BWI: Government of Maharashtra Supports Microsoft Initiative to Build Apps for Social Good

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Microsoft
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 11:00 AM IST (05:30 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Entertainment, People, Social issues; Business: Business services, Information technology, Media & entertainment; Technology
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Government of Maharashtra Supports Microsoft Initiative to Build Apps for Social Good
Microsoft kicks off the Windows AppFest in Pune in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra to ideate and create apps addressing social and civic issues

Pune, Maharashtra, India, Tuesday, March 26, 2013 -- (Business Wire India) -- Microsoft today kicked off Windows AppFest in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra to build apps for social good. The initiative will encourage app developers to ideate and create solutions that address social and civic issues. These apps will help civil authorities seek alternative methods of interacting with citizens. The top three apps will be selected for a presentation at a conference hosted by Asian Development Bank.

The Windows AppFest represents how a new generation is tackling the challenges of government by using technology and collective action. Support from the Government of Maharashtra has not just offered promise about how technology can reshape governance; it has reformed the very notion of government and citizen engagement, offering a novel suite of previously unimaginable civic tools for government and citizens alike.

"App marketplaces are now proving to be viable platforms to host e-governance and socially relevant apps. Such apps can provide citizen-centric services in a secure manner, while ensuring increased transparency, reliability and efficiency in services. Cloud computing also enables e-governance solutions to be much more scalable and accessible. Microsoft, with its various initiatives including the Windows AppFest for social good in Pune, provides a good platform for app builders to ideate and create solutions to address social and civic issues," said Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary IT, Government of Maharashtra.

Sanket Akerkar, Managing Director, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. said "As the world gravitates towards a plethora of new devices and form factors, two things are going to be the key - apps and the cloud to power those apps. The collective capability of the developer population in India is going to play a key role in fueling this movement across the world. With this Windows AppFest, Microsoft is focusing on encouraging app developers to build apps for social good on the Windows platform."

TechEd 2013, Pune will help developers, IT professionals, entrepreneurs and students hone their skills in app development. Microsoft is currently making significant investments in working with 1.2-million developers (the second-largest developer ecosystem) and over 1000 Independent Software Vendors to empower them with the tools, technologies and training required to develop high-end skills and to compete in a global marketplace. Microsoft's aim is to provide the gifted and technically-skilled developer community with a supportive environment to drive path-breaking innovation globally. The Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Office 2013, Office 365 and Windows Azure platforms open up countless opportunities for developers to shape the app ecosystem across multiple devices, giving developers the chance to maximize their revenues.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Ltd is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, USA. It has had a presence in India since 1990 and currently has offices in nine cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.



CONTACT DETAILS
Tushar Makkar, Microsoft, tmakkar@microsoft.com
Sayan Banerjee, IPAN Hill+Knowlton Strategies, +91 9717085553, sayan.banerjee@hkstrategies.com
Vibhor Wahi, IPAN Hill+Knowlton Strategies, +91 9810411866, vibhor.wahi@hkstrategies.com

KEYWORDS
ENTERTAINMENT, PEOPLE, SOCIAL, BUSINESS SERVICES, IT, MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY

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