RSSMicrosoft Wants 1 Billion New PC Users by 2015
By Ed Oswald | Published April 19, 2007, 12:27 PM
Microsoft used the backdrop of Bill Gates' trip to China to announce a new program that would help to provide technology to the estimated five billion worldwide who have little or no access to it.
The plan is quite expansive, including initiatives that would focus on education, innovations, and jobs and economic growth. It hopes to reach the first billion of those underserved by the year 2015, it says.
"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," Gates said from Beijing.
In education, the company is investing $250 million over the next five years in its Partners in Learning program, aimed at giving teachers instruction in Microsoft products as well as intergrading technology into the curriculum.
Microsoft will also offer qualifying governments the opportunity to purchase the Microsoft Student Innovation Suite. This 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 Mail desktop.
The suite will be offered in the second half of 2007 for only $3 USD. However, governments must provide the software on PCs to students in order to qualify, it said.
Microsoft also will recommit to its Microsoft Innovation Center program, aimed at giving workers the tools they need in the technology industry and assistance in starting their own companies. An additional 200 centers would be either opened or supported by 2009.
To foster job growth and opportunity, Microsoft said it was working with companies to help them find qualified candidates worldwide. The first initiative will launch by the end of the year and help match the 400,000 Indian engineering students who graduate each year to prospective employers.
Other initiatives include an partnership with the Asian Development Bank to foster innovation in the Asia-Pacific region; new Partnernships for Technology Access in Argentina, Botswana, Chile, China and Egypt; and the launch of the Telecentre Knowledge Network, which works to provide shared technology access in underserved areas.
A white paper describing the "Unlimited Potential" initiative can be found on Microsoft's Web site.
$3? Wow, Ubuntu 7.04, OpenOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird are still cheaper than that. The first doesn't crash or drink your cash; the second has an ISO certified, universal file format; the third is highly customizable; and the fourth is brand new again. Microsoft can't give their crap away, as the rest of the world isn't nearly as taken with Microsoft as americans are.
Just shows how desperate Microsoft is getting, and how much they truly fear Open Source.
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|Microsoft can't give their crap away, as the rest of the world isn't nearly as taken with Microsoft as americans are.
That is the stupidest thing I have ever seen.
Market share as of 8-14-06 (Global):
Windows XP 86.80%
Windows 2000 6.09%
Windows 98 2.68%
Macintosh 2.32%
Windows ME 1.09%
Linux 0.36%
Windows NT 0.24%
Macintosh Power PC 0.15%
Even Windows ME is kicking Linux's ass.
Aren't facts wonderful? But, hey, who needs facts when you can rave like a lunatic, right?
Of course, you will inevitably post another one of your childish responses. Same sh*t different day.
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|I agree with you PC_TOOL, these linux fans think that they have already took over the world with its "free code" sh!t
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|Wow trying to match Linux pricing...
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|I wonder how long it will take for there to be an online aftermarket selling these for $5.00?
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|Aren't you rich enough? I guess there is no such thing as too much money.
Yokozuna, the link you posted is awesome I liked it that they didn't even get Windows Ultimate spelled incorrectly.
http://www.newlaunches.c...vista_sold_in_china.php
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|... thus they make a ton of cash.... keep it up MS ;) I love you guys..
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|You know what is really funny? Microsoft hopes to sell its products mainly in China and India. And now see this: http://www.newlaunches.c...vista_sold_in_china.php Do you see the irony of this situation?
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|Incorrect headline. It should read:
"Microsoft Wants 1 Billion New Customers by 2015."
It's the only way they can stay in business: The first one's free, baby.
In most industries, this is known as dumping.
Of course, Microsoft is immune to such charges.
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|"five billion worldwide who have little or no access to it."
That can't be right, surely.
I would say it's around 3/4 billion who can't access it.
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|I assume you have some specific data to back that last statement that you pulled out of your ***?
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|No, I don't. And I didn't claim it was a fact.
I was merely speculating.
So: easy now, flameboy.
There's no 'specific data' in the article to back up Ed Oswald's claim either. It's called an estimate for a reason.
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|Niro's just another f**gy microshaft fanboi like pctool. Just slap them around a bit. They want to keep posting crap so I'll just hang around until they leave. If they never do then I'll just help ruin the forums just like they do. Easy enough.
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|You've already done that, as Microsoft fanboys act like crying, screaming little brats when people don't like their slagware. Face it, you hate it more every single day when the rest of the world just doesn't want your software — not even the US government. Why pay $3 for it when the Chinese are stealing it in droves? They won't pay for the next version either, get it?
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|lmao...
I don't think you're talking to whom you think you're talking...
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|isnt china a 3rd world country??(meaning that you get the software for "free"), that's what i did a lot of times in my country but not anymore, now that im in USA ive learned that you have to pay for it you dumb sh!T and if "the world doesnt want their software" then it wouldnt be at the top of the other software markers you dumb sh!t, keep dreaming linux boy
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|By 2015, "billion" won't mean as much as "trillion" :)
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|Dr. Evil, or "one million dollars." ;O
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