Azure Brings the Cloud to Ethiopia

Microsoft (MSFT) will feature its Windows Azure cloud computing platform today at its Worldwide Partners Conference in New Orleans. The Seattle Times has an advance look at a deployment that promises to boost the IT capabilities of educators in Ethiopia. More than 250,000 schoolteachers in the African nation are using laptops that will access online apps housed in Microsoft's Quincy, Washington data center. The teachers will be able to download curriculum, keep track of academic records and securely transfer student data throughout the education system.

Boston company FullArmor is working on the deployment of the Ethipian education cloud. The company's chief technology officer, Danny Kim, is scheduled to make a presentation today with Bob Muglia, president of Microsoft's Server and Tools business. Read the Seattle Times story for more details.