Munich (Germany) to switchover from Microsoft to Linux <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=47 84 8088>
In a setback to Microsoft, the local government in Munich, Germany, has voted to move its 14,000 computers from Microsoft Windows to the rival Linux operating system despite all effort by the software giant to hang onto multimillion dollar contract. The council of Germany's third-largest city said on Wednesday that it will spend about 30 million euros, or 35 million dollars, on the transition. In addition to switching operating systems, the city plans to move from Microsoft's Office productivity software to the open-source OpenOffice. Microsoft, the online CNET specialising in technical news said, had fought hard to retain the business, offering deals and discounts, with CEO Steve Ballmer interrupting a ski vacation in Switzerland to pay a personal visit to Munich's mayor about the issue. Munich pitted Linux and OpenOffice against Microsoft products, the council said in a statement. That competition helped lower prices, it said. With Linux, the city has more freedom from reliance on products from a single company, it said. The deal also is notable, CNET said, because it involves desktop computers. Until now, Linux has been popular chiefly on more-powerful networked server computers, where Microsoft doesn't have as strong a presence in the market, it added. Though Munich doesn't intend to select open-source technology providers until the first quarter of 2004, computer maker IBM and Linux seller SuSE helped Munich evaluate the move and are candidates, the companies said. =============================================== Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Pune. India. Web: http://www.mithi.com Communicate in your own language. Log onto www.mailjol.com. =============================================== ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
