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France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

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Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#411
post #388
post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't take the Canadian market for granted. There's a strong desire to forge closer links with the EU now and reduce dependence on products that could be weaponized against us at any time. Geographic proximity doesn't count for much when it comes to software.

> weaponized against us I take a more optimistic stance here. Trump can only live so long, and everybody except basically Trump and John Bolton knows that the majority of his idiotic tariffs (and nonsensical belligerence like pretending NATO control of Greenland doesn't meet all our defense needs) are wealth-destroying on net, as well as wealth-destroying for at least 10x the number of people than they help (many of…

The real thing that's changed here is that the US gets no benefit from defending Ukraine or Europe

European politicians need to wake up NATO was really an exercise in helping the US with its proxy wars their support will not be reciprocated

Not with trump and not with his successor

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#412

Seriously, why are people still using twitter? It's owned by a Nazi supporter, is full of white nationalist racist posters, and seems a strange place to announce you are moving off of American tech.

Because they EU still can't make software and most people in America don't care.

We’re talking about Twitter. Mastodon exists. It is not about making software. Maybe about selling it or marketing.

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#413
post #307

Americans fail to appreciate a few things about our economy 1. We have a large homgoneous market where you can build a product and it’s expected it can succeed for hundreds of millions of Americans 2. EU is the easiest second market, and another step change of hundreds of millions of customers in a somewhat unified market 3. there’s not an easy 3rd economy that replaces EUs wealth, population, and comfort with Englis…

At this point I am praying that one of the things pushing back on this administration will be American Companies that have gotten rich on the back of "American Globalism", learning just how much it hurts when the US doesn't do its responsibility to remain Allies with it's nominal Allies. And the EU, Canada, and anyone else who the current US administration is slighting, should absolutely be moving cash hard and fast…

The day I heard trump wants to fire Powell and manage the fed « his own way », I emptied all my trading accounts and bought gold.

I guess I’m not alone, gold is exploding.

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#414
post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Europe will then redirect the 300B euros it was investing in US treasuries annually to Eurobonds, while redirecting the $300M in purchasing from US companies to EU companies. This is biting the hand that feeds the US. Europe will buy LNG from Canada instead of the US, and continue to purchase imports from China. I agree though that a strong EU is needed, in part to defend against the US, as well as Russia (until the…

>"I agree though that a strong EU is needed, in part to defend against the US, as well as Russia (until the Russian economy reaches failure)." So after Russia fails "a strong EU" is no longer needed? Also waiting for Russian economy to fail may prove to be forever and not even desirable. Changing the system of government to one that treats people like it should is much better goal

Putin will need to die for Russia to change. Change is not possible in Russia until then. A strong EU is required post Russia.

Until then, starve the Russian economy of fossil fuel export revenue (which funds their war efforts). They have liquidated a majority of their gold reserves and have exhausted a majority of their military hardware stockpiles. If we wanted to wrap this up, we’d be bombing their oil and gas export facilities, but it appears we haven’t made it to that milestone yet.

Russia Liquidates 71% of Its Gold Reserves to Finance War Effort - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46738690 - January 2026

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#415

Honestly the greatest thing trump did is help us, French, and maybe Europeans, to get back our sovereignty. I’m fed up of having to use Americans tech for everything and people getting along with it. Chinese managed to separate almost completely from the American tech market, eu can do it too. Maybe get stronger relations with China too, this 70 year old consensus where we must follow the USA whatever the case is fin…

> i bet there would a be lot to win if we diplomatically supported China annexion of Taiwan Sure, and let's give Ukraine to Russia while we're here so we can get their gas. The problem with the bullies is that they'll keep taking.

Ukraine is European problem. Taiwan, Who cares in Europe ?

As long as we have access to microprocessors…

Trump v2 is the greatest change in world policy, adapt or die trying.

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#416
post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a back door to anything. It's competition for the US and Japanese automotive manufacturers who are protected by the existing tariffs.

[flagged]

No it is not. Canada did not try to do anything resembling Free Trade with China. It is btw prohibited by NAFTA / CUSMA. Canada pursues reasonable targeted deals like every normal country should. Trump is just getting hysterical because some country does not want to suck his dick. He should learn to be civil when dealing with neighbors, well it might be too late for that.

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#417
post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't take the Canadian market for granted. There's a strong desire to forge closer links with the EU now and reduce dependence on products that could be weaponized against us at any time. Geographic proximity doesn't count for much when it comes to software.

Not only software. Think back to who supplied the vaccines during COVID.

The British and the Russians also had a COVID vaccine (and much cheaper), and the French cancelled theirs because they realized it would come too late to be competitive.

So if they were restricted to some reason to use their own only, they would be fine.

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#418
post #388
post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't take the Canadian market for granted. There's a strong desire to forge closer links with the EU now and reduce dependence on products that could be weaponized against us at any time. Geographic proximity doesn't count for much when it comes to software.

> weaponized against us I take a more optimistic stance here. Trump can only live so long, and everybody except basically Trump and John Bolton knows that the majority of his idiotic tariffs (and nonsensical belligerence like pretending NATO control of Greenland doesn't meet all our defense needs) are wealth-destroying on net, as well as wealth-destroying for at least 10x the number of people than they help (many of…

> Note that I'm not saying everyone should give the US a pass or maintain as much economic and defense dependency on the US. But I think it's hyperbolic to make all your long-term plans assuming something as stupid and self-defeating as his worst anti-ally policies are a new normal, because they harm the US at least as much as they harm everyone else, and everyone but those two knows this.

It is debatable if everyone but John Bolton and Donald Trump knows this. After all, according to the last NYT poll the current POTUS commands an approval rating of 41 % in the USA. The number of people I meet who do not understand how tariffs work, for example, is staggering.

Anyway, it is smart policy to expect the worst and plan for it instead of being surprised by another insane president voted in by the people of the USA. Call it risk management if you like. It would be negligent of the leaders of the EU and its member nations to not account for that. The EU has to reduce dependence on unrealiable trade partners, this is true whether we are talking about warmongering Russia, dictatorial China (probably the most reliable of the three!), or unpredictable USA.

So, let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst. The EU can't change it if preparation harms US economic interests in the long run. That's on Trump.

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#419
the Europeans have only ever purchased American products because they were cheaper by the feature, and there wasn't a political constituency to placate (see the [wine lake|wikipedia]). and the US in return.

as it was, so shall it always be.

any appetite to flush money down the drain because Greenland feels insulted will dull very very quickly. However as defense treaties have always been more fleeting than NATO has been, we can be sure the Europeans will quickly find better, more reliable partners than they've had in the US, no doubt at lower cost for all concerned.

Re: France Aiming to Replace Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.

#420

Americans fail to appreciate a few things about our economy 1. We have a large homgoneous market where you can build a product and it’s expected it can succeed for hundreds of millions of Americans 2. EU is the easiest second market, and another step change of hundreds of millions of customers in a somewhat unified market 3. there’s not an easy 3rd economy that replaces EUs wealth, population, and comfort with Englis…

Canada is in the same boat as the EU -- desperately looking for alternative vendors at the moment.

Canada's government is not looking for MS or AWS alternatives.
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