Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, recently discussed his view of the company’s role in the field of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) for development, including Microsoft’s participation in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and parallel events, such as the ICT 4 all Exhibition.
Why do you think it is important for Microsoft, as a leader in the software industry, to play an important role in the field of ICT for development?
At Microsoft, we recognize the responsibilities that come with our success as an industry leader in software innovation. Software is a crucial part of the ICT for development equation because it helps people use ICT devices to perform specific tasks and, hence, it is where a lot of the innovation and input needed to apply ICTs for development is happening and will continue to happen. We believe that by working in close collaboration with governments, non-governmental organizations, and other leading businesses to advance digital inclusion, we can help to improve education and learning, create new opportunities, strengthen local communities, and raise standards of living for people around the world. Further, we believe that traditional barriers to digital inclusion such as poverty, age, disability, geographical location, and lack of education must not be allowed to stand between people and their dreams of a better life. Through innovative technologies and partnerships, we are working to extend digital inclusion to a broader spectrum of people in every part of the world, and by 2010 to bring the benefits of ICT and technology skills training to a quarter billion people previously under-served by technology.
How are you contributing to the WSIS and parallel events, such as the ICT 4 all Exhibition?
As at WSIS Phase 1 in Geneva two years ago, Microsoft is attending WSIS in Tunisia as an ICT industry member of the International Chamber of Commerce delegation. We will participate in a number of panel discussions, as well as hosting a pavilion space to share practical examples of our partnership projects and digital inclusion solutions from around the world. We will also participate in booths and events hosted by our partners such as the International Development Research Centre and the telecentre.org initiative to support telecentres worldwide. And, we will be keen to meet with other delegates to share experiences and learnings, and to explore future partnership opportunities in support of digital inclusion, education and a safe, secure Internet.
As a leader in the software industry, what general progress do you think has been made since the first phase of the WSIS and ICT4D Platform in Geneva until now?
The first phase of WSIS was an important catalyst for awareness-raising and had a break-through effect on the paramount need for partnership between the public and private sectors. Since WSIS in Geneva, and while the policy debates launched there have continued, there has been considerable progress in the area of public-private partnerships. We want to see this continue and expand, so that the people of the world see practical and concrete results that bring the real benefits of the Information Age into their everyday lives. For Microsoft, public and private partnership is not a “buzz” word, but a fundamental strategy for learning how to offer our technologies and solutions in new and emerging markets, and to extend digital inclusion to more people. A global network of government and industry and community partners support our on-going commitment to make technology more usable, available, and accessible to more people. As we learn from our partners, we also work with them to develop concrete programs to address the needs we see in communities and countries worldwide.
Could you tell us what you will be showcasing at your stand on the ICT 4 all Exhibition?
The Microsoft pavilion will feature our corporate-wide effort to broaden digital inclusion including new technologies, innovations for improved access, and education, and skills training programs that enable people to reach for and embrace new opportunities. While Partners in Learning and Unlimited Potential are Microsoft’s two flagship digital inclusion programs to be featured—the first focuses on students and educators in primary and secondary schools, the second on community-based learning—our work on digital inclusion is much broader than these two programs. Visitors will see how the company has used its resources to partner with governments, educational institutions, businesses, and research facilities in more than 90 countries to help create solutions to meet the needs of anyone who wants to learn more about technology—regardless of their age or level of technology proficiency.
How do you see the digital benefits of Microsoft technology really being made accessible and available to all?
Microsoft was founded on the belief that technology—if it is accessible, affordable, and easy-to-use—can empower people to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential. Over the past three decades, we have seen that idea come to life for millions of people as information and communication technologies have become less expensive, more widely available, and a mainstay of personal and professional life in many parts of the world.
Our digital inclusion strategy for workforce development combines programs that promote digital literacy and ICT skills, providing education and training to students at primary and secondary schools (Partners in Learning), colleges and universities, and to mid-career professionals who need to sharpen or increase their skills (Unlimited Potential). We also support university research programs and academic departments that teach and use technology, and we provide in-depth technical resources to a worldwide community of developers, which enables them to continue learning throughout their careers.
More Information
Microsoft & Partners @ WSIS—Virtual Press Room
ICT 4 all Exhibition
Whitepaper on Digital Inclusion (Adobe PDF, 282 KB)
Microsoft PressPass: Microsoft Advocates Comprehensive Federal Privacy Legislation
Microsoft PressPass: Security and Privacy Newsroom
Microsoft Technology Investments Whitepaper (Microsoft Word document, 2608 KB)
October 2005 Microsoft Security Progress Update (Word document, 935 KB)
Microsoft Security At Home
Top of page
