It looks as if StarOffice will be the software of choice for up
to 25,000 US Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) desktops,
nudging Applix off a collection of Unix machines. The article draws
several connections to Linux and open source software uptake in
governments around the world.
DISA has already begun implementing StarOffice as the
automation Unix desktop solution for its Global Command and Control
System, she said. The deal had not cost DISA anything as there was
no license fee associated with StarOffice, and the federal
government already had extensive support contracts with Sun which
would cover this implementation, she said.
DISA could not immediately be reached for comment, but LTC
William Hope, the chief engineer for DISA's Global Command and
Control System, said in a statement that StarOffice "satisfies our
requirement to operate an open office productivity suite globally
on multiple platforms, including Linux, the Solaris operating
environment and Windows."