“You don't use Google, and you don't use an iPod.”

Steve Ballmer told Fortune couple of years ago the rule for his kids

Now Fortune reports the same message is going out to Microsoft employees. It will only reimburse data plans for Microsoft Windows Mobile-powered smartphones.

But don’t be too hard on Microsoft.

Happens in every industry:

• I have heard of a UPS employee being reprimanded for taking a Coke can into Pepsi headquarters.
• I have heard of Citicorp rejecting expense charged on Amex cards.
• I have heard of a contractor for Intel having his laptop checked to make sure it did not have an AMD chip.
• A vendor bidding for business at Delta was asked what flight he came in on night before. The Delta exec checked his reservation to make sure he had not flown on the competition.