The Philly Bus Journal ran an article [free registration required] on this last week.
Basically says that Softmart didn't even try to offer the lowest price to the army, instead they offered technology that allows the army to track their software more easily. It tracks licenses, where the software was deployed, versions, upgrade info, etc. The article says that they do this through a web site that links to a portal the Army has for their people to access info. The claim is that by providing this automated process, the army can reduce its overall software costs.
Slashdot Mirror
The Philly Bus Journal ran an article [free registration required] on this last week. Basically says that Softmart didn't even try to offer the lowest price to the army, instead they offered technology that allows the army to track their software more easily. It tracks licenses, where the software was deployed, versions, upgrade info, etc. The article says that they do this through a web site that links to a portal the Army has for their people to access info. The claim is that by providing this automated process, the army can reduce its overall software costs.