B.A.D. (Bribing, Addicting, Dumping) Tactics

WE HAVE SEEN a lot of stories just like this over the past few months [1, 2, 3, 4]. Microsoft is watching its back as the temptation to move to Free software grows. In response, Microsoft tries to get people stuck with its own tools. We have 3 new examples today.

First, Microsoft is raising and growing an army of people who will install just Windows on old PCs (that's what they are trained to do) and not GNU/Linux.

Microsoft has commenced a scheme that will make Windows XP accessible to buyers of refurbished personal computers in Nigerian.

The scheme, under the Unlimited Potential Group of the firm, is called the Secondary PC Programme and will start as a pilot in Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan and Czech Republic.

That's Unlimited Potential again, aka "Anti-GNU/Linux" [1, 2].

More on Microsoft's 'help' to these people (making them servants of Microsoft) can be found here in the Nigerian news.

Second, Microsoft works on getting children 'addicted' in the Philippines.

According to Microsoft, the Microsoft Windows Multipoint allows teachers to engage the class in more interactive discussions since one computer is capable of linking up to 50 mice.

This technology is part of Microsoft Philippines’ Unlimited Potential (UP) initiative, which is a global program that aims to bring the benefits of technology to the next five billion people worldwide.

Unlimited Potential. Yes, it's the potential to get people stuck with software they can't afford when they grow up. It's not about empowering people but about ensuring they don't get exposed to Free software. Later on they'll be accused of being "pirates" and maybe sued.

Lastly, businesses are being locked in as well. This new example is from India.

In its bid to woo startups in India, Microsoft Corp (India) Pvt Ltd. has launched Microsoft BizSpark - a program designed to provide free access to Microsoft’s professional software.

We already wrote about this in [1, 2]. Lock-in and forced purchases (updates, bundling, etc.) are the business model. Those who fail to see it will become prey. It's unfortunate that the press rarely points this out and some of the articles above read like commercials, almost as though they were ghostwritten by Microsoft or lazily derived from press releases. ⬆