Is technology a solution?

The current issue of the Economist has a cover story on mobile phones and economic development and it reads,

"..the debate over the digital divide is founded on a myth—that plugging poor countries into the internet will help them to become rich rapidly."

Is the intention 'quick money' in the villages or is it using ICT as a medium to bridge the gap of income, development and literacy? Isn't it about providing access to basic services that currently the villagers don’t have easy access to? Isn't it a way of providing training and jobs, of letting the villagers know where the world is and what they can do if they have access to technology?

The article further adds, "The benefits of building rural computing centres, for example, are unclear. Rather than trying to close the divide for the sake of it, the more sensible goal is to determine how best to use technology to promote bottom-up development. And the answer to that question turns out to be remarkably clear: by promoting the spread not of PCs and the internet, but of mobile phones."

Mobile phone solves a different need - instant communication! They don't provide educational tutorials for children, ecommerce for farmers or vet service in the village.

Technology isn't a solution but only an enabler .. to make them connect with the world outside and hunt for opportunities best for them ..opportunities that you and me can't think of ..but those that will change their lives.