Open-source software is ready for mainstream adoption in
government, according to an office of government commerce report
published today.
The conclusions drawn from pilot implementations of open-source
software in a variety of government bodies earlier this year show
that open-source software can create savings for the public sector,
particularly in conjunction with server consolidation.
The report published by the OGC also said that open-source
software is a viable desktop alternative without creating problems
with interoperability.
It added that such software creates potential "green" benefits
through the prolonging of hardware life, with less resources
consumed in producing new hardware and fewer problems in disposing
of old machines.
OGC chief executive, John Oughton, said of today's publication,
"These pilots have provided us with valuable evidence on
open-source software."
"They show it could support government bodies by offering
efficient and cost-effective IT solutions. Effective use of IT is a
crucial element in the government's modernisation agenda. This
report will assist public sector bodies in making informed,
value-for-money judgements when deciding upon which solution best
suits their needs."
The pilot schemes were carried out in partnership with IBM and
Sun Microsystems and allowed a number of public sector bodies to
assess the potential benefits open-source software in a live
environment.