New initiative packages Free Software for Governments

SOMEWHERE IN CYBERSPACE, June 20: Governments bold enough to opt for the freedom that comes with Free Software now have another tool in their armoury that will make their switchover easier.

A Free Software package know as Government Distro was launched on June 19th by the Free Software Consortium (FSC), a global organisation dedicated to the promotion and distribution of Free Sofware.

Free Software gives its users the freedom to run, study, redistribute and improve the vital code that goes into the software programs, and a number of governments across the globe have been either opting for it or seriously studing its potential in anticipation of a switch-over.

Some governments have favoured Free Software not just for its technological prowess, but also for the transparency it offers, its affordability and its very 'sharable' nature without being encumbered by licensing restrictions.

Government Distro is a compilation of programmes that are already being widely used by the public sector in Brazil, Argentina and Spain.

It contains the GNU/Linux Operating System, an Office suite called Open Office, email and instant messenger, and many other applications, according to a statement from the Free Software Consortium.

"Government Distro is meant to be the first big step towards the implementation of Free Software in the public sector around the world", says Jaco Ainzenman, one of the FSC founders, and current Business Development Government Body Coordinator.

"All these programs have been used and tested previously, in order to certify its functionality. They have all being designed by highly talented hackers all around the world," said Ainzenman.

The a full version of Government Distro is available for download at www.fsc.cc/governmentdistro.

All the programmes in Government Distro are user-friendly and have been in used since 1999. Besides, Free Software Consortium is offering technical assitance for Government Distro users.

More information is available from governmentdistro@fsc.cc