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Microsoft to sell cheap software in developing countries

19/04/07 – In parts of the third-world Microsoft software will sell for just $3 as part of a drive to double the number of PC users around the world. The software giant wants a further one billion people to be using computers by 2015.
Under the deal third-world governments will be able to buy the software at the cheaper price if they provide schools with free PC's.

The cheaper software will be available in the second half of 2007.

Announcing the plan under the company's Unlimited Potential scheme in Beijing Microsoft founder Bill Gates said: "Bringing the benefits of technology to the next five billion people will require new products that meet the needs of underserved communities."

Microsoft is hoping their student Innovation Suite will be one of the first products to reach the people.

It includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 and other educational software

The company also hope that by offering the cheaper software it can cut down on the widespread use of pirated copies of their software in the developing world.

Microsoft's Orlando Ayala told Reuters: "This is not a philanthropic effort, this is a business."

There are other organisations that are attempting to increase PC use in the third world such as the One Laptop per Child project (OLPC).

The OLPC are developing a low cost, durable laptop, to be used specifically in an educational context, which they hope to price at as little as $100 each.

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<a href="http://www.pulsewebhosting.com/news/microsoft-to-sell-cheap-software-in-developing-countries/78/" title="Microsoft to sell cheap software in developing countries">Microsoft to sell cheap software in developing countries</a> Published Date: 2007-04-19 16:16:18

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