Microsoft introduces e-commerce portal

In yet another initiative to control piracy in the market, Microsoft has
launched an e-commerce portal-buyoriginalms.com. The initiative has been taken
in order to create awareness at the customer level and convince them to buy
original software only.

The portal contains a list of dealers and channel partners who deal with
various products of Microsoft in different geographical regions of the country.
Customers who log on to the site can select dealers according to their choice,
and buy specific products at dealer's price. Channel partners need to log on to
the portal and get listed with Microsoft without any charges. Customers also get

the option to buy products directly through portals like rediffmail.com.

“Our ultimate objective is to create awareness among end-customers about the
necessity to buy original MS products from authentic dealers. This initiative
not only gives accessibility to customers to buy original products but also
gives channel partners of MS a wide range of customers. As the trend of online
shopping is increasing, there has been an increase of virtual traffic, and it
gives us an opportunity to attract those customers to buy authentic MS
products,” commented Brian Campbell, Director-Original Software Initiative,
Microsoft India.

To begin with, Microsoft has signed up with New Delhi-based Aditi Computers,
and is seeking the participation of a large number of dealers in the future. The
site is open for all dealers across the country. Through this initiative,
Microsoft is seeking larger business share from B and C-class cities. The
payment options available to customers are cheques, net banking, credit cards
and cash on delivery.

Talking about the challenges, Harish Bahl, CEO and Founder, Smile Interactive
Technologies (the platform provider of this solution) commented that the company
did not face many problems in designing the portal and with the increase in
online shopping, it is expecting a large traffic of customers.