People all around the world, even in rural Africa, have smartphones, and use their phone like a handheld computer. Many ministries would like to distribute community development and Christian materials to local smartphone users, but the local connection to the Internet is either too slow or (more likely) non-existent. Dan and other engineers at SonSet Solutions are researching and experimenting with small Wi-Fi devices that function as miniature libraries containing videos, audio Bibles, and digital books that can be downloaded to a smartphone.
This July, we sent two palm-sized units for testing by a ministry to refugees in Uganda and to a pastors conference in Burkina Faso. Each unit contained the complete two-hour Jesus Film and audio Bibles in English or French and several local tribal languages. Anyone within a 200-ft. radius is able to “see” the Wi-Fi library with their phone and either view or download the videos and books for later. Local pastors and leaders can use a laptop computer to add their own materials to the Wi-Fi library and customize the look and feel for the local community.