In a shift from its core area of focus i.e. enterprise communications, IBM is now ready to explore other avenues of growth as the company announced launch of a pilot project aimed at rural telephony.

The project currently on trial in South India, aims to provide information through public telephone in a similar way as available on the internet. The information services available during trials include healthcare, learning services and information on small businesses and micro-finance.

Upon dialing a particular toll-free number, the user can receive information on precautions for common diseases, learn English and other applications.

“This is a project to reach the bottom billion or the bottom of the pyramid,” said IBM Services Research senior VP Robert Morris.

“An Indian village is a manageable data set and the Indian mobile market is the most innovative that we have seen anywhere. We would look at how this works and then probably take it to other markets like the US. There are many people who may not go to the Web to find out about some services but won’t mind calling up for the same,” Dr Morris said.