Microsoft feels Linux heat

With an aim to appraise the media and masses about the virtues of packaged
software, Microsoft Asia-Pacific CTO Peter Moore was in Delhi to speak about the
omnipresence and success of the commercial software. Shweta Khanna of CyberMedia
News spoke with Moore about the anxieties of Microsoft on the open source front
and how it has geared up to counter the market movements.

What took you so long to speak about Linux’s presence in
India and the world?

Microsoft spends about $ 6.8 billion in trying to make desirable software as
per the requirement of users. We immensely believe in intellectual properties
and it is only commercial software that respects this model. We wanted to select
factual data before speaking about it in the public. Now with a factual data and
relevant case studies in hand we want users to know the difference between the
perceived cost and the actual cost.

 

Peter Moore

Where is Microsoft feeling the heat?

Linux no doubt is catching on in every segment. In fact governments are also
going in favor of open source. We are facing some competition, especially in the
server segment. Open source had been a credible competitor in the near past, but
we don’t feel that it will grow further as more and more people understand the
real cost of deployment of the open source.

How will you counter the success of open source?

We are promoting the total cost of ownership model for the users. According
to a research done by IDC, open source can cost about 10% to 15% more than a
commercial pack. We are also looking at reducing cost for our software and
sharing the source codes. On the cost front, we will not look at a drastic cut
but look at a great TCO equation.

On sharing source code:

Microsoft has tried to make our sources, as much open as possible, but it is
not easy to trust individuals. However, we have shared our source codes with
enterprises and governments.

Why do think open source will not be able to make
commercial success?

As experts say, there were some real benefits with open source software but
there were also lots of hidden costs, risks. With users seeking a long-term
benefit, open source will take long time to become ubiquitous.

CyberMedia News