Dhammika’s biz empire opts for China’s Kingsoft over Microsoft!

Tuesday, 25 February 2014 01:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

After successful trials 2,000 PCs at Sampath Bank running on Chinese software; 800 PCs at LB Finance; diversified conglomerate Hayleys is next If one thought Sri Lanka’s seeming takeover by China is confined to mega infrastructure projects, then there is a fresh business twist with Dhammika Perera’s business empire begining to embrace office software from the land of the dragons over Microsoft. Following a thorough pre-trial study and analysis as well as successful trial, several of businesses in which Dhammika has considerable stakes have begun to roll out Kingsoft. For example, 2,000 PCs at Sampath Bank are now running on the Chinese software in addition to a further 800 PCs at LB Finance. Diversified conglomerate Hayleys is the next entity which will be rolling out Kingsoft. Dhammika’s business empire includes Royal Ceramic, Vallibel, Delmege Group, Amaya Resorts as well as Pan Asia Bank among others.

Considerable cost saving as well as greater scalability and user friendliness are among primary reasons why the Dhammika's businesses have embraced Kingsoft. Kingsoft Office is an office suite for Microsoft Windows, Linux, iOS and Android OS. Hong Kong-listed Chinese software developer Kingsoft offers four office suites: Kingsoft Office Professional, Kingsoft Office Standard, Kingsoft Office Free and Kingsoft Office Student and Home. The company claims Kingsoft Office Professional 2013 offers features not available in Microsoft Office 2013, and is highly compatible with Microsoft Office file formats. Kingsoft Office is one of the earliest companies to engage in the research and development of word processors and other office applications, and was the market leader in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Today Kingsoft Office is viewed as an inexpensive alternative to Microsoft Office. And it has made relationship with Dell and collaborations with Intel and IBM, and will continue to do so in the future, in order to consistently provide innovative, high quality products and services. Established in 1989, Kingsoft Office has devoted over two decades to the development of user-friendly office software. It has maintained a similar user interface to Microsoft Office meaning that new users require no retraining, and there is a high degree of compatibility between the two products. It focuses on office software containing the three essential office applications: Kingsoft Writer, Kingsoft Presentation and Kingsoft Spreadsheets. It is also engaged in internet security and entertainment. Kingsoft Office says it is committed to offering best quality and user-friendly office software to further expand to international markets and become a first class office software developer. This week Kingsoft joined others including Tencent to build defences against potential internet attacks on Chinese users after support for Windows XP is discontinued on April 8. Xinhua reported that the companies will start the protection before the shutdown and the “hedge” will continue during a transition period that may last for two to three years or even longer. “The upcoming shutdown will seriously affect Chinese users,” said Tencent, adding that more than one quarter of China’s computers are running the operating system. Microsoft announced earlier that it will stop providing technical assistance for Windows XP after 8 April, and computers will still work but they might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses.