[wellylug] FW: The Register - UK NHS trials Sun Linux, threatens 800k user d efection from MS

[Klenner, Colin]

This item is an example of the sort of news that can be added to many others
to encourage our NZ government public services to take a closer look at
Linux / Open Source alternatives. - Colin Klenner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/34396.html
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/34396.html> 

> UK NHS trials Sun Linux, threatens 800k user defection from MS
> By John Lettice
> Posted: 08/12/2003 at 12:13 GMT
> 
>    
> The UK National Health Service is to run a trial of Sun's Java Desktop
> System, with the prospect of rolling it out across 800,000 desktops. The
> trial was pointedly announced in a statement by Richard Granger, NHS
> director general of IT, who said that successful implementation of the
> system would save "many millions of pounds." 
> 
> In addition to being in the throes of a massive and ambitious IT
> modernisation plan, the NHS is currently locked in not-very-cordial
> negotiations with Microsoft UK over desktop licensing costs, and Granger
> has previously made his displeasure over Microsoft's apparent lack of
> flexibility clear. Microsoft has made determined moves to block defections
> to open source in Europe, in for example Munich and Newham, but the
> prospect of a million NHS users walking out the door should certainly be
> enough to win the company's attention. 
> 
> And if Sun won a major foothold in UK public service at the client end,
> this would by no means be the end of it. Not having Microsoft on the
> desktop would substantially reduce the chances of the company leveraging
> its way further into the server side, and would require that any Microsoft
> systems used would interoperate effectively with open source desktops. So
> it could both roadblock the leveraging process and enable the wider
> take-up of open source in European governments. 
> 
> Also today, it was announced that BT has won service provider contracts
> for the NHS worth in excess of £1.5 billion over ten years. These will be
> delivered via Syntegra, its systems integration subsidiary. Syntegra is a
> major Sun partner. 
> 
> Granger may of course only be threatening defection in order to get
> Microsoft to shift on discounts. Under the circumstances, he surely ought
> to be able get some big ones. Is Ballmer on the plane yet? ®