Microsoft Updates its Software Donation Initiative

Microsoft, since 1998 has been involved, quite significantly in a software donation program. Spread out in almost 35 countries in the world, including India, the donation program looks at making non-profit organizations more adept with technology. Simply put, non-profit organizations in these 35 countries will get genuine Microsoft products at more affordable rates. For the program Microsoft has tied up with TechSoup Global, a non-profit organization.

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According to a report on HUFFINGTON POST, Microsoft has updated its program with the addition and enhancement of several of its existing clauses. These include: 

• The number of software that can be requested for by each non-profit organization has been increased to 10, from an earlier 6. Nonprofit organizations can get the software they need such as Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Sharepoint 2010, etc, for the causes they want it for at affordable rates, too.
• Also, Microsoft has enhanced the eligibility criteria for software donation. Three new categories (assuming they have proper nonprofit status as defined in their countries), including: medical research organizations, private foundations and amateur sports and recreational organizations can avail for Microsoft’s software under their program.
• With the Get Genuine offering, these non-profit organizations can ensure their existing computers are running genuine versions of Microsoft operating systems, thereby helping them keep their software up-to-date and secure.

Additionally, the 35 countries to whom TechSoup Global Network also caters to, including Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Rep., Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, and the United States, some additional changes have been incorporated: 

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• Non-profit organizations can now make unlimited requests for software donation from Microsoft through the TechSoup Global Network as and when they need it. Previously, the number of requests an organization could make in these above mentioned countries, was limited to one per year. 
• Also, non-profit organizations that place their orders for software donations through the TechSoup Global Network, can get all the details of their donations in one place with the Microsoft Donation Center. The center of the TechSoup Web site is a new section wherein organizations have their donation history documented and can look out for products for any future orders.