Dr. Tarek Kamel, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, announced with Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International the launch of a new low-cost and easy- to-use personal computer addressed new users from all age groups. This is the newest addition to the range of PC initiatives for the society sponsored by MCIT. These initiatives are implemented in cooperation with multinational software and hardware corporations as well as local computer assembly companies under the public private partnership theme. The objective of this partnership is to extend the computer and internet usage across all different segments of the community to help improve the educational and professional levels of the users.

The PC’s will feature, Arabic version of the new Microsoft Window XP Starter Edition by the end of this month, as part of the PC for every Home Initiative. The Window XP Starter Edition is developed especially for Arab users by a group of the corporation’s experts abroad with the help of a development team placed in the company’s innovation center located in the Smart Village in Egypt. The new operating system is especially designed with detailed audio (Egyptian voice-over), video and written description of all functions in order to assist first time users. In addition, the system features highly detailed Help manuals to solve any operating problems the user might face so as to attract thousands of new PC users. International hardware companies like Intel and Via also are partners in the development of this new PC.

The Minister asserted that he expects for the low-cost PC Initiative would be similarly successful to the PC for EveryHome, which provided more than 250 thousand PCs for low income Egyptian families; “ the objective of this initiative is to increase the penetration of PC’s and internet users among the grassroots of the Egyptian society”.

Launching low cost, easy-to-use computers is a big step towards developing the Egyptian society and decreasing the digital gap. This initiative will also support building a strong local IT industry that fulfills the needs of both local and regional markets with products of international quality.

The PC’s prices range from 1500 to 1800 LE, and will be offered through the available initiative installment programs sponsored by Banque Misr and Al Ahly Bank with monthly installment from 46 to 51 LE over 40 months. This Initiative will address a new segment of the society and will be offered through a number of Egyptian producers who take part in the PC for Every Home Initiative.