The Welsh Language Board just announced that Microsoft will fund Welsh versions of Windows XP and MSOffice 2003, even though the Welsh Language Act (giving Welsh official parity with English) has been law for 10 years. The last year has seen increasing Welsh support from free software, and Microsoft's entry to the Nynorsk and Catalan language markets. Nynorsk and Catalan are also supported by much free software.
The list of free/open-source software in Welsh is impressive and already meets the needs of most computer users, at home or at work. The translation work has been going on for some time, but increased in 2003. Over 90,000 phrases have been translated and there is now a firm base for a home-grown Welsh desktop running Welsh applications.
Is Microsoft's new commitment to the Welsh language real, or merely an attempt to stall the growing free/open-source software movement in Wales?
Press release from some of the translators, with more references, at http://www.kyfieithu.co.uk/item.php?lg=en&item_id=79