The government launched a scheme yesterday enabling students, teachers and people with a disability to buy the office software suite StarOffice 8 for just €2 (85c).

The package, developed by Sun Microsystems, includes word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, paint and database facilities and is compatible with Microsoft office.

The scheme was announced during a joint press conference between the Ministry of Investment and IT and Sun.

Sun representative Yiannis Kyriakides said his company and the government shared the same vision - that everyone should have access to computer facilities. In fact, another of its products, OpenOffice, is an open source office suite that is free to download, use and distribute.

IT Minister Austin Gatt said the government was committed to promoting the use of open source technology that offered an alternative to products of other software providers.

This initiative offering the StarOffice 8 at "the ridiculous price of €2" was in line with the government's strategy to make technology accessible to all, he noted.

It was also part of the implementation of The Smart Island national strategy of technology and information that aimed to turn Malta into a centre of excellence in IT by 2010.

Those eligible to register for StarOffice 8 can fill in an application that can be downloaded from www.thesmartisland.gov.mt by April 11.