What if the user is on a WiFi-only tablet, or laptop, or desktop PC? What if the user is at an Internet cafe? What if the phone user has no cellular signal but has WiFi access?
Clearly it would be a mistake to limit this to just phone users.
Clearly it would be a mistake to limit this to just phone users.
I agree with your point that in some countries people don't use Email and that's the face in China as well. But people use phone numbers just for register other services, as the online identity. We don't use SMS, and we prefer WeChat Audio over phone calls when it's available.
Having wifi but no cellular signal is such a rare usecase.
They should be trying to include everyone, telephone and non-telephone users alike.
For example, we recently launched UPI payments - that's like a banking address sort of thing (you can send from it and request too) and you usually get your UPI address like this "9876543210@upi". The number part is simply the 10 digit mobile number and that's it.
I read this piece [1] which centers on Jios impact on the telecom industry. It states that the rate of digitalization has been boosted, but doesn't really detail the societal impact. Do you recommend any particular article?
[1]: https://www.ft.com/content/3f1fe4d6-e4e0-11e7-a685-5634466a6...