GETTING ahead in life today, be it at work, school or business, means having the essential tools in place – and the essential tools today are information and communications technology (ICT) products and services.

While technology tools have become a prerequisite for socio-economic development, they are beyond the reach for many because of the high cost of hardware, software and Internet access. Removing the cost barrier will definitely have a positive impact on closing the digital gap and providing a level playing field for all to compete.

On this note, the recent announcement by Microsoft in collaboration with the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry Malaysia (Pikom) to reduce the price of the Office Home and Student 2007 software suite comes as a piece of encouraging news for the country’s plans to narrow the digital gap.

The productivity software, which currently retails at RM499, will go for RM199 during the promotional period of August 1 to Sept 31, after which it will be offered at a permanently discounted price of RM279. Some PC Fair visitors also would have had the opportunity to grab the software for RM99.

Also during this promotional period, Office Small Business 2007 will be available at a discount of about 40 per cent of the current retail price.

There is no doubt that bringing down the price on Office software will see an uptake of this popular tool. For a long time, it has been economically prohibitive, especially for home and student users, who then turned to alternatives and counterfeit software. Microsoft’s move also comes at the right time, when we are grappling with soaring inflation and cost of living.

Anticipating an increase in demand, Microsoft has promised to increase product availability in the local market and appoint more resellers to ensure readily available stock.

For Pikom, this initiative is part of its major plan to work with the Government and businesses to make ICT available to everyone. Realising that the cost of ICT in terms of accessibility is a major hindrance for widespread ICT adoption, the organisation is looking into ways to introduce affordable technology and make sure that everyone is able to use technology.

Recently, Pikom launched Projek Menguasai Aplikasi Internet dan PC, or Projek M.A.I.N PC, which is aimed at giving all citizens access to ICT, especially the lower-income group. Plans are in the pipeline for 150 community PC centres to be set up by 2010 in collaboration with Microsoft, Lions Club CyberCare, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, TM and Cuscapi with the support of the Science, Technology and Innovation and Rural and Regional Development Ministries.