Microsoft Hands Out Free Windows 7 to 54,000 Russian Schools

By the end of the coming month, Microsoft will hand out an impressive number of free copies of the latest iteration of its Windows client to all schools in Russia, weaving off all installation limitations. According to the Redmond company, the plan is to send free installation DVDs with Windows 7 to in excess of 54,000 Russian schools, by the end of April 2010. Delivery of the Windows 7 media will be done through the mail, in order to ensure that even the schools without an Internet connection will be able to access the operating system.

"We decided to free delivery in the Russian school of Windows 7 because we consider really important to give our students and teachers the opportunity to learn and work on the most modern software,” said Nikolai Pryanishnikov, president of Microsoft in Russia.

The software giant indicated that the move was designed to illustrate its commitment to support scholastic organizations in Russia. In this regard, Microsoft is allowing for the free Windows 7 copies it is handing out to be installed not only on the computers belonging to the schools themselves, but also on the home PCs of teachers. Back in December 2007, Microsoft inked an agreement with the Russian Federal Agency on Education, which had the company offer schools in the country software and updates. The First Aid deal is scheduled to expire at the end of 2010.

Coincidentally, the free Windows 7 copies Microsoft will be sending to 54,000 Russian schools are time-bombed, and set to expire at the end of 2010. However, the free Windows 7 licenses were not a part of the initial agreement between Microsoft and the Russian Federal Agency on Education. The Redmond company did underline that the licenses associated with the free copies of Windows 7 were only valid until the end of 2010, when the First Aid agreement is set to expire.

Pryanishnikov did note that although much has been already done in order to ensure that students and teachers in Russian schools have access to the latest technology, efforts need to continue. The president of Microsoft Russia reveals that the Redmond company wants the momentum of its collaboration with the Federal Agency on Education to continue.