[TriLUG] Japan switches to Linux?

[Paul Jones]

http://newsobserver.com/24hour/technology/story/629142p-4816468c.html

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 10:36AM EST

Tokyo studies switch to open-source software

TOKYO (AP) - Eager to catch up with nations switching to computer systems 
other than Microsoft's Windows, Japan will study the possibility of using 
open-source software such as Linux at the government level.

The public management ministry is earmarking 50 million yen ($410,000) for 
a panel of scholars and computer experts, including Microsoft officials, 
to finish the study by March 2004, Tatsuya Kawachi, a ministry deputy 
director, said Wednesday.

Japan lags behind Germany, the United States, China and other nations 
looking into or using open-source software such as Linux, which can be 
used and modified for free.

Although Tokyo does not disclose a breakdown, government computer systems 
mostly use Windows, a closed system.

Members of the government panel have not yet been selected, but they will 
travel to see how other countries chose and use operating systems, Kawachi 
said.

Concerns about costs and security from heavy reliance on Windows have been 
growing here. Ruling party politicians have been urging the government to 
consider other operating systems, which may offer lower costs and better 
security.

But Kawachi said the Japanese government cannot decide on hearsay and 
wants "an objective study" on the options. The study will not recommend a 
system, leaving that decision up to ministries and local governments. 

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                             Paul Jones
                    "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!"
http://www.ibiblio.org/pjones/ at the Site Formerly Known As MetaLab.unc.edu
  pjones at ibiblio.org   voice: (919) 962-7600     fax: (919) 962-8071
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