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According to a press release, the multi-country mobile-industry campaign empowers refugees to search and reconnect with lost loved ones using mobile devices.

António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said, "UNHCR is pleased to join with Ericsson to broaden the availability of the Refugees United application to a number of markets, in both the developed and developing world. Helping refugees locate their loved ones using mobile text messages and mobile internet is one of the many ways in which technology is changing our world and helping people reconnect. Ensuring this is done in a way that respects the privacy and security of individual refugees, UNHCR is proud to participate in this pioneering and highly successful initiative."

In response to a call from UNHCR to "do 1 thing" to support refugees, Ericsson is leading an industry initiative to use technology as a force for good in support of the refugee cause.

 This campaign incorporates the use of the latest Android (News - Alert) app technology to extend the reach of the Refugees United service – enabling millions more refugees to use sms, mobile-enabled browsing (WAP) and the Android market to find their loved ones.

Christopher Mikkelsen, Managing Director, Refugees United, said, "In our mission to help refugees searching for loved ones, the mobile phone is the link to the people we're working to help. Coupled with the right information, a simple handheld device becomes a powerful connector in even the remotest of places. This partnership will enable us to reach, and reconnect, countless separated families across Africa."

Ericsson is introducing the service in Kenya with Safaricom, and in Sweden and Denmark with the operator 3. The recent pilot of the mobile services in Uganda, involving Ericsson, pan- African operator Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN (News - Alert)) and UNHCR has now developed into a multi-country agreement to deploy the service across Africa.

In other company news, TMCnet reported that Ericsson was awarded a contract by Aircel (News - Alert) to roll out a 3G/HSPA network across six out of its 13 circles or geographic market areas.

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