Report: Microsoft sales staff get iPad buying ban

Microsoft is banning its sales and marketing employees from buying Macs and iPads with company money, according to a leaked email.

The email was apparently sent by Alain Crozier, the chief financial officer of the Sales, Marketing, Services, IT and Operations Group (SMSG), a week ago. It was published on Tuesday by Mary-Jo Foley of ZDNet UK sister site ZDNet.com, after a contact passed it to her.

"Within SMSG we are putting in place a new policy that says that Apple products (Mac & iPad) should not be purchased with company funds," the email read, explaining that the option would be removed from the company's Zones Catalog — its purchasing mechanism in the US — from this week.

"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 continued.

Foley got neither confirmation nor denial of the email's veracity when she approached Microsoft through formal channels, although she pointed out that the company already had a ban on employees expensing their iPhone and BlackBerry data plans.