Intel is moving ahead with a plan to invest $1 billion over the next five years to advance the movement of technology in developing nations. The past six months have seen Intel announcing a number of different ways they will be continuing to approach emerging markets, and this plan looks to integrate all of these initiatives under one umbrella.

Intel is breaking their general plan down into these three areas:

Accessibility: Creating opportunities for widespread ownership and use of PCs through affordability, access and content, including the development of fully featured, affordable PCs tailored to regional needs.

Connectivity: Expanding wireless broadband Internet access by cultivating the required ecosystems and encouraging deployment, including the broad promotion of WiMAX trials and deployments.

Education: Preparing students for success in the global economy through education programs and resources, including professional development for teachers worldwide.

At a grass roots level, this plan should bring computers tailored to their intended markets as seen already here. The community PC idea has already been proven as a solid means for bringing the internet to rural communities in India, and will continue to be the primary source of connectivity for smaller, less developed communities. Other ventures in the region have brought extremely low cost desktops to market as well, but if there is an interested company capable of bringing massive low cost, full-featured PC proliferation, it will be Intel.

The plan also hinges around education, ensuring the sustainability of the project in targeted communities. Intel is pushing for the training of 10,000 more teachers worldwide on technology fundaments, hoping to reach a student base of more than 1 billion. Classrooms worldwide will also be the beneficiaries of roughly 100,000 PC's going directly into schools.

WiMAX implementation will also be an important function of the program, enabling broadband access in difficult to reach communities.

While profitability is not out of the equation, the plan in and of itself is only a good thing. Intel deserves credit for making a move towards bringing at least a slice of the benefits associated with globalisation to the doorstep of the people who have made it possible.