Israel Drops Microsoft Software, Will Pursue Open Source Alternatives

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Israel Drops Microsoft Software

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In a dramatic move this week, Israel's Finance Ministry announced that the country will no longer purchase software made by Microsoft and will instead foster the development of open source software, which it says will cost less and encourage more widespread computer use. Israel and Microsoft were apparently locked in a months-long negotiation over licensing for Office 2003, and when Microsoft finally refused to license only individual Office applications, Israeli representatives walked away from the talks. The representative noted that many government workers only need to use certain applications, and the country shouldn't be forced to purchase a full Office 2003 license for each of them.

"The move with Microsoft was a purely economic decision," an Israeli Finance Ministry spokesperson said. "The Israeli government will not be purchasing new products from Microsoft, but will implement its contract to secure existing systems. On a policy level, the government is committed to expanding computer use. We want open source technology to spread, so more people will be able to afford computers."

Because of the relatively immature nature of open source desktop applications at this time, Israel will continue using its existing Microsoft software installations and not upgrade them. But the country is working to foster development of open source replacements, and recently helped Sun Microsystems and IBM develop a Hebrew version of OpenOffice.org, an open source office productivity suite. That OpenOffice.org version will be available soon, the organization that makes the software says.
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