked is not enough money to even cover the initial required balance) 4. (not yet discussed: bitcoin transaction fees) But sure, do tell me how great Bitcoin is for "banking the unbanked": since we already increasingly exclude people by requiring them to have internet-connected smartphones what's another such requirement which is additionally also much more expensive for all transactions.
alwillis 3y ago
> Because you're required to have a relatively expensive gadget with good internet connection just to barely function within society. In most urban areas, every fast food establishment, public library, coffee shop, grocery store and convenience store has Wi-Fi. As long as a device has Wi-Fi and a free Google Voice or a dozen other VoIP apps, you don't even need cell service most of the time.
- troupo 3y ago
  Some of the points, and others, covered here: https://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=36547210 https://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=36547210