About half the people in the world don’t have access to the Internet, which puts them at a disadvantage in business, education and other areas. KaiOS is working to bridge the digital divide with a lightweight mobile operating system that brings wi-fi, GPS, apps and other advanced features to affordable, nontouch phones. With KaiOS-powered devices, users can access hundreds of apps—like WhatsApp, Facebook and Google Maps—through the company’s online store. Launched in mid-2017, the operating system is now in use on over 100 million devices in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. Devices with KaiOS start at about $17—an investment that Sebastien Codeville, the company’s CEO, says has the potential to make a real impact. “First-time access to vital digital services and resources has changed lives,” he says. —Amy Gunia
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