Begin forwarded message:
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 11:55:53 +1300
From: Alex King
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [opensourcenz] [ E-Government Bulletin - November 2001]
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COUNCILS DITCH MICROSOFT OVER COST
Several UK councils have stopped or reduced their use of
Microsoft software following ever-increasing licensing costs, it
emerged this week.
Len Graves, past president of the local government Society of IT
Management (http://www.socitm.gov.uk) and society
spokesperson on Microsoft issues, told E-Government Bulletin that
"a few councils have moved away from Microsoft and other
authorities are giving it consideration." One of the authorities is
believed to be a district in Cornwall.
The news follows a recent warning from SOCITM that a proposed
move towards a subscription model for Microsoft software could
cost UK councils up to 70 million pounds a year (see E-
Government Bulletin, September 2001).
Graves said the situation is the same worldwide. SOCITM reached
an agreement last month with its counterpart bodies in Australia,
the US, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden to share
information on cost calculations for Microsoft subscription. This
has already revealed that "authorities in other countries are also
finding there is a significant added cost from subscription, and that
Microsoft is in a monopolistic position - though this could change
with the new court rulings emerging daily," he said.
However Graves said it was not straightforward for most councils
to switch away from Microsoft, however, particularly medium to
large-sized authorities. Those that had done so were smaller
councils which could be more flexible, he said.
Microsoft is unwilling to comment on the matter publicly but has
now tabled an improved offer to SOCITM "in confidence". The
offer entails an extended transition period to the new arrangements,
plus a proposal for a single UK local government licence for key
Microsoft products negotiated en masse. A similar block licence
has already been negotiated between Microsoft and two
government departments - the Department of Health, and, in a
move confirmed yesterday, the Ministry of Defence.
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