Microsoft, partners open info centers

JAKARTA (JP): Software company Microsoft Indonesia and its partners will open information technology centers in Jakarta to promote its business applications for the finance industry, manufacturing, mining industry and Intranet/Internet users.

Microsoft Indonesia president director Andy BT Khoo said yesterday the Microsoft Competency Centers (MiCC) would give businesspeople an opportunity to keep up to date with the latest developments in information technology, especially regarding Microsoft products, and select the most suitable applications for their companies.

"With the centers, Microsoft aims to develop an information technology community in Indonesia and transfer technology to our partners in Indonesia," Andy said.

He said there would be three centers providing information about new applications related to manufacturing and mining, finance and Intranet/Internet.

The manufacture and mining center will be operated by PT Commercial Software Services Indonesia on the ninth floor of Wisma Dharmala Sakti; the financial center by PT Sigma Cipta Caraka on the 14th floor of the Jakarta Stock Exchange Building and the Intranet/Internet center by PT Integrasindo Infotama on the 16th Floor of the GKBI building.

Andy said the centers were scheduled to open between September and November this year.

Each center will be equipped with facilities to hold a seminar for up to 40 people each month, product demonstrations and Microsoft information centers.

"Microsoft will spend US$100,000 a year to finance each center," he said.

Andy said the centers were expected to increase the sales of Microsoft products 100 percent to 40,000 software licenses this year from 20,000 software licenses last year.

Microsoft recorded about US$100 million of sales in Asia last year, of which sales in Indonesia did not contribute significantly. The company opened its office in Jakarta last year. (jsk)