NASSCOM Foundation facilitates free access to Microsoft Windows 7 for NGOs across India

Latest Microsoft OS available through www.bigtech.in

NASSCOM Foundation, the CSR arm of NASSCOM, India’s premier IT industry body, has been at the forefront of technology enablement for NGOs across the country.

In another landmark move, NASSCOM Foundation has come together with TechSoup Global, USA to announce the availability of Windows 7, the latest version of Microsoft Windows OS, for distribution to Indian NGOs. This technology donation is available to registered and qualified NGOs on www.BiGTech.in.

Announcing this at its fourth National Consultation of the NASSCOM Knowledge Network (NKN) program, Ms. Rufina Fernandes, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “Providing state-of-the-art software and technology to NGOs helps not just in terms of providing access to the latest technologies, but increases NGO efficiency and effectiveness.

The availability of Windows 7 is a significant step in this direction.

Windows 7 is arguably the most easy to use software today. NGOs can run their processes faster and better.”

Mr. Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft India, added, “At Microsoft, we believe in the transformative power of technology – and that cost should not be a barrier to access. In India today, there is a need for utilizing technology at the grassroots, and we are glad to be able to play a part in enabling this. Making our software available in association with TechSoup Global and NASSCOM Foundation is a step towards reaching out to communities underserved by technology.”

“We are thrilled with the response of NGOs to the availability of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system,” said Mr. Mike Yeaton, Vice President of Community for TechSoup Global. “In the first week alone, TechSoup Global and its partners have processed Windows 7 donation requests from thousands of NGOs around the world. We’re grateful that so many NGOs have used the TechSoup Global Network to take advantage of Microsoft’s generous software donation.”

BiGTech.in, in partnership with TechSoup, is the key technology philanthropy program of NASSCOM Foundation. This online marketplace was specifically developed to provide original software and hardware to Indian NGOs and social development organizations for free of cost. The BiGTech program was set up with the aim of assisting and enabling such NGOs to leverage ICT in the best way possible – with optimum enablement of technology for their processes at the minimum costs possible. The BiGTech.in programme has reached out to over 350 registered NGOs in 138 districts across 26 states in India. BigTech has so far enabled 2300 product donations to the tune of around Rs.40 million to NGOs and non-profits in India. BiGTech encourages NGOs to use of legal, genuine software and services in its social work. BiGTech’s motto is “do right while doing good”!

The availability of Microsoft Windows 7 for Indian NGOs was made public at the National Consutlation 2009. The National Consultation, or NC 2009, is the fourth national consultation in the series. Organised by NASSCOM Foundation, the consultation is being held for a three day period, from 4th to 6th of November, 2009. The three days consultation will include a one day conference and two days of training workshops for NASSCOM Knowledge Network centre managers and network managers, and will provide a platform to discuss and develop on the practices in place for using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development.

About NASSCOM Foundation
NF is a charity registered under the Indian Trust Act 1882. NF’s vision is to leverage information and communication technologies (ICT) to empower and transform the lives of the under-served. NASSCOM and its members are committed to social development through the application of ICT. NF today has the unique opportunity of leading the IT Industry towards changing the social development landscape of India. NF is the CSR arm of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), the internationally recognized trade body of the Indian IT industry. www.nasscomfoundation.org

About TechSoup Global
San Francisco-based TechSoup Global (www.techsoupglobal.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides technology information to individuals and organizations in more than 190 countries, and has provided consulting services in more than 50 countries and, through its global network of capacity building NGOs, manages product donations to more than 107,000 organizations in 31 countries. The product donations program has enabled organizations to save over $1.5 billion in expenses as of September 2009. TechSoup Global continues to innovate with a goal of bringing increased resources and capacity to organizations working diligently on their social missions. TechSoup Global has a network of 40 corporate donor partners including Microsoft, Cisco, Sun, and Symantec.

About Microsoft India
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Ltd is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, USA. It has had a presence in India since 1990 and currently has offices in 13 cities – Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

For further information, please contact:
Vivek Kangath
PR Executive
Blue Lotus Communications Pvt. Ltd
No 117, 2nd Floor, 18th Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore -560008,
Mob: 9986548890 (Blr) ,Mob: 9961171331 (Kerala)
Direct: +91-80-41254166, Board: +91-80-41263035, Fax: +91-80-41254166
Email: vivek@bluelotuspr.com / kangath@gmail.com

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