Windows 2000 launched in India without fanfare

NEW DELHI: Amidst all the apprehensions and not so big shows, Microsoft made its debut of Windows 2000 operating system here on Friday alongside its worldwide launch in 60 countries.

Designed largely for the business desktops, Windows 2000 comes in four different versions. Windows 2000 Professional for business desktops and laptops, Windows 2000 Server for multi-purpose network operating systems, Windows 2000 Advanced Server for e-commerce and line-of-business applications and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server for business solutions that require higher levels of scalability and mission critical reliability. While the first three has been launched, the fourth will be launched in the next four months.

The cost of Windows 2000 varies from Rs 40,000 for a new version for the server-end, to Rs 10,000 for the Windows Professional for desktop. The upgrade version of server is priced at Rs 20,000, while the upgrade version for Professional costs Rs 5,000.

Speaking to reporters, Microsoft India managing director Sanjay Mirchandani said that Windows 2000 was essentially targeted at the Internet business community but given the fact that every business is getting Internet-enabled, the large customer base is much broader. "In fact, the product line would find a good customer base in e-governance," he added.

One of the unique features of the new operating system is the support for the Indian local language like Devanagiri and Tamil. Stating the new addition, Mr Mirchandani said, "It’s a major step forward in the direction of making the operating system widely acceptable to every region in India." He, however, clarified saying, "It does not mean that menu will be in that language. It is just an enabler which support applications to be developed in such languages."

Explaining the key features of Windows 2000 Mr Mirchandani said that it offered enterprise class infrastructure services which includes directory services, security services and management services. It provides highly manageable computing environment for enterprises with its Active Directory Services and Bulletin Intellimirror technology.

Active Directory Services is said to be the yellow pages for the enterprises. It is a repository of information and software component to make that information available and usable, globally. Intellimirror, which is a management service, largely for a mobile computer user, allows one to access computer resources regardless of where one is logged on to the network.

According to Mr Mirchandani, 7,000 developers had worked on the product for three years and it cost Microsoft $1 billion to develop Windows 2000.