I’m not sure how I feel about pay as you go software but according to Reuters, that very service has been launched in South Africa. It appears that Microsoft Office software will be available in emerging markets in the future and South Africa is testing it out right now.

For the 199 rand (less than $30) you can get a 3 month subscription to use Office 2007.

It appears that it’s being tested out in Africa first since the pay as you go mobile phone service is very popular in regions that generally can’t afford high up-front costs to services.

Who knows, maybe it’ll be what we’re all doing in the future.

Link to the article on eWeek.

PodTech goes behind the scenes to tour the OnStar Command Center to get details on how they operate and learn a few interesting tings about the data displayed on the massive screens on the wall.

If you’re not familiar with OnStar, a division of General Motors, OnStar provides motorists with a range of advanced, wireless communications solutions that make driving safer; including road-side assistance and automatic emergency response. Additional available services provide concierge assistance, offer destination directions, and other advanced convenience - all at the touch of a single dashboard-mounted button.

One cool thing I learned is the on board diagnostic data can be relayed via OnStar to your personal e-mail account.

Link to the podcast.

Link to the OnStar site for more information.

TechCrunch has a good article on the subject of Facebook and its continuing popularity especially when your favorite applications show up on the site to become the #1 stop for content and interaction.A few months ago they released the ‘Facebook platform’ and in short order thousands of applications have been delivered against that platform.

Link to the debate over Facebook as your future Web OS, the comments to the article are just as good.

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You may recall the “$100 laptop for children” or ‘One Laptop Per Child’ initiatives being pushed in emerging markets that would educate the masses and help bootstrap a nation’s efforts to modernize.

Welp, looks like the kids figured out an alternative use for the internet besides learning.

Link to the Reuters article.

[via Wafflebox]