The city of Amsterdam's administration will spend a total of $393,900 next year evaluating Linux on the desktop. The Amsterdam city council said that "the use of open software can ensure better exchange of data and storage of information without unacceptable financial or logistical risks." Amsterdam's intention is not to stop using Microsoft software entirely but to spend less on proprietary software. The city's current contract with Microsoft expires at the end of 2008, while its open-source tests are to be completed within the first half of 2007. A 3-year-old program funded by the Dutch government has caused nine other cities in the country to evaluate the potential of open-source software. In Europe, Vienna & Munich are evaluating Linux optimistically while Birmingham, after spending almost $1 million on evaluation, proclaimed it was cheaper to upgrade its systems to Windows XP.
News source: c|net's News.com
1 Comment - Add comment