The rules of beeping: exchanging messages using missed calls on mobile phones in sub-Saharan Africa

This paper explores the widespread practice of ―beeping‖ between mobile phone users in Sub- Saharan Africa. Beeping involves calling a number and hanging up before the mobile's owner can pick up the call. The mobile's call log and address book functions signal who called, and when. Most beeps are requests to the mobile owner to call back immediately, but beeps can also send a pre-negotiated instrumental message such as ―pick me up now‖, or send a relational sign, such as ―I'm thinking of you‖. Based on interviews with small business owners and university students in Rwanda, the paper identifies the ―rules of beeping‖ and assesses the significance of the practice using socio-linguistic and socio-technical approaches to communication behavior. The paper contrasts beeping with SMS/text messaging, discusses its implications for increasing access to telecommunications services, and suggests paths for future research.