One big focus for Google today is making products for what it dubs the Next Billion Users in countries just coming online. The initiative has been led by Caesar Sengupta who announced today that he’s leaving Google after nearly 15 years.
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Back in June, we spotted Google’s Files app working on a password-protected “Safe Folder.” This feature is now rolling out in beta, while the company reports 150 million monthly users.
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While most Go edition apps are limited to the Next Billion Users, Google has been slowly releasing them internationally. Google Go with Lens and Search is now the latest to see a worldwide launch.
The Next Billion Users coming online around the world have different contexts and are using technology in a manner different from the developers creating it. Google’s NBU initiative creates apps and services that are tailored to those users. Its latest project is a report on how to build a “more representative internet.”
Area 120 is Google’s internal incubator and its latest project is called Kormo. Aimed at the Next Billion Users, it is specifically designed to new young job seekers without experience or resources.
The Next Billion Users will come online from developing countries around the world with Google making investments to build out features unique for those areas. Focusing on Nigeria today, Google announced a number of updates to its line of Go applications.