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For Microsoft, Market Dominance Isn't Enough

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the star-systems-slipping-through-fingers dept.

chemstar writes "Last summer Orlando Ayala, then the top sales executive at Microsoft Corp., sent an e-mail titled 'Microsoft Confidential' to senior managers laying out a strategy to dissuade governments across the globe from choosing cheaper alternatives to the ubiquitous Windows operating system. Ayala's e-mail told executives that if a deal involving governments or large institutions looked doomed, they were authorized to draw from a special internal fund to offer software at a steep discount, or free, if necessary. Steve Ballmer, the Microsoft chief executive, was sent a copy of the e-mail. The memo, which focused on system software for desktop computers, specifically targeted Linux, a still small but emerging competitor. "Under NO circumstances lose against Linux," Ayala said." Perhaps that's because, as roomisigloomis writes, "Seems that MS' licensing practices are working against the company," pointing out this article which "suggests that open source, Linux and other software is actively being sought."

6 of 685 comments (clear)

  1. that's great by kipsate · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, if you want to have Microsoft software for free, you know what to do!

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    My karma ran over your dogma
  2. Handout! by w3weasel · · Score: 5, Funny

    As the chair of my neighborhood gardenclub, we have been considering implementing a new server rack with either Win3k and MSSQL to track the movment and eating habits of chinch bugs. Given our modest budget, it currently looks as though we will have to forgo using MS products in favor of OSS/FS alternatives. Can I have my free software now?

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    Just as irrigation is the lifeblood of the Southwest, lifeblood is the soup of cannibals. -- Jack Handy

  3. The funny part by Otter · · Score: 5, Funny
    Chris O'Rourke, a Microsoft employee, has described attending Linux World, a trade fair in California, where he "purported to be an independent computer consultant working with several K12 school districts," according to his e-mail, which was sent on Aug. 20 last year. K-12 schools include students from ages to 5 to 18.

    "Ha!" O'Rourke wrote in the e-mail to his colleagues, referring to his assumed identity. "In general, people bought this without question ... hook, line and sinker."

    O'Rourke said his goal was to glean intelligence about the competition. His guise, he said, "got folks to open up and talk." O'Rourke did not respond to a fax and voice-mail message seeking comment.

    While I still haven't figured out why I should be outraged that Microsoft's sales force, you know, sells stuff, that bit made me laugh. Like this guy is James Bond, successfully impersonating a consultant. I've worked the KDE booth at Linux conferences, alongside teenagers who know even less about the IT business than I do -- Steve Ballmer himself could walk up to the booth and unless he was sweating and screaming, "Developers! Developers!" no one would recognize him.

    I mean, do Microsoft sales people have horns and a tail? Why would anyone doubt him?

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    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  4. Re:Microsoft can't dominate the BSD Babe! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is the best argument I have ever seen for open source.

  5. Re:It's Captain Stupendous, Master of the Obvious! by JonnyElvis42 · · Score: 5, Funny

    the licensing of Windows -- product activation and the like -- are what's really kicking Microsoft's teeth in

    Awww, why do licensing and product activation get to have all the fun?

  6. Re:Microsoft can't dominate the BSD Babe! by Bob+McCown · · Score: 5, Funny

    No kidding, all Microsoft has is this loser