(Kompas, Jakarta:27/08/08) – As it enters the 2008 fiscal year, Microsoft starts to target education as one of its main focuses. According to Tony Chen, President Director of Microsoft Indonesia, this is a part of Microsoft’s drive to make its business goal this year as “Dedication for the Country”.

“Education is very important. This country’s future relies on a sound education. Through education, we want to create new Bill Gates in Indonesia,” he said during dinner with the press in Rumah Daksa, Jakarta on Tuesday (26/8).

To support the cause of education, Microsoft will give out free software packages to a number of universities, under a program called Dream Spark. Dream Spark is a collection of softwares that can be used as tools to develop and design various applications, including the one used to create computer games.

“It’s called Dream Spark because the goal is to help (the students) realize their dreams,” said Tony Seno Hartono, National Technology Officer of Microsoft Indonesia. He said that by providing these softwares for free, it will be easier for student groups from various backgrounds to collaborate and create applications.

Dream Spark had been initiated in several countries since February 2008, but it will only start in Indonesia come September. In the beginning phase, distribution will start in ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology) and in universities under the Astikom network (Association of Computer Universities). Students studying at these institutions will be able to download the softwares for free. In the future, as well as expanding its network of distribution, Microsoft Indonesia will also provide Dream Spark in CD form or through local servers for easier access.

The following is the list of free softwares that are included in Dream Spark:

* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 (Standard Edition and Standard x64 Edition)
* Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional
* Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (32 & 64-bit Developer and Standard Editions)
* Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007
* Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional
* Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Library
* Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007
* Microsoft Expression Web
* Microsoft Expression Blend 1.0
* Microsoft Expression Design 1.0 (contained in Expression Studio)
* Microsoft Expression Media 1.0 (contained in Expression Studio)
* Microsoft Expression Studio (contains Web, Design, Blend, Media)
* Microsoft Compute Cluster Pack
* Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional