Microsoft launches WebsiteSpark: ignites new opportunities for Web professionals and Organizations

Microsoft launches WebsiteSpark: ignites new opportunities for Web professionals and Organizations

 

Taking forward the commitment towards building a strong Web ecosystem and fostering innovation around web, Microsoft India today launched the WebsiteSpark program, an initiative designed to create a partner network and drive business growth for professional web development and design companies. Combined with the release of the Web Platform Installer 2.0 and the Windows Web Application Gallery 2.0, the initiatives make it easier for Web professionals & Organizations to build richer, more compelling Web experiences. The program is supported by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), National Association of Software and Services Company (NASSCOM) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) as the network partners; and Netmagic and Net 4, as the hosters.

Even before the formal launch of the program, more than 700 small web application & design companies/ independent developers in India have registered for the program. Web development and design companies with up to 25 employees and owners can participate in the WebsiteSpark Program for three years with no up-front cost except a $100 program offering fee, payable at exit. Web professionals can get more information at http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark.

As the latest initiative in the ‘Spark’ family of programs, including BizSpark and DreamSpark, Microsoft is building upon a legacy of working with key communities and providing the additional support, tools and resources needed in order to help them thrive. The WebsiteSpark Program provides Web professionals with Microsoft software and solutions, together with related tools, training and support, to help their businesses succeed. The WebsiteSpark Program also helps drive new business opportunities by connecting Web professionals and hosters with an ecosystem of customers, partners and other professionals with complementary technologies.

"Developers are the lifeblood of our business, and we are wholly committed to ensuring their success," said Moorthy Uppaluri, General Manager - Developer Platform Evangelism, Microsoft India. "WebsiteSpark makes Microsoft’s Web development tools and support more accessible to developers and designers at small companies as they create inventive applications for the Web. Our third ‘Spark’ program, WebsiteSpark furthers our commitment to ignite innovation among key communities and individuals."

Companies/developers signing up for WebsiteSpark Program will have access to: Microsoft Web design and development software and solutions, including three licenses to Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, two licenses to Microsoft Expression Web 3, and one license of Microsoft Expression Studio 3 Four processor licenses for production usage to Windows Web Server 2008 or R2 (when available) and four processor licenses for production usage to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Web Edition A third-party premium Website control panel (DotNetPanel)

Participating companies/developers will also be facilitated with professional support and training: Two technical support incidents per company Access to community support through connections with Network Partners, Hosting Partners and peers with complementary services and technologies Unlimited access to technical managed newsgroups on MSDN Unlimited program support for non-technical issues

In addition to software, solutions, training and support, the WebsiteSpark program will extend the reach of participating companies by featuring their offerings in a WebsiteSpark marketplace, supported by Microsoft marketing vehicles.

Further, the program will provide an impactful partner ecosystem to support Web professionals' success. The partnership with Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), National Association of Software and Services Company (NASSCOM) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) will help jump-start web professionals' development projects. Commenting on the launch, Dr. Subho Ray, President, IAMAI, "Initiatives like the Microsoft WebSiteSpark program are key to creating an ecosystem of "open innovation" by allowing collaborations among ecosystem participants. The programme is supportive of IAMAI's goal of supporting small web design and development companies, and aligned with IAMAI's objective of allowing a "thousand flowers to bloom" in the Indian internet space digital space."

Sridar Iyengar, President TiE Mumbai, Past President TiE Silicon Valley and TiE Global, said, "To be or not be on the web, to paraphrase Shakespeare, is no longer an option available to businesses in India particularly the medium and small businesses who missed the first wave of web presence. They have to use the web to reach their customers and partners. TiE Mumbai is extremely pleased to be partnering with Microsoft to launch WebsiteSpark granting privileged access to tools which Web developers will need to cater to this demand."

About Microsoft India Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Ltd is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, USA. It has had a presence in India since 1990 and currently has offices in 13 cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

For further press information, please contact:

Rupali Kathuria Associate Genesis Burson-Marsteller Mobile: 9873157160 Email: rupali.kathuria@bm.com Sabah Hamid Manager – Corporate PR Microsoft India Tel: 0124-4158000 Email: sabah@microsoft.com

 

Aatma Balam

The soul (aatma) is beyond the mind (manas). The power of the true Jnanis is Atma Balam, and that is the real strength.

 

Chanting the Mahamantra increases the ‘Aatma Balam’

- HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

--
Chant the Mahamantra
 
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
 
and be happy

543 million telephone users in India

The number of telephone subscribers touched 543.20 million at the end of November, taking tele-density closer to the half-way mark, driven by a record 17.65 million new additions in wireless telephony, sectoral regulator Trai said on Wednesday.

The telephone subscribers base rose from 525.65 million in October, registering a growth rate of 3.34 per cent, to 543.20 million in November. With this record addition, the overall tele-density has touched 46.32 per cent.

The wireless subscriber base rose from 488.40 million in October to 506.04 million in November, a monthly growth of 3.61 per cent. Wireless tele-density is at 43.15 per cent now. Aided by low tariff plans like per-second billing, the mobile operators have been adding large number of new subscribers one month after another.

In November, the GSM operators added 11.64 million new users with Bharti Airtel adding 2.8 million. The two dual technology operators -- RCom and Tata Tele-- have added 2.2 million and 3.3 million users in the month.

In fact, Tata Tele added the highest number of subscribers in November. Maintaining its downward spiral, the wireline subscriber base declined from 37.25 million in October to 37.16 million at the end of November.

The state-run BSNL and MTNL hold 85.35 per cent of the wireline market. However, they lost 0.13 million subscribers in November, bringing down the overall wireline tele-density to 3.17 per cent.

The total broadband subscriber base has increased from 7.40 million in October to 7.57 million in November, showing a growth of 2.26 per cent.

 

 

Cost-cutting begins at home

Inflation based on the wholesale price index, which includes manufactured products in addition to food and fuel items, had fallen through 2009 and, in September, it had turned negative.

But in the past four months, it has been rising and is now at 4.78 per cent. Add to this, the forecast on inflation from the central bank: the Reserve Bank of India    has raised the fiscal-end inflation estimates to 6.5 per cent from the earlier 5 per cent.

This implies that the household budget, which had already spiraled, will continue to rise. And food prices will have a large share in it.

According to government estimates, in early December, potato prices had increased 136 per cent, sugar prices doubled and pulses zoomed by over 40 per cent compared to the previous year.

Other food items such as wheat got dearer by 14 per cent, milk by 13.6 per cent and rice by 12.7 per cent over a year.

For 25-year-old architect Swati Jain, life has become tough. Jain stays alone in Mumbai  Images  and tries to send Rs 8,000 every month to her retired father.

"But this has become a challenge as my own expenses have risen from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 in the past three-four months," says Jain. She complains that if things continue as they are, she will not be able to save even Rs 2,000 from her monthly salary of Rs 25,000 before statutory deductions.

Experts say that the middle class will feel the pinch even more this year than what happened in 2008 when inflation had touched a high of 12.82 per cent in August. Rupa Rege Nitsure, economist, Bank of Baroda  , says: "Last year's inflation was more a function of high fuel prices. Food prices are the culprit for this year's inflation.

It's affecting the middle and lower income groups."

Rohit Gupta, a 29-year-old software professional, is left with no option but to put his dreams on hold. He has postponed his plan to buy a house, as he feels that he may not be able to take the required loan amount.

"This seems like a good time to buy a house, as home loan rates have come down. But the increase in my family's monthly budget makes it impossible for me to buy a house," says Gupta.

It's a double whammy for Gupta, whose increments have not kept pace with rising prices. "We received no hikes last year and there is no clarity on when we will get one," Gupta adds.

Economists say since 60 per cent of a household's costs are on food items and food prices have gone up by an average of 90 per cent, the minimum increase in the monthly budget will be to the tune of 10-12 per cent. For example, if your household budget is Rs 10,000 a month, then the food inflation will take the total to Rs 11,400.

"Such times call for a re-prioritizing of expenses," says a financial planner. He adds the only way to keep expenses in check for Swati and Rohit is by reducing lifestyle-related expenses such as parties, travel and watching movies at expensive multiplexes.

Fixed costs such as house rent, loan repayment and children's school/ college fees cannot be cut down. One can only compromise on variable costs such as grocery, telephone and electricity bills, and transportation.

"Planning expenditure in advance helps," says another financial planner. He suggests that a person should make a monthly budget, differentiate between important and lifestyle-related items and then cut down expenses accordingly.

Similarly, if you want to buy a house through bank finance, you should plan for it. Lenders have come out with loans offering fixed rates for the first two-three years.

This makes it easy for a borrower to plan expenditure in advance. If your salary can take care of the equated monthly installment and monthly budget, don't delay it for the fear of rising prices taking a toll on you

 

 

 

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