MUMBAI, Feb 4: Microsoft Corporation, world's largest softmaker for personal computers, is developing Hindi language support capabilities in the next release of its network operating system software, Windows NT. This is the first time that Microsoft will be supporting an Indian language in any of its operating system software.According to Sanjay Mirchandani, managing director, Microsoft Corporation India, the next version of its network operating system, Windows NT 5.0, will have built in Hindi language capabilities that will help in tighter integration of Hindi application software with the operating system.
``We are enabling Windows NT 5.0 with Hindi capabilities as there had been a long standing demand from the Indian software developers. This is also a proof of our commitment to India and its software development community," said Mirchandani.
Windows NT 5.0 is expected to be released by the end of this year or early 1999. The company has already shipped the first beta version of the software andwill be releasing the second version soon.
According to Microsoft officials, the company has ensured delivery of beta versions to regional language software developers in the country. "Based on their feedback, we will make whatever changes in the software that will be necessary for the tighter integration of Hindi applications with Windows NT 5.0," said a Microsoft official.
According to regional language software developers, the enabling of Windows NT 5.0 with Hindi capabilities will go a long way in the evolution of regional language computing in the country "If you want the usage of computers to increase in the country, such initiatives are necessary as the majority of the Indians are not well versed in English," said an analyst.
According to Microsoft, Hindi enablement is just the beginning and the other regional Indian languages will be added to the list in future.
"We decided to start with Hindi as the Devnagri script is used in many other languages too.
Besides, we felt that the demand forHindi applications is more than that of any other language," said a Microsoft official.
Microsoft had earlier taken similar initiatives in other countries too. It had targeted the European and Japanese markets by developing Japanese and other European language versions.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
