InfoWorld: Microsoft's Ballmer Fights Linux in Munich

"None other than Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer paid a personal visit to Munich city mayor Christian Ude at the end of last month to drum up support for the company's operating system software, which faces growing competition from open-source Linux, according to a report in the German newspaper SüddeutscheZeitung, citing people familiar with the situation.

"Munich, which is widely viewed as the IT capital of Germany, is considering a switch from Microsoft to Linux following a study that claims the city will save money and increase security with open-source software, the newspaper reported Friday.

"Microsoft is worried that if a big German city like Munich falls into the Linux camp, others will follow, according to the report..."

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