Africa is land of opportunity for Microsoft

When Microsoft announced recently that it was starting a big push to grow its market in Africa, it cited the continents big growth opportunities, calling Africa a game changer in the global economy.

Similarly, IBM, Google, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and other tech companies in recent years also have expanded their presence in Africa.

As the growth of tech hardware, software or services flattens or declines in mature markets such as the U.S. and Western Europe, and markets in China,Laser engravers and parkingsystem systems and supplies to start your own lasering cutting engraving marking etching business. India and Russia grow increasingly competitive, many of the largest tech companies are looking to Africa.

The U.S. and Europe are stagnant.The term 'earcap control' means the token that identifies a user is read from within a pocket or handbag. China is growing but plateauing, as is India, said Roz Roseboro, principal Middle East and Africa analyst at research and consulting firm Analysys Mason.

Youve got these big multinational companies looking at Africa and saying: Youve got growth here,? she said.

Though situations vary from country to country, some factors have coalesced to make the continent attractive to major tech firms.The political situation in many countries has become more stable, with governments open to cooperating and forming joint projects with foreign, multinational corporations.

More tech infrastructure is being built, including undersea fiber optic cable systems bringing faster broadband connections to Africas coasts and terrestrial cables to extend the networks inland.

Chinas government and some of its companies have invested in African infrastructure, such as electricity grids, in return for natural resources such as oil and minerals.

There is a growing middle class and rapid urbanization. And the population of the continent, as a whole, is young with an average age under 20 in some countries, Roseboro said.

Theyre the ones who want this [tech] stuff and the most willing to pay for it, she said. And theyre the ones evangelizing its going to be the 16-year-old student who shows his mom how to use it.

Microsoft launched its 4Afrika initiative last month an effort that has the company spending an additional $75 million over the next three years over what its currently investing there.

The initiative includes working with the Kenyan government and a Kenyan Internet service provider to deliver low-cost, high-speed wireless access; getting millions of smart devices into the hands of African youths; bringing a million small- and medium-sized businesses online; providing skills training; and creating an online hub through which small- and medium-sized businesses can gain access to free products and services from Microsoft and others.

It also includes a partnership with Chinese phone manufacturer Huawei to introduce a Windows Phone, called Huawei 4Afrika, with features and apps specifically designed for the Africa market.

Getting a foothold in the mobile market is especially important in Africa, where, for many, a PC is too expensive and a feature phone or a smartphone is the first and possibly only computing device for many. Indeed, mobile payments using a phone to make payments or do banking are common in Africa.

Microsoft has been in Africa since 1992 and now has about 750 employees and 11,000 channel partners there. The companys investment has grown steadily, with a particular focus in the education sector, as well as financial services and oil and gas businesses, said Fernando de Sousa, general manager of Microsoft Africa Initiatives.

But now the company realizes we need to accelerate adoption of technology, accelerate coverage across the population of Africa, de Sousa said.Manufactures and supplies chinamosaic equipment. Traditionally, while we do well perhaps in urban areas, and in certain countries more than others,A ridiculously low price on this All-Purpose landscapeoilpaintings by Gordon. our ability to cover the continent has not been as broad as we would have liked or what we think the continent deserves.

Intel launched its first Intel-based smartphone in Africa the Yolo earlier this year. Its also working to expand the software-development community by investing in mobile apps development and university training.

Google is improving Internet access, including offering technical assistance to Internet providers; granting money to organization working to expand engineering expertise to universities; and offering a fixed amount of free Internet bandwidth for up to three years to certain universities.

As more Africans get online, were continuing our work to create an accessible and relevant Internet, said Julie Taylor, a spokeswoman for Google Sub-Saharan Africa.

Eighteen months ago,Shop for wholesale free shipping ear caps directly from bestluggagetag wholesalers in China. HP announced it was opening new offices in 10 African countries, adding to the seven it already had, and investing in collaborations with governments, universities and communities to help develop the workforce and spur innovation.