18 October 2005

SSC welcomes Open Source deal

The State Services Commission's Laurence Millar today welcomed the all-of-government license agreement between the Department of Inland Revenue and Novell.

Laurence Millar, Deputy Commissioner Information and Communication Technologies, said "this agreement marks increased opportunities for government agencies, giving them greater flexibility and freedom in their choice of software."

The agreement, a syndicated procurement deal, extends greater discounts on Novell products to approximately 50 government agencies, and includes support and price protection.

Mr Millar said, "Government agencies will make their purchasing decisions based on cost, functionality, interoperability, and security.

"Open Source is a viable alternative or, in some cases, a complementary option to proprietary solutions. This deal provides a framework for other government agencies to introduce or augment their use of Open Source solutions.

"Robust competition in the government software market is good for New Zealand and has the added advantage of ensuring the government avoids dependence on a limited range of software products and services," Mr Millar said.

ENDS

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