Linux Is Ready

360,000 IBM workers have been told to stop using Microsoft Office and switch to the Open Office-based software Symphony.

Quoting an inside source, the German economic newspaper, “Handelsblatt” that staff at IBM have been given ten days to change to Symphony, IBM’s in-house Lotus software. The use of Microsoft Office will in future require managerial approval. With immediate affect, the Open Document Format (ODF) will rule at IBM with the file ending .doc soon belonging to the past.

Lotus Symphony is an office software that incorporates huge chunks of customized Open Office without a databank module. The free software download provided by IBM is an attempt at luring customers away from Microsoft. IBM’s cooperation with Linux distributors like Red Hat, Canonical and Novell was designed to strengthen the software’s market chances.

IBM’s management have obviously decided to practice what they preach. 330,000 IBM workers already use Symphony, reports the newspaper. The motive for the migration appears not to be the saving of license fees, and according to an IBM press officer, the move is a clear statement in appreciation of open source standards.

TomTom, the world’s leading provider of navigation solutions and digital maps, developed a dynamic location referencing technology as an open standard for the navigation, mapping and ITS Industry, called OpenLRT.

OpenLRT has been designed for traffic information systems and dynamic route guidance, and is available as an open-source technology. It can easily be adapted to the requirements of system integrators, and the technical community can contribute with their ideas to improve it.

These are unprecedented times. The global economy is in free fall, with no geographic region or industry unaffected by the scarcity of capital, market volatility, and reduced consumer spending. Dismal economic indicators reflect business conditions that haven’t been seen for decades. And experts are warning that we haven’t yet hit bottom.

At the same time, IT is under more pressure than ever. There is less capital to invest in new systems at the very moment when companies need to leverage technology to innovate — both to contain costs and to hone competitive advantage. IT managers are being told to lay off personnel and reduce operating expenses, yet are expected to continue providing the same support to business users as when fully staffed.

But there’s a bright spot amidst the general gloom. Specifically, the value proposition of low-cost, highreturn open source solutions is resonating now more than ever. Although used successfully by leading-edge companies for more than 20 years, some mainstream businesses have remained with their proprietary technology alternatives, either due to vendor lock-in or misconceptions about open source. That is rapidly changing. Today, open source is being increasingly recognized for its ease of use, high performance, and affordability, especially amidst today’s turbulent economic conditions. Indeed, the high value of open source, coupled with economic and organizational pressure, represents a “perfect storm” for CIOs, giving them the opportunity to deploy high-performing, cost-effective open source solutions to carve costs out of their IT infrastructures.

Linux Is Ready have been chosen to provide the Information Technology support for a English Language School in Kent.

The venue has a large computer room for students to use, and it made sense to change their current Windows based desktops to the Linux operating system – keeping costs down whilst providing greater reliability and security.

When the contract begins, it will include an overhaul of the current server installation, backup strategy, implementation of new LAMP based education software, better shared files for staff and open source telephone system.