Ahead of Microsoft Windows 7 commercial launch on 22nd October, 2009 in India, Microsoft has started its channel empowerment programmes. In an interaction with VARIndia, Ramesh G, Director, Windows Client, Microsoft, said that before Windows 7 is launched in the market, the company has tried to provide hands-on training to the channel partners. Besides, they have launched a 16-city road show from Cochin on 11th of August. This road show will cover 1,800–2,000 resellers.
According to Ramesh, Microsoft’s focus is to enhance its reach in B-, C- and D-class cities. Targeting the new PC market, which will be around 8–9 million next year, Microsoft Windows 7 has an opportunity of $600 million value. Besides, he is also optimistic about $2-billion legal market.
Microsoft has also launched a channel scheme by the name of “7 Ka Dum” for promoting this product among the partners. Under this programme, the partners get gift vouchers by loading the software in at least 5 PCs and they are looking at 500 customers. Though the scheme is valid till the end of this month, but if excitement persists in the market, they will surely extend the time period.
According to Ramesh, this new operating system works perfectly on old hardware. Since this comes with enhanced security options like a lot of encryption along with VPN and Firewall options, it provides absolute security to the PC. And from the partners’ perspective, it offers greater chance to connect with the customers. They can run a lot many applications on top of Windows 7.
Particularly, the latest Netbooks can take advantage of this new software as it is light in footprint (8 GB space) and at the same time very powerful.
As per him, the existing customers of Microsoft, who are registered under the software assurance programme of the company, will get the opportunity to migrate to this new platform soon and for others the company will soon find some option. However, the gold partners of the company will get fee licences of Windows 7 for upgrade.
Finally, addressing various categories of users, Windows 7 comes in six versions, i.e. Starter, Home basic, Home premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate, but each advanced version is the superset of the previous version. Therefore, upgradation or scalability is never an issue. The user can buy an activation key from Microsoft and run the superior version. However, the focus of Microsoft will be on two versions, i.e. Home Premium and Professional, which the company will promote aggressively.
Since Windows 7 comes with a feature of XP mode, which is application compatibility capability, it is interoperable with XP documents. The company also has launched Technology Adoption Programme (TAP) for small companies and under this Windows 7 will be the natural offering.
As per Ramesh, it is very difficult to pirate Windows 7 as it comes with Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) programme.
Microsoft is gung-ho about Windows 7
