[fsug-calicut] Fw: [Mailinglist] Platform of choice

"Harilal" <harilal@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 15 Oct 2002 16:32:36 +0530

FW: [Mailinglist] Platform of choice
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dr.R.S.Chakravarti 
To: Harilal 
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 1:12 PM
Subject: FW: [Mailinglist] Platform of choice

-----Original Message----- 
From: M.Balakrishna  Pillai 
To: Mailinglist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: 10/9/02 6:32 PM 
Subject: [Mailinglist] Platform of choice 

Hi listers 

Here is the full text of the news appeared in The Econimic Times 
dt.09-102002 
(Report by Sudha Nagaraj, New Delhi, Oct 8} 

quote" 
Linux turns govt's new 'platform of choice'. 

THE GOVERNMENT is planning a country wide drive to promote the open 
source 
operating system, Linux as the 'platform of choice' vis-à-vis 
proprietary 
solutions.  Following global trends, Linux is likely to be introduced in 

education, government and research institutes--with corporate and 
business 
use likely to develop alongside. 

The Department of Information Technology (DIT) is in talk with leading 
industry players like IBM abd HCL to get a feel of their work in the 
area and 
invite proposals for joint projects. 

        Put simply, India being a developing country needs low cost 
solutions.  
Though India has made a name for itself selling solutions, software as a 

product is costly within the country.  And the cost will bite once India 

starts implementing IPR protection in earnest, as it has committed 
itself to.  
While redistribution of proprietary software is restricted through a 
licence 
agreement, the licensing terms for Linux grants the right to obtain and 
redistribute copies.  The only issue is `support and services' which is 
verymuch India's forte -- entering the Linux environment may prove 
lucrative.  
Here too for the consumer, while proprietory support agreements govern 
only 
the system purchased (with licences), for free software support is 
independent of the number of copies owned. 

        Having looked into all these advantages, the DIT has already 
devised a 
strategy to introduce Linux and open source softwares as a de facto 
standard 
in academic institutions especially in engineering collages through 
course 
work that encourages use of such systems.  Research establishments would 
be 
advised to use and develop redistributable toolboxesjust as central 
government departments and state governments would be asked to use Linux 

based offerings. 

        An industry-government-user-developer conference on the subject 
would be 
organised to throw up ideas for specefic initiatives including funding, 
reliable sources told ET.  As for government the DIT would take the 
lead.  
"As a first stem we are persuading all DIT institutions to offer courses 
on 
Linux and programming for Linux environment.  We would also setup Linux 
resource centres in academic institutes.  A three-tier mechanism is also 

proposed to oversee deployment"sources said." 

  unquote 

I feel the press and the public in general are not aware os the 
difference 
between GPL and open source. It sould be rectified.  Please suggest 
HOWTOs. 

With regards, 

M.Balakrishna Pillai 

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