NEW DELHI
FEBRUARY 22, 2007

Microsoft Corporation India announced that consumers and small business can now order original software either on the telephone or online. This has been made possible through partnerships with Indiatimes.com and Redington and is aimed at providing customers with easier and greater access to original software. As a result, Microsoft's original software will now be available across 1068 Indian cities. Customers can pay for their software through credit card, cheque, draft or wallet365.

The initiative is part of Microsoft's ongoing program to provide consumers with easier and greater access to original software and help businesses and individuals deal effectively with piracy issues. This channel will complement Microsoft's existing distribution network spanning 30 cities.

Microsoft also announced the launch of a revamped original Microsoft software website - www.microsoft.com/india/original. A part of Microsoft's Genuine Software Initiative, this website informs the users on the benefits of original software and serves as a one-stop resource for home users and businesses buying software - right from providing information on how they can differentiate original software from pirated, to giving multiple purchase options. Commenting on the announcement, Brian Campbell, Director - Genuine Software Initiative, Microsoft Corporation India said, "One of the biggest blocks to using original software is lack of access, especially in a country like India with its geographical spread. The launch of this initiative, will not only provide customers with much needed access to original software, but as a filter down effect, it will also cause customers to ask for, and sellers to be more likely to provide, original Microsoft software."

"The purchase and use of original software will allow our users to be protected from the potential threats such as malware, which arise from the use of pirated software," Campbell further added.

Microsoft's unique initiative to provide software online and telephonically is an attempt to educate discerning consumers about the value of original and provide them with new channels to access it. Specifics of the two modes of delivery are:
Buy Online - Customers can order retail packs of original Microsoft software from the e-shop that can be accessed at www.microsoft.com/india/original Customers can pay by credit card, cheque, draft or wallet365. Moreover, customers buying through a credit card can pay in three months equated installments, with no interest.
Dial-A-Software - Customers can call-in at and get retail packs of original Microsoft software delivered to their home/office. This facility is currently available in eight cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Microsoft has plans to extend this to more cities in the next few months.

Talking about the initiative, Gautam Hukku, General Manager, Redington said, "Innumerable consumers and businesses are hurt by counterfeit software that they have acquired unwittingly, and many companies that license legitimate software have difficulty competing with artificially low prices offered by software pirates. By partnering with Microsoft in this initiative, we hope to assist in breaking the nexus of pirates and counterfeiters which is damaging to organizations as well as individuals."

Commenting on the online availability of original software, Sharat Dhall, Vice President (Ecommerce), Times Internet Ltd said, "The Web has emerged as a powerful medium today, and we are seeing it being used increasingly by homes and businesses alike. Making original software available online provides a tremendous fillip to users' ability to access the product by expanding the reach to over 1000 towns, and this increased access will definitely reduce piracy levels in India."

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