Mumbai, April 19, 1999

The Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Vidhesh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) jointly introduce "iLEAP-ISP" for the Internet subscribers of VSNL. "iLEAP-ISP"? A multilingual Windows based word processor, which has the capability of sending eMail and developing web pages in Indian languages. This facility will be made available absolutely FREE to all VSNL Internet subscribers around the country.

This facility was inaugurated, today, by Chairman, Telecom Commission, Shri. Anil Kumar.

This scheme is being launched to address the pressing need of electronic messaging in Indian anguages and to provide the masses with better Internet services. With the introduction of this scheme, all registered VSNL subscribers can down load "iLEAP-ISP" from the VSNL portal at http://internet.vsnl.net.in.

With iLEAP-ISP one can LEARN to type in Indian languages without any previous experience, WRITE error free Multilingual documents, EXCHANGE eMail and fax messages in Indian languages, ENDER web pages in Indian languages, PUBLISH in Indian languages from their desktops and STORE design and contents, to quickly create routine documents.

This facility is available in 13 Indian languages namely, Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil and Telugu.

To add further, one can also enjoy Indian language computing with other facilities such as multilingual spell checker and language sensitive multilingual editor, collection of cliparts, symbols and borders, document templates, search and replace, document import-export facility, navigation pallet and aesthetic fonts for Indian languages.

C-DAC is announcing this special scheme, as its next initiative towards popularizing and spreading the Indian language usage on computers to every corner of the country.

This software will be authenticated for a limited period to all the registered VSNL subscribers. Thereafter, if any subscriber wishes to be a registered user of this software, he/she has to obtain a Registered User ID by writing an eMail to sales. against the payment of a nominal license fee of Rs. 500/- by DD in favour of
C-DAC, payable at Pune.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman, Telecom Commission, commented, "India, with its rich cultural diversity and multiple languages, is the ideal ground for the spread of Internet. The new facility launched by C-DAC in co-operation with VSNL will enable people to work in their native languages and will help spread Internet deep within the Indian hinterlands and go a long way towards fulfilling the nation’s IT mission."

Also, speaking on the occasion Shri. R.K. Arora, Executive Director,
C-DAC said, "If Information Technology has to penetrate to the grass root level, reaching its benefits to millions of people in our country, we will need to provide such multilingual tools to enable people to use computers for a range of popular applications in their own languages. The growing reach of VSNL network will help a large number of people to use this scheme for eMailing and creating contents for the web in their languages, as one important and currently popular application of Information Technology".

Mr. Amitabh Kumar, Acting Chairman and Managing Director, VSNL, announced that, "the advanced iLEAP-ISP package will be available free to all Internet subscribers of VSNL through the net. VSNL is committed to keep adding value to its Internet services through a continuous programme of enhancement and enabling the Indian Internet users to use the net as a powerful medium for professional as well as personal use."