Ubuntu founder asks gov't to support open source advocacy

By Alexander Villafania, INQ7.net

The founder of the new Linux operating flavor called Ubuntu is urging governments to advocate open source technology, not just in a corporate setting but more on the average consumer level.

In the Philippine leg of his Asia-wide tour, Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth said government should spearhead the use of open source platforms among ordinary consumers as an alternative method of home computing.

Shuttleworth emphasized consumer reaction to government use of technology as role model to its citizens. He also stressed that open source applications can be made immediately available to consumers who may need more cost-effective alternatives to costlier proprietary applications.

Educational institutions can also benefit from open source since many school-related applications can be customized and delivered faster, he added.

“It’s important that users can get accustomed to both proprietary and alternative platforms. Governments and educational institutions can do that,” Shuttleworth observed.

The Ubuntu founder will be giving a series of talks in several Asian countries in the next few days.

During his one-day visit to the Philippines, Shuttleworth met with service providers and computer builders who could package Ubuntu Linux on their computers.

He also met with members of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology to discuss potential partnerships to advocate open source.

Though he did not specify numbers, Shuttleworth said the Philippines is one of the company’s biggest distributorships in Asia Pacific. They were able to ship 57,000 CDs of Ubuntu Linux in the last 12 weeks, compared to just 52,000 in Australia and 16,000 in Japan