Microsoft to invest $1.7b in India

Microsoft Corporation would invest $1.7 billion in India, to
be deployed across select focus areas over the next four years. The company
would also increase its India headcount by 3,000 in the next three-four years.
Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates announced this during
his fourth visit to India in the presence of Minister of communications & IT
Dayanidhi Maran.

Bill Gates Preparing India as a major Microsoft research hub

Around half of the proposed investment would go into
expanding India into a major hub for Microsoft research, product applications
development, services and technical support for both global and domestic
industry.

For strengthening the local knowledge economy, Microsoft has
earmarked a part of the investment for further development of the Indian IT
market. Microsoft India chairman Ravi Venkatesan, said, "The company would
engage with more independent software vendors (ISVs) for skill transfer and
joint go-to-market initiatives. We will also collaborate with National
Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) to create knowledge networks for
SMEs in manufacturing clusters across India."

To deliver on Microsoft's mission to create a digitally
inclusive society, the company will adopt 100 schools in six states initially to
provide an interactive learning environment. The company will also support the
program of the Ministry of communications & IT to establish 1,00,000 Common
Service Centers (CSCs) by offering a range of affordable products, services,
consultancy, training and support. Microsoft will also offer a multilingual
Windows XP Starter Edition licensed and built exclusively for India.

Microsoft Research will collaborate with agencies including
C-DAC and the Indian scientific community to conduct research in Indic language
computing technologies.

Microsoft and National Institute of Smart government (NISG) have also signed
an agreement to set up an E-governance Innovation Center in Delhi to undertake
pilots for IT applications including workflow automation and process reengineering in government and use of
emerging technologies.

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