-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
Microsoft gags UK schools
,----[ Quote ]
| If Becta, a UK government quango, published details of schools' Microsoft
| spending, it "could give rise to an actionable breach of confidence by
| Microsoft against us," it said. This was a "considerable risk", it added.
| There has been growing disquiet in the public sector in the UK and Europe
| about the ways in which Microsoft might protect the monopoly it has in
| desktop software, and thus keep its prices artificially high, absorb public
| money that might be best spent elsewhere, and suppress innovative competitors
| from breaking through.
|
| [...]
|
| Microsoft is embroiled in problematic negotiations over separate MOUs with
| Newham London Borough Council, its public sector show home, and the Office of
| Government Commerce, which acts as procurement sheriff for the whole UK
| public sector.* Becta said there could also be repercussions in disclosure
| for itself: "We have concluded that disclosure of any part of the MOU would
| prejudice the commercial interests of Becta and of schools throughout the UK
| because the significant savings achieved under the MOU would be put at risk,"
| it said. "We believe that our future negotiating position with Microsoft
| would be weakened and we would not be confident of our continuing ability to
| obtain the best deal possible for those UK schools that choose to purchase
| Microsoft products," it added.
|
| [...]
|
| What business is it of UK tax payers how much a US corporation charges their
| schools anyway?
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/08/microsoft-gags-uk-schools
The EU Commission should interrogate Newham and BECTA. This seems like pure
corruption in action.
Related:
Lawmaker blasts U.K. government on Microsoft policy
,----[ Quote ]
| "A member of Parliament of the United Kingdom has launched a stinging
| attack on the U.K. government's IT strategy, saying that it has given
| Microsoft too much control.
|
| John Pugh, who is a member of Parliament, or MP, for Southport and a
| member of the Public Accounts Committee, was speaking in an
| adjournment debate on Tuesday that he had called. The aim of the
| debate, he said, was to explore the alternatives to using Microsoft
| software, including open source."
|
| [...]
`----
http://www.news.com/Lawmaker-blasts-U.K.-government-on-Microsoft-policy/2100-1012_3-6212721.html
http://tinyurl.com/2ashm2
Becta's schools software scheme reported to EC
,----[ Quote ]
| An advisor to Becta, the education technology quango, has complained
| to the European Commission about its procurement process for firms
| to provide online learning platforms and content to British schools.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/08/becta_ec_complaint/
Microsoft's academic licensing programmes: Interim report with recommendations
for improving value for money
,----[ Quote ]
| Summary and recommedations:... This interim report sets out the
| initial findings of Becta's review, which concluded that Microsoft's
| licensing arrangements in the education sector are characterised by:
|
| * Significant potential for institutions to find themselves
| 'locked in' to Microsoft's subscription licensing arrangements
| * Very significant complexity leading to a lack of
| understanding at institution level that has resulted in
| widespread use of inappropriate licensing strategies
|
| Becta found that the range of subscription licensing models available
| to the academic sector was more restrictive than those available
| generally, and that it was very difficult for educational
| institutions to identify crucial information on the costs of
| exiting their Microsoft agreement by converting from a subscription
| payment to a perpetual license (the buy-out cost).
|
| Becta further identified that these buy-ouot costs were
| significant....In respect of avoiding potential lock-in, Becta
| found that ... academic customers have no access to a version of
| a Microsoft subscription agreement that automatically grants a
| right to use the software in perpetuity....
|
| Microsoft's subscription licensing agreements are all or nothing:
| in other words, if a school wants to cover any of its ICT estate
| using a subscription agreement, it must cover all its 'eligible
| PCs'. Microsoft has set the definition of an eligible PC as any
| computer with a specification of a PII processor or higher (the
| Pii was launched in 1997). The eligible PC definition also includes
| Apple Macintosh computers (G3 or higher). This approach results
| in over-licensing, double licensing and other anomolies.
`----
http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=28197&page=1835
Local Authorities avoid Becta framework as Europe opens investigation
,----[ Quote ]
| Local Authorities are avoiding the use of Becta's framework
| procurement for Learning Platforms, while the European
| Commission has formally registered Alpha Learning's
| complaint that the framework failed to comply with
| European regulations for public procurement.
`----
http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9549
OSC joins criticism of UK education's attitude to open source
,----[ Quote ]
| Open Source Consortium president, Mark Taylor, has been in contact to
| voice its opinion on the controversy surrounding Becta's purchasing
| frameworks and the adoption of open source adoption in UK schools.
|
| In short, it doesn't make happy reading for Becta. "The essence of
| our concern is that they're saying one thing and actually pursuing
| policies that are exclusive," he said. "Becta's own research shows there
| are major benefits [with open source], however the reality of the
| framework is that it excludes both products and services."
`----
http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2006/11/osc_joins_criti.html
UK Government criticised for stifling open source in schools
,----[ Quote ]
| MP Pugh reckons shcools should support independent or open source
| software firms. He says, "In my experience a school is a key part
| of the community and as such has a role to play in the economy of
| that community. By supporting SMEs the local high-technology
| industry will be encouraged which will benefit everyone."
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36464
Becta under fire for procurement framework
,----[ Quote ]
| Nineteen MPs have accused a government agency of restricting the
| procurement of software in schools.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/29/becta_procurement_criticised/
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
iEYEARECAAYFAkh0rzgACgkQU4xAY3RXLo5d1ACePHhG0H4mhUQmJdH1iHZOQQYt
+V4AoJQ1eqNmXBvqna4A+viXPe7Cgb+3
=iaU7
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
|
|
