African software developers are creating and embracing mobile technologies, cloud com-puting, and social media to address their needs in many areas, including banking, informa-tion gathering, farming, healthcare, and education and training. However, in developing such apps, software developers face harsh realities in Africa in terms of the mobile phones and services people can afford and limitations in bandwidth, coverage, and electric power. Learn how developers are overcoming such limitations. © 2013 IEEE.