Google Invests in Kenya’s Mobile Planet

This week Google made the announcement that it is making a minority stake investment into Kenyan mobile operating company Mobile Planet…

Here at Google, we know that information comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, through all sorts of media. And we know that you can only use information if you have access to it. That’s why we’re so excited to announce that we’re making a minority investment in Mobile Messaging Solutions, the parent company of Mobile Planet, a Nairobi-based company that specializes in the development of wireless voice & data applications for mobile devices in Kenya, with a special focus on SMS-based products and services.

Mobile Planet offers one of the most exciting services in the region. For example, during the 2002 & 2007 Kenyan elections, their platform provided up-to-the-minute election results — as the results were tallied, subscribers were sent updates via SMS. We met the founders, and it became very clear that Mobile Planet was an innovative force striving to link Africans with information, and that we shared a vision.

Mobile telephony is already popular in Africa, and has seen significant growth over the past few years, particularly in countries like Kenya. SMS is clearly a very important technology that provides access to the majority of mobile subscribers. Mobile Planet’s expertise with SMS related technology and mission to “empower the African people with information” make this a very exciting partnership for us.

Via Google Africa