Using open source-based software in desktop and server
packages offers no short-term savings.
That was the initial finding of a trial at Newham Council in East
London, which pitted open source products against proprietary
rivals.
As part of the trial, first reported by Computer Weekly on 14
October, Microsoft provided the council with consultancy services
from Cap Gemini Ernst & Young in an effort to prove its
products offered better value than open source options being tested
at Newham.
Newham Council IT director Richard Steel said, "The tests we
conducted with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young were very helpful as
they substantiated many of the views we already held about open
source. We have yet to come to a conclusion for the longer
term."
The crucial comparisons were for costs beyond the typical five-year
software licensing deals offered by Microsoft, he added.
Matt Lambert, director of government affairs at Microsoft Europe,
said, "We are glad that they are looking seriously at how to gain
cost efficiencies and are pleased that, in the short term,
Microsoft solutions have proved to be the best value."
Eddie Bleasdale, Linux consultant and director at Net Project,
which set up Newham's open source trial, said, "We always advocate
a heterogeneous IT environment when it comes to Linux and
Microsoft.
"Adopting open source would not make savings for Newham in the
short term because the council uses Microsoft Exchange 5.5, and
this does not interface with Linux. Therefore the council would
have to upgrade its systems to cope, incurring extra costs."
Additionally, said Bleasdale, the council would have to build up
its internal Linux skills, which would add to staff costs. In the
longer term, he said, open source would provide savings.
Newham Council is due to make a decision on which approach to adopt
next month. Because of the trials, its choice is likely to be
closely monitored by other public sector organisations.