Windows for first time PC users in India

Mumbai: Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. has announced the availability of 'Windows XP starter edition' in India, which has been designed for beginner home PC users in developing markets, and aimed at enabling easy access to computing across India.

Microsoft, HCL and Intel collaborated to develop PCs with Windows 'XP starter edition'. According to Microsoft, Uttaranchal will become the first Indian state to make these PCs available. The government of Uttaranchal is introducing the PCs as part of Gyanotkarsh, its 'people's PC program', under which state government employees will be able to purchase these PCs at an attractive EMI of Rs399 onwards depending on the configuration of the computer.

With this India will become the sixth country to launch the 'Windows XP starter edition' as part of a pilot programme that Microsoft is running in developing markets.

Announcing this, Ravi Venkatesan, chairman Microsoft India said, "At less than 1.4 per cent penetration, India is among the most under invested PC markets in the world. To change this, the entire PC industry needs to collaborate to first comprehend the issues at hand, and then develop PC solutions that address their everyday needs. Today, the key barriers to the adoption and use of PCs in the country are relevance and affordability. We need to create offerings that people can easily use, and can more easily access. The Windows 'XP starter edition' is intended to help address these two issues."

Uttaranchal chief minister N D Tewari said, "The 'Windows XP starter edition' from Microsoft is the kind of offering that is required to take computing to the millions of Indians who are untouched by its revolutionary benefits. It meets our needs and is a great addition to Gyanotkarsh. We are confident that the citizens of Uttaranchal will greatly benefit from this offering."

"The launch of 'Windows XP starter edition' is an important milestone in helping take computing to the grassroots in India," said Neelam Dhawan, managing director, Microsoft India. "It marks the culmination of more than one year spent in conceptualisation, product development and actual user research and feedback. We are proud to partner with the state of Uttaranchal to roll out this offering in the state, and are thankful for their support," Dhawan added

Ranjivjit Singh, director, business and marketing operations, Microsoft India said, "Addressing the broad PC access issue will require close collaboration between software and hardware vendors, as well as the government to ensure that the right offering, payment and delivery mechanisms are in place for consumers who want to buy PCs. The 'Windows XP starter edition' programme is aimed at bringing together each of these aspects to create a holistic offering that will allow beginner users to experience the power of a PC - first hand."

Windows XP Starter Edition has been developed in response to requests from governments in developing countries and introduces beginner PC users to computing by providing a simple operating system for entry level PCs.