Microsoft has had two more successes in its crusade to gain footholds in developing countries by doing deals with government and has signed up Ghana and Angola in Africa, to join Malaysia and Thailand in Asia.
The programme, which has seen lead Microsoft executives travel widely throughout Asia and Africa in recent weeks, talking to governments about special versions of cut-price Windows XP, is widely seen as an attempt by the software giant to pre-empt moves toward open-source and licence-free software, particular Linux, among poorer countries. Earlier this month, the government of Ghana signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft aimed at creating a workforce that is literate in information and communications technology. Last month, Angola signed an agreement with Microsoft on financing Internet access for the government and training.
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