Microsoft Corporation, the world's largest software company, said on December 7 that it would set up its first innovation centre in Bangalore. It also announced the launch of low-cost operating system Starter Edition in English.

The English version of Starter Edition will be priced at par with the Hindi and Tamil versions, which are sold for Rs 1,200.

The operating system will be available in other languages later. Starter Edition would be launched in other languages as well, Microsoft Corporate Vice-President (Worldwide Public Sector) Gerri Elliott said at a press conference in New Delhi.

Microsoft's innovation centre will support local vendors as part of the company's global initiative to set up 30 more such centres.

The company, however, did not disclose investments it intended to make in the centres aimed at helping developers, entrepreneurs and governments to develop and deploy innovative software solutions.

“The centre will be part of the Microsoft Technology Centre in Bangalore and will be inaugurated in January 2006. The centre will be set up in collaboration with local stake-holders, including the government and representatives of the industry,” Elliott said.

(www.business-standard.com)