A series of SMS based services for low bandwidth, low computer density contries in Africa was launched by Google this week. The service which debuts in Uganda, aims to provide information via SMS to African users who lack internet connectivity.

The system provides basic information such as News, weather and sports as well as replies to simple text queries.

Google Trader will attempt to bring buyers and sellers together via SMS.

Google's Ugandan Country Manager says that the service is vital in an area of "information poverty".