Google Apps thinks long term in Africa

Google formed partnerships with the Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure and the Kenya Education Network to provide roughly 70,000 students with access to Google Apps. While Africa remains an unprofitable proposition for many Western businesses, Google seems to recognize the long term benefits of partnerships with educational institutions. The partnerships are win-win for everyone involved–universities get enterprise-grade applications at a low cost, students get free access to better applications (than most in-house solutions) and Google locks in users at a young and crucial stage.

As a student at the University of Virginia, I constantly check my email. Using Google services for four (or more) years means these students are likely to become brand ambassadors for Google. You can bet they won’t be searching at Windows Live. In the long-term, partnerships with educational institutions allow Google to attract and retain a valuable demographic at a very low cost.

Checking out the featured list of Google’s educational customers, you can see the diversity they are creating. From Arizona State University to Thailand’s K-12 Prem Tinsulanonda International School, Google is locking in young people and planning for its future success.

Didier Bizimungu at SEO News Blog comments “I would have never thought that a big company like Google would invest in my home country.” Why not? It makes long term sense to make low cost investments in developing economies. Rwanda is a perfect example. Scott Chacon at JoinTheConversation agrees, noting that investments like this lead to direct economic benefits–such as outsourcing and call center ventures. I’m glad to see that Rwanda is taking the necessary steps to combat the genocide which wiped out an entire generation of young people.