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Microsoft has hit out to the competitive threat of cheaper open source software by deciding to reveal the source code for its Office productivity suite to governments around the world. The US software giant said releasing 90 per cent of its code on 2003 products, like Word, Excel and PowerPoint – would allow IT workers to build custom applications on top of existing software. The release is an extension to Microsoft’s Government Security Program (GSP), which from January 2003 offered agencies the source code of its Windows operating system for better security. More thorough security audits will also now become possible, as part of a strategy to attract European and Eastern governments, currently tempted by Linux alternatives. The launch coincides with suspicion from European governments that the inner code of some Microsoft products could give US authorities back-door access to their systems. Reluctant users often then turn to alternatives such as Linux, for basic and free software where the code can be easily reviewed and changed. The British government is to be one of the first to test the new programme, which promises “the benefits of increased transparency and interoperability of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office 2003.” Jason Matusow, director of Microsoft’s Shared Source Initiative, told the FT this is the first time the company has “ever shared [the] Office source code.” “Shared source is the method for Microsoft to understand the benefits of open source,” he said. “The problem for governments is that transparency is crucial for them to evaluate the different products as they become critical parts of their infrastructure.” It is understood that 30 countries have already joined the agreement to tap into the source code, representing nearly half of the global partners covered by the program. Under its implementation, countries such as China, Russia, Norway, Spain and the UK will be invited to send their government staff to work alongside Microsoft technical teams in the US. Jonathan Murray, chief technical officer of Microsoft Europe, said the governments that currently use their software are seen as “trusted partners.” He said the addition of Office 2003 to the GSP would show a “continued commitment to collaborating with governments all over the world, to deliver solutions that address their unique and specific IT needs.” Sep 21, 2004 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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