Microsoft backs Cape software lab
Software giant Microsoft and the Cape IT Initiative (CITi) have launched an Interoperability Laboratory to assist small businesses, entrepreneurs, developers and students in the Western Cape.
Situated at The Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town’s city centre, the Microsoft Innovation Centre will (MIC) will give developers access to an environment to test the interoperability of open source software and Microsoft’s software. For small businesses it will provide them a platform to test new systems.
David Ives, Microsoft SA’s developer and platform strategy lead, says: "This facility is a reply to users who have always asked how our platform and those from the open source community can be integrated, as many companies operate in mixed environments. Too many incubation programmes focus on only providing business skills and infrastructure support. However, given the complex nature of the software development environment, the technical support that the Lab will provide will be vital for local companies to have the best shot at success."
Viola Manuel, executive director of CITi, says the CITi 2007 census highlighted the lack of access of SMMEs to ongoing research and development opportunities as they develop software, and the MIC Lab has the potential to fill this gap.
"We support the Lab because it brings the community together and encourages collaboration. Its technology-neutral approach gives users far greater choices in their use of IT, and makes technology access far easier to SMMEs across a range of industries," said Manuel. "We encourage students, established development houses and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the facility as much as can."
Robynne Erwin, the chief executive of Durban-based incubator SmartXchange, says the MICs perform a vital function by enabling small development companies to perform proof of concept testing on state of the art equipment. This not only enables them to fast track the development process, but also ensures a more robust product.
"In Durban we are also working with the tertiary institutions to provide ‘live’ work experience to final year ICT students, and Microsoft has made the MIC available for architecture and design workshops. A good spin-off from these skill sessions is the fact that it provides an excellent networking forum for businesses of all sizes," said Erwin.
Ives says that Microsoft already sells "more software in Africa than in China or India, so growing Africa’s local software economies is a business priority, to which both our business investments and corporate citizenship programs are directed – in education, software language localization, community technology skills training, and so on."
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