Microsoft Pumps $1 Bln Into UN Computer Aid

Reuters via Yahoo! News ^ | 01/23/2004

[GeneD]

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - U.S. software giant Microsoft said on Friday it would pump $1 billion of cash and software into a computer training program it has set up with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

"The scale of the program we have here is quite unusual in terms of corporate giving. It's $1 billion over five years and that represents both cash and software," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told journalists at the World Economic Forum.

The United Nations will work with the Microsoft Unlimited Potential program to invest in community centers in poor regions where people can learn how to use personal computers and enhance their job prospects.

The announcement follows a pilot project in Afghanistan where the two organizations set up centers at 16 locations, aiming to train 12,000 users this year.

UNDP administrator Mark Malloch Brown said the ambition was "to hook up the world to the Internet."

Microsoft would donate cash and the latest versions of its software, but the centers were free to expand with other software, including open source software such as Linux, Gates said.

"They'll be adding software from other providers. There's no exclusivity," he said. "Our role is to bring software that is quite popular, and happens to be ours."

Microsoft software is used to run more than 90 percent of the world's PCs. Governments in several emerging countries, such as Brazil and Thailand, have started to promote computers that run the rival Linux operating system.

Linux is an open source program that can be obtained for free or at little cost.

[GeneD]

Why was my first thought, how much of that $1 billion winds up financing the UN's kleptocrats?

[CasearianDaoist]

Well maybe we have finally found a way to destroy the UN.

Seriously, Gates forgot to buy off the US socialists and look what trouble that got him into, He's not going to make that mistake again. Bet the EU backs off of him now too.

[bcoffey]

It's $1 billion over five years and that represents both cash and software

Sounds like a slick tax scheme to me.

We know that MS has an 85-90% profit margin on software. Thus, by giving away, say $500 million of one of their products, they get a tax deduction of $500 million when it only cost them 10-15% of that to make it.

[Prodigal Son]

LOL, I had a problem with my number 2 computer for the last week. Running Windows ME on it. Downloaded some 'recommended updates' and my system went tits up. I've resinstalled the OS so many times in the last five days that I can recite my Product Key by memory. Finally got it worked out. The updates are purged and my system is happy again.

Bill Gates conquers the UN....

[KangarooJacqui]

Only a billion?

Small change to Microsoft, anyway.

[GigaDittos]

Yeah, like the software for food program.

[GigaDittos]

Hmmm, tits up doesn't should like a problems to me.

[Jimbaugh]

You don't get to deduct the retail value of a donation. You only get to deduct the cost.

If Microsoft is try to do a fast one then they are going to get screwed because everyone is looking at this transaction.

If that were true then I would donate my time at $500 per hour to my favorite charity and nver pay any taxes.

[GigaDittos]

Yes, they will be assimilated.

[trebb]

Looks like Bill found a "philanthropic" way to expand his customer base...

[Prodigal Son]

Hmmm, tits up doesn't should like a problems to me.

Well, if they weren't silicone, it wouldn't be a problem ;-)

[isom35]

that's 1 billion that will be spent on chat-rooms, playing games online, and surfing for porn (aka smut mining). gee, thanks gates.

[GigaDittos]

[bcoffey]

It's $1 billion over five years and that represents both cash and software

IANACPA, but this "deal" smells funny to me.

It reminds me of the Oral Roberts/Pinoak "money laundering" scheme from the 70s, in which Roberts wrote books that the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Assn would "give away" to callers and donors. He formed the Pinoak Publishing Co (something like that) and SOLD the books to the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Assn at retail price. The Oral Roberts Evangelistic Assn paid good ole Oral from funds donated to them by viewers. So, Oral gets rich from the scheme while at the same time it appears he's giving the stuff away.!

[antiRepublicrat]

The first hit's always free.

But then if MS has the chance of making a profit in the end out of people getting free computers, it's not a bad thing. The people could always wisen up by the time the next upgrade cycle comes around.

[no_problema]

the irony is that bill wouldn't be able to make his billions in a u.n. police state.

[JudgemAll]

That's a way for Gates to say thank you to his US customer base ....

[Criminal Number 18F]

U.S. software giant Microsoft said on Friday it would pump $1 billion of cash and software into a computer training program it has set up with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

This is great news. Taking a billion out of Microsoft and installing it in the UN in the form of Microsoft software weakens both monopolies and strengthens freedom.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Seselj]

Great idea, Microsoft! Let's train more third world programmers because we don't have enough Indians and Chinese taking over American programming jobs.

[searchandrecovery]

Yes, the U.N. - they certainly do have a record of doing good for humanity - preventing wars, raising the standard of living, preventing diseases like socialism and communism. Great investment, Billy-boy. White guilt stoked by bidness opportunity stoked by pr opp. Bill Gates hands computer to poor third world child - "this will change your life and make the community better". Such a load of crapola.