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Munich goes with Open Source Software

Munich Council Press Statement (translated)

The city of Munich will use Linux as the operating system for their 14,000 PC clients as well as open source software for their office applications. With the votes of SPD, Alliance 90/Die Gruenen/Pink list, FDP, OEDP, REP and Party of Democratic Socialism, the town assembly followed Mayor Christian Ude's proposal.

An appraisal given by the city in order to evaluate the pro and cons of a conversion of the present urban standard "Windows NT/Microsoft Office" alternatively on "Windows XP/Microsoft Office" or "Linux/Open Office" comes to the conclusion that there is a clear strategic-qualitative projection/lead for the open source solution.

Mayor Ude: "With this trend-setting decision Munich secures itself as the first major city to have a major portion of its IT infrastructure be supplier-independent and sets also a clear indication of more competition in the software market. The prehistory of this decision already showed that a competitive situation helps the formation of prices pretty well. "

Regarding the decision, mayor Ude pointed out that this is not a decision for a specific IT partner, but a strategic positioning based on a noncommittal market evaluation.

Until spring 2004, a detailed concept of implementation and migration will be developed. Based on the results of this evaluation, the city council will decide how the migration to Linux will take place.

IBM Germany Statement

The city council of Munich today made a key decision to deploy the open source operating system Linux instead of alternative operating systems. This initiative will see Germany's third largest city migrate 14,000 desktop and notebook computers to Linux. Their objective is to deploy information technology that stimulates more commercial and technological flexibility at a lower cost to the public sector. Although the council has not made a decision on its choice of vendor, Linux distributor SuSE AG and IBM Germany will be participating in the resulting contract bid.

Walter Raizner, Country General Manager IBM Germany: "In the public sector in Germany we have seen a variety of new implementations of open standards-based software such as Linux. And worldwide, more than 75 IBM government customers--including agencies in France, Spain, UK, Australia, Mexico, the United States and Japan--have now embraced open computing and Linux to save costs, consolidate workloads, increase efficiency and enact e-government transformation.

With Munich's decision, one thing is clear--it's open season for open computing. Linux represents freedom and flexibility. This is essential in e-government--they need more flexibility to serve their constituencies better and faster, and freedom of choice to do it at less cost to the public. Munich is leading the way."

Press Release

Related Stories:
Munich May Opt for Linux After All(May 26, 2003)
Expatica.com: Battle Heats up Munich Software Deal(May 22, 2003)
The Register: Ballmer on Linux(May 16, 2003)
CNET News: Ballmer: No Sleep Lost Over Linux(Apr 25, 2003)

Index Mode   |   Flat Mode   |   Thread Mode   |   Thread Flat     Talkback(s) Name  and Date   Hurray for München    Hans J Micheelsen May 28, 2003, 20:49:52     Bad Baldie!    Simplicissimus May 28, 2003, 21:14:40     It's LTSP to the rescue!    Scott Marlowe May 28, 2003, 21:19:25     Congratulations    Tony OBryan May 28, 2003, 21:38:32     Congrats!    Nomen Nescio May 28, 2003, 21:40:51     But ... but ...    Otis Viles May 28, 2003, 21:43:35     Re: Bad Baldie!    flacco May 28, 2003, 21:52:57     The snowball starts rolling.    Snow Man May 28, 2003, 21:57:17     more money for beer!!!    ac May 28, 2003, 23:19:07     Re: But ... but ...    horne May 28, 2003, 23:34:46     Re: Re: Bad Baldie!    TM May 28, 2003, 23:59:55     Frankfurt goes Mircrosoft but no mention here    Mark May 29, 2003, 00:02:09     re:re:but...but...    scott_R May 29, 2003, 00:34:20     Re: Frankfurt goes Mircrosoft but no mention here    Meneldur May 29, 2003, 01:56:51     Long term impact    Bojan Smojver May 29, 2003, 02:24:20     Wonderful news    einstein May 29, 2003, 02:47:49     Trolls and Flamers etc    Ken Rice May 29, 2003, 02:54:52     A crack in the dam    Joe User May 29, 2003, 06:26:28     Same impact on linux as IFM support did    denis g miller May 29, 2003, 13:04:47     Re: Re: Re: Bad Baldie!    aRTee May 29, 2003, 13:47:09     Re: Long term impact    Charles Hixson May 29, 2003, 14:44:36     Re: Re: Long term impact    acx May 29, 2003, 18:59:05     the german central of microsoft    Gunnar May 30, 2003, 09:03:54     Home | Search Talkbacks | Customize View    Top of Page   Enter your comments below: * Your Name: * Your Email Address: * Subject: CC: [will also send this talkback to an E-Mail address] * Comments: Tags allowed:<I>,<B> and <U>. See our talkback-policy for more about talkback content. Fields marked with * are required!