Microsoft Signs $617 Million Windows 8 Contract With US Gov't

Microsoft has signed a licensing agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) related to its latest operating system, Windows 8.

The three-year deal, which is worth $617 million, sees the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) all granted access to Microsoft products. The U.S. government will consequently have access to the software giant's technological developments in data center consolidation, cyber-security, mobility and cloud computing.

The deal is the largest licensing agreement Microsoft has signed with the U.S. DoD. It covers nearly 75 percent of its personnel, with the contract itself being awarded to Microsoft’s large account re-seller, Insight Enterprises.

"Microsoft has longstanding relationships with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and DISA, and we are honored to expand our support of ongoing technology modernization efforts across all three organizations," said Tim Solms, general manager of Microsoft’s Department of Defense Business. "This agreement enables us to provide the best technology tools to an incredibly broad range of servicemen and servicewomen across the DoD, and we are looking forward to implementing to support their mission goals."

Microsoft said the DoD will have access to new tools including Share Point 2013 Enterprise, which can "unlock new levels of cross-agency information sharing," with its social communications features able to advance "intelligence and reporting capabilities."

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  • A Bad Day
    Tablet-based OS, in an environment where absolute productivity is required and where employees have to be retrained to switch from Win7 to Win8. Hm...

    Well, at least it's fairly secure.
    Reply
  • computernerdforlife
    If your workplace has "training" for Windows 7 to Windows 8, your company is a joke.
    Reply
  • bisso
    While reading this article, couldn't stop thinking about the Air Force controlling a Drone in a war zone from a windows live tile. Surgical attack!
    Reply
  • Vorador2
    It's simply a refreshment of their licensing deal. most big companies (in the thousands) make license deals with Microsoft that include access to their entire software lineup.

    I would say slow news day, but right now CES is underway so this doesn't make sense.
    Reply
  • weaselman
    It will be more funny when the Us army starts asking for driver support to fly there drones via windows 8 more like.
    Reply
  • memadmax
    Very strange.
    Usually, the military is very obtuse about new tech, it generally waits a couple of years before adopting new tech anything. Heck, on my ship we were using windows 3.11 fwg's, but that's the Navy and I don't see them in this deal. The Navy is hardcore when it comes to tech, it's not just some pilots' life in danger if something goes wrong, it's a whole shipload of men and women...
    I even remember when the AF tried to jump on the apple bandwagon and someone found out ios was unsecure so they turned their back on it for a while but then went back...
    Reply
  • zdbc13
    Why doesn't the Navy do this? They're getting behind.....
    Reply
  • samwelaye
    A Bad Dayretrained to switch from Win7 to Win8. Hm...Well, at least it's fairly secure.
    Step 1: click desktop mode
    Step 2: learning curve is over.
    Reply
  • Marco925
    computernerdforlifeIf your workplace has "training" for Windows 7 to Windows 8, your company is a joke.You obviously don't work with the general populace, don't you?
    Reply
  • jhansonxi
    Vorador2It's simply a refreshment of their licensing deal. most big companies (in the thousands) make license deals with Microsoft that include access to their entire software lineup.I would say slow news day, but right now CES is underway so this doesn't make sense.It's also just after a large (and expensive) election.
    Reply