Bill Gates in South Korea

On his Asia tour, last Tuesday, Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), met with the President of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak. Mr.Gates forecasted a vast shift in Internet technology in the next ten years. In a press conference before the meeting with the President, Mr. Gates told the reporters that the people around the world are moving toward the second decade of the digital age. The internet had been operating for ten years and the second ten years will be different. After 2001, this is Bill Gates’ first tour in South Korea. International Herald Tribune reports:

The Blue House said in a statement that Microsoft, the South Korean government and South Korean companies will invest a total of US$313 million (€202 million) in information technology for vehicles, games and education.

Earlier, Microsoft Corp. and automakers Hyundai Motor Inc. and Kia Motors Corp. announced a deal whereby the South Korean companies will use Microsoft's in-car software, which allows people to control personal music players and telephones with voice commands.

The companies also said they planned to set up an automobile IT innovation center. Hyundai and its affiliate Kia together form the world's sixth-largest automotive group.

South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak mentioned Bill Gates as member to his Global advisory committee. The projects declared during this visit will have major impact on South Korea’s economy. Microsoft also announced its plan to invest $280 million to build a research and development facility in Beijing and double the R&D staff to 3000 within three to five years.

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International Herald Tribune

AFP

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