January 25, 2008

Microsoft and Dell's (RED) Letter Day

Microsoft and Dell announced on Wednesday that they will be combining efforts in support of the (PRODUCT)RED campaign by releasing two (RED) computers—partially designed by U2 rocker and activist Bono. A portion of the proceeds will go toward providing antiretroviral medications to people living with AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, Reuters reports (reuters.com, 1/23).

According to the article, (RED) will donate $80 to the Global Fund for each desktop sold, and $50 for each laptop. Microsoft expects sales to measure “several hundred thousand” by the end of the year.

Founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (RED) has raised $53 million since its inception thanks to partnerships with leading retailers and manufacturers such as Gap, Motorola and Apple. (RED) came under fire just months after its launch when the mainstream media began to question the program’s efficacy.

“I guess you can criticize even life-saving activities,” Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told Reuters. “I don’t know how, but if somebody has a better idea than (RED) to save more lives, we are all ears.”

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Previous Comments:

Takondwa Jumbe, Lilongwe, 2008-01-30 02:52:57
I think this is a commendable effort by microsoft. I live in Africe and i witness daily the benefits to people on free antiretrovrals. A lot of people in Malawi are alive today because of drugs made available by commendable efforts like this please keep it up.

John, Philadelphia, 2008-01-29 18:37:32
I think it is important that we fund HIV/AIDS Care and Services in Africa. I would voice that we must continue to fund HIV/AIDS Services in the United States as well and from what I have seen over the last 7 years Federal, State, and Philanthropy funding is down to agencies providing HIV/AIDS Care and Services. We need to review our policies and ensure that any individual in the United States where he/she lives has access to Care and Services.