Free Microsoft software for startups
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
Microsoft is giving free software to startups around the world to encourage them to develop products that span the Web, PCs and phones, the company announced Wednesday.
The program, called BizSpark, is expected to make it easier for Microsoft to compete against Google and other Web rivals with its nascent cloud computing strategy, which was announced last week, and makes it easier for startups to work with Microsoft.
"I think it's terrific and something that's sorely needed," said Pascal Levensohn, founder of Levensohn Venture Partners in San Francisco. "They're seeding an entire new ecosystem by casting their net very widely to harness innovation."