Jordan Times
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Software upgrade slated
for 122 government departments
AMMAN (JT) — The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology [MoICT]
and Specialised Technical Services [STS] hosted a workshop yesterday which
focused on utilising the recently renewed Microsoft Enterprise Licensing
Agreement with Microsoft Corporation.
Participants discussed the implementation of
software upgrades to 122 government departments and plans to train 1,000
government employees on Microsoft technologies were also presented during the
meeting, according to an MoICT statement.
As part of its awareness campaign, the Jordan e-Government Programme also
briefed participants on updates with the call centre, information security, and
government portal project.
Mahmoud Khasawneh, chief information officer and director of e-government at the
MoICT, said such workshops enhance cooperation between the ministry and all
government departments “to ensure the full utilisation of the Microsoft
agreement. We are updating all government entities with the latest versions of
software so as to enhance the productivity and maximise the value of our
investment in Microsoft licensing.”
Microsoft signed both a framework agreement followed by a licensing agreement
with the government with the purpose of supporting public sector initiatives,
which include government, e-government and education, the statement said.
According to Zeid Shbeilat, Microsoft country manager, these workshops are
necessary to brief customers on the support mechanisms provided to the
government to assist them in the deployment and use of the latest Microsoft
technologies.
“The fact that 122 government departments came to this workshop reflects the
seriousness that the government takes in implementing technology,” added Aysar
Batayneh, head of Microsoft Services at the MoICT.
“In renewing the licensing agreement with Microsoft, we are maintaining the
current and future investment in Microsoft software deployment across
government. The advantages of this agreement over the previous agreement are
that it includes many of the new Microsoft enterprise servers, which will be
directly deployed in e-government projects. Having such licences included in
this agreement will reduce the cost on the current and future e-government
projects,” he added.
“STS's role in managing this agreement entails the distribution of software to
be available to all ministries and government institutions, and STS will deploy
the latest releases of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office in cooperation
with MoICT,” Raed Majali, vice president, Arab Academy for Microsoft
Technologies told the participants.
“The training that was included in the agreement will be delivered at the Arab
Academy for Microsoft Technologies for several Microsoft tracks to assist them
in using the latest Microsoft Technologies, and enabling IT managers to leverage
these productivity tools,” he added.