Microsoft software for developing nations

["James J. O'Donnell" <jod@georgetown.edu>]

Opening paragraphs of longer article in today's NYTimes

Jim O'Donnell
Georgetown U.

April 19, 2007
Software by Microsoft Is Nearly Free for the Needy
By STEVE LOHR

In an effort to expand its global reach in computing, Microsoft plans
to offer a stripped-down version of Windows, Office and other software
for $3 to people in developing nations.

The program, which is being announced in Beijing today by the
Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates, represents an ambitious expansion of
efforts to introduce products to those who have lacked access to
personal computers, especially in developing nations.

While these countries have a growing appetite for technology as a
means to spur growth and raise living standards, they also have very
limited budgets. Some governments have encouraged alternatives to
Microsoft's Windows, notably Linux, a free operating system.

The Microsoft push comes as a nonprofit project, One Laptop per Child,
plans this year to start producing machines priced at about $150 —
with a goal of reaching $100 — that will run a version of Linux.
Several countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Nigeria, have made
tentative commitments to distribute the laptops to millions of
schoolchildren.

Microsoft has offered discounted versions of Windows selectively in
the past, to a few developing nations like Malaysia and Thailand,
priced at $30 or less. But the new program, called Microsoft Unlimited
Potential, goes further with more software and deeper price cuts and
extends to all developing nations, said Microsoft's senior vice
president for emerging markets, Orlando Ayala.