[cola:09643] INDIA-NEWS: Pune open source code to Red Hat

["Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=116833

Pune opens source code to Red Hat  Linux promoters place $3 million bet in 
India with global engineering centre.  Express News Service

Pune, February 7: ON Monday, Pune's software community opened up its creative 
vistas further when it welcomed the open source leader, Red Hat, to establish a 
global engineering and support centre. With its ''free'' software Linux, Red 
Hat's $3 million centre will be core to its development work.

And when it comes from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mathew Szulik, 
there is hardly any doubt as to where India centre stands in Red Hat's global 
plans. ''Pune centre will do strategic engineering work (for further evolution 
of Linux). The centre will develop new products in storage, systems and network 
management,'' Szulik said, adding the present headcount of 30 will be ramped up 
to 150 soon.

Not just that, the engineering centre will also address the support 
requirements of the growing Linux customer base in India and other 
English-speaking markets.

Given the fact that Linux is the mantra for those opposed to proprietary 
software Microsoft, Szulik must have surely weighed all options before 
narrowing down on Pune. Sure, said Szulik, who divulged that Pune has the 
highest Linux awareness in India and a big pool of professionals trained in the 
open source technology. ''It's the vibrant workforce, well-versed with Linux 
applications, that made us select Pune to innovate,'' he said.

Szulik said Red Hat had increased its India focus since the government, 
educational institutions and private industry had embraced Linux quite openly. 
Moreover, large enterprises like Infosys and Tatas have been doing lots of 
projects around Linux, he said.

''President Kalam told me last year that open source architecture of Linux 
suits India's need to disseminate education to the masses at low cost. Linux 
supports Kalam's Vision 2020,'' he said.

Up, close and personal, Szulik said Red Hat preferred the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, 
India and China) markets, which had low penetration of proprietary software, 
but a skilled workforce with need of low-cost technology. ''Low installed base 
of proprietary software makes it easier to propogate open source software and 
application,'' Szulik said.

The government's favourable disposition to Linux is evident as the company is 
already in talks with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West 
Bengal governments apart from the Centre. And with Minister of State in Prime 
Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan being present at the inauguration, it 
underlined the premium being given to the fundamental of 'Choice'.

And with a view of broadbasing applications and making Linux a habit among 
youngsters, Red Hat, like competitor Microsoft, has also taken up projects to 
make it a household name. ''Red Hat in association with IIT-Mumbai has offered 
scholarships to 1,500 students to train in Linux architecture and 
applications,'' India pointsman Javed Tapia said.

Tapia said from the next academic session, the scholarship would be given to 
8,000 students countrywide. ''The idea is to develop open source skills at the 
college level itself,'' he said.

And yes, business has definitely grown in the last five years. But in spite of 
having a 30 per cent market share in enterprise servers, Tapia feels there are 
some thorny issues that need to be sorted out before Linux occupies the 
mindspace in desktop segment. ''Just give us some time, the domination will 
surely end,'' he said as a parting shot.

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