04.22.09
Is Microsoft Paying Russia to Take Schools off GNU/Linux and Halt Antitrust Action?
Summary: Microsoft dumps what it claims to be a $300 million investment on Russia amid antitrust pains and massive migrations to GNU/Linux
THE MIGRATION of Russian schools to GNU/Linux is already known to many because it was covered extensively in the press. What is never covered in the press, however, is EDGI, which we previously covered in:
- Is Microsoft ‘Pulling an EDGI’ on Kerala? (Updated)
- Microsoft Vice President Teaches PR People How to Spin Anti-Linux Programme
- Microsoft Dumps on India, South Africa, Malta
- At Microsoft, “Fear Uncertainty Doubt (TALKING POINTS)” is Formal Strategy
- Microsoft’s Dumping Strategy Versus GNU/Linux (EDGI Continued)
- Extended Windows 98 EOL to Block Government Migrations to GNU/Linux and Free Software; More ‘Donations’
- Microsoft on “Maintaining Gap vs Linux” Using “Patents“, “Children’s Software“
- Microsoft’s Internal Presentation on How to Fight GNU/Linux
- Microsoft Chief: “Under NO Circumstances Lose Against Linux”
- Microsoft’s EDGI in India: Fighting GNU/Linux in Education
- EDGI Finale: Microsoft’s “Linux Compete Squad”
Microsoft is afraid of Russia because its internal intelligence shows GNU/Linux usage figures that are exceptionally high over there.
Now that Russia is moving to GNU/Linux en masse (starting with the young generation), guess what Microsoft is doing, because of (or despite) the fact that Russia intends to act upon Microsoft's monopoly abuse? Microsoft is paying Russia what it claims to be $0.3 billion (software costs nothing to reproduce) in order for the nation to change course.
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said the software giant would invest $300 million in Russia projects over the next three years.
[...]Microsoft intends to expand the Dream Spark program that provides software to Russian university students.
This is more harmful than helpful to these student. For information about DreamSpark (which we covered too many times to be worth repeating):
- Poor Microsoft Gives Poor Software to Youngsters, Hoping to Remain Relevant
- Microsoft’s Anti-Linux Dumping Crusade: Chapter 11.1
- Microsoft Tries to Fight Libre with Gratis
- An Open, Gentler Microsoft: The Best Illusion Only Novell Can Buy
- Microsoft’s Last Breath: BAD (Bribing, Addicting, Dumping)
- Microsoft’s B.A.D. (Bribing, Addicting, Dumping) Comes to the Philippines
- Down with Microsoft… in India (Updated)
- Microsoft Takes Dumping Tactics up a Notch
- The EDGIfication of the Philippines
Microsoft is still up to its old, anti-competitive tactics. There is no “new Microsoft”. █
“Microsoft Corp is using scare tactics to exert pressure on PC vendors not to explore the potential of desktop Linux”
–Ron Hovsepian, Novell
andre said,
April 22, 2009 at 1:42 pm
What you forget to mention is that this is exactly the pay-off strategy from the procurement side. Sure, the 300 mio$ are insignificant.
“Ballmer signed an agreement with the Space Research Institute to start a program to study climate change and pledged support for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.”
Russia aims higher.
Roy Schestowitz said,
April 22, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Andre,
Here is a relevant broadcast.
Putin Jabs at US Over Global Economic Crisis (2009)
NotZed said,
April 22, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Now they’re robbing the blind too.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25368314-23289,00.html
Roy Schestowitz Reply:
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:24 am
It’s a familiar scheme.
Roy Schestowitz said,
April 22, 2009 at 5:36 pm
If you followed Rothschild/Rockefeller you’d know that the more crimes you commit, the more you need to pretend to be charitable, even if your ‘gifts’ cause more harm than good.
“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”
Sir Winston Churchill
British politician (1874 – 1965)