Microsoft stop employees buying Apple products

Mary Jo Foley from ZDNET claims she has access to an internal email regarding a new purchasing policy for Microsoft's sales, Marketing, IT, Services and Operations Group.

The email was sent to employees in various parts of the business, which prohibits them from buying Apple products such as the iPad and Mac when using company funds.

Part of the email reads “Within SMSG we are putting in place a new policy that says that Apple products (Mac & iPad) should not be purchased with company funds.

In the US we will be turning off the Apple products from the Zones Catalog next week, which is the standard purchasing mechanism for these products.

Outside of the US — we will work with your finance and procurement teams to send the right message and put the right processes in place.”

The email came from Alain Crozier, the chief financial officer of SMSG. He says that the Apple product purchasing is ‘low level' but they are clamping down on Apple products. This email was sent a few days before Apple launched the latest iPad 3.

Foley asked Microsoft for a comment on the email but they were unwilling to reply. This is not a new stance for Microsoft who have already blocked employees from getting the Blackberry or iPhone on company money. This has been running now for 3 years. Microsoft have been providing Windows 7 phones for their employees, for the last 2 years.

Microsoft do have a Macintosh division in the corporation called the ‘Macintosh Business Unit'. This section handles Macintosh Office software, and there are no limitations on what these employees can use. Obviously if they use Apple products then they will be more aware of the market they are targeting.

Kitguru says: Is blocking competitor products a bad move?

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