Leaders of key UK IT user bodies have hit out at Microsoft for its
failure to address key issues about the new software licensing
regime, which comes into force today.
Representatives from the Society of IT management (Socitm), Elite,
the British Computer Society's group of IT directors, and the
Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS) met with
Microsoft in September to request a delay to the changes, which
they believe will generate an additional £800m a year for Microsoft
in the UK alone.
However, the group's request fell on deaf ears and Microsoft has
failed to respond.
In an e-mail sent to the software company, leaders of the three
groups said that "insufficient time and information had been given
by Microsoft to your customers for them to reach a reasoned
decision on the licensing options that would be available after
October 2001". The groups originally requested a six-month delay to
the deadline.
Microsoft is abolishing its discounted upgrade programmes on 1
October. Many users believe this move will end up costing them
thousands - sometimes millions - more in licensing costs.
Last week the IT user group The Infrastructure Forum (Tif) called
on the government to look into the licensing changes in a bid to
quash the 1 October deadline. The forum also urged users to press
for a government investigation into Microsoft's practices.
Socitm, Elite and IMIS criticised the software giant for a lack of
communication. In the joint e-mail, the groups complained: "We felt
that the communication of the proposals through the distribution
chain had been chaotic, slow and badly managed. There had been no
communication on your product roadmap, which is key information
required to enable a rational decision."
There has been concern throughout the industry that user costs will
rise significantly, with money having to be taken from other areas
of the IT budget to cope with the price hike.
Microsoft stated in the past that there would be no incremental
sales revenues realised as a result of the changes, yet users think
differently. Socitm believes that its members alone will have an
increased annual bill of £80m.
If you have something to tell government about the licensing
changes, e-mail
enquiries.competitionact@oft.gov.uk
Please send copies to
cwlicencereviews@rbi.co.uk