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Dutch Government: To Adopt Open Source
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Dutch Government: Open Source Software To Be Adopted By April 2008
Dow Jones
December 13, 2007: 11:32 AM EST
AMSTERDAM (AP)--The Dutch government has set a soft deadline of April 2008 for its agencies to adopt open-source software such as free word processing programs and Internet browsers, a spokesman for the Economic Affairs Ministry said Thursday.
Under the policy approved Wednesday, government organizations will still be able to use proprietary software, but will have to justify that decision under the principle of "adopt or explain" why not, spokesman Edwin van Scherrenburg said.
Van Scherrenburg said the plan had been approved unanimously at a meeting of two parliamentary commissions Wednesday.
Many governments worldwide have begun testing open source software to cut costs and eliminate dependency on individual companies such as Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT) - or at least expressed interest in the idea - but the Dutch have been among the most aggressive in taking action.
Notably, the decision directs government organizations to use the Open Document Format, or ODF, to save text files, rather than Microsoft's Open Office XML, and to use Mozilla's Firefox or other open-source browsers, rather than Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Van Scherrenburg said the government estimates it would save EUR6 million annually on city housing registers alone due to a switch to the ODF standard.
Microsoft has raced to achieve 'open source' certification for its Open Office XML standard, but has so far failed to receive endorsement from the International Standards Organization.
Economic Affairs Minister Frank Heemskerk also announced plans Wednesday for a 'Project Bureau' - the equivalent of a tech support desk for agencies adopting new open source software - and for a new agency that will check up on whether government bodies are following the directive.
The City of Amsterdam has been carrying out a test of a complete switch to open source software, including using Linux-based operating systems on all computers, in its housing department and one of its borough offices, Zeeburg.
Numerous other European towns and cities, notably Munich, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, have switched partially or mostly to open source systems but they remain a tiny slice of the overall market.
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Dow Jones
December 13, 2007: 11:32 AM EST
AMSTERDAM (AP)--The Dutch government has set a soft deadline of April 2008 for its agencies to adopt open-source software such as free word processing programs and Internet browsers, a spokesman for the Economic Affairs Ministry said Thursday.
Under the policy approved Wednesday, government organizations will still be able to use proprietary software, but will have to justify that decision under the principle of "adopt or explain" why not, spokesman Edwin van Scherrenburg said.
Van Scherrenburg said the plan had been approved unanimously at a meeting of two parliamentary commissions Wednesday.
Many governments worldwide have begun testing open source software to cut costs and eliminate dependency on individual companies such as Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT) - or at least expressed interest in the idea - but the Dutch have been among the most aggressive in taking action.
Notably, the decision directs government organizations to use the Open Document Format, or ODF, to save text files, rather than Microsoft's Open Office XML, and to use Mozilla's Firefox or other open-source browsers, rather than Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Van Scherrenburg said the government estimates it would save EUR6 million annually on city housing registers alone due to a switch to the ODF standard.
Microsoft has raced to achieve 'open source' certification for its Open Office XML standard, but has so far failed to receive endorsement from the International Standards Organization.
Economic Affairs Minister Frank Heemskerk also announced plans Wednesday for a 'Project Bureau' - the equivalent of a tech support desk for agencies adopting new open source software - and for a new agency that will check up on whether government bodies are following the directive.
The City of Amsterdam has been carrying out a test of a complete switch to open source software, including using Linux-based operating systems on all computers, in its housing department and one of its borough offices, Zeeburg.
Numerous other European towns and cities, notably Munich, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, have switched partially or mostly to open source systems but they remain a tiny slice of the overall market.
......
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