The gigantic influence of Microsoft operating system Windows has been challenged recently by Google, which is one of the pioneers in the open source movement. The popular search engine declared to launch an operating system named Google’s Chrome Operating System. Genuinely it is good news for Bangladesh and other developing countries for reducing their dependency on the pirated Windows.
Many home PC users and even business houses of the country addicted to the pirated version of Windows; therefore, Microsoft is running a campaign against the unlicensed Windows users and lobbying to insist the government to ban pirated software. Few years back they played a role to declare the country world fourth pirated software user and the fact and figures at a press conference rose some questions. The software giant many ways try to stop software piracy, like ads, campaign, lobbying governments, supplying software to check pirated software, survey and monitoring surfers.
The government must know sudden banning pirated software can hamper IT education and development, and it is also fact that international software developers may not inter the country without strong anti-piracy law and law enforcing agencies are active for cracking down on software pirates. For the country Microsoft do not have a significant investment except some charity works and training to create a ground for the company. Their a few staffs just sell licenses of the products. In fact, all the international software developers yet to invest in the country.
There is a fundamental difference between two companies; Microsoft earns much from selling Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. Google does not charge customers or surfers. Its business is based on selling Internet ads. Till now the vast majority of Google searches are on PCs running Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer. Chrome OS may change the habit of PC users from installing only Windows besides another open source software Linux, which got popularity among the IT community of an alternative view not to let corporate gang earn much. But still general users are not aware of the open source software. So proprietary software is getting more influence over the PC users.
Bangladesh Open Source Network is an oasis in promoting open source software movement, its volunteers could be able to create a wave in the IT community but still common users of IT are far from the exploration of open source software. Such moment should be spread out across the country for sake of Digital Bangladesh. Poverty alleviation by ICTs is only possible with Bangla computing and open source software. The ICTs based poverty alleviation steps can be hampered if ICT4D, Information and Communication Technology for Development, bodies seek fund from corporate world because they may impose condition to use their software.
Keeping source code open is the philosophy of open source software movement that does not mean you cannot spin off software for business from open source software. In terms of business the gap between proprietary software and open source software is reducing, however, till now open source software is a best tool to minimize operating costs. An allegation is prevailing in the country against few IT guys, to earn name and fame the guys steal or copy proprietary software and then release it as open source software.
Automation for Digital Bangladesh will be cost effective with an operating system whose source code is open. After buying a PC a middle class person cannot afford to buy expensive proprietary software. Moreover, Bangla computing was lagging behind for lack of a Bangla operating system. A true Digital Bangladesh for mass people depends on Bangla computing like using Bangla spell and grammar check software, dictionary, database management, website as well as an operating system.
Multinational company like Microsoft cannot deny software piracy popularizes their products and improve their market growth. Sometimes piracy does not deprive them from profit making, rather it creates addiction to people to use their software and their products dependency goes up. So software piracy should not be their prime rival, on the contrary, open source software can be a great threat to their businesses. Google’s Chrome Operating System has a great future due to the search engine’s availability and reliability. To keep up the influence of Windows Microsoft should develop a free version of the operating system. Good news is that Microsoft just announced a free web-based version of its Office software.
Source: http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=134221
