Microsoft in open licence pact with Wipro Infotech

Microsoft India has launched an initiative called ‘First Support’ with Wipro Infotech as its partner to provide services to a select group of its open licence customers. Microsoft is looking at taking this initiative to other countries in the Asia Pacific region after seeing the response in India.

“We are launching this service that includes support on phone, email and onsite through our partner, Wipro Infotech. In the first phase, beginning today, we are looking at 8 cities, in second phase starting 3 months from now, we are targeting 16 cities and by the next 6 months (third phase) we will cover a total of 24 cities,” Microsoft Corporation India Pvt customer and partner experience director Sanjiv Mathur said.

This service (at zero price) can be availed by those customers who have bought an open licence from Microsoft on or after January 1, 2004. Customers are entitled to 5 free support incidents that must be used up in the first year since the first contact with Microsoft.

An open licence requires a purchase through a volume licence reseller. “We have launched this service only after getting constant feedback from customers asking for services in addition to warranty support,” Mathur said.

The ‘First Support’ initiative will largely enable small and medium-sized businesses to get technical support when running mission critical systems and processes.

More: zdnetindia.com