Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher

About

The Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher (MAR) programme was introduced into Africa in 2004 and Bridgeport Technical Services was the first company to join. The purpose of the MAR programme is to provide refurbished PC systems with a legal operating system to a selection of eligible recipients. These include schools, NGOs, charitable organizations and other establishments such as libraries. For a full list of eligible recipients please click here.

The Programme keeps the cost of the PCs down by providing a legal and free operating system. The operating system supplied is either Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional for PII and PIII systems or Microsoft XP Professional for later systems. Additionally Microsoft Office 2003 can be installed on used pc systems supplied to charities and NGOs but, at the moment, not to schools as Office is available to Government schools under the South African Microsoft Schools Agreement. Schools must apply to Microsoft for this agreement and they can be contacted on 086-022-5567. It normaly takes 4 to 6 weeks to obtain the software under this agreement. Bridgeport is currently in discussion with Microsoft about the possibility of providing Office to schools under the MAR programme.