Microsoft providing their development tools for free to students

Software giant Microsoft has announced that they are now going to provide free access to technology tools used to develop and design software to college and high school students around the world.

The company said that this initiative would allow these students to use the tools to write software applications, design elaborate Web pages and even code games that can run on the Xbox 360 gaming console.

This program is currently available to students in United States, Western Europe and China. Microsoft aims to reach as many as 1 billion students through this program.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates spoke about the need to provide free development tools to kids: “I can relate very well to these student developers. For students, any fee is a barrier.”