Registered users of the trial of the beta version get the full Windows XP interface, five gigabytes of storage and standard features like file back-up, virus and spam protection.

The free bundle of software tools includes the ‘Open Office‘ suite, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer, Acrobat 8 reader, iTunes and Winamp players, Yahoo Messenger, and for ‘Open‘ software lovers: the choice of a Mozilla Firefox browser and the Foxit Reader.

At the end of the free-to-use period in December 2007, Nivio will be offered on a monthly subscription of Rs 399 — with a 50 per cent discount.

Blogs and IT-oriented news websites have been dotted with references to Nivio and users‘ reaction has been positive.

The company is a recent spin-off from the Delhi -based SMX Corporation, which operates web hosting and allied services through sister concerns in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.