Ballmer talks e-gov with PM

Ballmer said support for different Indian languages in software packages was topmost on the PM8217;s mind. 8216;8216;But the government needs to help more people get their hands on computers,8217;8217; he added. The Indian government currently spends around 4.17 billion on IT hardware and software, but Ballmer said a lot more could be done to speed up India8217;s IT literacy, PC penetration and overall development.

In 2002, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates had committed investments worth 400 million into the company8217;s Indian operations, but Ballmer ruled out similarly large investments this time. 8216;8216;We are working hard just to spend and utilise the investments already committed,8217;8217; he said, adding that the company would hire 8216;8216;hundreds of more programmers in India8221;.