Sify, Microsoft to bridge digital divide in India

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Sify Limited (Nasdaq National Market: SIFY), a leader  in  Consumer  Internet and Enterprise Services in India with global delivery  capabilities, announced that it will work with Microsoft India to empower  Indians  with Internet and IT services and help bridge the digital divide in India. Sify will partner with Microsoft in Its commitment towards Unlimited  Potential  in  India  and  enable  easy  access  for Microsoft's initiatives  through  the  reach of its over 3500 strong 'I-way' cyber café chain, as well as through its home Internet access services.

 

Sify  will  offer  its  cyber café subscribers access to licensed Microsoft Office  software  to begin with, so that they can use the café as a virtual office  for  their  needs. This will include training them in the use of MS Office  for  Microsoft  Office Certification to increase their productivity and  skills.  Sify  is  also  supporting Microsoft in bringing the industry together  for  the  path-breaking  'IQ  PC'  initiative.  The  PC, aimed at families  with  school  going  children,  will  include  100  hours of free Internet access. This is over and above the Microsoft suite and its partner offerings from Brilliant, Pacsoft, Edurite, etc.

 

The  alliance  will  also  include  other Microsoft Certification programs, affordable  utility  computing  for the middle class and content for online education through the Sify I-way cafe chain.

 

Speaking  of this alliance, Mr Raju Vegesna, Chairman & CEO, Sify, said, "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,  Mr  Ravi  Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft  India, said, "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.

  

Sourced From: 20 : 20 Media Pvt Ltd