AxsWorld unveils free Internet awareness program

BANGALORE: The city based AxsWorld has launched two programs, "IT for

Masses" and "e-Associates Program", aimed at educating the common

man on the use and benefits of IT and Internet.

Prof. B K Chandrashekar, minister for IT, government of Karnataka,

inaugurated the program. Speaking during the inauguration, Anand Saboo, chairman

and managing director, AxsWorld, said, "These initiatives are an effort to

help the non-IT literate segment of our population to get an insight into

today's technology and use it for their benefit."

"We plan to educate one million people across the country in the next

one year," he added. The program would be launched across 10 cities

initially and then cover about 100 centers across the country.

During the annual general meeting of Nasscom on December 21 this year, Saboo

had requested Nasscom to jointly sponsor its program. He added that if Nasscom

could arrange 2000 used computers, AXSWorld would establish 1000 free Internet

training centers in 100 cities across the country to offer the training.

The company aims at offering a half-day training program to educated

individuals without IT exposure, to create awareness of the benefits of the IT.

Initially, the company will offer the training in its own centers in metros

and 50 centers. Subsequently, the company has plans to tie up with industry

players and offer the course at different centers.

"We are also looking at adding another 50 centers in the country by

March 2002," said Saboo.

Speaking about the e-Associates Program, Saboo said, "We strongly

believe that the future lies in successful integration of a strong technology

set up with an equally strong brick and mortar set up. This program offers just

the right platform for this."

Under this program, the company offers SMEs access to utilization of its

infrastructure for their development and marketing at nominal charges. The

company is also ready to offer these services to startups with quality and

innovative products, with financial crisis to use its infrastructure free of

cost initially. Once the companies start generating revenues they can pay the

charges." he added.

After successfully providing the service throughout India, AxsWorld plans to

gradually spread its wings to other countries of the world for wider

accessibility.