Microsoft and HCL tie up for training centres; plans to launch world's cheapest laptop

12 April 2008

Mumbai: Microsoft Corporation India and HCL Infosystems have joined hands to set up a new centre of excellence (CoE). The two also announced the launch of world's cheapest ultra portable laptop.

Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.

The proposed centre of excellence, which will be set up within HCL's facilities at Noida will employ over 500 software professional. It will develop IT solutions and deploy Microsoft technologies for the domestic market in the areas of telecom, banking and financials, power, defence, retail and others, HCL stated.

The two companies will also collaborate to train and certify 50,000 students on Microsoft technologies in the next three years across 100 training centres.

The Microsoft-HCL partnership is targeted at creating employment for students and help the Indian IT industry retain its competitive edge.

The second initiative in the partnership is the launch of the new small laptop, to be marketed under the MiLeap brand of HCL laptops.