Tech Shout!

Now, just about anyone on the Internet will be able to sell Microsoft’s products. Wondering how? Well, Microsoft India has launched an e-Commerce platform that will allow people to buy and sell original Microsoft products including Windows, Server, office, Xbox 360s, games and gaming accessories. Perhaps, the software giant aims to curb the rampant use of pirated products and software.

Available at www.buyoriginalms.com, this platform allows existing software resellers, websites or even bloggers to sell original Microsoft products over the Internet within just a day! It does not even require any form of investment.

Microsoft has long been trying to curb the illegal distribution of its products as well as pirated versions of its software. However, Microsoft claims that it started an e-Commerce platform mainly to provide customers with easy access and competitively priced products.

To get started with Microsoft’s e-Commerce platform, all you have to do is fill up a form online, after which a personalized web site with the partner’s name and logo will be created. A link to this can then be placed on the partner’s own web site through which customer’s can also purchase software. Partners will earn margins on every original Microsoft product sold through their site.

Also, as of now, retail packs of original Microsoft products can be purchased from the site. The option to purchase software through volume licenses will soon be offered.

Microsoft’s latest e-Commerce platform offer a choice of payment options including credit and debit cards as well as net banking. Other payment methods include cheque and cash on delivery, although this option is yet to be introduced shortly.

Products that are ordered through Microsoft’s e-Commerce web site will be delivered to customers within a period of two weeks. Products will also come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

Talking about the launch of the eCommerce platform, Mr. Brian Campbell, Director - Original Software Initiative, Microsoft India said, “At Microsoft, we continually strive towards providing our customers with increased channels to access original software. This portal is a remarkable outcome of this initiative and will help increase the ubiquity of original Microsoft software in the online world. We expect the portal to help significantly drive uptake for original software since customers in the remotest parts of India will now be able to easily purchase competitively priced Microsoft software, online.”

Microsoft‘s e-Commerce platform provider is Smile Interactive Technologies Group, while Redington India is the distribution partner.