Ethiopian Journal

Addis Ababa, February 6, 2010 (Addis Ababa) An Amharic version of Microsoft Vista software was launched here last Thursday.

Launching the Amharic version software is a major step forward for Amharic to be a language of technology, Director of the Ethiopian ICT Development Agency (EICTDA), Debretsion Gebremichael said.

The Amharic version of Microsoft Vista was translated into Amharic in collaboration with EICTDA and Microsoft Company.

Debretsion said EICTDA translated the Microsoft Vista into Amharic while Microsoft Corporation covered the 85,000 USD cost required for the translation.

He said 40 scholars drawn from the Addis Ababa University (AAU) took part in the translation of the software.

“So far, 830,000 words are translated into Amharic, Debretision said, adding, this will allow creating customized local solutions, and stimulating the development of the local IT economy.”

EICTDA has a plan to translate the same operating software into many other local languages, Debretsion said.

Microsoft Chairperson for Africa, Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra told ENA that '' millions of people around the world who do not speak some of the major languages of technology, face difficulty to use computers."

It is Microsoft's desire to let millions of people use its technology in their own languages and in the mean time help their language and culture develop, Dr, Diarra said.

Ethiopia as a country of over 80 million people , has its own language and alphabet, and it is Microsoft’s desire to let this huge country use its Amharic service pack, he said.

The free downloadable application provides a native language desktop user interface. Once Language Interface Pack (LIP) is installed, the user interface for Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2007 and Windows Vista is translated to the desired language.

The free software is 75 percent completed and the remaining will be finalized after evaluating feedback from the public.

Users are able to download the Amhariprogram free of charge using the link

Www.microsoft.com/industry/government/locallanguage.mspx.