Jeremy gittins microsoft office

Microsoft has admitted that its projected launch of “pay-as-you-go” PCs into developing countries has not been quite as carefully planned as it could have been.

Encouraged by India’s success of the pay-as-you-go mobile phone service, Microsoft had decided to offer flexible personal computing options in the emerging market, based on a similar financial model.

But before announcing the trials for the “pay-as-you-go” PCs in India with FlexGo capability—a metering technology that informs users of time used, showing them how to add more hours by simply typing in a number from a prepaid card—Microsoft failed to check how the country copes with the scheduled power outages each day.

The outages, deliberately exercised by the Indian electricity department to avoid overloading of the power lines, make power generators and UPS systems a common necessity in homes and offices across the country.

Microso