Microsoft to sell PCs in India

Microsoft Corp announced recently that it had entered into an agreement with

Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Zenith Computers Ltd to make and sell personal

computers in India.

The computers, priced at Rs 21,000, would be sold in 10 retail outlets each

in Bangalore and Pune from July on a test basis for three months and will be

expanded later on the basis of response.

“We don't see any gain in the short term. Our perspective is long term,” said

Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft India.

Findings from a recent report by IDC show that in 2006-07 the total installed

base of PCs in India was 22 million.

Ravi Venkatesan: We don't see any gain in the short term. Our perspective is long term

The company said its online portal www.msn.com would provide educational

content to students. It also plans to launch a job search service this year for

the country's nearly 4,00,000 engineers graduating every year.

Microsoft said it was in talks with partners in government and industry for

the job search portal.

Microsoft's job portal will compete with Info Edge (India) www.naukri.com and

Monster Worldwide www.monsterindia.com,  among others.