circle.ch :: Linux in Munich

circle.ch weblog by Urs Gehrig

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2013-05-11T15:38:07

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16. July 2003

Linux in Munich
Linux (wiki) - urs @ 10:12:38

USA TODAY [1] reports what most European knows regarding the deal that the city of Munich will switch to Linux. But if you imagine the general addressees of USA TODAY this is kind of astonishing. Furthermore one gets a closer look on the deal that Microsoft was ready to take:

USA TODAY obtained government and corporate documents that provide a rare insider's look at Microsoft's efforts to keep from losing a key customer. Among other things, it:

- Agreed to let Munich go as long as six years, instead of the more normal three or four, without another expensive upgrade, a concession that runs against its bread-and-butter software upgrade strategy.

- Offered to let the city buy only Microsoft Word for some PCs and strip off other applications. Such unbundling cuts against Microsoft's practice of selling PCs loaded with software.

- Offered millions of dollars worth of training and support services free.

[1] usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/