Sun Microsystems has dismissed suggestions that its StarOffice 6.0 giveaway programme to local schools is part of a campaign to put a dent in Microsoft's command of the word processing software market. The company says it is helping bridge the digital divide and showing the benefits of open source software.
A recent news report described Sun's StarOffice giveaway programme to schools in Europe and SA as a "bold bid to cash in on corporate customers unhappy with Microsoft's move to implement a new subscription-based software licensing policy".
Stefano Mattiello, MD of Sun Microsystems (Sub-Saharan Africa), says the programme is not intended as competition. "It is to provide an alternative solution in line with the open source movement. The South African government is committed to open source software and this is a good example of how the industry can participate and show the government what open source can really do for them."
Mattiello says Sun has always promoted the concept of "skill and know-how over product". He adds that educators should be looking for the ability to impart knowledge and skill which is independent of product. "This is the key, as products are transient, but skill and knowledge is what stays with you for a long time. If we are serious about education upliftment, then we should be focusing on content and product independence."
Sun's StarOffice 6.0 deployment is part of a programme to bridge the digital divide. Mattiello points out that the offer of free software to schools was made originally two years ago, when StarOffice 5.2 was available. "The recent announcement refers to StarOffice 6, but the concept is the same," he says.
"On a broader level, Sun has always supported the education sector by providing numerous technology platforms for the upliftment of local skills. So this is not new to us; we have always supported the local educators with free product and content."
StarOffice is available free of charge to all South African education institutions, without limits or pre-conditions, as long as the product is not used for profit gain.
Mattiello says the company has always been involved with schools IT enablement project GautengOnline, having provided a number of workstations, servers and software at no cost for the pilot projects. "We are still very much involved and hopefully will further assist the Gauteng Education Department with this venture," he says.
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