[Chapter-delegates] Google verification - now excluded an entire country

[Rami Khater]

This is a very interesting issue, in the ISOC-DC  chapter we are talking about the next "billion" users.  Can we reach them if they need a unique cell phone just to get an email account in the near future?  This does not bode well for the already underserved around the globe!

On Apr 15, 2010, at 4:09 PM, William F. Slater, III wrote:

> David,
> 
> Sorry to hear it.
> 
> SUGGESTION:  Use BING.com instead.  You will also get 25 GB of Free
> SkyDrive space.
> 
> Enjoy!
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Bill
> William F. Slater, III, PMP
> President, ISOC-Chicago
> Chicago, IL
> United States of America
> slater at billslater.com
> http://billslater.com
> http://billslater.com/career
> 773 - 235 - 3080 - Home
> 312 - 758 - 0307 - Mobile
> 
> 
> On Thu, April 15, 2010 1:53 pm, David Leeming wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Google / Gmail accounts now use SMS or Voice call verification. In our
>> region, the Pacific Islands, this effectively is excluding everyone from
>> creating a new account.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> For example, I just tried again, to create a Gmail account. It just says
>> "this country (Solomon Islands) is not supported" and gives no other
>> option.
>> Looks like a whole country has been excluded!!! Others in the region have
>> told me the same experience - Vanuatu for instance.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> This is a blow because we have been building an online community for a
>> Youth
>> project here (http://isabel-youth.ning.com), using a Google group as an
>> online  "community of practice". Even if SMS verification worked, few of
>> these people have mobile phones, even fewer of them live in a location
>> with
>> mobile coverage. Most access a shared/community Internet facility. Voice
>> call verification would not be an option either, for same reason and also
>> lack of fixed lines in 85% of the country (75% of the country with no
>> mobile
>> coverage). As calls into the Solomons are amongst the highest in the world
>> (it costs over EUR 1 / min to call using a TOIP service) I can't imagine
>> voice call verification would be supported anyway. Google would not be
>> that
>> generous.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I think this is something ISOC might take up with Google. It is a very
>> backward step, creating barriers to access for the most disadvantaged.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> David Leeming
>> 
>> Leeming Consulting, P.O. Box 652, Honiara, Solomon Islands
>> 
>> Tel: +677 747-6396 (m) 24419 (h)
>> 
>> www.leeming-consulting.com
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Best regards,
> 
> Bill
> William F. Slater, III, PMP
> Chicago, IL
> United States of America
> slater at billslater.com
> http://billslater.com
> http://billslater.com/career
> 773 - 235 - 3080 - Home
> 312 - 758 - 0307 - Mobile
> 312 - 275 - 5757 - FAX & Voicemail
> 
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