2 March 2006

Council staff needing advice on software procurement can now find it via a new website.

The site has been created by Open Source Academy (OSA), which is funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

It features a free 'ask an expert' service, providing advice and guidance on open source software systems (OSS) and case studies of councils that have successfully migrated to OSS.

The ODPM hopes the OSA site will encourage more local authorities to use OSS packages such as Linux, StarOffice and OpenOffice.

It also would like to see greater competition in the software market and to facilitate this, the new online service will provide guidance on the potential interoperability of new systems needing to be integrated into existing IT set-ups.

Bob Blatchford, director at OpenForum Europe and manager of the new website, said that OSS systems are "viable" alternatives to propriety software, bringing cost savings and heightened security benefits.

"OSA aims to encourage local authorities to adopt procurement policies which involve making balanced strategic IT choices between traditional proprietary and open source software solutions," he said.

The OSA is led by Birmingham City Council, along with councils in Cheshire, Bristol and Shepway. The University of Kent, National Computing Centre, Society of IT Management and the Institute of IT Training also form part of the academy.

© Adfero Ltd

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