When women basket weavers in rural Peru had access to SMS, they were able to cut out the middleman to sell their products. They got better prices and was able to communicate directly with the people that would sell their products.
Now imagine a smartphone, access to vast knowledge. So many more possibilities than a feature/SMS phone.
The $50 smart phone may have 3g internet capability but do the networks in sub saharan africa have reliable 3g coverage. For me in my part of africa the answer is no.
Now imagine a smartphone, access to vast knowledge. So many more possibilities than a feature/SMS phone.