I feel the assumption on Gates’ part that rural people, like urban folks, want instant access to credit and savings is incorrect and will result in over-engineering a technical solution. Several examples support the contention that for rural folk safety and regular access to their savings is more important than immediacy of access. With the enormous financial resources and the global impact of its actions, one hopes the Gates Foundation will do the right thing and not try to invent a solution that is technology for technology’s sake. See my critique at http://socialecosystem.wordpress.com/2008/08/01/gates-foundation-gets-into-microsavings/#more-80