Tech Review

That's nice of them. Besides, many of the schools in those countries would just pirate it anyways. And, each disk probably costs them $.03. A win-win.

Microsoft Selling Windows XP, Office Suite to Schools for $3

Thursday, April 19, 2007

SEATTLE — Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) said Thursday it will build on existing efforts to bridge the digital divide worldwide and announced several new ventures, including a $3 software package for governments that subsidize student computers.

The software maker said it will sell a Student Innovation Suite, which includes Windows XP Starter Edition and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, for $3 to governments that subsidize a certain percentage of the cost of PCs for primary and secondary students for use at home and at school, starting in the second half of the year.

The Redmond-based company also pledged to open 90 new "innovation centers" in countries around the world. Microsoft has already opened 110 of the centers, which offer classes and access to technology for academics, local startup software companies and other groups.

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In addition, the company said it designed a Web site to help graduating engineering students in India get additional training and find jobs, a model it may extend in other countries if successful. The site will go online by the end of the year.

Microsoft also announced it forged an alliance with the Asian Development Bank, but the company did not specify its financial commitment.

Orlando Ayala, a senior vice president for Microsoft's emerging segments market development group, said it took 35 years for the company's software to reach a billion people; reaching the next billion isn't just a side philanthropic project for Microsoft.

"Many of these people we think are going to be consumers down the road," Ayala said in an interview.

Ayala would not say how much money Microsoft will spend on the programs announced Thursday.

"We don't want it to be seen as an initiative, 'Oh, these guys are announcing another billion dollars,'" he said. "We're bringing this whole business strategy mainstream for Microsoft."