Lower cost Linux proves irresistable

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 26 Mar 2003 at 16:07

The latest study commissioned by OpenForum Europe shows that directors are increasingly confident of deploying open-source software throughout public and commercial organisations.

As ever, it's the financials that prove the most persuasive, with the lower licence costs and total cost of ownership (TCO) major factors. And with Microsoft's Licensing 6 program introduced last year most businesses who signed up have found their software costs increasing.

Equally as important, 43 per cent of directors felt that avoiding being locked into proprietary technologies was a benefit of open-source software. The UK government advises against proprietary technologies in its own policy statement.

Access to source code was also perceived as a benefit of open-source. Microsoft is also aware of this, making its source code available to Governments across the globe in a bid to assure them that its software is both secure and can be checked for interoperability with other applications.

Graham Taylor, Programme Director of OpenForum Europe said: 'This is a remarkable set of results. They confirm what our members are reporting - a steady increase in level of interest and mainstream deployment, with organisations reviewing all aspects of an implementation.'

Even so, increased confidence is not the same as increased use. While the market is indeed growing, Red Hat has released fourth quarter figures that, while showing narrowing losses, missed expectations in terms of sales.

A more cautious outlook on Linux is also evident from the OpenForum Europe study. Last year's figures showed directors' concerns over integration, credibility of suppliers, security, unproven capability of lowering TCO - concerns of people that had not seriously thought about Linux, let alone deployed it.

The 2003 figures show that while greater use is in evidence, concerns remain over lack of skills, track record, the cost of change, and entirely new worries surface such as availability of advice, lack of training, poor market perception and the need to educate end users - the type of problems encountered by those that have migrated, or in the process of migrating, to open-source software.

Taylor added, 'Questions, of course remain. The industry cannot afford to be complacent. Suppliers must respond to those concerns, but there can surely be no doubt that OSS and Linux are not only here to stay, but offer a business benefit now to just about any organisation.'

This may not be the new day of Linux, but it just might be the dawn.

OpenForum Europe is an organisation dedicated to promoting the use of open-source software. The full report is available at the OpenForum Europe Web site.