Abera W. Kidan
26 March 2008
Addis Ababa — US-based software giant Microsoft said on Tuesday it launched in to the Ethiopian market three new software products as part of a worldwide event the company says was its largest ever.
Microsoft said the launch of the new products- the Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008-marks a turning point in the way that large companies use and manage their widespread computer networks.
"Under the theme of 'Heroes Happen Here', we are bringing these landmark solutions to Ethiopia to help people secure their information, manage their networks more efficiently and ensure their users deliver better results," David Ndunga, Microsoft's Marketing Manager for East and Southern Africa said in a statement.
And briefing local reporters to announce the launch of the software, and the positive difference they are expected to make to local users, the Ndunga said the products will make local IT professionals and developers more efficient, enabling them to save time because of the added features that was built in to them.
Whereas Windows Server 2008, Ndunga said, is a server operating system to ensure the security of a network system, connection to the internet and sending e-mails,Visual Studio 2008 is a product not very well known except software and Web developers.It is an advanced tool to develop software or web pages," SQL Server 2008, a data base application software will maintain data in a more efficient and user friendly way than what previous editions of the software did, Ndunga said adding it will be of much help for organizations to store a lot of data according to specific demands.
He said Microsoft was looking forward to partner with local business companies to ensure access to local customers for these new products.
Ndunga said pricing for the new products would depend on the number of licenses required to be in the business in this country, which he said he was not clear about,as yet.
But generally the difference in the prices for the new products won't be negligent, Ndunga said.
The Marketing Manager said the company was encouraged by a "phenomenal shift" by the Ethiopian customers "in using our products" that prompted the launch in to the local market of the new software solutions.
Speaking on what he called was a software piracy committed by fraudulent users against the the interests of the company, Ndunga said that was a problem Microsoft, as well as other software companies face everywhere in the world.
Educating the market on the benefits of using legal products, and doing the same through local business partners on the risk of using illegal and counterfeit products aimed at convicting customers to switch to genuine and local software was what the company was working on presently.
He said that kind of problem do exist in Ethiopia and the company was actually working with the Ethiopian government body on addressing the problem.
Ndunga said Microsoft was working closely with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as part of efforts boost access to computers in Africa through the provision of used computers.
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