Google Setting a Foothold in Africa

The Mountain View-based company has a craving for Africa. Although only five percent of the people living there are connected to the Internet, Google decided to establish a base and feel things out as they unfold, in a sort of "I was here first doing this" kind of way. Microsoft's unsolicited bid to take over Yahoo! has brought a flashback to the Internet giant's execs, reminding them of the foothold they had established in Africa.

The jobs offered are not bad at all, the company is looking for five senior executives in Nairobi, Kenya, where the headquarter of the African operations is located at. Some more job listings are for Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria and Senegal, all office leads, AllAfrica.com reports. If you have local expertise in marketing, logistics and technical support, don't shy away and give it a shot, you might strike lucky.

The actions Google is undertaking must be a part of its global expansion plan (obviously) and by targeting the continent that has the lesser access to Internet of all, it is thinking in the long run. When the web will be the only thing except food and water, required for survival, and at this rate, this is what we're heading for, a virgin market with a backbone structure and qualified personnel will be a gold mine even better than the South African diamonds.

At the moment, Google is playing it low. Nothing fancy, just a few partnerships with tertiary educational institutions to support students and providing e-mail and data services to the subscribers of Safaricom, one of the biggest mobile phone services provider on the continent.

When troubled at its capital, Google sets the grounds for future battles. And they will come, mark my words. Everybody wants a share of the advertising pie. Why did you think Microsoft bid for Yahoo?