14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s Co-Founder Bill Gates is working hard with his foundation to help less developed countries around the world and cure polio, so it’s no surprise to see him asking for support from some other large companies in the US.
Talking with Bloomberg about his efforts across the world, Gates also commented on Google’s intention of bringing wireless Internet in poor countries using broadband transmitters installed in balloons.
“When you’re dying of malaria, I suppose you’ll look up and see that balloon, and I’m not sure how it’ll help you. When a kid gets diarrhea, no, there’s no website that relieves that. Certainly I’m a huge believer in the digital revolution,” Bill Gates pointed out.
“And connecting up primary-health-care centers, connecting up schools, those are good things. But no, those are not, for the really low-income countries, unless you directly say we’re going to do something about malaria.”
He explained that Google had started out doing the right thing, but the Mountain View-based company was too focused on “their core thing.” That’s why the search giant needs to step up and help solve the problems of the poor.
“Google started out saying they were going to do a broad set of things. They hired Larry Brilliant, and they got fantastic publicity. And then they shut it all down. Now they’re just doing their core thing. Fine. But the actors who just do their core thing are not going to uplift the poor,” Gates stated.
Bill Gates didn’t comment on Microsoft’s recent reorganization at all, even though some sources close to the matter hinted that he could return to the software giant in case Ballmer’s restructuring process bit the dust.
Still, Gates said several times before that he had no intention of coming back to Microsoft in an executive position, as he prefered to continue the work he started around the world with his foundation.