Microsoft Funded Study Cinches 10yr Deal

Genevish writes "According to an article in the Register, Microsoft and the Newham Council in London have signed an agreement making Microsoft the preferred vendor for the council, instead of the original hybrid MS / Open Source plan. The council was very careful in choosing Microsoft, having an independent study done and all. The only problem is that the study was, you guessed it, not independent at all but funded by Microsoft. Their decision even had the journalists at the press conference laughing."

Comments

Newham is one of the poorest boroughs in the UK

[b4rtm4n]

I live in the borough next to Newham. Just to give a sense of scale I can walk to Newham in 10 minutes. And you can cross it by tube in less time. Although driving across it can take over an hour.

I also work 50% of the time in Newham.

It is mainly crumbling Victorian buildings with streets barely wide enoungh to drive the essential service vehicles (ambulances, refuse trucks, etc) let alone cars, busses and delivery vehicles.

It is also one of the key boroughs in Londons 2012 Olympic bid.

Now rather than spending money on IT why aren't they investing further in the things that the residents need. Repairing the schools, hospitals, policing.

You have to assume that this funding is from central government as the local council taxes wouldn't provide for this and would hopefully see a revolt amongst voters come the local elections (if they ever found out about it). Given it is such a poor and deprived area an OSS it project for the region would have been a superb idea possibly even run as a charity and gaining tax free status.

Hopefully the government audit office will investigate deal as smacks of improprietry.