China's Linux Plans Taking Shape

InternetNews.com ^ | November 6, 2003 | Mark Berniker

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

A top Chinese official is indicating the government will invest in developing a domestic software industry based around Linux, a move that could minimize Microsoft's position in the world's largest market.

"Linux is an opportunity for us to make a breakthrough in developing software," said Guo Zhongwen, vice minister at China's Ministry of Information Industry is quoted saying on its Web site www.mii.gov.cn.

While the statement is a clear commitment to Linux by the Chinese government, Guo did not provide specific details about just how much investment the government is going to put into Linux. But Guo did say "the market cannot be developed on a large scale without government support."

IDC has said it expects China's IT market to grow by 20 percent per year with software sales reaching $30.5 billion by 2005.

Back in September, China, Japan and South Korea agreed to work on creating a new computer operating system, which would provide an alternative to Microsoft's Windows OS. From all indications, the new OS would be based on open source Linux.

Along with Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Sybase and China-based UFSoft and Kingsoft are software players operating in the Chinese market. IDC said the domestic Chinese software market was $800 million in 2002 and is expected to grow 25 percent a year.

[Willie Green]

US Army 'going to Linux'
IBM bundles up with Chinese Linux company (Chicom Government that is)
English version of China's Red Flag Linux due soon
China's Red Flag Linux to step onto global stage

[JoJo Gunn]

Say wha....? Big Brother China doesn't like Big Brother Gates and his Big Brother XP?

[GOP_1900AD]

The duped Western firms who are helping to make this a reality will never be allowed to profit from it once all the heavy lifting is done. Red Flag Linux and Kingsoft will undercut all Western SW firms, and companies like Legend will undercut all the Western computer companies. What fools, enGAAAAging the PRC in hopes of the chimera of "the China market" but in reality getting their IP stolen and getting their R&D dollars used to develop the enemies of America.

[glorgau]

No problem as long as the code comments are in English.

[RayChuang88]

What worris me about Red Flag Linux is the fact that the Chinese internal intelligence services probably know the hooks in the program code that allow for very easy monitoring of Internet traffic. Can you say Big Brother?

[South40]

[roadcat]

Last I heard, it will be named "Red Flag Rinux"!

[Duke Nukum]

Led Frag Rinux

[GOP_1900AD]

FYI.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!