Google Philippines has landed in Manila! Do you, as a consumer of Google products and/or a resident of Manila, know what exactly this means?Â
Google Philippines Manila Office has Arrived
On the very unlikely circumstance that you’ve never heard of Google, it’s a technology company founded by two Stanford grad students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. For more than ten years, Google has established itself as a dominating force in search (Google Search), in video (YouTube), and a host of other products (Google+, Gmail, and Google Maps, among others). I’m personally a big fan of Google (books on Google are big reasons why I am working on digital and technology right now) so the news that the Big G has landed in Manila is a very big deal for me – and for you.
Â
Â
Â
A Bigger Picture – Literally
Google Maps has proven itself massively useful during national crises. Crucial updates on Google Maps helped Filipino volunteers and rescuers coordinate both evacuation and relief operations.
Â
Modernizing Education
The partnerships with De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, and University of Zamboanga have allowed Filipinos to be connected via Google Apps for Education – improving email, chat, and calendar services for both teachers and students.
Â
Easy on the Pocket
The Google Free Zone is Google’s attempt at ensuring a world connected to the World Wide Web – for free. It was pilot-launched in the Philippines, meaning that the Free Zone’s next iterations and developments would definitely have a Filipino touch in them.
Â
So Why Open Google Philippines?
Why not?
Â
Â
The Philippines is one of the most connected countries in the world, boasting 33 million Internet users. This user-base is expected to double by 2016, so it makes complete sense for a technology and Internet company to invest time, money, and manpower here.
Â
Â
In addition, the Philippines is the 6th in Asia and the 17th in the world in terms of Internet usage. With 106 million mobile subscribers (2/3 are Internet-enabled), the market for development and potential business in sales is simple immense.
Â
Google Southeast Asia Managing Director Julian Persaud
Â
On top of a growing economy and a government increasingly supportive of online products and services (the Philippine government is on Google+), Google Philippines was a long time coming.
Â
Â
 Julian Persaud and Narciso Reyes
Â
Â
For more information on Google Philippines, check out this article on this new era in Philippine technology.
Images courtesy of Google Philippines, shared with Jason Cruz and WhenInManila.com.
Â