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Australian NSW Government Making Way for Linux

Posted by timothy on from the step-aside-please-step-aside dept.

seralick writes "Australian IT has reported that the Australian NSW government has established 'Australia's first whole-of-government panel to supply open source software and services to its departments and agencies.' Basically they have opened the way for the wide spread goverment usage of Linux software and services."

5 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. Wow! by ta+bu+shi+da+yu · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I never thought I'd see this. I wonder if Bill Gates will fly in and offer massive discounting for govt depts, like he did for Telstra?

    --
    XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
    1. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Telstra is the lamest company ever. They had systematically gouged Australians and set-back the broadband and other Internet based industries decades.

      Bill Gates and Telstra deserve each other, scum bags.

    2. Re:Wow! by Petrushka · · Score: 4, Interesting

      In many places the catch is convert all IT programs to MS only. It's the only thing you will ever need, so that's all that needs training. Some places reject the offer as they train UNIX in one form or another and do not wish to be IIS only.

      My latest example is when I tried applying for a job as a professor at a university in England (the application is still under way, so I will not name the university). The site is set up to accept covering letters and CV's only in Microsoft Word format: there is a notice expressly forbidding anything else.

      On a happier note, I contacted the university to complain about the stunning degree of narrow-mindedness shown by this -- do they really want to exclude anyone who doesn't use Microsoft Word from consideration??? -- and they replied saying that they were extremely sorry and they'd be happy for me to e-mail pdf files to them.

      Not quite OpenDocument support, but it's a start. And all without jeopardising my application. Yay!

  2. They'd be screwed without something like this by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In short, NSW put together a group of companies that can be considered "preferred service companies" for when something is b0rken on a government machine. Until now, each problem report had to be handled individually, but with the "panel" in place, each problem can be pooled with other problems and the fix postponed en masse rather ignored on an individual basis.

  3. My company made it on the panel by exekewtable · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My company Solutions First (http://www.solutionsfirst.com.au) made it on the panel right next to the multinationals. We are a relativly small IT firm that specialises in Linux solutions, even if most of our clients don't know it. We have been providing linux solutions for 5 years in our current form.
    Nevertheless, this is a great thing for NSW. It means that all those government departments that previously had to submit a tender for linux services can now just call us up and we can help them.

    There is a more detailed article here:

    http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/0,2000061733 ,39187094,00.htm
    we are listed as Sol1 in that list.

    Its going to a great chance for our little company.

    dave