Microsoft introduces new software solutions for Ethiopian market

By Samson Haileyesus

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- Microsoft, the software giant earlier this week has announced that it has launched three new software solutions to the Ethiopia market.
According to Microsoft the solutions - known as Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SOL Server 2008 are part of a worldwide event, which Microsoft is billing as one of its largest ever. The unveiling event in Addis Ababa this week according to Microsoft is one of the 19 launches that will take place across the continent.

Speaking at the launch David Ndung’u, Microsoft’s Marketing Manager for East and Southern Africa stated that the news softwares will help IT professionals in Ethiopia become more productive and ensure efficiency within the work force.
“We have been working in the Ethiopian market for close to a decade now working with local IT partners as well as big businesses. We have a select group of agents in Ethiopia and through them we are bringing these landmark solutions to Ethiopia to help people manage their networks more efficiently and ensure their users deliver better result”, said David Ndung’u.

‘Heroes Happen Here’ is Microsoft’s way of putting the spotlight on the customers, the partners and the users who take these technologies and make a significant impact every single day, Mr. Joseph landes, Microsoft’s Director of Product Management for Windows Server 2008 reiterated as he noted that it could make a business run more smoothly, help a government to deliver better services to citizens, or assist someone developing a piece of software to meet a specific, local need. These are all ways that IT professionals are heroes in their everyday work.

According to Microsoft the software solutions are based on feedback from IT professionals who say spend too much time and money managing existing systems and not enough investing in new capabilities that give them a strategic business advantage.
“That feedback is at the core of the new developments in this new wave of products,” said Mr Ndung’u. He added that response from IT professionals and developers around the world is that this is the most secure enterprise platform that Microsoft has ever delivered. They say it will simplify network management and enable IT professionals to focus more on driving their businesses forward.

According to Ndgung’u companies who have are currently working with previous versions of the softwares such as Windows Server 2007 can upgrade to the Windows Server 2008 by paying negligible additional by contacting their local Microsoft dealers and look at packages on offer to them.
Visual Studio allows programmers and developers to work together using visual and graphical tools to develop software programs and business processes in a neat and professional way. SQL Server 2008 is the latest version of the company’s database server software - aimed at driving greater reliability and availability of critical business information. Both will be available later in the year.

“Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 move us closer to the time when IT professionals and developers across Africa can create dynamic information systems:’ says Mr. Ndung’u.
These systems, he notes will provide access to the information and computing capabilities that we need, exactly when we need them, on the device that is most convenient and in the form that is most efficient. That will truly be heroic.