Can You Hear Me Now? Microsoft Wants Phones, Not Laptops.

It hasn't been long since the United Nations endorsed and pledged support for MIT Media Laboratory's One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program (see earlier posts here and here). But before the meeting could even break up (World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland), there's already a dissenting voice.

Speaking at the summit, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said on Monday that a concept he unveiled at this month's Consumer Electronics Show in Sin City is a model that has merit, and that may be a better alternative to Nicholas Negroponte's $100 laptop. At CES, Gates deomonstrated a cellular phone-like device that could wirelessly connect to a full-sized keyboard and display, providing basic computing functionality in a highly portable wireless communications device.

According to a Microsoft spokesman, "everyone is going to have a cell phone," (duh?!) and the Microsoft alternative blends basic computing with wireless communication, making it a natural to supplant the OLPC laptop-esque devices. Of course, Gates's phone-based device would run on some form of mobile Windows operating system, something that Negroponte's little boxes don't do. In fact, Microsoft offered a free and open license to MIT for Windows CE, but were turned down (as was Apple) in favor of open-source Linux.

Is it possible that Gates simply wants to "hook" the developing world on the Microsoft OSs? Sure, it's possible, particularly if you subscribe to the whole "Gates is Satan" theory that abounds among Mac users and Linuxers. But while Gates may have a lucrative motive for his initiative, it is worth noting that a competing program that puts technology in the hands of the developing world is only a good thing. A little competition can go a long way toward driving down costs and pushing for rapid deployment. We're not creating CrackBerry addicts out of needy children (yet); is it wrong that they might use software that runs 90% of the world's computers?

Whoever "wins" the race to get technology into the hands of the needy, it is really the kids who win. Hand-cranked laptop, cellular phone ... it doesn't really matter which platform they use. This is all about adding people to the global knowledge and communication economy. And that's a very good thing.

Cool, huh?

How will it shake out? Comment this blog, and let's see where the conversation leads.
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