More than 5,000 people who applied for the special offer for Microsoft Vista Ultimate Upgrade and Office 2007 Enterprise will be able to pick up their packages at the end of this month, IT Minister Austin Gatt said yesterday.

Dr Gatt made the announcement during a visit to Salesian’s Press, where the packages are being assembled.

Dr Gatt said this was the third time that Maltese consumers were able to avail themselves of offers put together by the government and Microsoft for software at reduced prices.

The offer stands at Lm46, some Lm300 cheaper than the recommended retail value. All applicants will shortly receive a letter of instruction as to how and where they can pick up their products.

The offer is open to those who had purchased the HelloIT package which was launched in 2005. This can still be purchased at Maltapost outlets and is needed to upgrade to Vista.

Dr Gatt said the government had undertaken a number of initiatives to break the affordability barrier and hence lessen the digital divide. He also announced that a new programme of recycling and refurbishing computers would be embarked on in an effort to reach members of the community who still do not afford a computer. He said the government was also in the process of drafting a new system under which used computers could be recycled and passed on to those who could not afford them.