Kathmandu, November 28:

The world’s largest software manufacturer — Microsoft has released the Nepali versions of Windows XP and Office 2003 in the capital today. Dr Basu Dev Tripathi, vice-chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy unveiled the localised versions of Windows XP and Office 2003 at a programme. Microsoft has decided not to charge any licence fees for the use of the localised editions of these products, which has been developed since last one year with the help of its local partner Unlimited Numedia Pvt Ltd. Availability of Windows XP and Office 2003 in Nepali brings a new era in the use of information and communication technology, says Allen Bailochan Tuladhar, chief executive of Unlimited.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tripathi lauded the initiative taken by Unlimited Numedia for localising computer operating system in Nepali language. He noted that this development would benefit the Nepali literate mass populace. “With this major development in the ICT industry, it will now be possible to bring the advantages of information technology to the rural masses. The biggest challenge in the remote areas so far has been the language barrier, as only less than 10 per cent of Nepali can read and write English,” he added. Dr Tripathi said that this would also help to bridge the digital gap created by the existing digital divide in IT and to extend Nepali language to the national and international levels.

While making a presentation, Sunaina Ghimire Pandey, localisation project coordinator at Unlimited, explained that various national standards such as glossary, character code, and locale have been adopted in the localised versions of Windows and Office. “Those standards have been created and the government certifications for them have been obtained with the help of expert panels under the guidance of the Nepali Language in IT Steering Committee formed by the High Level Commission of Information Technology,” she informed. Andy Abbar, director for strategic international initiatives of Microsoft Corp, lauded the Unlimited’s initiatives in localising the Windows XP and Office in Nepali language. “Microsoft has taken Nepal’s case as a best-practice model,” Abbar said.

Feroz Mahmud, country director of Microsoft-Bangladesh underlined the Microsoft’s commitment to invest in emerging markets and to bring the best technology from the western world to the developing nations. According to Unlimited Numedia, the Nepali add-on pack of Windows XP and Office 2003 can be downloaded from Microsoft’s website.