Microsoft signs agreement with PC manufacturers
Microsoft signs agreement with PC manufacturers
JAKARTA (JP): Microsoft, a leading United States software
company, signed up four Indonesian computer manufactures
yesterday to preinstall its software in their computers for
domestic distribution.
The agreement, signed at the Grand Hyatt hotel here, was
witnessed by American Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy and the
director general of metal, machinery and chemical industries,
Effendi Sudarsono.
Joachim Kempin, Microsoft's senior vice president for original
equipment sales, and John Lauer, Microsoft's director for
Southeast Asia, said the agreement would increase business
opportunities for Indonesian-based personal computer
manufacturers, and would help combat piracy of intellectual
rights.
"I am encouraged by the strong show of support by these four
strategic companies for their vision and foresight in getting on
board with a global information technology market that puts
proper emphasis on protection of software intellectual property,"
Kempin said.
The four Indonesian-based computer makers that signed the
agreement are PT Multicom Persada International which produces of
Mugen computers, Galva Technologies Corporation which produces
GTC computers, PT Zeuscom Indonesia which makes Kronus and
Zeuscom computers, and PT Zyrexindo Mandiri Buana which produces
Zyrex computers.
Genuine Windows 95 software will be installed in the computers
manufactured by the four companies before they are sold.
Sudarsono said the government would encourage the development
of the computer industry by lowering or eliminating tariffs on
computers and computer-related products.
He praised the agreement as a measure to combat piracy. The
government has introduced laws to protect intellectual property
rights, but policing the laws has proved almost impossible.
Kempin told The Jakarta Post that anyone buying the computers
made by the four companies would get a Windows 95 manual in
Indonesian.
Microsoft will give the four computer manufacturers technical
assistance to make their computers suitable for Windows 95.
Microsoft will also certify their products and promote them
through seminars.
Kempin would not say how much the companies were paying for
Microsoft's software. He said the price was such that the
companies would "still be competitive against international
brands".
The four companies computers are about 15 percent cheaper than
branded computers, he said.
There are hundreds of computer makers in Indonesia, but many
of them use pirated software to compete against branded
computers.
Between 400,000 and 500,000 computers are sold in Indonesia
each year. More than 50 percent of these are made by domestic
manufacturers, said Oki Widjaja, president of PT Galva
Technologies Corporation. (jsk)