SINGAPORE OPEN SOURCE ALLIANCE

What is the core objective

Who are involved

Why does it exist?

What has it done so far?

What more does it want to do?

What are the challenges ahead?

THE CORE OBJECTIVE

To create a vendor neutral working group to drive the adoption of commercially supported open source software in Singapore

WHO ARE INVOLVED

Announced June 2005, industry heavy weights form the Singapore Open Source Alliance (SOSA)

Initiated by Resolvo Systems, a local Singapore technology firm. Founding members include Apple, HP, Intel, IBM, Novell, Oracle, Red Hat, Sun Microsystems

Why does it to exist?

Singapore Government technology office has been quiet with regard to open source policy

One negative perception of open source software is lack of commercial support

Not easy for government to have an efficient way to get information with regard to issues like software/hardware compatibility across multiple vendors or maturity of a particular open source software for mass adoption

The industry has commercial interest to be the change catalyst. We decide to coming together, and working collectively as one voice with the Singapore Government technology office

What has it done so far?

Industry dialogue sessions with the Singapore Government's technology office

Finalise short and medium term deliverables such as submission of software / hardware compatibility matrix report

Education and awareness forum to be conducted for government agencies

Participation on how best to get open source into educational sector

What more does it want to do?

Assist in providing case studies and papers which show business and economic benefits of adopting open source software

Develop more channels and programmes to share information, and provide technological resources to show the values of open source software.

Continue to increase government / private sector awareness via publicity that commercial support for open source software is actually available and there is reliable commercial support too.

What are the challenges ahead?

It is still a very new initiative. While we think big, we start small and work deep

Need to ensure multi-parties interests are well managed

To continue proving through facts, and case studies that even for a relatively mature IT market like Singapore with many legacy systems, open source is still relevant and it creates economic viability for it to be promoted to the wider masses

OPEN SOURCE - An Imperative Alternative Audience IDA / Collec

2005-05-09T12:47:52