Google is Quietly Grooming Companies Overseas in a Strategic Move to Bring the Next Billion Online

[Commentary] Google wants to educate non-US born entrepreneurs on the best practices of product development and speed up their learning curves. Think of it as strategic philanthropy: In exchange for helping these companies grow, Google gets to scrutinize their books, observe how its own products are being used (or not) in less familiar markets, and spread its gospel to the far reaches of the globe. Eventually, these companies will play an enormous role in getting millions more people to conduct their lives online, and Google will be there as well, ready to scoop up new users.
[Sandra Upson is executive editor of Backchannel.]