I too beg to differ when it comes to calling this for
an Open Source business:
> Indeed - and this is very smart. In many ways,
> Microsoft has been the first Open Source
> business. They have always allowed "free"
> installations of their software, if you have an
> install disk at work you can take it and use it at
> home, thereby creating a viral customer base, which
> they monetize later by enforcing licenses. They have
> always tolerated a grey market, whereby you can buy
> cheaper student version without proving you are a
> student and Microsoft bets you'll upgrade.
Rather it could be compared to the drug dealing
business:
http://slashdot.org/yro/04/06/19/0249246.shtml
The link refers to a very amusing story:
Shortly after Lula was elected president of Brazil, he
realized that huge sums of money from the Brazilian
taxpayers went into Microsofts pockets. Therefore they
went for an open source strategy in the public
administration.
Sérgio Amadeu da Silveira, President of the National
Institute of Information Technology (ITI) of Brazil
became a prominent spokesman for the new policy.
In 2004 he gave an interview for a Brazilian weekly,
where he strongly criticized Microsoft's business
practices, comparing them with "drug dealing", offering
the product for free or for a low prize until your are
"addicted", then sharply raising the price.
The funny thing was that Microsoft totally
miscalculated their position and strength and embarked
on a defamation law suit against Sergio Amadeu. He
remained unaffected, but the problem for M$ was that
the story spread like wild fire over the Internet:
Googling for "Microsoft" and "drug dealer" gave you
the entire first page of links with references to
the story.
So after some weeks only, M$ went flaps down,
- unconditional capitulation if I am not mistaken.
The shot in the foot was painful, but they soon
realized that much more pain was to come if they
persevered.
More on the story, and interview with Sérgio Amadeu da
Silveira here:
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7654
It is a pity that such bravery is totally lacking in
the public administration here, arguably one of the
best marketplaces of M$ worldwide. And
Konkurrensverket, the "Swedish Competition Authority"
continues chasing "asphalt" cartels or whoever else...
My guess is that you will find Microsoft in every
computer on every desktop of every employee of
Konkurrensverket... or maybe there are a handful
of Macs? I even doubt that.
But the days of the monopoly show many signs of being
numbered. On the other hand they still have a huge
amount of cash with which they can use for parasitic
activity such as patent lawsuits etc. But that will
furhter erode their image, hopefully.
/Roland
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Received on 2010-10-21