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Microsoft Gets On The Next Billion Bandwagon

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by Kevin Maney
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Apr 19 2007 12:00am EDT

Microsoft Gets On the Next Billion Bandwagon

Like AMD, Intel, Motorola -- not to mention One Laptop Per Child -- Microsoft sees gold in super-cheap technology marketed to emerging markets. In China today, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced an effort to reach another billion computer users by 2015. As part of the effort, the company will offer a Windows XP-based bundle called Microsoft Student Innovation Suite to governments for $3.

Of course, there's more to this behind the scenes. The most aggressive effort to put computing in the hands of the next billion users is Nick Negroponte's OLPC. Those laptops run on Linux -- which is free -- not Microsoft Windows. Indian company Novatium is doing the same with its $100 PC. In emerging markets -- which also happen to be the fastest-growing markets -- cost is everything. Free Linux trumps even moderately-priced Windows.

Microsoft is not so much trying to win the emerging market as it is trying not to lose it.

gates-china%20portfolio ...

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