US software giant Microsoft Corp yesterday announced it will open its first Asia technology center in Taiwan and plans to collaborate with three universities here to establish its .NET research centers.
Orlando Ayala, Microsoft's group vice president of marketing and services, yesterday made the announcement at a press conference. He said the plans aim to upgrade Taiwan's software technology to keep up with world standards.
"It's a global approach in that we want to bring some people into a native field of research to make our position in Taiwan better in terms of practical and commercial implementation," Ayala said.
PHOTO: CHEN CHEG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
The technology center is expected to lure some 100 local companies to participate in Microsoft's development of new technologies and testing for new products, with the aim to help local partners provide solutions and service for Microsoft's customers in Southeast Asian countries, Ayala said.
Microsoft currently has two other technology centers in England and Germany.
Microsoft also plans to establish three .NET research centers in Taiwan, with the first one to be set up at National Taiwan University, Ayala said.
on the .Net
The .NET research centers are intended to help upgrade the nation's academic institutions in the areas of mobile, wireless computing, Web services and Chinese-speech technologies.
"The combination between the technology center and the research center integrates the commercial application of research into the enterprises," Ayala said.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday applauded Microsoft's investment plans, saying the government had agreed to provide subsidies for the plans.
Hwang Jong-chiou (
"Taiwan will become part of the international software community in terms of international replication by working with Microsoft in developing applications for its platform," Hwang said.
Abel Wang (王勝宏), a consultant for Market Intelligence Center, a government-funded technology think tank, referred to the Microsoft technology center as an upgraded, small-scale maintenance hub for the software giant's products and technologies.
"Local businesses can benefit from a technology transfer from Microsoft and be able to respond to the problems faster ... The center will also help cultivate talent in Taiwan," he said.
cautious welcome
However, Henry Miao (苗台生), assistant vice president of Entrust Securities Co (永昌證券), expressed doubts over Ayala's "nice gesture" because Microsoft wants to offset opposition to its high-price
products in Taiwan. Microsoft is being probed by the authorities over its allegedly unfair practices.
Miao said the impact of the technology center is still unknown because it depends on what kind of technology the Microsoft is willing to transfer.
"Maybe Microsoft is only willing to transfer game software technology to Taiwan and the impact will be limited due to the short life-cycle of these kinds of software," he said. "Only system software technology can benefit Taiwan's local businesses."
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