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Microsoft loses showdown in Houston | |
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| Time: 09:29 EST/14:29 GMT | News Source: USA Today | Posted By: Robert Stein | ||
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Microsoft warned that the city could be slapped with stiff fines for using any Microsoft software for which it could not produce receipts. Scores of other businesses and public agencies, facing a similar dilemma, have agreed to the new licensing deals — a linchpin of Microsoft's growth strategy. Not Houston. The nation's fourth-largest city rebuffed the offer and has embraced an obscure competitor called SimDesk. SimDesk delivers software over the Internet at a fraction of the cost of Microsoft's Office, a software suite used on 94% of America's office personal computers. Houston is giving SimDesk to tens of thousands of residents and businesses, free. And it has begun using SimDesk as an Office substitute on at least half the city's 13,000 PCs. | ||
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| #1 By 135 (209.180.28.6) at 1/22/2003 10:37:26 AM |
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Did anybody else read this and wonder why they were claiming SimCity competed with Microsoft?
Ok... now sphbecker's daz-style ignorant rant peeked my curiousity. SimDesk is a Houston based company. Mayor Brown contracted with them back in 2001 to make their suite of software available to city offices and to the public through the libraries. I read the rest of this article, and Microsoft clearly has their head shoved up their behind. Threatening the city is no way to win customers. I see nothing "liberal" about this, the city needs to do what's in it's best interest cost wise. They offered Microsoft a chance to bid, and Microsoft turned them down, then tried to strongarm the city when they realized the mistake. Microsoft needs to start addressing pricing concerns today, while they still have a lead. If they wait until they're losing sales, losing share... it'll be too late. They've have made the same mistake as Wordperfect, Lotus, etc. Strongarming customers might work short term, but long term it wins no friends, and strongarming governments is one of the biggest mistakes you could ever possibly have. My prediction: Office 11 will be at least 1/3rd the cost of current Office. Microsoft has got to do this, or they'll lose their market. This post was edited by sodablue on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 10:54. |
| #2 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 1/22/2003 11:09:40 AM |
| If that's true, Sodablue, they better have some incentives for Software Assurance customers, or they're going to be quite upset that they paid so much for upgrades that are being offered at below-upgrade pricing. If they did lower the price, my guess would be that it would be lower for just the basic suite, and as they introduce new Office applications to the suite (like OneNote, etc.), the package including the new apps debuts at a higher price. |
| #3 By 3653 (63.162.177.140) at 1/22/2003 11:32:54 AM |
| Note to self: Be on the lookout for resume's from Houston's IT group. |
| #4 By 2960 (156.80.64.132) at 1/22/2003 2:38:24 PM |
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SimDesk's website has practically zero information on it.
TL |
| #5 By 135 (209.180.28.6) at 1/22/2003 4:03:50 PM |
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Hmm... Looking into this some more. Apparently the CEO of SimDesk is former CEO of BFI, the garbage collecting company which has had a history of run-ins with the DOJ on price-fixing.
Part of this definately sounds like a typical Texas good-ole-boys insider deal, that's being spun in an anti-Microsoft manner. Will have to read up more tonight. |
| #6 By 2459 (24.233.39.98) at 1/23/2003 1:55:33 AM |
| Not by a long shot. |
| #7 By 1622 (66.142.133.186) at 1/23/2003 11:45:48 AM |
| As a Houstonian this is a battle niether will win. |
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