Microsoft makes deal with India's Infosys

Microsoft makes deal with India's Infosys

NEW DELHI (AFP): Bill Gates on Thursday announced a strategic
global partnership for software development between his firm
Microsoft Corp. and Indian information technology (IT) company
Infosys Technologies Ltd.

The announcement was made the day after Gates arrived here for
a two-day visit, which coincided with the 10th year of
Microsoft's Indian operations.

"As part of the strategic global relationship, Infosys and
Microsoft will develop business solutions in areas such as
customer relationship management, e-commerce, financial services,
insurance and retail," a joint statement by the two firms said.

It said the two firms would also undertake "joint marketing
initiatives and account planing globally."

Infosys is India's leading IT services provider. It reported a
117 percent rise in net profit to 2.93 billion rupees (US$67
million) for the year to March.

Gates, the world's richest man, told a press conference the
tie-up was "significant".

"I think its a great example of how far both companies have
come. We are going to be in the days ahead talking on specifics
customers and specific projects.

"We will be finding projects where Infosys can invest time and
energy ... There will be constant technical exchanges between the
two companies."

He added: "Together we can deliver world class e-business
solutions to our existing and future customers."

Infosys chairman and chief executive N.R. Narayana Murthy was
even more upbeat.

"There is no doubt at all that Microsoft is the crown jewel of
the global infotech industry. They have time and again shown how
by using Microsoft products, a corporation can become more
productive."

"Infosys is delighted to become a strategic Microsoft
partner."

"We believe that this relationship will expand our Fortune
1000 client-base," Murthy said.

The statement said the two firms would work closely together
to serve large Indian enterprises as well as to establish centers
to showcase high end products developed on Microsoft technology,
such as the .NET enterprise server platform.

Gates earlier Thursday met with Indian Information Technology
Minister Pramod Mahajan and is due to meet with other Indian IT
leaders and top officials during his two day stay.

Dewang Mehta, chief of India's 520-member National Association
of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), who met Gates twice
after his arrival here late Wednesday, said the Microsoft founder
would help erase India's "digital divide."

The so-called digital divide is a term describing the way
wealthy people have access to information technology but the poor
do not.

"I expect him to remove the digital divide in India and do a
lot of work promoting education. He is not only a philanthropist
but a man with a mission -- to bring information technology to
every citizen of the world."

Gates was dumbfounded by the way India's IT sector had grown
since his maiden trip in 1997 and was impressed by India's
skilled IT workforce.

An ecstatic Indian media, which dubbed Gates "William the
Conqueror" during his maiden visit in March 1997, heralded his
current trip as a major event.