BANGALORE: Microsoft Corporation, along with the Government of Karnataka, has embarked in education and citizen services initiatives in the state. As per the agreement, Microsoft will assist the state government in setting up portals for building online digital communities imparting information.

The online services portal, called Bangalore One, is to impart services to the common of the state to access information and also electronically pay all his bills. Part of Karnataka’s e-government initiative, Bangalore One, will be developed using the Microsoft .Net technologies. Microsoft will also assist the government in the design, development and deployment of Bangalore One, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in this regard between the state Government and Microsoft.

"The state has taken a leadership role in taking technology to the common man and inculcating technology at school level. The decoration that the state has received globally also stand as a testimonial to the various roles, such as drive towards zero piracy, IPR growth, services, building application and products. Microsoft is happy to collaborate with the state government for education and citizen services initiatives," commented Microsoft Corporation, Chief Software Architect, Bill Gates.

The Smart School initiative is modeled on Microsoft’s connected learning vision which is aimed towards building a digital leaning community, which facilitates more individualized and personalized learning available any time, any place or on any device.

On a pilot basis, Smart schools will be set up in five locations in the state and the process will be replicated in other centers over a phased manner. Microsoft will provide software solutions, teacher training and help develop IT curriculum for an educational portal for building online communities that will bring together school administrations, teachers, students, academicians and parents.