Microsoft unveiled on Wednesday its DreamSpark program that offers some of the company's development and designer tools free to students.

The announcement was made in India by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi. Gates is visiting India mainly in connection with his philanthropic interests.

Microsoft launched the DreamSpark program in February in the United States, China and some countries in Europe, with plans to introduce it in stages in a number of other countries. Microsoft said at the time that the company was providing professional-level tools hoping to "inspire students to explore the power of software and encourage them to forge the next wave of software-driven breakthroughs."

The DreamSpark tools are available online and through DVDs from Microsoft's program partners such as NIIT, Aptech and Hughes Net Fusion Centers. These partners will also provide technology training on the DreamSpark software tools at a nominal cost, Microsoft said.

Microsoft DreamSpark is available to all interested students besides those studying in technology areas, a Microsoft spokeswoman said.

Microsoft already has programs in India in the area of education including one that trains teachers in government run schools on the use of computer technology.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.