Realities of the Third World = 'a modem can cost more than a cow' + access to telecommunication is a privilege + information by definition is a property of the government.

Welcome to South Asia. This talent-rich, resource-poor, tragic-powerhouse of immense software skills, finds its abilities recognised across the globe. And yet millions here can't find the solutions that could make life a little less of a struggle.

Likewise, software brains from the region are serving some of the biggest companies in the globe... But it also finds itself ironically unable to afford the prices of 'legal' software that it very badly needs for itself.

bYtES For aLL is an attempt to swim against the tide. Through a website and an e-mail based mailing list, we hope to update interested readers about interesting ventures. Attempts that focus on people before profits. This initiative will regularly bring articles pertaining to IT practices in this region, news bits and information clips, discussion on contemporary topics, interesting developments on ICTs etc.

This venture is being jointly undertaken by Frederick Noronha a freelance journalist based in Goa, India interested in developmental issues, and by Partha Pratim Sarker a web developer and an online activist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

A trial version of bYtES For aLL has already been put out via email. Do visit our web-site at http://www.bytesforall.org

We seek inputs of interesting news events from your part of the region, or any information that would be of interest to our readers. Do feel free to send us news-updates, URLs, photographs, video clips or demo versions of software which you feel might be of interest.