iTWire: Microsoft Deal is Up, What Now Victoria?

[ Thanks to Jason Greenwood for this link. ]

"When the Government of Australia's second largest state Victoria signed an $80 million [US$57.3/€47.4 million], four-year contract with Microsoft in May 2002, advocates of open source software and other critics cried foul. Today that contract has just about expired, the Victorian Government has a new CIO, the NSW Government has opened its doors to Linux and the question arises as to how much longer Victoria can justify committing to long-term Microsoft lock-ins without considering alternatives.

"Extending the lock-in by another two years plus there is also the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. This is a three-year contract struck on 30 June 2005 which enables subscribing Victorian Government agencies the option of buying Microsoft software, upgrades and maintenance at a discounted rate..."

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• The Age: Critics Draw Linux in the Sand over Microsoft(Nov 19, 2002)