Open-source software suites pre-installed in local PCs

In a bid to promote the wider use of open-source software in Thailand, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has joined five local computer manufacturers to pre-install open-source software suites in personal computers.

The five companies are SVOA, D Com, Synnex (Thailand), IT Bakery and Powell Computer.

Nectec's director Pansak Siriruchatapong said Nectec was developing and customising open-source software suites for the local-brand PC companies, including the operating system Ubuntu Linux and applications such as Open Office, Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird e-mail software.

"This is the first time that end-users will experience a set of ready-for-use open-source suites - not simply the operating system - pre-loaded into new computers they buy. It is very convenient for them to get all the necessary computer applications at lower cost," Pansak said.

The move is expected to increase the local adoption of open-source software from its present level of less than 1 per cent, and to build a greater awareness of open-source software among consumers.

He said that in the past, most open-source adoption was by "hard core" users, and more uses were in the server environment. This project aims to expand acceptance of open-source software among consumers in the personal-computer environment.

The chief executive of SVOA's IT Distribution Strategic Business Unit, Vira Intanate, said his company would install the open-source software suites developed and customised by Nectec into all of its product lines, both PC and notebook. The company hopes to ship about 20,000 units per quarter, helping to create wider open-source software adoption among consumers.

"In selling PCs and notebooks with ready-for-use open-source software suites already installed, we need to educate consumers about the software. This will build awareness and familiarize many consumers with open-source software," Vira said.

 DCom Group's research and development manager Wuthipan Apichartworadom said his company was equipping four of its desktop computer models with open-source software suites, with prices ranging from Bt10,000 to Bt25,000, for the first half of this year. It expects to sell about 2,000 units in that time.

"One of our strong points is a service network at 160 locations throughout the country, and this is also a crucial factor in providing open-source software," he said.

Synnex (Thailand)'s senior executive vice president Anuchit Boonyalug said the basic software applications being offered by the collaborative project with Nectec were enough for consumers in his company's target group.

"I believe that this kind of collaboration will not only help to encourage the greater use of open-source software, but will also help local-brand PCs to take a greater market share from international brands," Anuchit said.