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This decision was by no means an indication of any deficiencies in open-source software. “However, companies and projects in the open-source field must face up to the requirements of the market, such as usability and process orientation,” Nils Magnus stated during CeBIT. After changing over to Linux in 2002, the Foreign Office is now replacing it with Windows XP because, it claims, there is insufficient user acceptance of Linux. Nevertheless, Magnus believes that the community is on the right track: “The papers that will be presented at our Business and Administration Congress, on subjects such as software management, service concepts and new approaches to software ergonomics, demonstrate that these considerations are being addressed.” The programme for LinuxTag in May includes some 200 presentations on these and other topics.
Also speaking in Hanover, Ingo Wichmann, Chairman of the LinuxTag Association, added: "The use of open source continues to offer technical advantages, including adaptability to the extremely high security requirements of German embassies and consulates. In addition to these considerations and the tremendous potential for savings, there are also strategic reasons why Linux should continue in use in diplomatic missions: the German government would not be compelled to rely on a single provider, and would be encouraging innovative German companies.” Wichmann called upon each company and project to present its own solution as a clear position statement.
The Business and Administration Congress on May 11 and 12, a regular feature of the annual LinuxTag event, will present the range of available solutions. The chairman of the industry association Linux Solutions Group (Lisog), Dr. Karl-Heinz Strassemeyer, emphasizes the considerable innovation potential of open source, pointing to the exhibiting member firms as evidence of the quality of open source.
LIVE and Lisog, Germany’s two leading open source entreprise associations, will be present in Berlin for the first time with a large joint stand.
About LinuxTag
LinuxTag is Europe’s leading specialist trade fair and conference of all aspects of Linux, open source and free software. This four-day event has been taking place since 1996, and since 2007 has been held annually at the Berlin fairgrounds. LinuxTag offers the very latest information for professional users, decision-makers, developers, newcomers and the community. In addition to the programme of lectures and a separate conference for business and government agencies, LinuxTag traditionally features an exhibition featuring projects and companies associated with the open-source sector. The LinuxTag Association is the non-commercial organizer of the event, which it stages jointly with Messe Berlin GmbH. For more details visit www.linuxtag.org.