The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

MS nabs £6m FCO deal

'Ahead of the game'

Join our expert panel in discussing application security

Microsoft has secured Windows at The Foreign & Commonwealth Office for another three years, signing a £6m contract to update and support the department's Windows-based apps.

Microsoft says the deal is a great demonstration of "how we are deepening our engagement with UK government departments and improving partnerships".

And that's about it, except for this honey-coated quote from Nick Westcott, the FCO's head of IT strategy: "This sets out the kind of principles we want underpinning the relationship between the FCO and its key business partners in IT. Our aim is to identify how new technologies can best serve the needs of FCO staff. We want to stay ahead of the game. This partnership will enable us to work together with Microsoft to use their technical and managerial experience to adapt suitably to the best new developments in IT."

So no look-in for open source software, just yet. ®

Related stories

Norway says yes to Open Source
ODPM to withdraw from eGovernment policy
MS unfazed by OSS schools report
Local councils get the hots for Linux
MS UK locks in schools via 'special terms' sponsorship deal

Tune into our application security webcast, click here

Don’t Miss

Win a Samsung C6625!

Reg Lucky Draw Windows Mobile handsets up for grabs

Palm_Pre_001_SMIs your cameraphone an oxymoron?

Pic Review iPhone 3G v iPhone 3GS v Palm Pre

Reg black vulture logoReg Mobile and Wireless newsletter is go! go! go!

Site news Email-tasm

Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter

Narrowcasting for the email classes