Date:06/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/06/stories/2008110659671300.htm

National

‘DreamSpark’ for students

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Providing students access to technical software, Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled ‘DreamSpark,’ a software giveaway for over 10 million qualified students in the country.

DreamSpark will give students access to the latest Microsoft developer and designer tools at no charge to “unlock” their creative potential.

Launching the project at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates said: “We want to do everything we can to equip the new generation of technology leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to harness the magic of software to improve lives, solve problems and catalyse economic growth.”

“Microsoft DreamSpark provides professional level tools that we hope will inspire students like you to explore the power of software and encourage you to forge the next wave of software-driven breakthroughs,” he told the students. The software will be available online on www.dreamsparkindia.com and in offline format through DVDs distributed by programme partners NIIT, Aptech and Hughes Net Fusion Centres.

The project was announced by Mr. Gates in February. It is estimated that up to 35 million students will be able to access these software titles free of charge through this programme.

Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari said though both India and China were of special interest to Microsoft owing to their market potential, India was unique because of other reasons.

“India has one additional reason for special importance, which China does not have at present, and that is the largest pool of English speaking software professionals with strong mathematical and logical skills in the country.”

The Minister said Microsoft would provide the link to DreamSpark website from Sakshat portal.

Interested students who intend to get the software will be provided a live ID from the portal, she added.

Mr. Gates also spoke on how to use technology to improve lives.

“This is a great time to be working on sciences and how it can help the most needy. Technology should be viable for everyone, rich and poor. My experience has been that if you get talented young people together, amazing things can happen... ”

On the global financial crisis, Mr. Gates said: “According to me, the economic recession in the U.S would not extend to other countries. The crisis would settle down in not more than six months and then the economy would get back. It would not have a long-term impact...Indian IT companies will continue to grow, despite the slowdown.”