Microsoft agreements with schools prevent competition in practice, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) reports. Many local authorities agree deals on behalf of their school systems, and this makes it more difficult for competitors to get a foot in the door.
Schoolchildren and students are a vital user group for Microsoft and their deals with schools involve binding agreement lasting several years at a time. Hundreds of schools are bound to Microsoft products.
"If one has a monopoly or is a very big player one is interested in maintaining the hegemony one has. In addition, the public sector has great power in the software market because it is a very big customer and can make demands," said Christine Hafskjold at the Norwegian Board of Technology.
The Socialist Left (SV) Party has asked Minister of Modernization Morten Meyer to examine Microsoft's arrangements with local municipalities, and SV MP Jørund Leksnes told NRK that he was surprised no central authority had an overview of what the agreements contained.
Knut Yrvin, head of competing company Skolelinux (School Linux) demanded an investigation, saying that Microsoft's competitors simply had no access to schools.
