NSW unveils first open source software panel
NSW unveils first open source software panel
Apr 05, 2005: The NSW Government is the first jurisdiction to establish an open source software panel, which will consist of 11 national and global IT companies that will deliver open source enterprise software and services.
The panel has been set up in response to requests from Government agencies for specialist assistance in the provision of open source software services.
Panel members will includes Dell, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Novell, Red Hat, Starcom Group, Sun Microsystems, System Integration Services, CSC and Soll.
The NSW Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca, said that establishing an accredited panel of companies that have already demonstrated their expertise and capability to Government has many advantages.
"It means agencies will not have to go through the time consuming and expensive process of running an open tender every time they require Linux software and services."
The services provided by the panel members will include systems support and product-specific training services for Linux server and desktop environments. Many of these companies will also offer Linux distributions, infrastructure software and systems integration services.
Bosca went on to add that the panel will provide good opportunities for small to medium enterprises and local industry to play an active role in delivering cost-effective Linux services and software, supported by resources of some of the world's largest open source companies.
"The panel contract will make available to all agencies an operating system option that aligns well with the NSW Government's policy to encourage the use of open standard and improve compatibility between systems."
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