Linux unstoppable in Middle East says IBM

It is aimed at helping decision makers evaluate how they can adopt this technology as the region increasingly looks to adopt open source software as an alternative to expensive and restrictive proprietary technology. Hosted by IBM Middle East, along with its General Marketing and Services Representative for the Gulf, Gulf Business Machines (GBM), the "Linux: Crossing the Chasm" event will be held in Oman on the 29th June, Bahrain on the 30th June, and Kuwait on the 1st of July.

Keynote speakers will be Dr Khaled al Ghoniem, Chairman of the Saudi Computer Society, who will examine issues such as Arabic support and security within Linux, and Rob Lamb, IBM's Worldwide Director of Linux Sales, who will cover the business case for Linux, and why it makes sense in the medium and large enterprise. Other topics that will be discussed will be the enterprise software applications available today for Linux, and the advantages of running Linux on IBM's eServers.

"Linux benefits are clear: not just the low to zero cost of licences for the operating system, which are only a small component of the total cost of ownership. More importantly, Linux offers extremely robust security, it's extremely reliable, features outstanding performance - but most importantly, it's open," said Samer Shaar, GM of IBM Middle East Egypt and Pakistan.

"Linux runs on a variety of platforms, allowing users to choose what suits their needs best, and move to another platform if their requirements change, without having to undertake massive re-coding or migration issues. IBM has put well over a billion dollars into Linux, both in terms of making the operating system enterprise-ready, and to provide Linux versions of our enterprise data management, collaboration and Web services software," added Shaar, "Linux simply makes great business sense."

According to Jyoti Lalchandani, Regional Director of analyst group IDC, "Adoption levels of Linux in the Middle East have increased considerably, particularly in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which witnessed large Linux-based server implementations in 2002. This is a positive trend, although Linux OS is currently still being used as the secondary operating system. IDC believes that demand for Linux OS will surge, mostly in select industry sectors such as education and government."

Since IBM hosted the region's first Linux Symposium in Bahrain this time last year, its growth in the region has been impressive. Linux user groups have appeared in Middle East countries, contributing to the development of Arabic support in Linux, which IBM helped jump-start with the development of key software modules at its 200 person Cairo-based software development centre.