Dreamspark-set spark to your dreams!

'Dreamspark' is an innovative program from Microsoft for providing students access to technical software at absolutely free of cost. ‘DreamSpark,’ a software giveaway for over 10 million qualified students in the country.

DreamSpark will give students access to the latest Microsoft developer and designer tools at no charge to “unlock” their creative potential.

Launching the project at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates said: “We want to do everything we can to equip the new generation of technology leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to harness the magic of software to improve lives, solve problems and catalyse economic growth.”

“Microsoft DreamSpark provides professional level tools that we hope will inspire students like you to explore the power of software and encourage you to forge the next wave of software-driven breakthroughs,” he told the students. The software will be available online on www.dreamsparkindia.com and in offline format through DVDs distributed by programme partners NIIT, Aptech and Hughes Net Fusion Centres.

The project was announced by Mr. Gates in Februaryat Stanford University. It is estimated that up to 35 million students will be able to access these software titles free of charge through this programme.

Microsoft Provides the following softwares at completely free of cost:

Microsoft developer tools

* Visual Studio 2005 Express
* Visual Studio 2005 Professional
* Visual Studio 2008 Professional
* Visual Basic 2008 Express
* Visual C++ 2008 Express
* Visual C# 2008 Express
* Visual Web Developer 2008 Express
* XNA Game Studio 2.0
* 12-month free Academic membership in the XNA Creators Club



Microsoft designer tools

Expression Studio 2, including

o Expression Web

o Expression Blend

o Expression Design

o Expression Media



Microsoft platform resources

* SQL Server 2008 Developer
* SQL Server 2008 Express
* Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition
* Virtual PC 2007


Training Resources

* IT Academy Student Pass

<a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=80dabb45-4b80-4ec1-8faf-bb346b8ce754" target="_new" title="Bill Gates Dreamspark Announcement">Video: Bill Gates Dreamspark Announcement</a>