Old pals cheer on Microsoft at Arsenal

FOR THE UK launch of what some insiders call the EVO (Exchange/Vista/Office) product triple-whammy, Microsoft selected the latest English football cathedral, Arsenal FC's undeniably impressive Emirates Stadium. The software behemoth then went one step further by announcing the Gunners as an early adopter for its latest programs as well as leaning on a couple of old supporters.

While some journalists were treated to panoramic tours of the Adriatic coast and other junkets*, your correspondent knew his duty and duly made the short Underground journey from Piccadilly Circus to Holloway Road. Ignoring the all-day massage parlour to the right, we headed directly to the stadium's Diamond Club lounge where the event for press and partners was being held.

Microsoft is clearly keeping its friends close and had lined up supporters including the London Borough of Newham and consulting giant Capgemini, as well as defence technology giant QinetiQ and the north London football club itself.

Newham and Capgemini were perhaps predictable choices, cynics might suggest. The borough, due to play host to the Olympic Games in 2012, famously made a strategic choice of Microsoft over Linux and various open-source technologies in 2004. Its consulting partner that helped make that choice? Capgem of course. That choice led to a media storm and saw Newham decision makers receive criticism from grim-faced Linux apparatchiks.

As for Arsenal, on current form the club needs all the help it can get. µ

*Full disclosure UK press helped themselves to liberal amounts of champagne, a commemorative USB memory stick and invitations to an after-party at an expensive club in London's famous Soho district.

Boot strap
Your correspondent was recently requested to "calm down a bit" by a steward after celebrating a rare Newcastle goal at the Emirates two weeks ago. The risk of waking sleepy, whispering home supporters was clearly too great.