MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Open Source Android Application “Simple MFI” Lets Microfinance Loan Officers Search and Enter Data via Mobile Phones Whether On-line or Off-line

Kevin Gibbs, a senior software engineer and manager at US-based technology firm Google, has developed an open source application called “Simple MFI” that allows microfinance loan officers to view and enter client data on mobile phones [1]. The application has been designed to run on an Ideos phone, which costs under USD 100, but can run on any phone running Android, a mobile phone operating system designed by Google. Client information can be accessed off-line and data are synchronized automatically with the head office database via the internet. Any microfinance institution can use Simple MFI free of cost.

By Ashim Kar, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources:

[1] “Simple MFI”, https://github.com/kevgibbs/simple-mfi/wiki

The application can be downloaded from, https://market.android.com/details?id=org.simplemfi.app

MicroCapital.org story, March 8, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mobile Technology as an Alternative Channel for Foreign Aid Delivery May Increase Access to Finance”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-mobile-technology-as-an-alternative-channel-for-foreign-aid-delivery-may-increase-access-to-finance/

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