The Norwegian government has terminated its contract with Microsoft, with employment and administration minister Victor D Norman commenting that the deal had been "unfortunate," and that the injection of competition could mean cheaper and (cruel cut) higher quality solutions.

The contract with Microsoft, as we understand it, covered both national and regional government and meant Microsoft was virtually the sole software supplier for public services. Norman told NRK Dagsnytt, the state-funded news channel: "We think that the contract we've had with Microsoft has in reality given them a monopoly in a field where we're better off getting competition." So the position is that Norway has opened up the field for competition to Microsoft, rather than kicking Microsoft out as such.

Local hero Jon von Tetzchner of Opera Software told the channel that the cancellation was positive, and should open the field for alternatives.

The full story in Norwegian is available here and here (although come to think of it we've only got the word of half a dozen Norwegians for that). Thanks to Bjørn Moe for helping us out with the content (although come to think of it, we've only got his word for that). ®