NEW DELHI, JUNE 2 Banking upon its marketing resources and dealer network, Microsoft India on Thursday launched itself into the highly-competitve low-cost PC business, with an easy-to-buy, easy-to-use PC in a hindi version of ‘XP’, its latest operating system.

The PC was launched for first-time home computer buyers in Uttaranchal on Thursday, as part of an exercise that will cover all hindi-speaking states, Microsoft India Business and Marketing Director Ranjivit Singh said. It was developed in collaboration with HCL and Intel India, he added.

Microsoft is counting upon a previous tie-up with the Uttaranchal government for an e-governance project for the new venture’s success. ‘‘We are targeting the two lakh state employees in Uttaranchal first, to build up a share of the PC market there,’’ Singh said. The new PC will cost a monthly installment of Rs 399 and a 20 per cent down payment on an overall cost upwards of Rs 18,900, he said.

In Uttaranchal, the PC is being provided under the state government’s ‘People’s PC Program’, under which government employees can buy them in installments.