Microsoft <http://www.tgdaily.com/#> to give away Windows/Office package 
for $3
By Wolfgang Gruener
Thursday, April 19, 2007 10:59

Beijing (China) - Microsoft on Thursday announced its most aggressive 
move yet to reach more people that do not have the financial resources 
to purchase a modern, functional software environment: The company 
<http://www.tgdaily.com/#> will offer a complete software package built 
around Windows and Office for $3.

The software bundle, called "Microsoft Student Innovation Suite," (MSIS) 
includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Office Home and Student 2007, Math 
3.0, Learning <http://www.tgdaily.com/#> Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft 
Office, and Windows Live Mail desktop. According to Microsoft, the 
software is part of a "new commitment to help close the digital divide" 
and an effort to "bring social and economic opportunity to the estimated 
5 billion people who are not yet realizing the benefits of technology."

It isn't the first time that Microsoft targets especially the markets of 
developing countries. A little over a year ago, the company unveiled 
FlexGo <http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/26525/113/>, a pay-as-you-go 
program to rent computers and make it easier for people in low-income 
countries to finance a computer. The new program announced today does 
not include a PC, but it offers software that would cost several hundred 
dollars even in student editions for $3.

The offer, however, is limited to a bulk purchase through governments 
<http://www.tgdaily.com/#> and includes a whole set of conditions 
governments will have to meet. According to the ordering criteria, 
governments will have to subsidize the purchase prize of a PC by a 
margin of greater than 50%, at least 10,000 PCs have to be ordered at 
once and delivered in a single language in a single year, and the 
software must be activated using Microsoft's general software activation 
process.

While the offer is aimed primarily at low, lower-middle, and 
upper-middle income countries, Microsoft will also offer the $3 package 
for high income countries, if those governments agree to sign up for the 
firm's Partner in Learning program and limit the (MSIS) software to 
"underserved communities."

"All human beings deserve a chance to achieve their full potential," 
commented Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, in a prepared statement. 
"Bringing the benefits of technology <http://www.tgdaily.com/#> to the 
next 5 billion people will require new products that meet the needs of 
underserved communities; creative, new business approaches that make 
technology more relevant, accessible and affordable; and close 
collaboration between local governments, educational institutions and 
community organizations."




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