Microsoft Corp. has released a very attractive financing plan for small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines. For a minimum purchase of P250,000 (VAT inclusive), any Filipino company is eligible to apply for this financing program from Microsoft Philippines.
It wasn’t mentioned in the official announcement, but this generous offer could most certainly be a response to SMEs’ clamor for more affordable business software applications.
Software has never been a priority among SMEs, most of whom consider such expense non-essential and even frivolous (and so resort to piracy). This new financing deal from Microsoft, whose programs are used by more than 90% of businesses, should therefore be a very welcome development.
Included in the deal are MS Windows, MS Office, and other applications that fall under Open License, Open License with Software Assurance, and Get Genuine Windows Advantage SMO. In short, most of the software needs of virtually all SME companies are covered.
In this financing program, Filipino companies need only make a down payment of 30% of the total purchase. The balance will then be payable across 9 months at 0% interest. To give you an idea, let’s say your company purchases software licenses valued at P250,000. The payment up front will be P75,000. For the next 9 months, you will be paying only a little over P19,000 per month.
Such a package could include several licenses for MS Windows Vista Business, and those for the Office suite (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
This financing program is available to registered businesses only. The Microsoft Philippines website lists SEC registration papers as one of the requirements; however, according to Lane Systems’ Rodney Jao, DTI-registered companies may also apply for it. Lane Systems Inc is one of the accredited ISV Partners of Microsoft in the Philippines.
The Microsoft Financing Program runs from 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009.
