Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, a global leader in technology, has joined hands with Aircel, one of India’s leading innovative mobile service providers, and Google’s Helping Women Get Online (HWGO) initiative to open up the world of the Internet to more women in India. The partnership will bring the strength of Samsung’s user-friendly range of smartphones and Aircel’s expertise in mobile network as well as data innovations to the campaign, which will enable women to easily understand the benefits that Internet can bring to their everyday lives. This will be done by increasing their awareness through Internet training sessions provided jointly by Samsung & Google on both Internet usage and Samsung smartphones powered by Aircel data.
Google’s HWGO was launched in November 2013 to empower women by enabling them to use the Internet. The campaign seeks to address the fact that only 1 in 3 Indian women (Source: June 2013 i-cube, IMRB data) access the Internet. One of the many activities to address this scenario involves Internet training in cities and towns across 12 states in the country, targeting over 4 million literate women from low income groups. The program also targets girl students with an aim to build them as influencers and bring about a long-term societal change.
“At Samsung, we constantly work towards creating technologically advanced devices that empower our customers and make their everyday lives easier and more efficient. Given that Internet access through mobile phones is considered the next technological leapfrog in India, Samsung’s association with Google’s Helping Women Get Online initiative serves as an ideal platform for the brand’s commitment towards opening newer possibilities for people everywhere”, said Mr. Asim Warsi, Vice President, Mobile & IT, Samsung India.
“Helping Women Get Online is an initiative that aims to empower women and give them the tools to access and use the Internet effectively. With the help of mobile Internet, women can leverage new opportunities, educate themselves and lead a better life. We are extremely excited and happy to partner with Samsung to support women and bring them online”, said Mr. Sandeep Menon, Director Marketing, Google India
Anupam Vasudev, Chief Marketing Officer, Aircel, said “Aircel has positioned itself as a leading innovative mobile services provider with a focus on data. For the uptake of data services in the country, it is critical to empower the customers to make them realize the immense potential of data in today’s digital age and constantly educate them on how it can make their lives better. In line with our objective, we are delighted to partner with Samsung and Google for this unique initiative which will enable women to learn and use internet in their daily lives and benefit from it”.
Executed through ground activations, HWGO activations will have trainers using Samsung smartphones powered by Aircel data to demonstrate the ease of using the Internet for various purposes. They will also get a chance to try out what they learn, on Samsung smartphones available for demonstration purposes at each activation location and can get their queries resolved through a dedicated Helping Women Get Online toll free number 1800 41 999 77 set up under this initiative.
To maintain continuity from the training sessions, Samsung facilitators present at each activation platform will offer hands on experience to women on how to use internet on a mobile platform. Aircel will provide free 500 MB data access for up to 6 months with select Samsung smartphone purchase to encourage women to go online and explore the world of internet through their mobile phone screens.
Samsung’s participation in this campaign will be crucial in addressing the issue of access identified by IMRB as a key barrier for women getting online, as Internet access through mobile phones is considered the next technological leapfrog in India. In this process, Aircel’s relevant, customized and affordable data offerings will pave the way for digital inclusion of these women. Samsung smartphones – available at a range of prices and incorporating various language features – will enable women reached by the campaign to quickly understand the ease and use of going online, often in the language they are literate in.
