Microsoft's initiatives for small businesses

IT companies across the globe are now turning their attention to small and medium-sized businesses.

Microsoft for instance has lined up a couple of offerings for small businesses in India and these will be launched in October 2003.

Microsoft will soon launch its Small Business Server 2003, Standard and Premium Editions. The Standard Edition will comprise Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003.

Pankaj Ukey, Marketing Manager, Microsoft Corp. (India) informed us that the MRP of the Standard Edition will be $599 (approx. Rs 27,000). It will include a five-user license. Each additional license will cost $99 (approx. Rs 4,500) and will be sold in multiples of five or 20. However, this price is limited to 75 licenses.

"We've seen that small businesses are no longer limited to 10 or 20 users. Businesses are growing and adding more PCs. So we increased the product licensing to 75 users," said Ukey.

In addition, customers can opt for either a Full Pack License (box pack) or an Open License (a paper license that gives one the option of buying the media separately), informed Ukey. Ukey did not divulge details about the Premium Edition.