Microsoft Indonesia launches Office 2003

Microsoft Indonesia launches Office 2003

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A little over a month after the initial launching in New York
in October, PT Microsoft Indonesia launched on Tuesday a set of
new computer applications called Microsoft Office System 2003.

The system is a compilation of programs, servers, services and
solutions that will integrate business processes to increase
individual, team and organizational productivity.

The applications have a better integrated system than the
previous version of Office XP. Basic applications such as
Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook have been upgraded with
better functions. Two new applications -- InfoPath and OneNote --
were introduced during the launch as well.

"OneNote integrates functions and applications related to
handwriting recognition and digital ink just like in Tablet PCs,
although you don't have one," said President Director of PT Acer
Indonesia Jason Lim.

Meanwhile, InfoPath enables users to exchange and share
information as well as edit documents online, thus saving more
time and increasing efficiency, especially for corporate users.

AIG Lippo IT Associate Director Ignatius Hartono said that
insurance policy applications processing can be reduced from one
or two days to only a few minutes. Management reports can be
generated in half the usual time and policy issuance time can be
sped up.

Rosniar Basir from Astra Buana insurance said that the system
used by her company had reduced the number of servers from five
to three, therefore reducing costs in software licensing as well.

"It is predicted that users in Asia can gain more
productivity, from 12 to 72 percent, using this application, and
it will save approximately US$4000 per year because of the
efficiency," said Microsoft General Manager for the Asia-Pacific
and Greater China Region, Oliver Roll, during the presentation.

The first Asian countries to get the new Office System were
India and Korea, with the same launch date as in the United
States. Microsoft has also launched the system throughout the
rest of the Asia, such as in Korea, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.