- The largest German state, Bavaria, has canceled a nearly billion-euro contract with Microsoft.
- The state administration will pursue a “sovereign basic workspace” based on open-source components.
- Bavaria’s Digital Minister Fabian Mehring says the decision allows the state to protect itself from price hikes and ensure data privacy.
The Bavarian Ministry for Digital Affairs has officially announced the cancellation of a planned framework agreement with American tech giant Microsoft intended to implement its productivity suite across the state administration.
Regional news website Mittelstand in Bayern reports that Microsoft services would have cost nearly €1 billion ($1.16 billion) over a five-year period.
Instead, Bavaria will pursue a “sovereign basic workspace” based on open-source components.
The decision comes after a months-long power struggle between the state’s Finance Ministry, led by Albert Füracker, who wanted to consolidate existing contracts and secure discounts, and Digital Minister Fabian Mehring, who pushed for open source.
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See you in four years, when they’ll enter a new Microsoft contract for five billion Euros because Microsoft generously donated the new Minister a thousand surface laptops.
I would rather see Microsoft have to perpetually bride to remain in use then they just be the defacto choice
I concur!
I dunno, Microsoft said they are moving away from operating systems, and frankly, this new Outlook bullshit is enough for me to look around to replace our firm’s tech.
Outlook? What did I miss?
The updated outlook just has poor functionality. Searches return stupid stuff and misses the relevant
This is the way. Everyone, everywhere follow their lead.
It will be easier for other states to join after Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria if they are providing feedback so the open-source can be improved to suit the need of states.
More of this please. And quicker.
This is actually interesting because Bavaria is like the Texas of Germany.
Does Texas have something as good as Bavarian Sausages?
Oh yeah, they do a mean barbecue in Texas.
Don’t Texans have toilets?
This is big. Bavaria has been solidly in Microsoft’s pocket forever.
So you’re saying it’s in danger of being reversed by Christians and right-wingers at the next election. As usual…
I actually think this decision will likely prevail—but only because similar programs are being implemented by other German states and European countries while the US government’s actions keep getting worse. The CSU will of course be standing on the breaks of every attempt to move faster.
Let’s Go
The beauty of open source is that it doesn’t need to become the majority to win, as long as it has a decent chunk of the market it will thrive.
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More detailed information from a classical newspaper, in German language: https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/bayern/abhaengigkeit-von-usa-bayern-will-keine-microsoft-lizenzen-1-114314412
Thank you. This article provides better context to the decision. The initial step aims at 40 people in one of the ministries by next year. It’s a start, but a far cry from the misleading main article in the post.
Starting with 40 jobs in one ministry while canceling a billion € statewide contract does signal the direction they’re going, and does seem to indicate a gradual rollout rather than a sudden changeover
… again. I there was already such an attempt resulting into getting back to Microsoft. Looks like something is going to get rich!
As long as the Bavarians don’t vote for corrupt right-wingers in the next election…
