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Linux expected to grow big in Asia
Linux expected to grow big in Asia
PRAGATI VERMA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, MARCH 06, 2003 01:47:31 AM ]
NEW DELHI: This year could see open-source Linux platform on growth
path in the Asian market. It will surge ahead to chalk up the highest
growth rate among server-operating systems in Asia, according to a
survey by IDC in 12 Asian countries, including India.
In 2003, Linux is expected to grow 24%, more than double the rate of
its closest competitor, Unix, which is expected to grow 9%. It is
installed only on 6 % of servers in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan),
says the survey of IT managers in 12 countries in Asia Pac. Microsoft
Windows, however, is still the most popular server OS in the survey
which aggregates numbers from low, medium and high-end servers. More
than 50% of Asian servers run some flavor of Windows. But it will
grow only 6% this year. On desktops, Windows is even more dominant,
with 90% of computers running it. This overwhelming control of the
desktop won’t be easily lost to Linux.
It is yet to be seen whether Linux can sustain the spurt. The issues
lies with both supporting hardware and Linux vendors who must address
fears and dispel ignorance of Linux benefits. Supporting vendors know
this and they have been quickening their pace, according to IDC.
The biggest challenge is that IT managers are wary of buying into a
platform as new and untested as Linux. The survey found that they
have concerns about support, availability of applications, training
and running costs.
The survey comes at a time when Microsoft in Asia seems to be making
more concessions than ever, prompted by government concerns over
Windows security, lobby group pressure over pricing, and the growing
influence of Linux. The Indian government has also said in the
Economic Survey that it is actively “exploring how free software can
be mined to the maximum in India’’.
source:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?ar
tid=39393729
