IBM Markets Wares to Africa
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) will try to sell a new package of low-priced computer desktop applications to companies and governments in Africa, challenging Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and other rivals in the region.
IBM, which has been pushing into developing markets like Africa and Asia as mature markets slow, said the package–which includes basic programs like word processing and email–would be made available to customers via remote “cloud computing” facilities, meaning users could access the programs from the Web. It would cost $10 per month per user, and can run on so-called netbook computers, or low-cost PCs priced around $300.