Mumbai, March 10: Microsoft Network (MSN) is set to launch an India-specific portal very shortly. High on the success of MSN UK (http://www.msn.co.uk) which is now ranked among the top European Websites, the company wants to replicate its success in other parts of the world."The Indian e-commerce space is as important to us as any other part of the world," said Rajiv Kaul, director, Microsoft (India). He added, "I don't do MSN strategy, but I guess we won't ape MSN UK."
He said that MSN is in the process of "identifying what is right for India." This translates into "not doing everything." Instead, the process involves zeroing in on what areas find most takers in the Indian context. It could be anything - sports, healthcare, lifestyles - whatever. Once these niches have been identified, Kaul said, "MSN will partner with content providers. This has been our business model in every part of the world."
"Our whole model is partnership. We don't go and buy them off or eat them up. We work with them," Kaul added.
Until recently, analysts on Wall Street have been skeptical of Microsoft's Internet plans. The bone of contention being that Microsoft has been too busy protecting its desktop market and has been outflanked on the Internet.
Kaul argues that these arguments are not valid any more. "It was true when the Internet was taking of." But, he says, in six months Bill Gates turned the company upside down. For any entity of the size of Microsoft, with a presence in 50 countries and 30,000 employees on its rolls, it would take at least six years, Kaul added. "Everything, including our core products are aligned to the Internet beginning with Internet Explorer which took on Netscape."
More pertintently, Kaul says, in the e-commerce business, the percentage of sites which run on Windows NT is 50 to 70 percent.
Speaking on other developments at Microsoft, Kaul said that Microsoft has appointed Ingram Micro India (IMIL) as its distributor for India.
"We are taking Ingram on with a couple of core objectives. They have a presence in 17 cities and we are present in 5 cities. While we do intend to increase our presence, it won't be 17 cities at least for the next couple of years," Kaul said.
Elaborating on the nature of the relationship, Kaul pointed out that Microsoft does not mind if its distributors stock competitors products.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.