Google Looks to Cash in on Educational Technology Market

On May 15, Google (News - Alert) took a step into unfamiliar territory at its annual I/O event in San Francisco. Among announcements about enhanced photo sharing features for Google Plus and new phones on the way, came the news that Google is looking to get into the education technology business with Google Play for Education.

This move is meant to make it easier for Android (News - Alert) tablets to be used in schools. The popularity of tablets in education has been rapidly rising, and up until now schools almost exclusively chose to utilize iPads. The applications for tablets in the classroom are nearly never-ending. Some school systems provide a few tablets that can be checked out to individual students, some provide a tablet for every student, and some even require all students to buy their own.

Schools that either require their students to buy tablets or that buy the tablets themselves create a lot of business; these programs require buying hundreds of expensive tablets. The business doesn’t stop there either, since applications also must be bought for all the students.

Although Android tablets have been around for a while now, instructors have almost always chosen to use iPads due to their enhanced features for classroom use. Google hopes to change this with the implementation of Play for Education. This version of the Play store will feature improved functionality for classroom use.

One of the most important features of Play for Education is in its app distribution system. Whereas before, to get an app onto every Android tablet associated with a school system it would have to be individually installed on every single tablet, educators will now be able to get an app onto every device in the school system with the click of only one button. This is a huge time saver, and makes it easier for teachers to make sure all of their students have the same applications available.

Additionally, credit card won’t be the only method available to pay for apps; school systems will have the ability to set up an account to be charged instead, a much more feasible option for most school districts.

Google Play for Education is set to be launched sometime this fall.