Microsoft users mull licence exodus

Almost a third of Microsoft's business users are considering moving to alternative software providers because of unpopular changes to the way the company's licensing policy.

The figures come from a survey by one of Microsoft's own corporate resellers, UK firm WStore. It says more than 30 per cent of Microsoft users are looking at alternatives, although only a tiny minority have actually made the decision to change platform.

Microsoft claims the new licences, which come into force on 31 July, are not unpopular and will actually save users money by making it cheaper to keep up-to-date with the latest platform releases.

However, many users do not look to upgrade their software so often and claim the new licences will cost as much as 90 per cent more than beore. But Tony Price, managing director of WStore, said he doesn't believe users are realistically about to abandon Microsoft.

He said: "Thirty per cent are talking about switching away from Microsoft, but in my opinion this is just hoo-hah. When companies evaluate the costs of moving away, next to the benefits of the Microsoft platform - are big corporates really going to change?"

Among the alternatives respondents said they are considering are Linux, Lotus and Sun's Star Office suite.

Price said that once people understand the changes, and start to see the shift as insurance to protect their investment, they are almost universally in favour of them.

The survey also found widespread ignorance of what the changes actually mean for businesses.

Sue Page, licensing manager for Microsoft, said she is not disappointed at the figures.

"I actually think the 30 per cent figure is a relatively good picture. It is an IT director's job to consider all the options for the business, this is not unusual," she said.

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