Strange bedfellows Microsoft and Open Source

Strange bedfellows: Microsoft and Open Source

It is baffling to see Microsoft sponsoring an Open Source Census

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

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BANGALORE, INDIA: What is common between Microsoft and open source platform? Everyone knows that one is at loggerheads with the other. But now the software giant has become a sponsor of the Open Source Census!

The Census, started in April by OpenLogic with help from IDC and other sponsors, relies on anonymous scans of computers to count open source installations with software called OSS Discovery.

Till now, 228,117 open source installations have been found from all company sizes and industries, with the Firefox web browser at the top of the list of most popular open source software.

Companies and individuals who take part in the Open Source Census can access detailed reports on their own open source use and comparisons with similar companies.

"Microsoft actively participates in open source through Microsoft engineers and product teams, with industry partners and with open-source software projects to develop interoperable solutions that meet customer needs," Sam Ramji, senior director, platform strategy at Microsoft, said in a statement.

Though there is confusion over Microsoft's move, it is certain that the software giant will not open source its software in the near future, because only last year Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called the open source model "inconsistent with shareholder value".

Some attribute Microsoft's new-found bonhomie with the open source to its desire to participate in different projects so as to gain intelligence about the open source world the company has to compete with.

©CyberMedia News

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