Reject Microsoft $3 addiction hit: open source advocate

Stan Beer
Monday, 30 April 2007 06:09

Business IT - Technology

Microsoft addicted many of the first billion users to its proprietary platform using the ruse of encouraging software piracy in developing nations. Now the software giant intends to hook the next billion users by providing a cheap hit of $3 software. These are the claims of a longstanding open source advocate, who has started a campaign urging third world governments to reject Microsoft's offer of cheap software.

In mid-April Microsoft announced an effort to double its user base to 2 billion by 2015, offering students in developing countries entry level versions of Windows and Office for US$3. The cut price Microsoft suite includes Windows XP Starter Edition, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Microsoft Math 3.0, Learning Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft Office, and Windows Live Mail desktop. Third world governments who supply students with free PCs are elligible for the cheap software.

According to Con Zymaris, the CEO of Linux consultant Cybersource and a longstanding open source campaigner, Microsoft is simply claiming to bridge the digital divide in order to feather its own nest. "Under the guise of trying to bridge the digital divide, Microsoft will instead aim to extend its desktop monopoly by using the same technique it's used for years through software piracy: platform addiction. An addiction it will milk in future decades," says Zymaris.

Using a speech that Bill Gates made in 1998 to students from the University of Washington, Zymaris claimed that Microsoft had a self-admitted strategy of addicting developing countries to its software by encouraging piracy.

"Microsoft's strategy of getting developing nations hooked on its software was clearly outlined by Bill Gates almost a decade ago," said Zymaris.

"Specifically, Bill Gates, citing China as an example, said: 'Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, but people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though. As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.'

"From this, we analyse the following strategy. Microsoft would allow users in developing countries to use pirated software, which in turn would lock those users into Microsoft's proprietary data formats, proprietary protocols and proprietary Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Once so tithed to Microsoft, these users would find it almost impossible to move to alternatives, thus providing a captive future revenue stream," explained Zymaris. "And this new strategy is even more insidious, as Microsoft is expecting governments to pay for the hardware, thus paving the way for Microsoft to snare its next billion addicts in a friction-free manner.

"What is equally apparent is that Microsoft would prefer to lose money initially, to prevent competitors from capturing mindshare. Today, Linux and open source software are Microsoft's biggest competitor. And Linux and open source software are capturing huge mindshare in developing nations, thus Microsoft's knee-jerk reaction in offering its $3-meal-deal," Zymaris said. "Instead of accepting the Microsoft deal, governments should push open source software, guaranteeing freedom from vendor lock-in and future price hikes.

"By helping to make users aware of open source alternatives, by disseminating that software through CD give-aways and via subsidised, low-cost PCs, governments will be reducing their reliance on proprietary vendors and improve access to 21st century technology. It's the only way to ensure that their citizens will be free to use quality software, without constraints, in perpetuity," said Zymaris.

The battle to bridge the digital divide in the third world has recently created a rift of softs between aid providers about the best way to tackle the problem. Open source advocates are backing initiatives like the One Laptop Per Child project which aims to provide a cheap Linux laptop for all children in developing countries. Other aid organizations favour using recycled computers to stock school computer labs. The second option suits Microsoft as most recycled computers would be able to run its cut price software.