by Playfuls Staff |
20th April 2007
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has finally decided it's time to increase his charitable work done together with Microsoft Corp. As part of the Microsoft Unlimited Potential, and as an extension of the Microsoft Partners in Learning[more] program (PiL), the company announced the offering of software licenses for a "Microsoft Student Innovation Suite" at a special discounted rate exclusively for governments wishing to provide PCs to students, and subject to specific conditions.
Microsoft will offer this suite in the second half of 2007 for $3 to qualifying governments that purchase and supply PCs directly to students. It is intended for governments purchasing and giving Windows(R)-based PCs to primary and secondary students for their personal use at home and for schoolwork.
"All human beings deserve a chance to achieve their full potential," said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, of the company's Unlimited Potential program. "Bringing the benefits of technology to the next 5 billion people will require new products that meet the needs of underserved communities; creative, new business approaches that make technology more relevant, accessible and affordable; and close collaboration between local governments, educational institutions and community organizations."
The company's five-year, $250 million investment in its Partners in Learning program is already active in 101 countries, has equipped 2.5 million teachers and reached more than 57 million students across these countries. Microsoft says it primarily sought to amplify the impact of high-quality teachers by providing them the necessary tools and training. Also, through the program over 722,000 teachers and students have achieved certification on Microsoft technology.
"Computers and connectivity are still too expensive for private ownership by the poor, and applications as well as information resources that are appropriate to this group have been slow to emerge, in part because the poor themselves have not been involved in creating them," said C.K. Prahalad, author and professor at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
"Microsoft's Student Innovation Suite is an important complement to programs that provide underserved students with refurbished PCs or low-cost devices, such as Intel's Classmate PC, AMD's 50x15 efforts in conjunction with its OEM partners, and VIA's pc-1," said Roger Kay, principal analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates Inc. The problem so far with these affordable hardware solutions was that the software needed, if one was to use Microsoft's suite, would have cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. So much for the $100 PC.
The Student Innovation Suite was announced as Microsoft faces increased challenges from free open source operating systems like Linux and free web-based applications like those offered by Google, both of which target the company's dominance in personal computer software.
Another threat to Microsoft is the One Laptop Per Child Project (OLPC), which aims to sell millions of its innovative units for 100 dollars each to developing countries by 2008. Libya, Nigeria, Egypt, Rwanda and Ethiopia have already ordered millions of these laptops.
Microsoft Corp. will collaborate in this program with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
"UNESCO, which has a long-standing commitment to employing information and communication technologies to improve education at all levels, is pleased to work with Microsoft in the innovative use of technology. Information communication technology can significantly expand the access, quality and relevance of education. It can also help overcome the drastic shortage of trained teachers, which constitutes one of the major obstacles in achieving education for all," said Koichiro Matsuura, director general of UNESCO. "We welcome the opportunity to join forces with Microsoft and other private-sector partners committed to working toward this important goal."
The education suite includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Microsoft Math 3.0, Learning Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft Office, and Windows Live(TM) Mail desktop. More information can be found on Microsoft's site:
Microsoft Student Innovation Suite
