IT IS trivial to tell when Microsoft is losing market share. It starts giving products for free and sometimes even pays (bribes) for people to have them gratis. We covered some examples before, but we wish to draw readers' attention to new evidence of these tactics, which are indicative of misery.

In response to the threat of Free software, not so long ago Microsoft introduced two programmes that it dubbed DreamSpark and BizSpark. The language used here, as in Silverlight, is deceiving, because it characterises lock-in using light (spark), which tickles and messes about with people's inherent connotations. This is intentional, it's not a coincidence. Silverlight used to be called Sparkle when it was first conceived or developed.

Previously, we wrote about DreamSpark's connection to GNU/Linux and Free software in [1, 2, 3, 4] and here is what we find in the past week's news:

• Microsoft offers free tools for high schoolers



• Gates Expands Free Microsoft Software to High Schools



• Microsoft expands free downloads, training to teens



• Microsoft expands Dreamspark program worldwide

We recently wrote about the impact of this in India. They are spreading Silverlight binaries around the Web, then lock innocent people in while they are young. They use those very same people to also fight the openness and interoperability (in the cross-platform/browser/device sense) of the Web we all share.

It ought to be added that it's not just the *Spark family. In order to impose and proliferate the OOXML trap, Microsoft is pushing Office 2007 to students. It's given for a symbolic price provided that they are young (sometimes naïve) and thus won't consider long-term costs. From the press:

• Microsoft Drops Office 2007 Ultimate Price for Students to $59.95



• Microsoft's Ultimate Office Deal Offers Unprecedented Savings for Students



• Microsoft Offers Students Big Office Savings



• Microsoft offers students massive discount on Office Ultimate 2007



• Microsoft's Ultimate Office Deal Offers Unprecedented Savings for Students

This simply means that Office rivals are doing exceptionally well, so just as EDGI documents suggest, Microsoft is willing to make no profit provided that competition gets blocked. All the above articles totally miss this important point and just parrot Microsoft's press release.

We also found out last night that Microsoft is exploiting financial crisis to capture a poor African population and turn it into a Microsoft booster. The same thing is being done in America. ⬆