The UK's corporate IT users remain on course for a head-on
collision with Microsoft over its recently announced changes to its
software licensing framework.
The Redmond software giant's move from perpetual licenses to
subscription licensing looks set to cost UK PLC dear, and a poll of
members of the Computer Weekly 500 Club, who represent the most
influential IT directors in the UK, shows that users are unwilling
to take this summary shifting of the goalposts lying down.
The findings of the poll reveal a strengthening of resolve
throughout the UK's IT departments. Less than half of the 500 Club
members said they were likely to take out Microsoft's subscription
licensing option, suggesting that the company has a battle on its
hands to placate its UK customer base.
More than 80% of those polled believe it is time for the Government
to take action against Microsoft under general competition policy.
Computer Weekly does not as a rule advocate offloading industry
issues onto the Government. The culture of taking action is, by and
large, a far more productive one than that of passing the buck.
But, on this occasion, our readers have made it clear that
Westminster must act now if Microsoft is to be prevented from
holding UK industry to ransom.
Eyebrows were raised when the prime minister's pre-election visit
to Microsoft's UK headquarters coincided with the launch of Office
XP. Now the Government must prove that it is not afraid to take
this most powerful of firms to task over its apparent disdain for
the needs and sensitivities of corporate IT.