World sneak preview of new Microsoft software programmes takes place in Algeria

[Lotfi-dz]

The world received a sneak preview of the three latest software programmes from Microsoft in Algeria last weekend, making Algeria the first country after the United States where the SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and Biz Talk 2006 are available. The event occurred as the world software giant celebrated its 30th anniversary.

The three newest Microsoft software programmes are designed to facilitate business decision making to enable business to develop and deploy products faster by providing a robust and reliable platform for critical activities. The platform aims to reduce management costs, maximise existing hardware, provide greater freedom to users, shorten the application lifecycle, and guarantee a good quality of service in mixed environments.

SQL Server 2005 is a new relational database management system. It meets the demands of businesses that want database administrators to take on additional systems and data while maintaining, or even reducing, costs.

Biz Talk Server 2006 helps in getting information to flow more smoothly and makes reconfiguration and process adaptation easier. The cost of the server is around 25,000 euros.

Visual Studio Server 2005, an integrated chain of application lifecycle management and development tools, costs around 11,700 euros. The prices for all three programmes in Algeria are much lower than those of competitors.


Microsoft Algeria President Lahouari Belarbi said the main 2006 priority for his company is the development of a network of partners. In addition, the company will continue to meet its social responsibilities by continuing co-operation with the Education Ministry, which will be enhanced through a commitment to undertaking computer training cycles.

Belarbi said Microsoft expects to see "phenomenal growth in the Algerian market" and that he intends to have his business fully up and running so as not to miss out on growth opportunities. The commitment is why Microsoft is taking part in the "Ousratic" monitoring committee, through which the government plans to ensure over several years that each Algerian family will have a computer. The firm is fully committed to the plan and has spared no expense, offering free anti-virus software with the first personal computers sold. Belarbi will insist that computers offered to Algerians under the programme meet international standards and take security into account.

[TonyStarks]

Thats not true is it ??? Whats your source for that article ???

[Lotfi-dz]

Originally posted by TonyStarks
Thats not true is it ??? Whats your source for that article ???

have you found the article to be too good to be true???

sorry i forgot to add the link...

http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi.../11/feature-02

i have always read about it on some alg newspapers (i can't remember what it was because i read most of them everyday)

[Lotfi-dz]

Announced last July, the Algerian "One Computer per Household" project was officially launched on Saturday (22 October) by the Ministry for Post and Information and Communication Technologies. The project will be initiated with the help of five banks, four of which are state owned.

The operation intends to equip 5 million households with computers starting next year, said Mahieddine Ouhadj, president of the project follow-up committee, at a press conference held at the ministry.

Personal computer makers all say they will meet deadlines, as they already have enough inventory for the operation to begin. But the manufacturers question the readiness of banking institutions.

Individuals who participate in the project will not need a down payment and can take out bank loans to be paid back within 12, 24 or 36 months for products. Prices range from 37,000 dinars to 47,000 dinars for a desktop computer, including a three-year guarantee, and from 73,000 dinars to 88,000 dinars for a laptop computer, including a two-year guarantee. Moreover, customers can choose to buy an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line-equipped computer with a 15-month subscription, including three free months, for 1,000 dinars a month.

Anyone earning a minimum of 10,000 dinars annually will be eligible to buy a computer. But the offer may turn off many citizens considering the bank interest rates, which start at nine per cent in the first stage and drop to eight per cent afterwards, according to Ouhadj. He explained the high rates by pointing to the importance of a market valued at around 400 billion dinars until 2010 and to the risks run by banks in case of customers' insolvency.

Ouhadj did not rule out lowering computer prices and other financial conditions in the future. "We have invited banks and insurance companies to apply preferential rates", he said.

The computer offer will be made available to several wilayas -- Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Tlemcen, Tizi Ouzou, Ouargla, Sétif, Béchar, Annaba -- before being extended to the rest of Algeria as early as next week.


offer may turn off many citizens considering the bank interest rates