The FINANCIAL — UGT, the leading IT Company in Georgia, has recently been awarded by Microsoft for outstanding contributions to the release of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system in Georgian. As a result of Microsoft’s decision and UGT’s successful effort users will have an opportunity to employ Georgian versions of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office.
UGT was established in 1997. Its activities are primarily focused on providing services to corporate clients and the government sector. The partnership between Microsoft and UGT started in 2000. Since then it took UGT a couple of years to receive Microsoft’s highest partnership status (Microsoft Gold Certified Partner) for the first time in Georgia. At present, besides the status of Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, UGT also has the status of Microsoft’s Business Solution Certified Partner and is the only company in Georgia authorized to make Microsoft’s corporate agreements with large organizations.
Microsoft entrusted its Georgian partner UGT with the implementation of these localization projects taking into account its considerable expertise and the long history of cooperation. On May 1, 2005 UGT and Microsoft signed a document according to which UGT received an exclusive right to create a Georgian translation of Windows. Only one year later, at the end of 2006, Windows XP Georgian LIP was released. And now, at the end of 2008, Georgian versions of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 are also available.
It is important that Georgian IT terminology, created during the implementation of this Project, promotes introduction of the Georgian language and alphabet in electronic communication /IT technologies. Georgian population uses Georgian Windows which means that children no longer have the language barrier and it has become easier for elderly people to acquire computer skills. ”The Georgian interface will make it much easier for Georgians to use the Microsoft products and master their special features,” said President & CEO of UGT, George Chirakadze.
During the Project implementation, a working group was formed with participation of Georgian and English linguists, as well as technical specialists. Any person willing to participate in the Project had an opportunity to do so by means of a website specially created for working on the Georgian translation of the Windows and Office products.
Georgian versions of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 are available free of charge for personal and corporate users and can be downloaded from Microsoft and UGT(www.ugt.ge) web pages.
Microsoft’s General Manager in CEE (Central and Eastern Europe), Veronica Prikrylova participated in the presentation of the Georgian Windows Vista and Office 2007. On behalf of Microsoft Corporation she expressed special gratitude to UGT for the high quality performance and huge effort. “Taking into account the requirements of the Georgian Legislation regarding the Georgian language, Microsoft Corporation was committed to create the Georgian interface of Windows Vista and Office 2007” – said Veronica Prikrylova. “These localization projects are Microsoft’s investment in the Georgian market. I want to thank our partner UGT for the successful and excellent implementation of the project.”
Besides, UGT became the first Georgian company to receive HP Gold Certified Patner status. Partnership between HP and UGT has already been going on for 11 years. Back in 1997 UGT became Compaq’s (current HP) certified partner in Caucasus. In 2003, after HP (Hewlett-Packard) and Compaq merger, UGT received the statuses of HP Preferred Certified Partner and authorized service center. This means that the Company has managed to ensure high qualification of its certified specialists, growing sale of HP products, positive recommendations of clients, substantial experience of working at the IT market, business development, competence development and successful implementation of projects with clients.
“HP Gold Certified Partner status is a new level of demonstrating the vendor’s trust towards UGT. It proves that HP recommends customers to use services offered by UGT as an exceptionally competent partner capable of implementing large scale IT projects with the use of HP’s technologies and products“ – said President & CEO of UGT George Chirakadze.” Furthermore, the Gold Partner Status allows UGT to offer the most convenient conditions, high quality consultancy and other support from the vendor”.
It is also worth to note that early this year UGT received ISO 9001:2000 Certificate from the global company Moody International.
