TMCnet News
Sify and Microsoft Partner to Empower India Citizens with Internet and IT Services TMCnet Contributing Editor Sify Limited, a company focused on consumer Internet and enterprise services in India, with global delivery capabilities, has announced that it will work with Microsoft (News - Alert) India to empower those with Internet and IT services, while also helping to bridge the digital divide in India. Sify will partner with Microsoft in its commitment to Unlimited Potential in India which will enable easy access for Microsoft’s initiatives through the reach of its over 3,500-strong ‘I-way’ cyber café chain, as through its home Internet access services. Sify plans to offer its cyber café subscribers access to licensed Microsoft Offline software first so that the can use the café as a virtual office for their needs. This will include the provision of training in the use of MS Office for Microsoft Office Certification to increase their productivity and skills. Sify is also providing support to Microsoft in bringing the industry together for the path-breaking ‘IQ PC’ initiative. The PC, aimed at families with school-aged children, will include 100 hours of free Internet access. This is in addition to the Microsoft suite and its partner offerings from Brilliant, Pacsoft, Edurite, etc. This alliance is also set to include other Microsoft Certification programs, affordable utility computing for the middle class and content for online education through the Sify I-way café chain. Speaking of this alliance, Raju Vegesna, chairman and CEO of Sify, said in a Thursday statement, “I believe Microsoft Unlimited Potential is a path breaking initiative that will go a long way towards helping bridge the digital divide. The program will also contribute to economic development by empowering people for a technologically advanced society.” “We are very happy to partner with them in this initiative as it furthers our objective of empowering millions of Indians with IT services and the Internet to improve the quality of their lives. Our alliance also encompasses providing low cost utility computing for the masses that is affordable and easy to use.” Commenting on the alliance with Sify, Ravi Venkatesan, chairman, Microsoft India, contributed in Thursday’s statement, “Microsoft Unlimited Potential is an effort to help people everywhere achieve their goals and dreams - their true potential - through relevant, accessible, and affordable technology.” “The idea is to work together, given the confluence of objectives of Sify as a company and our Unlimited Potential commitment, to offer affordable, easy to use services to Indians by leveraging Sify’s IP  capabilities, market reach over its sophisticated network and data centre infrastructure across the country.”India still represents a growing economy. This country offers well-educated labor pools and lower cost of operation such that it is becoming more and more attractive for companies to establish operations there. This expansion is also felt in the population as these individuals are demanding better services and access to the latest in technology. This partnership is likely to produce significant benefits for all those involved. -------- Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMC (News - Alert) and has also written for eastbiz.com. To see more of her articles, please visit Susan J. Campbell’s columnist page. Want to learn more about IT services? Then be sure to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. The papers are authored by industry leaders, who, in turn, receive qualified sales leads from interested parties. Check here for the latest in CRM information. |