In what could be a big strategy to boost its product sales in the country by tapping the largest buyer, software major Microsoft said on Thursday that it is in discussions with the Indian government to share its source code.

"We have a programme for making our source code available to governments around the world so that they can ensure the technology supports the national security interests of the country and we are in open discussions with the Indian government as well," Peter  Moore, chief technology officer, Microsoft Asia Pacific told reporters on the sidelines of an e-governance function orgainsed by Manufacturing Association of Information Technology.

He, however, added that the Indian government's response is still awaited.

Replying to a query on governments' preference for using open source software, he said, "For governments around that world, it is good to look at the choices available. At the end of the day, they have to evaluate the cost of the software, functions that it provides and Microsoft is addressing any concern on the value of our commercial software."

"We will compete freely in the market with the open source software," Moore said.

He added that Microsoft had a long track record of supporting government needs in technology, allowing them to bring together services that are necessary over different functions of the government.