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Microsoft, HP and Pearson launch Windows tablets for higher education in India

Microsoft has announced an HP tablet with Windows 8.1 with embedded Pearson educational content. The venture in the higher education space aims to offer students a single device for all their educational needs. This is Microsoft’s second such initiative, the first being educational bundles for school students. The tablet solution offers students preloaded syllabus compliant educational material from Pearson that ensures effective learning with homework, tutorial and assessment support, along with e-books.

The educational bundle comprises the new HP Omni10 tablet preloaded with first semester Pearson study material as well as a whole slew of Microsoft offerings. Available for all technical and management institutes the bundle is being offered currently at an EMI plan of Rs. 2,990 per month for 12 months. This special limited time ‘Institute Offer’ is valid till May 15, 2014.

The Microsoft offerings include a preloaded set of 10 e-books on developer tools, access to various Microsoft developer tools and servers through the DreamSpark student site, single sign-on student mail IDs as well as a 50 GB mail box and 25 GB OneDrivePro. The bundle also includes a Microsoft Certification MTA voucher for students to walk in to any Certi-Port authorized center and take the Microsoft Certification Exam.

Arun Rajamani, Head - Public Sector & Education, Microsoft India, said, “The launch of these customized tablets is a part of our continuous efforts to make education more inclusive through technology. We believe that this is a game changing devices and services approach toward the Indian education sector that will make learning more interactive and immersive.”

“This device packs in the best of HP, Pearson and our offerings, and has been specifically designed to provide students with an engaging learning experience. What truly differentiates these tablets is the experience that spans creation and consumption, making it an ideal device for students,” he further added.

The HP Omni10 is the first 10.1 inch Windows 8.1 tablet with multi touch HD(1) display that runs on the latest Intel Quad Core™ processor(1) and has a micro USB port as well as a HDMI display port. Engineered to assist students with their hectic work schedules, this tablet provides powerful performance for multitasking, making presentations, playing games and music. A carry cover for the HP Omni10 tablet will also be provided in the offer.

Ketan Patel, Director Consumer Category, HP PPS India said, “Tablets have emerged as an apt platform to deliver learning tools and educational content to both educators and students alike. We are confident the HP Omni 10, complete with pre-installed educational content, will help drive meaningful learning outcomes and give students access to a more appealing learning experience.”

The tablet offers Pearson’s e-learning content including theory papers of first semester engineering and MBA courses. Pearson self-learning course module will provide multimedia content for first semester engineering students and student guides/notes, flash cards, and video case studies for first semester MBA students. The interactive content enables teachers to simplify concepts and helps students understand and retain the concepts better. These tablets will be available for sale to institutions who are keen on upgrading their students to the latest offering.

Anish Srikrishna, Business Head & Vice President, Higher education and Test preparation, Pearson India, said “At Pearson, we have committed ourselves to measuring and improving the efficacy of our products and services and constantly improving lives through learning. In this quest for efficacy, technology plays a very important role: in both allowing us to personalize instruction for the learners as well as to create adequate evidence for what works best.” “We believe this collaboration brings to Indian students the best of educational content and technological capabilities rolled into a single solution and will help enhance their understanding of some of the most difficult concepts in technical higher education," he added.

(1) HD content is required to view HD images.

(2) Multi-Core is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on hardware and software configurations. Intel’s numbering is not a measurement of higher performance.

About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. With the broadest technology portfolio spanning printing, personal systems, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP delivers solutions for customers’ most complex challenges in every region of the world. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/

About Pearson
Pearson is the world’s leading Education Company, present in over 70 countries and educating more than 150 million people worldwide. Pearson in India provides educational content, materials, technologies, assessments and related services to institutions, educators and learners of all ages. Pearson in India has diverse offerings across school, higher and professional education.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft set up its India operations in 1990. Today, Microsoft entities in India have over 6,000 employees, engaged in sales and marketing, research and development and customer services and support, across nine Indian cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. Microsoft is committed to touching and transforming lives and businesses in India through technology.

For more information on Microsoft, please contact:
Dipti Mehra
Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd.
Email: diptim@microsoft.com

Shaleen Sehgal
IPAN Hill+Knowlton Strategies
+91 9910056514
Email: shaleen.sehgal@hkstrategies.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Log onto:http://www.hp.com/
Follow us on:http://www.twitter.com/MicrosoftIndia
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For more information on HP, please contact:
Brad Swiney
+65 9639 8400
brad.swiney@hp.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Log onto:http://www.hp.com/

For more information on Pearson, please contact:
Mandeep Kaur
Pearson Education
Email:Mandeep.kaur@pearson.com
+91 9811505145

Amit Gundh
Weber Shandwick
+91 9871100980
Email: agundh@webershandwick.com|

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Log onto:www.pearson.co.in
Follow us on: www.twitter.com/pearsonin
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