MS gains one up on Linux

Niraj Naik

GOA: It's the open source versus proprietary software duel again. But for the time being, Microsoft seems to have moved the cheese that IBM was aiming for. While the IBM has submitted a comprehensive proposal to participate in the Goa government's Cyberage Student Scheme, the state government has decided to go ahead with Microsoft products for the PCs that it plans to distribute under this scheme.

IBM had offered a number of services and facilities in Open Source including setting up of first of its kind Linux competency lab in Goa. Though IBM sources expressed confidence of going ahead with their plans of setting up a Linux help desk in the state with or without state government's support, the state government is yet to take any decision on the IBM's proposals.

Supporters of Open Source argue that besides supporting Goa government's e-governance Open Source initiatives, the lab would help the IT industry in Goa and other states and researchers to get their products tested and certified.

Talking about the initiative, the company's country manager (government) Satish Kaushal said that the company sees this initiative as a key step in supporting Goa government's initiatives in adopting open standards and Linux based applications as its application development environment. "IBM is also committed to involve our local partners in Goa to run and manage this center on regular basis," he added.

According to Kaushal, the company has also offered to set up a Linux help desk with world class support infrastructure in Goa to install hardware, software and support tools for tracking every call related to products supplied by IBM and RedHat that is escalated to this center. Company sources also suggest that IBM has also offered to provide access to its Linux Competency Labs in Bangalore once the state government accepts its proposal. Besides, the company also proposes to start a 'train the trainer program' and setting up a student education portal-an online Cyberage Project Monitoring System.

However, IBM promises to offer these services only if the state buys its package of Red Hat Linux Operating System, Open Office and IBM's Internet Home page developer application WebSphere Homepage Builder for a price of Rs 1,350 per desktop. The Goa government is expected to distribute some 10,600 PCs to the students during next two years. And with the state government already signing a deal with Microsoft to install Windows, MS Office, MacAfee virus scan and MS Visual Studio for Rs 3,600 per PC, the IBM proposal seems to be in doldrums.

Meanwhile, IBM India has already signed a MoU with Virtual Institute of Technology, an arm of Goa University for various training programs. Under the MoU, IBM has donated to Goa University hardware and software worth Rs five lakh. Experts suggest that the Competency Center at Goa University is expected to provide a neutral ground to all the constituent colleges within Goa and also the common infrastructure created at the University could also be shared with government departments and the industry for specific projects. The lab is also expected to act as a facilitator for showcasing e-governance pilot projects.

(CyberMedia News Service)