[ubuntu-uk] (Marketing) three open source software suppliers submitted tenders to Becta yesterday

[alan c]

LeeGroups wrote:
>>
>> Open source trumps Microsoft in UK schools
>>
>> "......At least three open source software suppliers submitted tenders
>> to Becta yesterday for the £270,000 Schools Open Source Project. The
>> winner will spend two years building a community of schools which uses
>> and develops its own open source alternatives to Microsoft
>> software......."
>>
>> ".....Becta has also specifically called on open source companies to
>> join its £80 million framework list of certified suppliers of software
>> to schools, contracts for which will be awarded in June. The last
>> framework list consisted entirely of Microsoft suppliers and drew
>> Becta widespread criticism for favouring the convicted monopolist over
>> cheaper, homegrown alternatives....."
> Is it just me, but the two numbers mentioned still scream "MONOPOLY."
> 
> Becta has an *£80 MILLION* budget, and is spending /£270,000/ on open source 
> suppliers...
> I make than less than 0.5%...  Hmmm, impressive...

I think you will see that the 80 million is also for open source, with 
new agreements, although  even that sum is small compared to what is 
currently payed for proprietary software.
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391