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Microsoft plans to invest $235 million in its Partners in Learning program over the next five years

Microsoft spends a fortune to get its software and computers using its applications into classrooms and other organizations around the world. While some see it as a philanthropic gesture to help improve education in developing countries, many see it as an attempt to broaden Microsoft’s reach by bringing up new generations of children to use its products.

Microsoft announced that it will spend $235 million USD over the next five years to expand its educational program into classrooms around the world. One of the main systems that Microsoft will help get into organizations around the world is the Intel Classmate PC.

Reuters reports that Microsoft plans to reach 270 million people with this second stage of its "Partners in Learning" program. Microsoft says it hopes to reach the first billion of the five billion people with little or no access to technology by 2015.

Orlando Ayala, Microsoft “Unlimited Potential” group head, told Reuters, “It's not only getting the computer but all the other elements in the strategy. It's about how much we're able to empower people. This can't be done by a single company."

Microsoft’s plan includes more than simply placing the computers into the classroom and other organizations around the world. It also plans to train teachers and influence education policy with the program victims.

Microsoft was in the news in early 2007 when it announced it would sell its popular applications like Windows XP and Office Home to users in developing countries for as little as $3.

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Didn't Apple attempt this strategy in the 90s??
By kotix on 1/23/2008 3:32:31 PM , Rating: 5
Ironic how when MS does this they receive negative criticism, yet I remember growing up in the early 90s ALL our school computers were Apple. Coincidence?




RE: Didn't Apple attempt this strategy in the 90s??
By kotix on 1/23/2008 3:36:24 PM , Rating: 2
"Apple's sustained growth during the early 1980s was partly due to its leadership in the education sector, attributed to their adaptation of the programming language LOGO, used in many schools with the Apple II. The drive into education was accentuated in California with the donation of one Apple II and one Apple LOGO software package to each public school in the state. The deal concluded between Steve Jobs and Jim Baroux of LCSI, and having required the support of Sacramento, established a strong and pervasive presence for Apple in all schools throughout California. The initial conquest of education environments was critical to Apple's acceptance in the home where the earliest purchases of computers by parents was in support of children's continued learning experience."


By retrospooty on 1/23/2008 3:44:43 PM , Rating: 5
Yup... Apple was very big in schools back in the day... It only ended when school districts started to realize that the business world runs on PC's and to teach students on Apple's is not preparing anyone for the workforce.


By ElFenix on 1/23/2008 4:13:19 PM , Rating: 2
what was ironic is that one of the anti-trust 'remedies' discussed during the microsoft trial was forcing MS to provide schools, one of the few areas it didn't dominate, with free software.


By eye smite on 1/23/2008 8:39:49 PM , Rating: 3
Yeah I didn't have much to do with apple growing up. It was too expensive and elitist for the middle class. I came up on the fun systems like the commodore vic20 and thank god very shortly after that the commodore 64. I enjoyed learning and using those more than I ever did the apple.


In response too..
By Mrduder11 on 1/23/2008 3:28:35 PM , Rating: 2
Lol, this is most definitely in response of the United Kingdom baning the implication of Windows Vista and Office 2007 along with the U.S. Department of Transportation. I don't blame them alone with the government, education is probably the strongest place to invest to ensure a large product distribution.




RE: In response too..
By AlphaVirus on 1/23/2008 5:19:02 PM , Rating: 2
I dont see how the UK is allowed to ban Vista, or any product for that matter. I still dont see how countries were allowed to ban video games, so controlling these governments are.

And perhaps you are right that they are doing this in response to the bans, but it is pretty smart if you think about it. M$ has way more money than any of us could comprehend, they can afford to say 'We will be spending $350mil on helping education'.
This just means free copies of vista and office'07 will be solidly implemented. Now when the kids of tomorrow are growing up, they wont remember what XP is they will only know Vista.


RE: In response too..
By Merry on 1/23/08, Rating: 0
RE: In response too..
By Oregonian2 on 1/23/2008 7:39:04 PM , Rating: 1
A bit of hyperbole I think.

IOW - In the UK it was decided not to do upgrades to Vista in schools.

Big deal, tons of companies and individuals all over the place do the same thing.

A yawner when stated plainly. Calling it a ban is I think somewhat of a supermarket tabloid headline treatment.


RE: In response too..
By JoeBanana on 1/24/2008 2:43:01 AM , Rating: 2
You must be missing some facts. UK is not a developing country the last time I checked.
Also I don't see any reason that they should update all the hardware so that the windows will look nicer. As I remember from my school days we were working with the programs, we all knew how to start one in windows. Although it doesn't matter if it's XP, Vista, Linux or OSx.


Pen & Paper?
By GhandiInstinct on 1/23/2008 3:32:06 PM , Rating: 2
Why are we still using pen and paper in schools?

lol j/k




RE: Pen & Paper?
By Mrduder11 on 1/23/2008 3:34:42 PM , Rating: 2
Environmental activists haven't had a chance to get on children about wasting paper at school...yet. It's only a matter of time my friend.


RE: Pen & Paper?
By Oregonian2 on 1/23/2008 7:41:38 PM , Rating: 2
Yup, do it the modern way using WORD and printing it out on the printer instead of writing it directly on paper with a Bic. Saves the planet from all that ink used in printing lines on paper to keep writing straight. :-)


How dare they train them too!
By Snuffalufagus on 1/23/2008 3:59:17 PM , Rating: 2
"It also plans to train teachers and influence education policy with the program victims."

It'd be far better use of money to donate all this and not train the "victims".




RE: How dare they train them too!
By AlphaVirus on 1/23/2008 5:29:59 PM , Rating: 2
I am glad to see this donation being made towards training as well as the technology. I get tired of seeing tech being thrown at kids in the hopes that will fix everything. No computer will beat the knowledge and skills of a well trained human teacher.

Hopefully with better teachers will come better curriculum and more efficient classes.


By Larrymon2000 on 1/23/2008 10:14:44 PM , Rating: 2
Why is the word victims used?


Pocket change...
By ArenaNinja on 1/23/2008 6:19:25 PM , Rating: 2
That much money is pocket change to Bill, as it is to MS. Not exactly a "fortune", IMHO




RE: Pocket change...
By Oregonian2 on 1/23/2008 7:42:58 PM , Rating: 3
If so trivial, I'd appreciate you giving me just one tenth that amount. Thank you!


Five Star
By therealnickdanger on 1/23/2008 3:11:29 PM , Rating: 2
I think that's more than Mead, Bic, and Crayola can say that they provide to education. I don't think anyone ever accuses those companies of brainwashing kids to use their stuff when they get older.




RE: Five Star
By AlphaVirus on 1/23/2008 5:06:17 PM , Rating: 2
Thats because as you get older you dont buy those cheap pens. I remember going to the school store and there really were no options on writing utincils. Now the only pens I have access to from my companies are the ones that cost between $2-120.

Oh and did you know Crayola was under Hallmark? I realized that when I finally looked on the back of the box. Hallmark has a grip on colorful things.


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