KATHMANDU, June 25 - Are laptops too costly to be owned?<http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=200862>
Microsoft Corp. says no. It is planning to distribute laptops through a micro-funding scheme in Nepal, making the much-coveted gadget an easily-affordable gizmo. In the first phase of programme beginning July 1, government employees will be provided with laptops. The scheme, Partnership for Technology Access (PTA), was launched on Wednesday. Microsoft aims to distribute 25,000 laptops of Acer, HP and Lenovo brands, through vendors in Kathmandu, to government employees. At the launch, Microsoft said that it wanted to bring a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model of PC ownership for government employees. PTA, according to Microsoft, is an innovative global initiative that makes technology solutions affordable and relevant for underserved citizens and small business owners through PPPs. "We're excited to be part of the government of Nepal's efforts to promote information and communication technology as an enabler of growth for the local economy," said Haja Sheriff, Business Development Director, PTA of Microsoft Corp. As per the government's IT policy to increase people's access to technology, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in May 2009 between the government of Nepal and Microsoft, through Unlimited Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Microsoft's Market Development Partner (MDP) in Nepal. Juddha Gurung, member secretary of the High Level Commission for Information Technology, said, "Microsoft shares the government's vision to spread the benefits of information technology, and we are pleased to be working together to showcase Nepal's progress with information and communication technology development." In the second phase of the programme, Microsoft will begin a scheme for teachers and students as well. To avail of the benefits of the programme, the government employees will need a recommendation letter from their respective offices, fill up a form at a designated financial institution, for now Nabil Bank. "No down payment will be required and nor will there be any interest rate imposed. The employees can choose whichever brand of laptop as per they want," said Allen Bailochan Tuladhar of Unlimited Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The EMI, equal monthly installment, will be divided into six, 12 or 18 months. "We are even mulling over increasing the EMI to 24 months or more." Expressing Microsoft's commitment to working with the government of Nepal, Sheriff said, "This programme addresses a key requirement--that of providing IT access and knowledge to government employees, which will accelerate the use of IT in government offices in Nepal." Regards Akash Deep Shakya "OpenAK" B.E. (Computer) | Kathmandu University http://www.akashdeepshakya.com.np akashakya at gmail dot com P.O.Box: 8975 EPC: 4235 ~ Failure to prepare is preparing to fail ~ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ FOSS Nepal mailing list: [email protected] http://groups.google.com/group/foss-nepal To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] Community website: http://www.fossnepal.org/ -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
