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 By
the time this article comes out, the world's richest man would have
been here and gone. From what I hear around me, our state governments
are in a tizzy, competing to outdo each other to dazzle the gent.
All in a hope to get some of his cash into their state.
Nothing wrong with any of this. But let's look
a little closer at why Microsoft's chief software architect is taking
four days out of that hyper-valuable time to hobnob with our CMs
and CEOs. He's not really here because we need his money. He's here
because he needs ours.
Think about it. Microsoft has seen off legal
threats. But never before has it seen such a strong marketplace
challenge-in the form of Linux.
Linux is all the things a developing economy
like India needs- open, well-documented, stable, secure, accepted
worldwide-and, best of all, virtually free. Governments around the
world, from Peru to the United Kingdom have begun insisting on open
source software to power their national initiatives.
India is not far behind-Kerala, Andhra Pradesh
and Karnataka were among the first to root for open source software.
This worries the famously paranoid Redmonders.
Small wonder that the CMs of these very states are on Bill's list
of people to schmooze on this trip. "Hey buddy, I'll come and
throw a few scraps your way from my private jet - but, pal, you
gotta buy Microsoft."
Governments and their directives are not Bill's
only worries. India isn't that large a market for software-we barely
account for 1 per cent of Microsoft's sales. But the fact is that
we are home to 10 per cent of the world's software developers-and
Billy boy just doesn't want Coder Coomaraswamy to go over to the
Linux side of the development fence.
Corporations around the world want lower cost,
more supportable and stable solutions. And the nightmare of India
becoming one of the world's strong Linux-based development centres
has ensured that our Ambanis, Tatas and Narayanamurthy's get treatment
on par with our chief ministers. The message again: "Stay with
Microsoft and we can beat off those open-source outlaws and bring
the world back to a place where a monopolist can still make a decent
living."
The trip is done and over with now-and hopefully
some of the glamour and space-cadet glow would have faded from those
who wanted to be photographed with His Billness. Time for a reality
check.
For buyers, it's time to consider how the very
nature of software is changing. From a point where the internet
offered the ultimate open, extensible infrastructure we now have
offerings like Palladium, which adds proprietary bits to TCP/IP
to ensure that Microsoft gets paid virtually every time you go onto
the net.
You will also see new Microsoft licensing models
that force you to pay subscriptions from now till forever for whatever
you use. You don't have to accept it if you don't want to. There
are alternatives.
Further, you will hear standard Microsoft FUD
(rumours that add to fear, uncertainty and doubt) that Linux is
more expensive than Windows. This is Redmond's new anti-Linux positioning-once
they realised their earlier "Linux is un-American and un-capitalistic"
line actually ended up making it more popular. More FUD is expected
that Linux is insecure-but this coming from bug-infested Microsoft
is like Saddam evangelising humane democracy.
If you're a developer, keep an open mind. There
are advantages to being part of the Microsoft camp, especially if
you want framed photographs you can show your grandchildren-or your
customers live under a rock and will buy MS, no questions asked.
For others, the global market for Linux is rapidly developing.
And as far as the Bill and Melinda Foundation
to eradicate aids? A wonderful effort by all means. The NGOs among
you should strive to seek connections and funding. And having to
write up your reports in Word or Excel is a small price to pay.
Mahesh Murthy, an angel investor, heads
Passionfund. He earlier ran Channel V and, before that, helped launch
Yahoo! and Amazon at a Valley-based interactive marketing firm.
Reach him at Mahesh@passionfund.com.
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