Congratulations! Persian users all around the world. Now you can use Microsoft Outlook Web Access in Farsi! Yeah, it's fantastic.
Exchange Server 2007, is the latest version of Microsoft Mail Server, and Outlook Web Access is a great feature that users can access their mail box, calendar, tasks and other functionalities of Outlook simply through a web browser. When you are using Outlook Web Access, it seems that you are using your own Outlook, but there is no Outlook installed on your computer, so you have a web base Outlook with you any where you can find a web browser and an Internet connection. This enhanced web interface that simulate your Outlook, is available by a lot languages and now included Persian.
I know also about initiation of a project on American University of Dubai for Supporting Persian on Microsoft Office 2007 & Windows Vista. Sounds good, waiting for a great announcement by me about official language pack of Microsoft for SharePoint 2007!
I'm just a bit worry about quality of these localizations, for example, take a look to the snapshot above, even on this logon page you can read an statement that has completely wrong logical meaning! Unfortunately in the previous official Persian LIP for Microsoft Office 2003, I can show you a lot grammatical, logical and conceptual faults! Sometimes you will see a train of Persian words and on the full stop station you will get no meaning!
Microsoft Officially follow supporting a new language through Local Language Program. The Local Language Program is a global initiative that fosters the development and proliferation of regional language groups, enabling them to preserve and promote their language and culture while benefiting from continuing IT advancements. Through this collaboration with local governments to offer citizens the ability to customize leading, value-based Microsoft® software applications with local language capabilities, people around the world will be able to work with PCs -- some for the first time -- in their native languages. Individuals will be able to build skills, open opportunities and realize overall IT progress. Through the Local Language Program, local and regional government participants can localize Windows, Office and other Microsoft products. Read more…
As you see, this program is based on collaboration of local government and Microsoft, so who is the government of Farsi speakers worldwide? This is the main issue.
Right now, it seems that Persian is locating under Arabic language! Ok, it doesn't matter, but, please do some collaborating jobs with us, there is several years we are localizing Microsoft products, we implemented some approaches to enhance quality of localization, and I know some talent candidates who are in love helping Microsoft to get Persian market.
I hope The team of 15 AUD students lead by Dr. Khalid Khawaja as a supervisor and Dr. Mulhim Al-Doori as project manager, will found a perfect IT glossaries to include the new terminology of Windows Vista, Office2007 and SharePoint 2007. I'm trying to add SharePoint because a comprehensive and coherent terminology will success the efforts.
I'm sure Microsoft will find direct approach, and It's speed of delivery and quality assurance of products I am looking for.