Frontline Business

Frontline Business

There are, perhaps surprisingly, more than a few ways to describe Frontline as a business - starting by saying that FrontlineSMS has never been a literal business. Broadly speaking, there were three phases in Frontline’s business history - each characterized by a unique market and strategy, novel challenges, and a new company. And, at each stage, our read of the market, the opportunities, and the resulting approach were unconventional, bordering on counter-cultural. That started before I joined Frontline and was something that we wore proudly throughout our work. It’s fair to say that those choices were key to what we became - and to why we’re closing.

The purpose of this post is to explain our growth, the insights of our market exploration and experience, and convey some hard-won truths over the years. We, eventually, reverse engineered a business model for Frontline - and one that kept us in the black most of the time. So, it’s possible. But as a lot of things, including our choice to close, should indicate - it’s hard to recommend. This post isn’t a comprehensive history, it’s an attempt at sharing the value of the experience.

Frontline is Closing

Frontline is Closing

We are closing the company behind FrontlineSMS.

We are sad to close the business, but we’re thankful to have had the runway to close on our own timeline and to take good care of our team. Frontline has always had the best team, objectively, and the only truly hard part of closing is knowing I have to find new excuses to work with these people. If you’d like to race me, get in touch.

FrontlineSMS was a product before it was an organization – and we’ve done the work to ensure it can continue to be a product long after we’re a company. We’ve spent the last two years rebuilding FrontlineSMS and, in a few weeks, we’ll release it as a free, fully open source, and downloadable product for Mac, Windows, and Linux – with code hosted in Github, full documentation in Zendesk, and access to all of it and our content at FrontlineSMS.com, which I’ll host in perpetuity. We will shut down our cloud-hosted service on August 31, 2021. We have already reached out to our existing clients and users – but if you have questions or need additional help, please reach out to support@frontlinesms.com.

Election Monitoring Technology Is Changing, And Through Encrypted SMS, The Changes Are For The Better

Election Monitoring Technology Is Changing, And Through Encrypted SMS, The Changes Are For The Better

Election monitoring technology is changing - driven by two, key developments: ‘digital sovereignty’ and ‘Internet shutdowns’. Now is the time to ensure those changes are for the better. For the last 14 years, Frontline has helped support election monitors communicate using messaging. When you absolutely need to reach everyone, there’s simply no substitute for SMS.

Geneva Global: Setting Speed School Students Up For Success With SMS Learning

Geneva Global: Setting Speed School Students Up For Success With SMS Learning

The arrival of COVID-19 in Africa promised to claw back gains made in the education sector, as schools remained closed and curriculum interrupted. To keep learning happening during the lockdown, stakeholders in the industry have come up with numerous policies and guidance, such as rolling out online-based courses, and use of television and radio broadcasts. More than often, the majority of the students are left out as their households cannot afford these platforms. We interviewed Ellen Carney, Geneva Global’s Associate Program Director in Uganda and Ethiopia, on the Frontline+Education platform that offers possibilities of addressing these challenges.

The SMS Paradox: An Argument for Dumb Pipes

The SMS Paradox: An Argument for Dumb Pipes

As it turns out - most of human infrastructure is built on (arguably) secure, dumb pipes. It’s what enables us to rely on infrastructure without constantly worrying that it’s being used against us. Confidence in the security of dumb pipes is why we drink water from taps (or bottles), trust pharmacists, and express some of our most personal things to our loved ones, over the phone. In fact, one of the things that makes Signal such a growingly popular app is that its lack of commercial motivation means that it doesn’t have to make the revenue-driven turn to user exploitation. Signal can stay smart about being intelligently secure, dumb (wilfully ignorant, really) pipes.

Messaging: From Apps to Architecture

Messaging: From Apps to Architecture

When someone talks about messaging, the first thing that comes to mind is an app. The point is, that most people experience messaging through an app. And, until recently, apps were what defined the messaging market. Now, it seems, all of that is about to change.

Data Governance: from Frontline to the WHO

Data Governance: from Frontline to the WHO

There is no perfect set of data governance principles or practices, yet - and like most governance, we are a long way from realizing our espoused ideals. But, when policymakers and service providers and frontline technologists work together to advance the common goals of realizing our values in digital ecosystems, we bend the arc just a little closer to justice.

SAWA SHABAB: GROWING COMMUNITY RADIO REACH USING FRONTLINESMS

SAWA SHABAB: GROWING COMMUNITY RADIO REACH USING FRONTLINESMS

Radio is the world's most powerful broadcast platform that unites communities. South Sudan’s Sawa Shabab (Together Youth) is one of many radio stations that use FrontlineSMS to provide entertainment, host community dialogue, and support targeted educational messages. The result is increase in listenership, positive impact of its educational goals and enhancement of peace and stability among the youth.

Danish Refugee Council: Leveraging Text Messaging for Humanitarian Aid 

Danish Refugee Council: Leveraging Text Messaging for Humanitarian Aid 

Saving lives and alleviating suffering in refugee camps is the hallmark of caregivers across the world. A cogent humanitarian response plan ensures those communities affected by the crisis to access services and resources provided safely and with dignity. A meaningful two-way communication system is an effective and beneficial way to achieve this. FrontlineSMS partnered with the Danish Refugee Council to provide essential Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) services in Malakal and Melut counties, South Sudan.

Justice Through SMS: Solving Legal Issues Through Text Messages

Justice Through SMS: Solving Legal Issues Through Text Messages

The legal system in the United States is daunting to an ordinary Joe. It is even confounding to a newcomer seeking redress, and, according to the Legal Services Corporation, over 80 per cent of the civil legal needs of low-income Americans remain unmet. For organisations offering legal aids, data on the outcome of the services provided to clients becomes hard to quantify. Using SMS technology can help solve this problem.

Messaging Museum: How On the Inside is Connecting Gallery Goers to Artists Using SMS

Messaging Museum: How On the Inside is Connecting Gallery Goers to Artists Using SMS

Messaging is by far the best channel for attendees to engage on-site, and it also provides a natural connection point between art lovers and the artists. Craft Contemporary's On the Inside exhibit is not only supporting powerful new art, it is finding new and innovative ways to connect its audience to artists and the show’s cause.

Combating HIV Spread in Thailand One Text at a Time

Combating HIV Spread in Thailand One Text at a Time

One of the biggest challenges that public health systems face is reaching last-mile communities. And, for as large as that problem is in direct service provision - it can be even harder to stay in contact for researchers.  Read how FrontlineSMS is currently involved in combating HIV spread in Thailand…

The Role of Text Messaging in Covid-19 Management

The Role of Text Messaging in Covid-19 Management

Pandemics have a classic hallmark; they cause widespread uneasiness and unrest when they hit and the ripple effects can still be felt in their wake. During this period of uncertainty, lack of coherent messaging targeting communities springs up misinformation, rendering prevention and mitigation efforts futile and chaotic.