IDG News Service - It's final. After several months of intensive research and debate, the Munich city government has decided to migrate its entire computer network to the open-source Linux operating system, dropping Microsoft Corp.'s Windows in the process (see story).
Germany's third-largest city will equip all of the 14,000 computers in its public administration with Linux and other open-source office applications, Munich's government said today in a statement.
IBM and Nuremburg, Germany-based SuSE Linux AG have worked closely with city officials to help them make a "strategic decision" in favor of Linux, and they hope to supply and maintain the open-source software and possibly hardware when the migration program begins next year, said SuSE CEO Richard Seibt.
In Germany, federal, state and local governments as well as other public agencies have been intensively considering Linux ever since the Federal Ministry of the Interior agreed in June to a partnership with IBM to supply computers with Linux at favorable conditions.
The decision to use Linux, said Munich Mayor Christian Ude in the statement, will not only ensure that the city has greater IT independence, but it will also "set a clear signal for greater competition in the software market."
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