Telugu Software Tools Release

RKVS Raman has announced the release of the Telugu Software Tools CD at a function in Hyderabad on Friday, attended by the Hon. Chief Minister of state of Andhra Pradesh as well as Hon. Minister of Communications and IT Mr. Dayanidhi Maran. This follows the Tamil and Hindi CD releases.

The CD includes the release of 1.9 trunk of OpenOffice.org in Telugu with the other OSS software included being Firefox, Thunderbird and Gaim.

The localization work was done in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the Free Software Foundation of India.

The Punjabi and Urdu CD release will be on November 9th by Hon. Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The downloads are available from http://www.ildc.in/telugu/tindex.aspx

Free Software Foundation of India:
http://www.fsf.org.in/

Google lends hand to microsoft office

"Google lends a hand to Microsoft Office rival"

The Times (UK) posts a story about Google's plans to help OpenOffice.org:
"Google is opening up yet another front in its battle with Microsoft by backing a competitor to Bill Gates’ dominant Office software package.

The internet search and advertising company is set to hire programmers to improve OpenOffice, a freely distributed "open source" alternative to products including Word, Microsoft’s massively popular word processor, it was revealed today. "
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9075-1851613,00.html

Further reporting at ZDNet:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9593_22-5920762.html