area code 243

Read this story about cell phone use in Congo. It's fascinating, and 100% true. People sell time on their phones -- it's the Congo version of a phone booth. You can also pay to charge your phone at a booth off of someone's generator. The stuff about using mobile phones as a kindof debit card is amazing. I didn't see that, but it makes sense (You should note that the "cash points" aren't available anywhere I've been except Kinshasa as far as I know. Reporters tend not to do human interest stories in the east.). I am constantly amazed by the creativity you find in Congo - people do what they have to do. And it is exactly because the mobile networks are credible that the system works. They're huge employers, and they're not Congolese, so people trust them.

As for the competition, I'm a Vodacom customer, but thanks to my friend Junior, I have a bright red Celtel shirt, too!