Microsoft announced that it will release Windows 7, its latest operating system, in Amharic (Ethiopia's official language) and several other African languages. The company said this is to increase usage, fight software piracy, increase use of local languages online and drive computer penetration beyond English and French, according to a report by Computer World
By 2011, Windows 7 will be available in languages such as Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Afrikaans, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, kiSwahili and Amharic.
"This is about technology access in Africa in a familiar context and language that breaks down the barriers," said Mark Matunga, citizenship manager at Microsoft Eastern and Southern Africa.