BNXS

An article published on the 27^th of December on CNews reported that the Russian government will transition it computer infrastructure by 2015. In an order signed by the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the government will shift from Microsoft Windows to Linux open–source operating. The shift is meant to start in the second quarter of 2012. The transition order which is 17 pages long gives a schedule that will be followed in the transition. The transition to the Linux open –source will be a transition to free software. A wide range of agencies as well as other bodies directly under the control of the federal government will be involved in this exercise. The different agencies though will be responsible of determining the data formats appropriate for them in the new software by the end of the third quarter of 2011.  The pilot programs will begin in the second quarter of 2012 and then gradually rollout to the rest of the government by the 3^rd quarter of 2014.  The open-source software is now being embraced by governments around the world. Already the UK and Japan have included the Linux desktop as on of the approved software. In the US, the state of Massachusetts changed its system back in 2007 so that all documents use open formats or open documents rather than propriety ones.