Table 1. Examples of Mobile Phone Functions Used in Common mHealth and ICT Applications
Common mHealth and ICT ApplicationsExamples of Mobile Phone Functions
1Client education and behavior change communication (BCC)• Short Message Service (SMS)
• Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
• Voice communication/Audio clips
• Video clips
• Images
2Sensors and point-of-care diagnostics• Mobile phone camera
• Tethered accessory sensors, devices
• Built-in accelerometer
3Registries and vital events tracking• Short Message Service (SMS)
• Voice communication
• Digital forms
4Data collection and reporting• Short Message Service (SMS)
• Digital forms
• Voice communication
5Electronic health records• Digital forms
• Mobile web (WAP/GPRS)
6Electronic decision support (information, protocols, algorithms, checklists)• Mobile web (WAP/GPRS)
• Stored information “apps”
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
7Provider-to-provider communication (user groups, consultation)• Short Message Service (SMS)
• Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
• Mobile phone camera
8Provider work planning and scheduling• Interactive electronic client lists
• Short Message Service (SMS) alerts
• Mobile phone calendar
9Provider training and education• Short Message Service (SMS)
• Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
• Voice communication
• Audio or video clips, images
10Human resource management• Web-based performance dashboards
• Global Positioning Service (GPS)
• Voice communication
• Short Message Service (SMS)
11Supply chain management• Web-based supply dashboards
• Global Positioning Service (GPS)
• Digital forms
• Short Message Service (SMS)
12Financial transactions and incentives• Mobile money transfers and banking services
• Transfer of airtime minutes
  • Abbreviations: GPRS, General Packet Radio Service; WAP, Wireless Application Protocol.