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News >> Technology >>
Intel-Microsoft forges strategic alliance
By agencies
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Wednesday, 22 March 2006, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Intel India and Microsoft Corporation India forged an “affordability alliance” aimed at bridging the digital divide in India.
Under the initiative, both the companies will innovate to create affordable computing solutions and will ensure easy and wider availability of affordable PCs across the country by driving synergies in sales and marketing across diverse customer segments.
The alliance seeks to build on the success of their existing and individual initiatives such as the government-assisted PC program, and the student PC program. The duo has identified innovative financing as the key to spreading computing including telecom connectivity.
To enable this, they are planning to work with banks to simplify the entire financing process, so that consumers can have easy access to PCs. For example, first-time PC users will be able to purchase Intel Celeron or Pentium-based PCs with Windows XP Starter Edition at easy installments and students & teachers will now be able to buy an Education PC with specialized content from education service providers.
Besides this, both the companies are in talk with telecom service providers to integrate telecom services and broadband access into these solutions to maximize impact.
Four specific customer segments have been identified initially for providing holistic solutions and to facilitate easier access.
Microsoft India said, “This alliance is an important milestone in our efforts towards fostering a digitally inclusive society in India and we are confident the alliance will spur consumer interest in and adoption of affordable computing solutions.”