-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
Schools set to go open source
,----[ Quote ]
| Officially sanctioned open source and free-to-use software could be in use
| across the UK education system within months after government education
| agency Becta issued a tender for a four-year framework agreement.
|
| Becta is looking for up to 10 software suppliers to participate in the £80m
| framework that will launch in October. This will replace its software
| licensing framework, in place since April 2005.
|
| The contract notice says: “We are particularly seeking suppliers which can
| provide a comprehensive choice of software solutions including appropriate
| open source and free-to-use alternatives and advise users on best-value
| licensing.”
|
| Solutions should be cost-effective, but provide freedom of choice, said a
| Becta spokeswoman.
|
| “We’re providing guidance on the educational elements and looking for
| suppliers that can provide comprehensive choice,” she said.
`----
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2217224/schools-set-open-source-4017531
Microsoft pledge could cut tech costs for schools
,----[ Quote ]
| In a development that could make it easier for schools to use cheaper, open
| technologies instead of proprietary programs, Microsoft said it will make its
| Office 2007 software compatible with the OpenDocument Format (ODF).
`----
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/news-by-subject/technology-management/?i=53888;_hbguid=4113a380-0dd4-4068-93f9-33de105bc043&d=top-news
Assuming they deliver at all.
Recent:
London council dumps Microsoft, may go open source instead
,----[ Quote ]
| NEWHAM LONDON Borough Council has scrapped the controversial 10-year
| Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) it signed with Microsoft in 2004 and drawn
| up a new agreement with a new set of deliverables.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/04/18/microsoft-flagship-flounders
Open source trumps Microsoft in UK schools
,----[ Quote ]
| MICROSOFT has suffered further set-backs in the UK education sector this week
| after Becta, the government procurement quango, reformed its purchasing
| regime to break the software giant's hold on education, and launched a
| programme to get schools to adopt open source software.
|
| At least three open source software suppliers submitted tenders to Becta
| yesterday for the £270,000 Schools Open Source Project. The winner will spend
| two years building a community of schools which uses and develops its own
| open source alternatives to Microsoft software.
|
| Becta has also specifically called on open source companies to join its £80
| million framework list of certified suppliers of software to schools,
| contracts for which will be awarded in June. The last framework list
| consisted entirely of Microsoft suppliers and drew Becta widespread criticism
| for favouring the convicted monopolist over cheaper, homegrown alternatives.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/05/21/open-source-trumps-microsoft-uk
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux)
iD8DBQFINuc8U4xAY3RXLo4RAuw/AJ98zyVL6TFnbSO5csJcf84fCLXMiwCfYjvQ
g+5fWyI1bcOJBsCDYJ89s7A=
=AVWB
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
|
|
