Microsoft, Intel forge 'Affordability Alliance'

Bangalore, Mar 22 (UNI) Intel India and Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd today forged an 'Affordability Alliance', aimed at bridging the digital divide in the country.

The two firms announced a joint affordability initiative, under which they would innovate to create affordable computing solutions, and ensure easy and wider availability of affordable PCs across the country by driving synergies in sales and marketing across diverse customer segments, according to a release here from Intel.

Building on the success of its existing and individual initiatives such as the Government-assisted PC programme and the Student PC programme, Intel and Microsoft have identified innovative financing for complete computing solutions, including telecom connectivity, and greater access through market segmentation as the levers for the growth of affordable computing, the release said.

The two companies would work with banking institutions to create innovative financing options with the intent of simplifying the entire financing process so that consumers could have easy access to PCs and use these towards realising their potential, it said.

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